2008 World Series of Poker Europe

Event 1 - £1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Day: 1a
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker Europe

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
£144,218
Event Info
Buy-in
£1,500
Prize Pool
£615,000
Entries
410
Level Info
Level
23
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
5,000

Thor No More

Thor Hansen - Original Scandie
Thor Hansen - Original Scandie
Another table has broken, and from an initial 191 runners who started today with hopes of the first WSOPE bracelet adorning their wrists, 134 are still competing through level four. Thor Hansen is one of those out in the last 10 minutes, and literally while attaching said photo of the Norwegian poker legend, another exit was occurring two seats along from him - that of Ed Rogers, whose {A-?} {K-?} was no good all in preflop against {A-?} {A-?} as so often is the case.

Some counts from table ex-Hansen (also broken during the time it took to type this, and I'm using all ten fingers - the pace has really picked up):

Will Brewin - 5,900
Luis Nunes - 3,200
Jonathan Weekes - 7,225
Yevgeniy Timoshenko - 12,600
Simeon Tsonev - 7,350

Tags: Thor Hansen

Linton On the Rampage

Pete Linton, playing his usual aggressive and unpredictable game, seems to be somewhat flummoxing Karsten Johansen, among others. With a fair few chips in the middle preflop, Johansen checked to Linton on the {J-Hearts} {8-Diamonds} {A-Spades} flop, and Linton promptly made it 1,850 to go from underneath his baseball cap. Johansen, with a hesitant hand and an unsure expression, passed his cards back to the dealer.

Tags: Karsten JohansenPete Linton

"A Cartoon Table"

According to Peter Singleton, he's currently playing on what he described as a "cartoon table." "Which character are you?" I inquired. "Hmm," he pondered, "I think I'm the Wily E Coyote... and I'm up against eight Road Runners."

As Peter mused over frustrating times, I grabbed a few chip counts from the Road Runners:

Jim Reid -- 16,000
Daniel Negreanu -- 8,500
Simon La Thangue -- 8,875
Michel Abecassis -- 33,500
Richard Wheatley -- 12,500

Tags: Peter Singleton

The Ladies Besmirch Singleton

As he rose from his seat, Peter Singleton was seemingly lacking confidence and perhaps sensing the worst as his {Q-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds} came up against an inferior {A-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}. But he was right to feel negative, as the board came a teasing {10-Diamonds}{A-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{J-Hearts}{9-Diamonds} to send him home.

"Well played," congratulated Singleton on departure.

Tags: Peter Singleton

Hassan Beats the House

Mohammed Hassan has moved several rungs up the chip ladder, spectacularly propelled by some timely pocket rockets.

His opponent called a raise with K-Q, and found himself most pleased with the A-Q-Q flop. Hassan, however, also seemed rather happy. A little less happy perhaps with the second ace on the turn, Hassan's opponent nevertheless got his chips in, and was horrified to see that Hassan was holding not one ace for a bigger house but two for quads. "Sick," was all our opponent had to say. Sick, indeed.

Tags: Mohammed Hassan

Setback for Alioto

After flourishing early doors, last year's Omaha winner Dario Alioto has been bashed down to 7,500 after an unfortunate beat. With his man dominated, Alioto's {A-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds} was in good shape against {K-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds} on a {J-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{5-Diamonds} flop, but after a harmless {8-Spades} turn, the river brought a {K-Clubs} to form a minor dent in the Italian's stack.

Tags: Dario Alioto

Nicolas Levelled

Levi - Still looking for airport hat-thief
Levi - Still looking for airport hat-thief
Nicolas Levi, having survived his first table move with just under 4,000, had dropped to a push-or-pass level, when he was finally looked up with his stack all in the middle: He held {5-Diamonds} {4-Diamonds} , against the caller's {A-Hearts} {J-Spades} .

"I can beat that," he said, with deadpan optimism. The flop came {Q-Clubs} {10-Hearts} {7-Hearts} , the turn the {Q-Spades} and the river a decisive {A-Spades} sending him to the rail with a "Good luck, all," for the rest of the players on his table.

Pictured with standard hat and staredown, his brief flirtation with playing bare-headed in Barcelona appears to have ended.

Tags: nicolas levi

Double MisReid

The floor was called by Daniel Negreanu on the near table as one of the players tried to make a call for 200 without realizing that Jim Reid had already raised it up to 700 from early position. Slicker than the Fonz on a first date, Steve Frezer slid in to make a swift ruling (Negreanu gave it the Kid Poker seal of approval with multiple nods) and said that the player could fold or call the raise, but not retrieve the 200.

Although the player conceded his 200, Richard Wheatley made the call from the big blind and saw a {K-Spades}{5-Hearts}{3-Hearts} flop. After both players checked, Wheatley then pushed in for 2,500 on the {5-Diamonds} turn to take down the pot.

Reid's woes were to continue, however, as a few hands later he made a faux pas of his own and bet 2,000 instead of 400 from the big blind into a {J-Clubs}{4-Spades}{4-Clubs} flop. The small blind check-raised for an extra 3,500 and although Jim had a jack, he was sure he was behind and made a disciplined fold.

Amid all the confusion, Reid now has 16,300.

Tags: Jim ReidRichard Wheatley

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

Negreanu Strikes with the Knaves

Yo, wassup dog
Yo, wassup dog
Michel Abecassis made it 925 from early position, Daniel Negreanu called from the small blind, as did Simon La Thangue in the big blind.

All three players checked a {2-Clubs}{J-Clubs}{7-Spades} flop before La Thangue fired out 1,000 on the {2-Spades} turn. Abecassis smooth called, but Negreanu bumped it up to 3,200. La Thangue folded, but Abecassis called.

An {A-Hearts} on the river led to a check from Abecassis, followed by a bet of 4,500 from Negreanu. Abecassis dwelt for longer than a Who Wants to be a Millionaire contestant on the final question before eventually making the call. Neagreanu showed pocket jacks, and the Frenchman quickly mucked.

Kid Poker now up to 23,000.

Tags: Daniel NegreanuMichel Abecassis