Event #1: €550 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold'em Day 1d | 2018 World Series of Poker Europe

10-12-2018 04:40 UTC+2

Bednar Tops 10 Survivors on Day 1D; Kabrhel, Heidel and Zukernik Advance

Christian Zetzsche

Level 18 : 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Oliver Heidel and Jan Bednar among 10 Day 1D survivors

The half-way point has been reached in the 2018 World Series of Poker Europe Event #1: €550 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold'em, as four of the eight starting days have concluded at the King's Casino in Rozvadov. Day 1D attracted a field of 164 entries, of which the top 25 spots were paid, and the final 10 players bagged up their chips with 19 minutes left in level 18.

Jan Bednar claimed 633,000 to his name and is currently third in chips for all 51 players that advanced to Day 2 thus far, trailing Day 1A chip leader Dariusz Glinski (669,000) and Day 1C chip leader Daniel Prior (649,000). Quite remarkably, Bednar, in fact, made it to the money in the earlier flight of the day and finished in 16th place out of 125 entries for €809 before jumping right back into the action.

Several other notables are among the 10 survivors of Day 1D such as Flavio Decataldo (574,000), Bulgaria's Aleksandar Denishev (494,000), Philipp Zukernik (403,000), Oliver Heidel (393,000), Mick Heder (386,000),Jan Ramik (297,000) and Martin Kabrhel (291,000). The master of speech play, currently second in his country's all-time money list, already has one WSOP bracelet and four WSOP circuit rings to his name, all of which he won within the last two years right here at King's Casino.

Kabrhel entered late and quickly scored a double up to get things started, then became one of the big stacks. Near the money bubble on the last three tables, he experienced a roller coaster ride and switched into push or fold mode. Rakesh Lalwani and Tomas Petru were among those that fell victim to this strategy, and other players that cashed but failed to bag up include Michal Lubas, Anson Tsang, Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler and Marek Blasko.

Day 1D Payouts

Place	Winner	Country	Payout (in EUR)
11	Philippe Bouhnik	France	1,283
12	Plamen Yakimov	Bulgaria	1,283
13	Michael Braeutigam	Germany	1,069
14	Marek Blasko	Slovakia	1,069
15	Adrian Buzan	Germany	1,069
16	Mykhailo Gutyi	Ukraine	914
17	Tomas Petru	Czech Republic	914
18	Mykola Lakatosh	Czech Republic	914
19	Jan Gompers	Germany	802
20	Allen Kessler	United States	802
21	Anson Tsang	Hong Kong	802
22	Adrian Rus	Romania	802
23	Rakesh Lalwani	India	802
24	Michal Lubas	Poland	802
25	Refael Dahan	Israel	802

Action of the Day

In level one, some 50 players were seated and that number soon grew to more than 100 as all hopefuls eliminated from the previous starting day gave it another chance in the evening flight. Among those to bow out more than once were such notables as Roman Motovsky, Sander van Wesemael, Teunis Kooij, Shaun Deeb, Roland Israelashvili, Timo Kamphues, Carlo Savinelli and Michael Soyza.

Six-time WSOP bracelet winner Chris Ferguson continued his late entry strategy, but failed to capitalize from it to bust before the money. Dutch Boyd experienced the same fate and further casualties before the money bubble included Aleksandr Merzhvinskiy, Jaroslav Peter and Andrea Klein. Hand-for-hand mode on the money bubble lasted all but one hand. Jan Ramik was fortunate enough to crack aces with pocket fives to survive, while Francesco Cirianni lost a flip with pocket jacks against the ace-queen of Mykhailo Gutyi to let the bubble burst.

Three levels remained to be played for all remaining 25 players and the all in showdowns kept coming at a rapid pace. Michal Lubas lost a big flip with jacks to ace-king and Rakesh Lalwani missed his nut flush draw against the top pair of Martin Kabrhel. The elimination of Allen Kessler came in far more dramatic fashion, though.

After a min-raise by Philipp Zukernik, Allen Kessler three-bet shoved for 12 big blinds and Michael Braeutigam mistakenly tossed in two chips out of the blinds to call Zukernik's raise. Braeutigam had to call off Kessler's shove with seven-six suited and cracked the pocket tens of the American poker pro by turning a flush and rivering a straight flush.

In the final two levels of the night, another nine players ran out of chips including Gutyi, Braeutigam and Marek Blasko to reduce the field to the final 10. That's when the bags came out to end the day ahead of the planned schedule with 19 minutes remaining in level 18.

2018 WSOPE €550 The COLOSSUS Schedule

Day	Date	Starting Time	Late Reg	Entries	Survivors	Further Information
1A	Tuesday October 9th	18:00	~23:40	154	12	Play 18 Levels of 30 Minutes, top 24 spots paid
1B	Wednesday October 10th	18:00	~23:40	167	17	Play 18 Levels of 30 Minutes, top 26 spots paid
1C	Thursday October 11th	12:00	~17:40	125	12	Play 18 Levels of 30 Minutes, top 19 spots paid
1D	Thursday October 11th	18:00	~23:40	164	10	Play concluded with 19:00 left in level 18, top 25 spots paid
1E	Friday October 12th	12:00	~17:40	tba	tba	Play 18 Levels of 30 Minutes, the money will be reached
1F	Friday October 12th	18:00	~23:40	tba	tba	Play 18 Levels of 30 Minutes, the money will be reached
1G	Saturday October 13th	12:00	~17:40	tba	tba	Play 18 Levels of 30 Minutes, the money will be reached
1H	Saturday October 13th	18:00	~23:40	tba	tba	Play 18 Levels of 30 Minutes, the money will be reached
2	Sunday October 14th	15:00	-	tba	tba	Level duration increases to 40 minutes
3	Monday October 15th	tba	-	tba	-	Play Down to a champion

So far, the event has generated a total of 610 entries and 51 players advanced to Day 2. Both numbers will rise significantly, as the two respective flights on Friday and Saturday are expected to fill Europe's biggest poker arena and put the tournament on track to surpass the guaranteed prize pool of €1,000,000. As usual, the PokerNews live reporting team will be on the floor from start-to-finish for all you need to know about the first chance to win a coveted gold bracelet during the festival.

Tags: Aleksandar Denishev Allen Kessler Anson Tsang Chris Ferguson Daniel Prior Dariusz Glinski Dutch Boyd Jan Bednar King's Casino Marek Blasko Martin Kabrhel Oliver Heidel Philipp Zukernik Rakesh Lalwani Shaun Deeb WSOPE

10-12-2018 03:37 UTC+2

Buzan and Blasko Eliminated

Christian Zetzsche

Level 17 : 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Flavio Decataldo made it 17,000 to go and a short-stacked Adrian Buzan pushed for what appeared to be 70,000 in the big blind, Decataldo called.

Adrian Buzan:
Flavio Decataldo:

The board ran out and Buzan had to settle for a payday of €1,069.

Marek Blasko received the very same amount after he defended the big blind against Mick Heder and ended up all in after the turn.

Marek Blasko:
Mick heder:

The on the river improved Heder to a flush and Blasko tossed over his remaining chips to let them splash into the middle of the table before heading to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Flavio Decataldo	490,000	70,000
Mick Heder	310,000	190,000
Adrian Buzan	Busted
Marek Blasko	Busted

Tags: Adrian Buzan Flavio Decataldo Marek Blasko Mick Heder

10-12-2018 02:53 UTC+2

Kessler Busts to a Straight Flush Missclick Call

Christian Zetzsche

Level 16 : 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

Philipp Zukernik opened the action with a raise to 10,000 and Allen Kessler pushed all in for just over 60,000. Michael Braeutigam in the big blind tossed in the extra 5,000 to call the raise of Zukernik and was then made aware that Kessler had gone all in. As a result, the German had to call off the all in of Kessler.

Zukernik was somewhat confused, glanced at Braeutigam’s stack, counted his own stack and folded to see Kessler and Braeutigam in the following showdown.

Allen Kessler:
Michael Braeutigam:

"I can't win this one," Kessler said and stood up from his chair, which fell over. The flop gave Braeutigam a straight and flush draw, which he spiked on the turn. Kessler had outs for the full house and superior flush, but the river further improved Braeutigam to a straight flush.

Player	Chips	Progress
Philipp Zukernik	210,000	40,000
Michael Braeutigam	180,000	25,000
Allen Kessler	Busted

Tags: Allen Kessler Michael Braeutigam Philipp Zukernik

10-12-2018 02:45 UTC+2

Lalwani Eliminated by Kabrhel

Christian Zetzsche

Level 16 : 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

Martin Kabrhel had pushed the flop twice to push up his stack without showdown and remained involved in the action. A raise by the Czech in early position was called by Rakesh Lalwani in the small blind. The flop brought and Lalwani checked, Kabrhel pushed once more for more than 150,000 and Lalwani called with a very similar stack size.

Rakesh Lalwani:
Martin Kabrhel:

Lalwani had plenty of outs with the over card and nut flush draw, but both the turn and the river bricked off. The stacks were counted and Kabrhel had 157,000, which covered Lalwani.

Player	Chips	Progress
Martin Kabrhel	350,000	270,000
Rakesh Lalwani	Busted

Tags: Martin Kabrhel Rakesh Lalwani

10-12-2018 02:08 UTC+2

Another Two Down the Drain

Christian Zetzsche

Level 15 : 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

The eliminations keep on coming at a very quick pace and there are only 28 players remaining with 25 spots paid.

Tal Noach couldn't get there with his short stack and as Oliver Heidel held the better hand preflop and after the river with the .

Andrea Klein was the next to fall. She faced a raise to 10,000 by Marek Blasko in early position and pushed from one seat over for 70,000. Aleksandar Denishev called in the small blind and Blasko folded.

Andrea Klein:
Aleksandar Denishev:

There was no upset on the board and Klein also bowed out just shy of the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandar Denishev	290,000	100,000
Oliver Heidel	260,000	40,000
Tal Noach	Busted
Andrea Klein	Busted

Tags: Aleksandar Denishev Andrea Klein Marek Blasko Oliver Heidel

10-12-2018 00:55 UTC+2

Kovalenko and Oghabian Depart

Christian Zetzsche

Level 13 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Pavel Kovalenko and Jan Gompers got their near identical stacks in preflop with the former at 37,000 and the latter holding 39,000.

Pavel Kovalenko:
Jan Gompers:

The board came and Kovalenko departed without anything to show for.

Martin Kabrhel open-shoved out of the small blind into short stack Milad Oghabian in the big blind, and the Dutchman called.

Milad Oghabian:
Martin Kabrhel:

The flop gave Kabrhel top pair and the straight draw, and he held onto the lead thanks to the turn and river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Martin Kabrhel	155,000	35,000
Jan Gompers	80,000	45,000
Pavel Kovalenko	Busted
Milad Oghabian	Busted

Tags: Jan Gompers Martin Kabrhel Milad Oghabian Pavel Kovalenko

10-11-2018 23:43 UTC+2

Yakimov Busts Two; Kabrhel Thriving

Christian Zetzsche

Level 11 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Rene Crha raised and Plamen Yakimov three-bet small in the cutoff. Micky Blasi moved all in for 7,300 on the button and Crha called. Yakimov asked if he was allowed to raise due to the bet sizes and that was confirmed. He moved all in and Crha almost beat him into the pot.

Micky Blasi:
Rene Crha:
Plamen Yakimov:

While Crha had the best of it before the flop, that all but changed on the flop. Suddenly, he was drawing to running straight cards or the two remaining kings in the deck. Both the turn and the river were blanks and that was it for Crha, who was covered by Yakimov.

Martin Kabrhel doubled with a flush and then proceeded to knock out Roland Israelashvili to essentially triple his stack since late-registering.

Player	Chips	Progress
Plamen Yakimov	110,000
Martin Kabrhel	90,000	50,000
Rene Crha	Busted
Roland Israelashvili	Busted
Micky Blasi	Busted

Tags: Martin Kabrhel Micky Blasi Plamen Yakimov Rene Crha Roland Israelashvili

10-11-2018 22:52 UTC+2

Lubas Sends Camarda to the Rail

Christian Zetzsche

Level 9 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Salvatore Camarda moved all in for the last 8,800 in the cutoff and Michal Lubas called on the button, as did Sandor Ambrus in the big blind. Both remaining active players checked down the board . Camarda flashed , Lubas had the better kicker with and Ambrus could not beat either hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michal Lubas	120,000	45,000
Sandor Ambrus	80,000	-10,000
Salvatore Camarda	Busted

Tags: Michal Lubas Salvatore Camarda Sandor Ambrus

10-11-2018 20:41 UTC+2

Oghabian Flops the Nuts; Cannot Hold

Christian Zetzsche

Level 5 : 200/400, 400 ante

The flop showed and Tomas Petru, as well as Milad Oghabian, had checked out of the blinds. Pavel Kovalenko in late position bet 1,700 and Petru check-raised to 4,300. Oghbanian eyed the stack of his table neighbor carefully and moved all in, which forced an instant fold from Kovalenko.

Petru called it off and was at risk with the for middle pair and the nut flush draw. Oghabian had a big blind special with for the flopped straight only to see his hand fail to hold up on the turn and river. Petru doubled for 13,700 and put a dent into Oghabian's stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Pavel Kovalenko	40,000	40,000
Tomas Petru	30,000	30,000
Milad Oghabian	29,000	4,000

Tags: Milad Oghabian Pavel Kovalenko Tomas Petru

10-11-2018 19:48 UTC+2

Kovalenko Eliminated by Buzan

Christian Zetzsche

Level 4 : 100/300, 300 ante

Adrian Buzan raised from under the gun and Pavel Kovalenko stuck around on the button to see the flop of . Buzan checked, Kovalenko bet 1,000 and was called by big stack Buzan.

On the turn, Buzan check-called a second bet worth 2,500 and then checked the on the river. Kovalenko bet 6,000 with around 10,000 behind and Buzan then moved all in.

After brief consideration, Kovalenko called and Buzan rolled over for a runner-runner straight. Kovalenko was stunned and slowly turned over his for flopped top two pair before slowly tossing his remaining chips to the dealer and leaving the table without a word.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adrian Buzan	100,000	25,000
Pavel Kovalenko	Busted

Tags: Adrian Buzan Pavel Kovalenko