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36 players (of 579) remain – we’re in the money
Chip counts
Prize pool and payouts
10:48pm: Just five tables left
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
The room was absolutely jam-packed with Day 2 players this morning. Now the field has been whittled down to just 36 spread over just five tables.
10:45pm: “Pay him. Pay zat man his money.”
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
If you insist, Teddy KGB.
39. Petrica Lombada – €2,530
40. Paul Lucian Jifcu – €2,200
41. Bahar Musa – €2,200
42. Ionut Dragos – €2,200
43. Daniel Ricardo – €2,200
44. Nicolae Buse – €2,200
45. Claudiu Rajnoveanu – €2,200
46. Karakolev Nedelcho – €2,200
47. Iulian Alin Chirculeanu – €2,200
48. Daniel Balaiasa – €2,200
49. Georgian Luta Balu – €2,200
50. Lahmani Oshri – €2,200
51. Alpar Gyorgy Soos – €2,200
10:36pm: Dichev cracks a milly
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Yasen Dichev was chip leader at the last break, and now he’s even more so. He’s the first player to break the one million chip barrier, and currently sits with 1.75 million.

Yasen Dichev
10:26pm: The price isn’t always right
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Alin Petrisor Pandilica opened to 20,000 from the under the gun and it folded to former chip leader Marian Virlanuta who made the call, as did Sason Erez from the big blind.
The flop came the [td][5c][th] and it checked to Virlanuta who led for 31,000. Only Pandilica called to see the [3h] turn. He checked again and now the bet from Virlanuta was 75,000. Pandilica counted his chips carefully and decided to move all-in for 136,000. Virlanuta was priced in and called.
He had the [js][qd] so was hoping to hit something, but in fact he tried to muck when he Pandilica had the [5d][5h]. The river was the [9d] and Pandilica doubled to close to 300,000.
10:16pm: All the chip counts
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
As we don’t have too many players left now, here’s a look at how they all stack up:
PLAYER |
CHIP COUNT |
Yasen Dichev |
990000 |
Florian Rosa |
850000 |
Moshe Eliyahu |
750000 |
Marian Virlanuta |
730000 |
Peters Tobias |
621000 |
Razvan Costinel Belea |
615000 |
Avishai Shitrit |
540000 |
Alexandru Boicea |
518000 |
Ionut Dragos |
500000 |
Sason Erez |
490000 |
Florian Dimitrie Duta |
440000 |
Adam Milewski |
402000 |
Adrian Ionescu |
400000 |
Mihai Sorin Turculeanu |
400000 |
Yordan Yordanov Mitrentsov |
380000 |
Antoanell Cristian Judet |
370000 |
Razvan Bordei |
360000 |
Nihat Karyagdi |
335000 |
Cosmin Ionut Petcu |
330000 |
Jozsef Liszkovics |
330000 |
Gary Clarke |
306000 |
Mihai Manole |
290000 |
Daniel Ricardo |
264000 |
Adrian Ion Popa |
261000 |
Carmen Zainescu |
250000 |
Johny Jabra |
245000 |
Valentin Anghel |
240000 |
Armand Alexandru Matti |
235000 |
Florin Ionut Pandilica |
212000 |
Alin Petrisor Pandilica |
210000 |
Ionut Dragos Munteanu |
206000 |
Karakolev Nedelcho |
180000 |
Petrica Lombada |
165000 |
Victor Emanuel Beteringhe |
155000 |
Mihai Ciorteanu |
140000 |
Traian Bostan |
130000 |
Paul Lucian Jifcu |
115000 |
Catalin Moraru |
110000 |
Bahar Musa |
110000 |
Claudiu Rajnoveanu |
100000 |
Nicolae Buse |
85000 |
Valentin Marius Cristea |
74000 |
Adrian Nicolae Ionescu |
65000 |
Alexandru Daniel Strugut |
55000 |
Ionut Aurelian Stoichita |
54000 |
Dan Petrea |
30000 |
Iulian Alin Chirculeanu |
6000 |
10:06pm: Another double for Carmen
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Carmen Zainescu seems to be stuck in a loop of doubling up then getting short again. Well, it’s time for one more cycle as she’s just doubled with her Ace-ten vs Ionut Dragos’ Ace-five. A ten on the flop has brought her stack back to 190,000.

Carmen Zainescu
10pm: Two more hours
Level 19 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)
Just two more levels left for Day 2.
Meanwhile, the €330 Bucharest Cup is nearing its conclusion, and the €2,200 high roller is currently underway.
LEVEL |
SMALL BLIND |
BIG BLIND |
ANTE |
19 |
5,000 |
10,000 |
1,000 |
9:45pm: Last break of the night
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
We’ll be back in 15 minutes.
9:44pm: Hollywooding, not slowrolling
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
After Georgian Luta Balu moved all-in from under the gun for 87,000, it folded around to Mihai Manole on the button and he went into the tank for a couple of minutes. Eventually he slid out just a flat call.
The blinds quickly folded, and then Balu turned over his [ac][kh]. You’d think if someone thought for that long he wouldn’t have that beat, but turns out Manole had the [ad][as]. He wasn’t slowrolling though; he was acting weaker so that he’d maybe get one of the blinds to raise.
Anyway, the board ran out [kc][6d][3h][jh][6c] and Balu hit the rail a little frustrated.
9:38pm: Double up for Carmen
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
We heard Carmen Zainescu celebrating so went over to see what was up. Turns out she’d got her last 120,000 all-in on the turn of a [jc][ks][3h][7d] board with the [kd][3d], ahead of Mihai Ciorteanu’s [kh][th]. The river came the [kc] and her full house beat his trips, bringing her stack up to around 250,000.
9:30pm: Latest eliminations
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
52. Andrei Stoenescu – €2,200
53. Eugen Gabriel Chiva – €2,200
54. Victor Catalin Anghel – €2,200
55. Andrei Erohin – €2,200
56. Alexandru Farcasanu – €1,970
57. Alexandru Daniel Ionescu – €1,970
58. Marius Vik Enebakk – €1,970
59. Adrian Eugen Constantin – €1,970
60. Tiberiu Ban – €1,970
61. Cristian Costea – €1,970
62. Ilan Buskila – €1,970
63. Catalin George Pacala – €1,970
64. Gabriel Gavrila – €1,970
65. Jean Philippe Carl Marie Schoonbrood – €1,970
66. Petrica Constantin – €1,970
9:10pm: Jabra Cadabra! Johny survives without knowing it
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Johny Jabra is on cloud nine right now. Not just because he doubled up, but because for a few seconds there he thought he’d been eliminated.
He was all-in with the [7h][7d] for 64,000 against Nicolae Buse’s [ah][jc]. The board ran out safe for him until the [ad] river, at which point he got up and wished everyone good luck.
Thing is, there were three more diamonds on the board too and Jabra had won it with a flush! He’s up to above 130,000 now.
8:57pm: Clarke still going strong
Level 18 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)
Ireland’s Gary Clarke opened to 17,000 from under the gun plus one and got a caller in his neighbour to the left, Andrei Erohin. The flop came the [kh][ts][qc] and Clarke continued for 18,000. Erohin thought for a while but gave it up, showing the [ac] as he did. That prompted Clarke to do him a favour and show him his cards too – the [ah][kc] for top pair and a gutshot.
Clarke’s up to 300,000 now.
LEVEL |
SMALL BLIND |
BIG BLIND |
ANTE |
18 |
4,000 |
8,000 |
1,000 |
8:38pm: Gavrila falls to El Clásico
Level 17 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Adrian Ionescu (there are a lot of Adrian Ionescu’s here in Bucharest who play poker – we had about ten in this tournament!) moved all-in under the gun for 67,000 and it folded around to Gabriel Gavrila in the big blind. He snap-called for stack of roughly 60,000 with the [qs][qd] and was up against Ionescu’s [ah][kd].
The El Clásico of poker races started very well for Ionescu. The [8d][as][4d] flop put him ahead, and the [js] turn and [ac] river kept him there. Gavrila hit the rail to collect his €1,970, while Ionescu is now playing 130,000.
8:28pm: Biggest stacks right now
Level 17 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
PLAYER |
CHIP COUNT |
Marian Virlanuta |
670000 |
Daniel Ricardo |
501000 |
Jozsef Liszkovics |
498000 |
Moshe Eliyahu |
450000 |
Yasen Dichev |
440000 |
Eugen Gabriel Chiva |
410000 |
Antoanell Cristian Judet |
401000 |
Victor Emanuel Beteringhe |
385000 |
Florian Rosa |
380000 |
Florian Dimitrie Duta |
375000 |
8:20pm: The latest money winners
Level 17 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
67. Cosmin Constantin Cimpeanu- €1,970
68. Catalin Ciocov- €1,970
69. Denis Ioan Poteras- €1,970
70. Catalin Dragomir – €1,970
71. Catalin Luca – €1,970
72. Iosif Eva – €1,740
8:10pm: Zainescu making moves
Level 17 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Carmen Zainescu, the sole female left in this Day 2 field, opened to 16,000 from the cut-off and got one caller – Eugen Gabriel Chiva from the big blind.
The flop came the [4d][ad][tc] and Zianescu opted not to c-bet, checking it to Chiva who put out a bet of 18,000. Zainescu then went straight for her chips and counted a raise to 41,000. Chiva thought for a minute or so before letting it go.
Zainescu showed the table her hand – the [2h][2d] – but it turned out she was bluffing with the best hand. Chiva showed his [jd][7h] for complete air.
7:50pm: Three more gone
Level 17 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
We’ve had three eliminations in the opening minutes of the level.
73. Emanuel Flesner – €1,740.00
74. Antonino Karman – €1,740.00
75. Iulian Doroftei – €1,740.00
7:45pm: Welcome back
Level 17 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)
Players are back in their seats after dinner. We’ll be playing four more 60-minute levels today.
6:47pm: Dinner time
PLayers are taking a one-hour dinner break.
6:43pm: Here comes the avalanche
Level 16 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
Players are busting like madmen now they know they’ve secured some cash. Those who have exited in the last 10 minutes and win €1,740 each are:
76. Vlad Alexandru Lazariciu
77. Adrian Ioan Ionescu
78. Spiridon Tonikidis
79. Mircea Alexandru Flutur
80. Sorin Petre Radulescu
81. Constantin Manole
82. Paulos Patsis
83. Adrian Iancu
84. Adrian Costin Constantin
85. Neculai Macovei
86. Adamou Christodoulos
87. Tudor Popa
6:33pm: It’s burst! Gheorghe Bogdan Ionescu bubbles Eureka6 Bucharest
Level 16 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
What an epic end to hand-for-hand play: three all-ins and calls. Three spots to burst the bubble.
In the first table we went to, Adrian Costin Constantin was all-in with the [kd][kc] v the [as][qc] of chip leader Marian Virlanuta. It ran out [2h][qh][7d][7h][8d] and Constantin doubled.
Then, we went to see Antonino Karman, who was all-in with pocket Kings too: the [kh][kc] against Yasen Dichev’s sheepishly-revealed [jd][4d]. The board came the [8c][6h][qc][qs][as] and he survived too.
Then finally, we saw Gheorghe Bogdan Ionescu all-in from the big blind with the [ah][qh] against UK player Florian Dimitrie Duta’s [jd][9d]. It looked good for the Romanian, but that all changed on the flop.

Ionescu before the flop sunk in
It fell the [8d][7s][tc] giving Duta the nut straight. Ionescu needed running cards, but the [2d] turn and [6h] river were no help to him.

…and after the river
Ionesco exited in 88th, and everyone is now in the money!
All videos by Tomas Stacha – who apologises for the shakiness. “I was taking photos at the same time!” he says.
6:25pm: Keep on surviving
Level 16 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
We’ve had several all-in and calls now but the at-risk players keep on doubling.
6:07pm: Nothing yet
Level 16 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
Three hands of bubble action and not a single all-in and call yet to report.
5:52pm: Florin Vasile Haiduc soft bubbles
Level 16 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
Florin Vasile Haiduc is our soft bubble boy. He moved all-in with the [qs][jc] and was called by Valentin Anghel who woke up with the [ad][ac]. It ran out [8s][kd][2h][qh][6d] and he was out in 89th.
We’re now on the bubble.
5:46pm: Going soft
Level 16 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)
With 89 players remaining, we’re now on the soft bubble.
LEVEL |
SMALL BLIND |
BIG BLIND |
ANTE |
16 |
2,500 |
5,000 |
500 |
5:37pm: Two eliminations – one nastier than the other
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Play has naturally slowed somewhat as we approach the money bubble, but here are the two most recent eliminations. One was…pretty gross.
On Table 5, Adrian Nicolae Ionescu moved all-in for around 50,000 and it folded to Bogdan Diaconu in the big blind who called. He had the [qd][qs], but that was trailing Ionescu’s [as][ah]. The board ran out [ac][5h][5c][4s][4d] and Diaconu was gone.
Then over on Table 1, Armand Alexandru Matti opened to 8,000 and got a call from Cristian Vornicu. Avishai Shitrit then squeezed to 24,000 from the big blind and Vornicu jammed for around 60,000 and was called.
Vornicu was looking good with his [kc][kd] against the [jh][qd] all the way to turn on the [8h][qh][5c][9s] board.
But the river changed everything. It came the [tc] giving Shitrit a running straight, and Vornicu couldn’t believe it. He was gone.
5:28pm: Six to go
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
94 players remain so five more exits and we’ll be on the hard bubble.
5:22pm: Bubble abuse
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Chip leader Marian Virlanuta is absolutely abusing the approaching bubble, putting players to the test and not tolerating any stalling from the smaller stacks.
In a hand I just caught, Sason Erez opened to 9,000 under the gun and the action was on short-stacked Petrica Lombada. He was thinking for more than a minute, and kept looking up at the screen to see if there were any updates on other eliminations. Eventually Virlanuta called the clock, and Lombada folded.
It then folded around to Virlanuta who defended from the big blind. The flop was the [5c][3c][ac] and he checked to Erez who continued for 12,000. That was called, and when the dealer was burning and turning the [ts] turn Virlanuta checked in the dark.
Erez fired again for 17,000, and that too got a quick call. The river came the [8c] bringing four clubs on board, and now Virlanuta bet 55,000 putting Erez to the test. He folded.
Virlanuta turned over the [3h][4h] for just a pair of threes.”Ah you had a straight,” said a confused Erez. “No, wait…you didn’t? Ah, good raise.”
5:02pm: Players falling left and right
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
We’re now just nine eliminations away from the money. The latest to go are:
Cristian Tardea, Florian Rosa, Shahar Ohayon, Mayan Lawrence Shih, Slaven Popov, Lida Doron Zvi, Lucian Mihai Barbu, Florin Popescu, end of Day 1B chip leader Taranko Grzegorz, Victor Ciubotaru, Bogdan Ioan Agica, Marian Valentin Tiuntiuc, Vlad Ardeleanu, Georgios Charmpilas, Eugen Stefan Predescu, Kitanov Stoyan, Mihai Manole, and Mihai Adrian Grigoriu.
4:55pm: Zainescu on the up
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Carmen Zainescu is going from strength to strength, having just eliminated another player. She called the 28,000 shove of Lucian Mihai Barbu with the [as][js] and was way ahead of his [ah][8s]. The flop came the [4s][th][5s] giving her the nut flush draw, and she’d hit it on the [9s] turn. The [5c] completed the board and sent Barbu on his way, while Zainescu now sits with 155,000.
4:45pm: Another one bites the dust
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
Florin Popescu moved all-in for his last 23,500 and Canadian Daniel Ricardo called on the button. It fodled to Gary Clarke in the big blind and the Irish player made the call too.
The flop was the [4d][2h][tc] and Clarke checked, which led to Ricardo taking control with a 35,000 bet. That got Clarke out of the way and the cards were flipped.
Popescu must have thought the flop was good for him with his [9c][td] – and it was; only problem was he’d still need to hit as Ricardo had the [qs][qh].
The turn was the [6h], and the river came the [kc] to eliminate local player Popescu.
4:36pm: The top of the pile
Level 15 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)
You can view all of the chip counts here, but here’s a look at the biggest stacks in the room at the beginning of Level 15:
PLAYER |
CHIP COUNT |
Marian Virlanuta |
450000 |
Cosmin Ionut Petcu |
380000 |
Yasen Dichev |
340000 |
Lahmani Oshri |
335000 |
Daniel Ricardo |
310000 |
Florian Rosa |
300000 |
Razvan Costinel Belea |
285000 |
Alexandru Boicea |
270000 |
Gary Clarke |
250000 |
Sason Erez |
250000 |
LEVEL |
SMALL BLIND |
BIG BLIND |
ANTE |
15 |
2,000 |
4,000 |
500 |
4:21pm: Have a rest
You’ve got 15 minutes to go put the kettle on or do whatever you need to do before the players return from break for Level 15. Will we hit the bubble? There are 112 left and 87 get paid.
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4:16pm: Bust-outs
Level 14 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
The latest to fall are Oz Cohen, Radu Cristian Cucuiu, Calin Mihai Pretorian, Krzysztof Gluszko , Alexandru Tanasica, Adrian Demusca , Razvan Lucian Cetanas, Mihai Bogdan Gheonu, Ovidiu Roman, Olivier Frederic Duran, Iulian Azoicai, Vicenzo Auteri, Gabriel Petrica Popescu, Cornel Pazara, Alexandru Neculae , Sabin Valeriu Olariu, Dan Chisu, Marius Ion Geanta, Cristian Dan, Hansen Jens, Vladimir Velikov, Daniel Mihai Rinzis, and Ahmed Ahmed.
4:06pm: On your bike
Level 14 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Remember this guy from yesterday?

The mystery biker
Well, it turned out to Californian-via-Bucharest player Cornel Pazaria, and he’d end making it through Day 1B to fight again today.
However, his easy rider has come to an end, as he’s just been eliminated. He got his last 60,000 all-in with the [8s][ts] versus the [as][ac] of Petrica Lombada on an [8d][ks][5s] flop, and even managed to hit his flush on the [7s] turn. However, the river was the [js] which gave Lombada the nut flush, sending Pazaria away on his bike. Good game sir.
3:48pm: Przgorezewski happy to flip and win
Level 14 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
Poland’s Blazej Przgorezewski just moved all-in for his last 22,000 with the [qc][9c], and wasn’t ecastatic when Nihat Karyagdi snap-called. However, he was more relieved when he saw he was in a race against the [7d][7h].
“Phew! We are flipping!” he said as the dealer put out a flop. It came the [kc][9d][2h], pairing his nine and giving him the lead. The turn was the [tc] and river the [ah], and that secured him the double up to roughly 56,000.

Blazej Przgorezewski
3:38pm: Say goodbye to 45, say hello to 60
Level 14 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (400 ante)
It’s Level 14, and that means that from the next Level onwards we’ll be playing one hour levels instead of 45 minutes.
LEVEL |
SMALL BLIND |
BIG BLIND |
ANTE |
14 |
1,500 |
3,000 |
400 |
3:35pm: The departed
Level 13 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)
We’re down to 137 players and the bubble is just 50 eliminations away. Here are the latest victims:
Marius Asanache, Bogdan Berinde, Gabriel Toader, Adrian Bizineche, Aurelian Valentin Croitoriu, Lars Jurgens, Tiberiu Cornel Diaconescu, Niculae Eremia, Gabriel Cioaca, Vasile Calin Zagon, Benjamin Michel Barkay, Yogev Kudadi, Davide Suriano, George Dimuleasa, Avi Cohen, Marios Theophanous, Zhiping Zeng, Aleks Dimitrov, Catalin Luca, Christos Xanthopoulos, Alexandru George Preda, Jan Tams, and Daniel Ghionoiu.
3:25pm: A trip down memory lane for Yogev Kudadi
Level 13 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)
Yesterday was a great day for Israel’s Yogev Kudadi. He found himself sat just one player away from his poker idol, Team Pro Daniel Negreanu, and managed to make all of his friends in the room jealous with this snap.

Yogev Kudadi with Negreanu on Day 1B
Alas, today has not been so great for him. He was just eliminated after getting his last 12,500 all-in with the [ac][td] against Nihat Karyagdi’s [5d][5h], only to see his opponent flop a set on the [3h][5c][2s] board. It was completed by the [js] turn and [kd] river and that was all she wrote for Kudadi.
Still, he’ll always the memories.

Kudadi is gone
3:15pm: Cohen’s goin’
Level 13 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)
Avi Cohen suffered a devastating blow earlier when flopped set of Queens were no good against a flopped broadway. Well, things didn’t get any better for him and he now finds himself out of the main event.
The table broke right after this hand so I couldn’t catch the names of the other players involved, but Cohen jammed over a raise and three-bet for 41,000 and was called in one spot by a player with pocket Aces. The man from Israel had the [ad][kd], but got no help on the run-out.
3:05pm: Early bath for this lot
Level 13 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)
Here are the most recent eliminations:
Ionut Catalin Mihart, Aurelian Ungureanu , Daniel Saether, Ivan Dimitrov, Lawrence Lazar, Andrei Berbescu, Dorin Rauta, Mihai Gabriel Niste, Iulian Cuza, Alexandru Lupu, George Cosmin Butoi, Andreas Zampas, Gheorghe Caplescu, Olivian Zoltan Balint, Raoul Ioan Iancovici, Ionut Valentin Simion, Alexandru Ionut Stan, Mihai Nicolae Vasile, Eusebiu Nicolae Jalba, Ervin Kuglish , Marius Catalin Stancescu, Pedersen Thomas Lyngvang, Fadi Younes, Danny Van Zijp, Tolga Ismen, Andrei Gheorghe Vasile, Leonard Dobre, Razvan Tiberiu Naghiu, Epure Andrei, Alessandro Nicola Benazzo, Anaras Alekberovas, and Mitran Marian.
2:55pm: Money, money, money
Level 13 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)
The official prize pool and pay outs have now been confirmed.
The total prize pool is €561,630.00, after 3 per cent of the prize pool was withheld for payment of dealers and floor staff.
That means we have a whopping first place prize of €107,350.00, while a min-cash will net you €1,740.00.
87 players will be paid, and we’re down to 162 right now.
Check out the entire prize pool and payouts here.
2:50pm: Biggest stacks
Level 13 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)
You can take a look at all of the chip counts from the end of Level 12 here.
The biggest stacks in the room right now are:
PLAYER |
CHIP COUNT |
Marian Virlanuta |
345000 |
Sason Erez |
298000 |
Gary Clarke |
265000 |
Mihai Ciorteanu |
260000 |
Dan Petrea |
218000 |
Alexandru Boicea |
213000 |
Adam Milewski |
210000 |
Antoanell Cristian Judet |
203000 |
Victor Emanuel Beteringhe |
197000 |
Florin Vasile Haiduc |
197000 |
2:36pm: Break time
Players have gone on their first 15-minute break of the day.
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2:31pm: Last woman standing
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
We only had a handful of women playing in this event, and the last one standing is local player Carmen Zainescu. She just eliminated a player with pocket Aces over King-Queen, and is sitting on a stack of around 100,000 right now.

Carmen Zainescu
2:25pm: What a river for Clarke!
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Ireland’s Gary Clarke just hit a miracle river to stay alive here on Day 2.
After Catalin Luca opened to 5,000 and Ahmed Ahmed called on the button, Clarke made it 20,000 to go from the small blind. Luca came along, but Ahmed passed.
The flop was the [7d][qd][4s] and Clarke decided to just jam – a huge bet of 90,300. Luca snap-called though as he had hit top set with his [qh][qs], while Clarke’s [kc][ks] were in big trouble.
The [jh] turn was no help, but BOOM! The [kd] came out of nowhere on the river to save Clarke and give him a big stack of 188,000. Meanwhile, Luca was crushed down to just 17,000.

Nice bink for Clarke
2:18pm: When big stacks attract
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
The end of Day 1A chip leader, Victor Emanuel Beteringhe, still has plenty of chips in front of him – 208,000 to be exact. Thing is, the player to his left has even more.
On a flop of [9d][tc][7h], Beteringhe and Marian Virlanuta checked from the blind positions to the pre-flop raiser Mihai Gabriel Niste. He continued for 7,000, which Beteringhe called, only for Virlanuta to make it 25,000 to go. Both players gave it up and that brought Virlanuta’s stack to around 240,000. I can’t be sure until the break, but that’s got to be up there fighting for the chip lead.

Marian Virlanuta
2:08pm: They keep on coming
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)
Are you keeping up with all these bust-outs? Here are the latest players to exit:
Boyko Boychev, Dula Dalibor, Yonatan Koko, Nandor Csaba Solyom, Konstantinos Nanos, Alexandru Anghel, Gabriel Cuza, Ruben Celis Roncon , Martin Simeonov, Oslen Gisle Arnason, Vladas Burneikis , Constantin Erhan, Nukul Insuwan, Marius Craciun, Eduard Norel, Stefan Razvan Bucur, Andrei Costin Grimberg, Alexandru Daniel Strugut, Leo Ilan Joseph , Georgios Hadjivassili, Mathis Andreas Nehring, Adrian Corneliu Lazar, Robert Raduta, Tal Idan, Jordan Mitev, Ionel Anton, Plamen Todorov, Ferenc Csaba Pal, Mihai Ciprian Hanu, Adrian Bogdan Dan, Ioan Mihai Taizs, Mitesh Anjaria, and Daniel Birhala.
LEVEL |
SMALL BLIND |
BIG BLIND |
ANTE |
12 |
1000 |
2000 |
300 |
1:45pm: Floppin’ the nuts
Level 11 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
When I saw George Simionescu opened to 3,500 from early position, I sensed a big pot was about to happen. Call me psychic, lucky, whatever you want; but I was right.
It folded to Alexandru Anghel on the button and he flatted, only for Israel’s Avi Cohen to make it 11,600 to go from the big blind. Simionescu then shoved all-in for 57,900, Anghel folded, and Cohen made the call.
The Romanian had the [ad][kc] while it was the [qh][qc] for Cohen. The El Clásico of races.
The flop was very wet indeed. It came the [ts][jh][qd] giving Simionescu broadway but Cohen top set. He’d need the board to pair or to hit the case Queen to win, but it came the [7s] on the turn and the [3s] on the river.
Simionescu is up to 117,000, while Cohen has dropped to 14,000.
1:42pm: Bon Appétit
Level 11 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Eugen Gabriel Chiva opened to 3,500 from the cut-off and Cristian Costea called on the button. Nihat Karyagdi defended his big blind, and it was three players to the flop.
It came the [kc][4d][8d] and Karyagdi checked, letting Chiva continue for 5,800. Costea then instantly moved all-in for around 53,000 and Karyagdi got out the way. Chiva had a very similar stack size to the all-in player, so it was essentially for his tournament.
After a minute of thinking he gave his hand up and Costea raked in the chips, just as a waiter arrived with his sandwich that he’d ordered. It’s going to taste much better now.
1:32pm: More for your list
Level 11 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Australia’s Poker Hall of Fame member Jason Gray is the latest player to fall. Joining him on the rail are Corneliu George Tara , Hristodorescu Daniel, Vasile Claudiu Dragomir, Sebastian Ionut Mihai, Iani Tulica, Keret Dor, Iury Wolf, Anatoli Halca, Cosmin Constantin Calea, and Theodoros Savvidis.
1:25pm: The oligarch is out
Level 11 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Russian oligarch Anatoly Korochensky had a short and not at all sweet start to Day 2.
He lost a big chunk of chips in a hand against Ilan Buskila which started with a 3,500 open from Yordan Yordanov Mitrentsov. Korochensky made the call, and Buskila defended his big blind.
The flop came the [6h][as][tc] and everyone checked, taking us to the [jh] turn. It checked to Korochensky and he took a 6,000 stab at the pot, only to be raised to 20,000 by Buskila. Mitrentsov got out of the way, but the Russian came along.

Korochensky on Day 1A
The river was the [6c] and Buskila jammed quickly for 28,200. Korochensky had him covered and gave a confident nod to indicate his call, but his confidence was shattered when Buskila turned over the [kd][qd] for a straight. Korochensky had the [ad][td] for two pair but it was no good and he dropped to 45,000 in chips.
That was still a very playable stack at this blind level, but by the time I got back to base in order to report on the hand I saw that he’d be eliminated.
1:15pm: Dropping like flies
Level 11 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
As always at the beginning of Day 2s, there’s plenty of gambling early on as the short stacks try to give themselves a fighting shot by doubling up. Of course, that doesn’t always work out, resulting in some speedy eliminations.
The players who have already exited today are:
Marius Alexandru Gicovanu, Wieslaw Michal Wejner, Dacian Vlad Tat, Radu Alin Catoiu, Richard Fitz Randolph Jr, Ionel Catalin Pruna, Onoufriou Antonios, Ion Silviu Scobai, Andrei Acatincai, Radu Lungu, Erik Scheidt, and Oren Platoni.
1pm: Shuffle up and deal
Level 11 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)
Cards are in the air here on Day 2. Let’s go!
12pm: Day 2 excitement is building…
For the first time in the tournament, our entire field (and our eventual champion) will be in the same room. It’s time for Day 2 of Eureka6 Bucharest, and 248 players who made it through either the Day 1A, 1B, or the last night’s turbo 1C flight will be combining.
The plan is to play 10 levels today; Levels 11 to 14 will remain 45 minutes in length, and from Level 15 onwards they’ll be increasing to one hour.
The player leading the pack is Victor Emanuel Beteringhe – a teacher who lives right here in Bucharest. He qualified for this event in a live satellite and told us after his epic Day 1A run that had he not qualified he wouldn’t have even played. Well, right now he’s the only player with more than 200K in chips (202,425 to be precise).

Beteringhe’s chip leader
Today we’ll be able to announce the prize pool, which also means the little matter of the bubble. Stick around – you won’t want to miss it.
Play kicks off at 1pm.
PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at Eureka6 Bucharest: Jack Stanton. Photos by Tomas Stacha. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
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