The first day of the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event is in the books. After registration closed for the day, 137 players had entered Day 1a. That number is slightly down from the 156 that showed up for the first flight last year, but there's always tomorrow and a whole slew of players will be showing up. At the end of the night, there were 78 surviving players, and Frenchman Nicolas Levi bagged up the most chips with 153,850.
The day was packed full of excitement including the famous entrance of Mr. Phil Hellmuth. He showed up plenty late as always, followed by a brass marching band and models posed as Lady Gaga. "Poker Face" blasted as he made his way into the casino, but he didn't last too long, hitting the rail before day's end.
Joining him on the rail were 2010 WSOP cash leader Allen Kessler, Vanessa Selbst, Andy Bloch, Chad Brown, Scott Seiver and James Dempsey. November Niners Jonathan Duhamel and Joseph Cheong were also eliminated as was the first ever WSOP Europe Main Event champion Annette Obrestad.
There's plenty of big names still in the field who made it to Day 2 including Huck Seed, Allen Cunningham, Jason Mercier, Faraz Jaka, Nick Schulman, Eugene Katchalov and Arnaud Mattern.
Day 1b kicks off tomorrow at noon and you can bet that the field will be jam packed full of pros. Everyone that didn't play today will be on the felt tomorrow. In the mean time, check out what's going on in the £10,350 High Roller Heads-Up event where Gus Hansen is facing off against Jim Collopy in the finals.
We'll see you right back here on PokerNews tomorrow!
With just three hands remaining, Thomas Bichon opened from UTG+2 for 1,250, only for chip leader Nicolas Levi to three-bet to 3,000 from the button. Bichon made the call.
The Frenchman and former WPT winner then check-called bets of 2,500 and 5,500 on the flop and turn, before check-folding to a final bet of 11,500 on the river, albeit after a lengthy pause.
As a result, Levi extends his lead and has become the first player to surpass the 150,000 mark.
Just before the last three hands were called, Matthew Waxman got into a hefty pot with Filippo Candio, who was the only player to keep up as he bet 9,500, getting rid of those who'd shown some interest in getting to the flop. Not Candio, though, and they got past the flop and the turn (with two checks) before a large amount was wagered again by Waxman. He bet 22,900 on the river when Candio checked to him, and after a minute or so's deliberation, Candio made the call, but could never have beaten quads - Waxman showed down .
In what would ultimately become a prelfop raising war, Kevin MacPhee fired the first arrow, opening up the action for 1,250 from middle position.
Seated on the button, Almira Skripchenko dipped into her stack and made it 3,000, but MacPhee continued his onslaught by four-betting to 8,250!
Skripchenko paused for a moment, before five-betting to 18,000 and adopting a stoic pose that would have sealed victory in any game of musical statues.
MacPhee seemed tempted to pad the pot even further, but eventually opted for the fold, allowing Skripchenko to pick up a sumptuous pot uncontested.
She now has 90,000, whilst the Berlin EPT victor is back down to 35,000.
[user46298]
Huck Seed, in the same seat he found nearly 12 hours ago
Arnaud Mattern, busy in the last level with a big stack as ever, just lost the probable end-of-day chip lead title after clashing with Huck Seed. Mattern raised to 1,250 preflop, called only by Seed on the button. He bet out 1,800 on the flop and was called, after some end-of-finger chip riffling peculiar to Huck Seed.
The turn sparked some fireworks, with Mattern checking, Seed betting 4,025 and Mattern then raising to 13,500. This surprise development left Seed dwelling up for quite a while as he thought about his 50k-ish stack, which he counted down a couple of times. He called, however, and they advanced to the river. Now Mattern checked, and Seed threw in 15,550. A stone-still response from Mattern, who eventually threw in the chips to call, but shook his head as Seed showed .
In early position, Emmeline Boich shoved her last 3,925 chips across the betting line. The gentleman to her immediate left called, and action came all the way around to the blinds. In the big, Jason Mercier squeezed out and moved all in for 17,350 himself. That was enough to (eventually) fold the initial caller and get Mercier and Boich heads up and flipping:
Boich:
Mercier:
The flop was safe and clean for Mercier, coming to keep him in the lead. The turn was an unfortunate sight, however, and the blank river meant a triple up for Boich. She's back in contention with more than 12,000 now, while Mercier has taken another step back. It's been a rough day for the American pro, and he has some work to do to build his stack back from 13,425.
![[user140344]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop and 
turn, before check-folding to a final bet of 11,500 on the 
river, albeit after a lengthy pause.
flop and the 
river when Candio checked to him, and after a minute or so's deliberation, Candio made the call, but could never have beaten quads - Waxman showed down 
.
flop and was called, after some end-of-finger chip riffling peculiar to Huck Seed.
turn sparked some fireworks, with Mattern checking, Seed betting 4,025 and Mattern then raising to 13,500. This surprise development left Seed dwelling up for quite a while as he thought about his 50k-ish stack, which he counted down a couple of times. He called, however, and they advanced to the 
river. Now Mattern checked, and Seed threw in 15,550. A stone-still response from Mattern, who eventually threw in the chips to call, but shook his head as Seed showed 
.
and moved all in for 17,350 himself. That was enough to (eventually) fold the initial caller and get Mercier and Boich heads up and flipping:
river meant a triple up for Boich. She's back in contention with more than 12,000 now, while Mercier has taken another step back. It's been a rough day for the American pro, and he has some work to do to build his stack back from 13,425.