Picking up with the action on a flop of , we saw Vitaly Lunkin check holding and Steve O'Dwyer check it back with .
The turned and Lunkin dropped 200,000 into the middle. O'Dwyer flat called and the completed the board. Lunkin checked and then folded after O'Dwyer fired 650,000. O'Dwyer picked up the pot and now has about 2.91 million.
After Vitaly Lunkin raised from the small blind with the and Steve O'Dwyer defended from the big with the , the flop came down and the Russian continuation-bet 200,000. O'Dwyer called, both players checked the turn and then the peeled off on the river.
It was a great card for Lunkin, who bet 425,000 with the wheel. O'Dwyer, who had made two pair, called and discovered the bad news.
Mike McDonald opened the cutoff to 160,000 with and had David Benefield ship all in over the top from the small blind with . Vitaly Lunkin re-shipped over the top from the big blind with {As] and McDonald folded. The cards were tabled to see Benefield at risk and behind.
The flop came down and was of no help to the November Niner. The paired the board on the turn, increasing Benefield's chances to chop the pot, but he was eliminated from play after the completed the board. Lunkin dragged in the pot and now sits on about 3.5 million in chips while Benefield was eliminated in fifth place, ensuring him a payday of €208,150.
Action folded to Erik Seidel in the small blind and he moved all in for 685,000. David Benefield asked for a count from the big blind and then announced a call.
Benefield:
Seidel:
Benefield was ahead, but Seidel was drawing to two live cards. Amazingly, he hit both on the flop. Benefield paired his aces so he had outs, though the turn killed a lot of them when Seidel made a boat.
"That's gonna be a little tougher to fade," Benefield said. Indeed, he needed an ace on the river to eliminate Seidel. The dealer burned and put out the . Seidel held and Benefield took a big hit to his stack.
David Benefield raised to 160,000 from UTG+1 and Steve O'Dwyer flat called out of the small blind. The two were heads up to the flop which came . Two checks prompted the dealer to produce the on the turn where both players checked once more.
The final community card was the and O'Dwyer dropped 200,000 into the center of the table. Benefield called and showed for a turned pair. O'Dwyer tabled for a higher pair - tens - which was enough to take down the pot.
By scooping this pot, O'Dwyer has boosted his stack up to 3.3 million.
As play begins on Day 1A and nearly everyone who started the day still has chips, all remain upbeat as everyone continues to harbor hopes of lasting the week to become the next EPT Main Event champion. The mood seems extra festive as well either thanks to or despite hangover — depending on whether we're speaking literally or figuratively — from last night's welcome party at the popular Opium club here in Barcelona.
Steve O'Dwyer raised to 175,000 from under the gun and it folded around to Ole Schemion on the button. Schemion announced a three-bet all in for 1.315 million total and it came back to O'Dwyer who snapped him off.
O'Dwyer:
Schemion:
Schemion was crushed and was in dire need of help to stay alive in the tournament. A run out of provided none of that help and Schemion was sent to the rail as the sixth place finisher. Schemion, who began the day as the chip leader, was forced to settle for a €159,200 prize. After scooping up the pot, O'Dwyer now sits on about 3 million in chips.
Mike McDonald raised to 160,000 from the button with and Ole Schemion called from the big blind with . The flop brought and Schemion checked. McDonald continued out for 175,000 and Schemion slid out a check-raise to 400,000.
McDonald clicked it right back with a three-bet to 625,000 and Schemion quickly let his hand go, allowing McDonald to be pushed the pot.
, we saw Vitaly Lunkin check holding 
and Steve O'Dwyer check it back with 
.
turned and Lunkin dropped 200,000 into the middle. O'Dwyer flat called and the 
completed the board. Lunkin checked and then folded after O'Dwyer fired 650,000. O'Dwyer picked up the pot and now has about 2.91 million.
and Steve O'Dwyer defended from the big with the 
, the flop came down 
and the Russian continuation-bet 200,000. O'Dwyer called, both players checked the 
turn and then the 
peeled off on the river.
and had David Benefield ship all in over the top from the small blind with 
. Vitaly Lunkin re-shipped over the top from the big blind with {As]
and McDonald folded. The cards were tabled to see Benefield at risk and behind.
paired the board on the turn, increasing Benefield's chances to chop the pot, but he was eliminated from play after the 
completed the board. Lunkin dragged in the pot and now sits on about 3.5 million in chips while Benefield was eliminated in fifth place, ensuring him a payday of €208,150.
on the turn where both players checked once more.
and O'Dwyer dropped 200,000 into the center of the table. Benefield called and showed 
provided none of that help and Schemion was sent to the rail as the sixth place finisher. Schemion, who began the day as the chip leader, was forced to settle for a €159,200 prize. After scooping up the pot, O'Dwyer now sits on about 3 million in chips.
and Ole Schemion called from the big blind with 
. The flop brought 