Event 2 - £2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em/Omaha Day 1 | 2009 World Series of Poker Europe

09-21-2009 14:23 UTC+2

Head Count

The tournament clock currently lets on that 151 players entered today's event. That number is likely to change, however, as registration will remain open until the end of level 2.

We counted 17 active tables peppered around the Empire gaming floor -- 11 of them upstairs, and six down.

09-21-2009 14:19 UTC+2

Enter the Italians and Phil Hellmuth

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Phil Hellmuth has just made his signature late entrance, albeit without the hullabaloo that often accompanies it.

Italian pros Dario Minieri and Max Pescatori have also taken their seats, both arriving near the end of level 1/start of level 2.

Level: 2

Blinds: 0/0

Ante: 0

09-21-2009 14:09 UTC+2

"Player out... Table 2!"

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

...said the dealer seated there, as we witnessed who we believed to be the first elimination of the day exit the tournament area.

While the departed's name escapes us, his captor's certainly doesn't. Russian pro Nikolay Evdakov -- perhaps best know for setting the record for most cashes (9) in a single World Series of Poker (2008) -- was the victor, and he now sits with a healthy 15,800 in chips.

09-21-2009 13:54 UTC+2

Table Talk with Mike "The Mouth"

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Mike Matusow on Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier and online poker:

"He's one of the best players I've ever seen."

"I can't even win a pot online. I don't know how these guys do it."

"Whenever I raise, they don't even fold any pair... When I make a move on them, they call with like third pair."

"He's a great player, though."

Matusow had been chatting with Sorel Mizzi about 'ElkY's' recent online success.

Tags: Mike Matusow Sorel Mizzi

09-21-2009 13:44 UTC+2

Who's Counting?

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

With the game changing every nine hands, you may be wondering who keeps track of how many hands have been played and how they do it. The responsibility lies with the dealers at each table. Each is equipped with a nine-chip pile of non-commissioned poker chips, which remain in plain sight in front of them. Each time a hand is played, the dealer takes a chip from his/her left and moves it to the pile on their right, or vice versa.

A special 'Hold'em/Omaha' placard also sits in front of the dealer, reminding the players what game is currently being dealt. It may seem easy enough, but these simple tools are essential to keeping the peace at the table.

09-21-2009 13:39 UTC+2

Battle of the Betfair Boys

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Betfair beaus Sorel Mizzi and John Tabatabai have drawn the same table and are seated just one seat apart; Tabatabai with position on Mizzi.

Meanwhile, here are a few more of the names who have taken their seats since the cards went in the air:

Tony Cousineau
Markus Golser
Brandon Cantu
Shaun Deeb
Roland De Wolfe
Sandra Naujoks
Nikolay Evdakov
Vitaly Lunkin

09-21-2009 13:24 UTC+2

Faces in the Crowd

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Our initial walk through of the tournament area led to the discovery of the following players:

Neil Channing
Joe Beevers
Huck Seed
Jeff's Lisandro and Madsen
Barry Greenstein
Ben Grundy
Sorel Mizzi
Mike 'The Mouth' Matusow
Men 'The Master' Nguyen
Family guy's Ross and Barny Boatman
Annette Obrestad
Andy Bloch
and last, but certainly not the quietest - Andy Black

09-21-2009 13:15 UTC+2

Shuffle Up and Deal

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tournament Director Jack Effel went over a handful of rules and instructions for the players, who have, for the most part, taken their seats.

The cards are officially in the air!

Level: 1

Blinds: 0/0

Ante: 0