Cream Rises at EPT Barcelona, but Brits are Skimmed Off
The big names are making it through the early stages of the Barcelona EPT
Thursday 30th August 2007
Nearly 600 players paid the 7,700+300 buy-in for the inaugural European Poker Tour (EPT) Main Event in Barcelona, swelling the prize pool to nearly, 4,181,100, of which 1,170,700 will go to the overall winner. No wonder many of the best players in the world have braved the exchange rate and headed out to the Catalan capital, Barcelona.
The Catalans are both stubborn and long-suffering, with their own language and a strong wish to be independent from the rest of Spain. The regional symbol is a donkey, which is fitting, as only 99 players out of 264 were still alive at the end of Day 1a. Many UK players can be counted among the asses, with only 9 Brits among the survivors, including Philip Starrs, Richard Ashby, Dan Carter and Michael Greco. We like to think of it as 11%.
Big names included Johnny Chan, Greg Raymer, Daniel Negreanu, and Liz Lieu. Shock knock-outs included Humberto Brenes, Praz Banzi, Barny Boatman and Dave Colclough and Liz Lieu was almost blinded out as she was called away to a family emergency. It is not known if she will return to play on day two. Northern European players are doing well, though Finish player Juha Helppi was eliminated by countryman Thomas Wahlroos, who finished the day second in chips. Dan Ansky Stern was first with 99,000 and Fabrice Soulier third with 70,000.
Of the 279 starters, 110 remained at the end of day 1b bringing the total number of day 2 players to 209. The top 54 places will pay.
Nearly 600 players paid the 7,700+300 buy-in for the inaugural European Poker Tour (EPT) Main Event in Barcelona, swelling the prize pool to nearly, 4,181,100, of which 1,170,700 will go to the overall winner. No wonder many of the best players in the world have braved the exchange rate and headed out to the Catalan capital, Barcelona.