Roland Luik Holds MPNPT Tallinn Main Event Day 1a Chip Lead
The MPN Poker Tour started the new year with a return to Tallinn, the picturesque capital of Estonia and a perennially popular location on the European poker circuit.
The guarantee of the €550 MPNPT Main Event increased from its 2017 incarnation from €150,000 to €200,000. Day 1a has already showcased the sort of mixed field of online qualifiers, pros, and holidaying amateurs that makes the atmosphere on the MPNPT second to none.
Day 1a entries totaled 154, with 53 surviving to return on Saturday’s Day 2. Joining them will be those who make it through Day 1b, plus late registrants who have until the end of the first level on Saturday at 2 p.m. to buy in.
Leading the Day 1a survivors is Olybet online qualifier Roland Luik with 219,700 in chips, a whisker in front of MPNPT stalwart Jari Hurri (218,200). No one else broke the 200,000 barrier, but hefty stacks also belong to Nick Glushchenko (189,100), Anneli Mägi (168,900), and Igor Pihela (165,000).
Notable shorter stacks include those of David Docherty (37,900), Mateusz Moolhuizen (56,400), and Phil Huxley (60,500). Full chip counts and a recap of the day can be found on the MPNPT blog.
The MPNPT Tallinn Players’ Party took place last night in the Olympic Park Casino, giving a chance for those eliminated from Day 1a to relax before taking to the tables once more. They could get back into the unlimited re-entry Main Event, Friday's €55 side event, or the €75 High Roller Satellite.
Photos from the party will be posted on the MPN Poker Tour Facebook page, along with daily galleries from the Main Event.
The MPNPT Tallinn schedule also features the €1,300 High Roller on Jan. 26-27. Taking place during the same two days will be the inaugural €220 MPNPT Hendon Mob Championship featuring a 25,000 starting stack, half-hour blinds, and the chance to win special bounty hoodies and exclusive flags on the Hendon Mob website.
The last time the MPNPT visited Tallinn in 2017, Finn Keimo Suominen took the trophy and €45,200 in prize money from a total prize pool of €258,990 after the Main Event attracted 534 entries. With such a turnout for the first starting flight, 2019 looks on track to surpass this number of Main Event runners. This year’s prize pool will be announced on Saturday after registration is closed.
The live stream with hole cards on a 20-minute delay from the MPNPT Tallinn begins on Jan. 25, with a Main Event Day 1b feature table from 2:50 p.m. on Facebook and Twitch, The live stream continues until a winner is decided on Sunday.
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