25 September 2010
Clock please!
I was going out for a quick ciggie when I heard "CLOCK PLEASE" from Table 20 - that's Eli Elezra, Huck Seed, John Doland and Filippo Candio so I rushed - well, ambled - over to see the fuss.
De Wolfe sucks out to avoid the rail
So far we’re only about fifty minutes into the first level of Day 2 but already we’ve lost more than a table’s worth of players. Roland De Wolfe, who we forgot to mention is at the Bansi/Shulman table, nearly joined them.
Who's Who of Poker get action going at WSOPE Day 2
The Empire is once again packed out with 22 tables full of some of poker’s superstars and a brief stroll around the area gives you an idea of just how many tough tables there are in this elite tournament – hint: there are 22 tough tables.
Shuffle up and deal! WSOPE Day 2 kicks off
After two days of star-studded and epic poker action, the 195 survivors of Day 1a and Day 1b have merged into one intensely tough field to play out six more ninety minute blind levels on Day 2. We predicted 194 so props to us, we think.
24 September 2010
World Series of Poker Europe Day 1b completed
Well, that wraps things up for Day 1b of the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. A total of 209 runners today upped the tally to a 346-strong field with a first prize of £830,401 ($1.31m). There are 36 players in the Day 1a and Day 1b survivors who will pocket at least £21,150. Everyone is looking to the first place prize and the bracelet, though.
Entrants and prize pool officially confirmed.
As players approach the halfway point of level six of Day 1b the official total for players and prizes has been confirmed. The 'official' count has been 347 since the second break but Nolan Dalla informed us that might be high.
Last level of Day 1b begins at WSOPE Main Event
I noticed a depressing thing when I was counting out the 5ps and 10ps in my pockets to scrape together enough change for a Red Bull (had £1.07, got two Boosts instead) and realised – I used to play with James Mitchell three years ago, in pub tournaments around London. Since then he’s won the Irish Open for €600,000 and now he’s among the leaders at the WSOPE Main Event. I’m counting small change... go figure.
Benyamine busto; Blom, Greenstein increase stacks
David Benyamine is out of the door mid-way through the fifth level of the WSOPE. He took an early lead when he turned a straight against top set and doubled up in level one but this is proof that a tournament isn't won on the first day.
Some more chip counts at 200/400/50
Another quick check around the room has revealed some more big stacks cropping up who, given some cards and luck, could challenge Nicolas Levi for the overnight chip lead. Perhaps the biggest boost is Viktor Blom, who is probably Isildur1. The young, mop-haired Swede has easily over 100,000 on the felt.
WSOPE Day 1b - PokerStars versus Full Tilt
Well, there is always downtime when reports are written and you don’t spot interesting hands or events for a while. I decided to amuse myself by going around the 17 remaining tables and seeing which group of pros – PokerStars or Full Tilt – was doing the best.