A cheerful Ian Nelson has doubled up, getting his chips in with against Richard Clarke's .
Board:
"Nice comeback," commented tablemate Albert Iversen. It turns out that just two hands previously, Nelson had been a short stack and had now flopped two sets in a row. "I know, because the last one was against me, " sighed Kara Scott.
Fintan Gavin has drawn Jamie Gold and Dan Carter as tablemates and the garrulous Irishman extraordinaire is giving Gold a chat-run for his money. It's all good natured, getting-to-know-you stuff at the moment though:
"So, is this your first time in Ireland?"
"Yes."
"Liking it?"
"Loving it. The people are so friendly."
"See, I thought that was the problem with Ireland. The people."
"You should try London..."
There follows a mini Gold lifestory, involving Irish grandparents, a change of name, a stepfather, and the revelation that Jamie is indeed half Irish.
Jennifer Tilly bet 1,000 on the turn of a board and Ali Mallu swiftly called. Both players checked the river though, and Mallu quietly mucked when Tilly turned over to take the pot.
Padraig Parkinson seems to have woken up, but has met his match in tablemate David Saab. The combined talking of the two of them is really something to behold.
Aaron Thompson is our latest bustee. As related by Barny Boatman just after the event, Thompson raised to 300 in early position and got three or four callers to see a flop with two spades on it. Following a brief raising war, he ended up all in against one opponent. Thompson's was not in terrible shape against his opponent's , but a couple of bricks later and he hit the rail.
Near the end of the first level, Daniel O'Reilly busted out after running pocket kings into pocket aces, which flopped a set for good measure. Our player total seems as fluid as English gravy - new tables seem to be popping up every fifteen minutes or so. Expect a more definite total towards the end of the first break.
Spotted in Poker Ducks attire is Christer Johansson, who just took a thousand or so from Carter Phillips. Johansson called Phillips' 425 bet on a flop, before betting him off with 725 on the turn.
Reigning Irish Open champion Neil Channing is clearly working himself up for some aggression, which he intends to fuel with all the sugar in the world. While most players are ordering coffees and gentle, easy-on-the-stomach sandwiches, Channing was overheard ordering a sugar-frosted Danish pastry, and also a Mars bar as an afterthought, in case the Danish didn't have enough quick-release carbohydrate in it. Good luck to everyone else at his table...