[user46298]
SPORTSMAN -- Freddy Deeb, $50k H.O.R.S.E. champ at this year's World Series, just doubled through a short stacked Mr. Feklisov (a seat Nine, late entry and therefore not listed on the original player draw). By short stacked, I mean that he'd already lost about half his original 20,000 chips, and he was in the process of raising Freddy Deeb on a flop, from 1,800 to 4,500, when I came up to the table. Deeb considered for a while, and called.
The turn brought the and Mr. Feklisov announced, "Seven thousand," throwing in two red 5k chips. I had thought, with the blinds at 50/100, that these beauties might have been gathering dust for a little while, but no, people seem ready to gamble, £10k buy-in or no £10k buy-in. Freddy Deeb asked, "What have you got left?" before finding out it was 700 and putting him in. He called, of course, showing , while Deeb flipped the .
The river: "Thank you, my friend," said Feklisov as he scooped his pot.
Today at the Empire is like an episode of Celebrity Squares, but instead of sitting on top of each other, some of the world's most fearsome players are sat side by side - quite unique for the lucky railers.
One example is the bearded ballroom-dancing, card-throwing, cucumber-slicing bracelet winning Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson, perched next door to the meek, but discretely formidable figure of Jennifer Harman. And if that wasn't enough for the minnows on that table to worry about, they've got Robin Williams' doppleganger opposite, Andy Bloch, a worthy contestant in any poker tournament.
Throw Erick Lindgren, Ted Forrest, Barry Greenstein and Co. into the equation and it's like an episode of High Stakes Poker here today. Let's just hope the action's equally as entertaining...
Phil Hellmuth has just made a grand entrance into the Empire Casino. In true Hellmuthian fashion, although not as late as he usually is, he was flanked by no less than 11 beautiful, half naked models, each one representing one of his WSOP bracelets.
Rumour has it that there is a black cab wrapped around a traffic light pole somewhere in central London.
[user24788]
From the floor of the Empire Casino...
I'm covering the tables in the poker room downstairs at the Empire. There are some familiar faces such as Barry Greenstein, French actor Patrick Bruel (who made the final table of the EPT Barcelona nine days ago), Thor Hansen, William Thorson, and Ramzi Jelassi.
I spotted Jelassi simply because he has his name stitched onto the back of his hoodie. Perhaps more poker players should replicate Jelassi choice of wardrobe. It would be much easier to identify players.
[user25067]
THE FIFTY-- Top online pros Sorel "Imper1um" Mizzi, Erik "Eirk123" Sagstrom, and Brian "sbrugby" Townsend are playing here, along with Lee Watkinson, Erik Seidel, Nikolaus Jedlicka, Thomas Wahlroos, Danny Smith, and Jan Sorensen.
[user38334]
Due to the nature of the Casino business in the United Kingdom (a series of smaller clubs as opposed to the larger properties in the US), this event is being hosted in three separate venues - The Empire Casino, The Fifty and The Sportsman.
Word just in from Tournament Director Jack Effel is that the players will play 4x 2hr levels.
[user25067]
THE FIFTY-- Table 15 seems to be the toughest draw over here at the Fifty, stacked with Gus Hansen, Farzad Bonyadi, Brandon Adams, Liz Lieu, and John Juanda. Table 16 has not one, but two World Champions in Noel Furlong (1999) and Greg Raymer (2004), along with recent bracelet winner Jeffrey Lisandro ensconced in the 8 seat. Table 18 is no picnic either, with bracelet winner Robert Mizrachi, £2,500 H.O.R.S.E. final tabler Gary "The Choirboy" Jones, Thierry Van den Berg, and top French player Pascal Perrault.
[user24788]
Thomas Bihl winning a bracelet two days ago.
From the floor of the Empire Casino...
On the third hand of the tournament, there was a three-way pot and one of the first eliminations of the main event.
Sarah Taylor limped from UTG. William Thorson called. Thomas Bihl raised to 1,200. Taylor called as did Thorson. The flop was . Taylor bet out of position and was told to take her bet back. Thomas Bihl checked. Taylor then bet 1,000. Thorson called. Bihl check-raised to 6,000. Taylor and Thorson called. The turn was the . Bihl checked. Taylor bet 8,000. Thorson folded and Bihl went into the tank for a minute before he check-raised all in. Taylor quickly called.
Taylor:
Bihl:
Bihl was drawing dead as the dealer put out a meaningless on the river. Bihl headed to the rail as Taylor dragged the pot and jumped out to an early chiplead.
Thomas Bihl won a bracelet two days ago for his first place victory in the £2,500 HORSE event.
[user38334]
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![[user628]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop, from 1,800 to 4,500, when I came up to the table. Deeb considered for a while, and called.
and Mr. Feklisov announced, "Seven thousand," throwing in two red 5k chips. I had thought, with the blinds at 50/100, that these beauties might have been gathering dust for a little while, but no, people seem ready to gamble, £10k buy-in or no £10k buy-in. Freddy Deeb asked, "What have you got left?" before finding out it was 700 and putting him in. He called, of course, showing 
, while Deeb flipped the 
.
"Thank you, my friend," said Feklisov as he scooped his pot.
. Bihl checked. Taylor bet 8,000. Thorson folded and Bihl went into the tank for a minute before he check-raised all in. Taylor quickly called.
on the river. Bihl headed to the rail as Taylor dragged the pot and jumped out to an early chiplead.
