Paul Newey had high hopes to grab an EPT Super High Roller title, and those were dashed with his elimination from that event at the final table. He fared no better in taking a fast exit from the Main Event, having already busted out less than an hour after we saw him seated.
Joining Newey on the rail is Justin Bonomo, as the American pro had been short early and looks to be out as well.
Mario Adinolfi, a well-known Italian politician and journalist, has raced out ahead of the field early on and accumulated more than four starting stacks already.
In one recent pot, he fired 3,500 into a 5,000 pot after two players checked to him on a flop and a player called from under the gun. That same player check-called another 3,500 on the turn and both players checked the river. The first player opened but Adinolfi had taken the lead on the turn with and raked in another pot to add to his already huge stack.
More notables have entered, including Davidi Kitai, Steve O'Dwyer, Jack Salter and Rainer Kempe. The latter, who won the ARIA Super High Roller Bowl this summer, has already lost about half of his starting stack.
The field has now grown to 216 players with 197 players remaining. Players can late register into the tournament for the entire day, enter the field tomorrow for Day 1b or instead skip Day 1 altogether by joining the action on Thursday before the first cards are dealt on Day 2.
Among the latest entrants include a pair of French players sitting on neighboring tables in Quentin Lecomte and Romain Lewis representing PokerStars France.
On a completed board of , Justin Bonomo was in the big blind and facing an all-in shove for his remaining 6,725 from cutoff Martin Kabrhel.
"What do you have?" Kabrhel asked, and Bonomo pointed at the ace. "Ace and? I have diamonds."
"How many diamonds?" Bonomo asked.
Kabrhel proceeded to ask if Bonomo could beat ace-queen, and the American shook his head no. In the end, Bonomo did decide to fold, and Kabrhel didn't show.
Paul Newey, who just busted at the final table of the Super High Roller, hopped straight into the Main Event. Other recent entries include Anthony Zinno, Timothy Adams, and Vojtech Ruzicka.
While there are three final tables in big EPT and Eureka events, including the EPT Super High Roller, going on simultaneously as well as the opening of the EPT Main Event, the biggest crowd is gathered in the lobby watching table tennis matches as part of the PokerStars Right to Play.
Anyone can sign-up, and we were told by a representative that three of the players will be awarded prizes.
During the break, a few more players entered the field. Day 1a is now up to 199 players with 187 still in their seats. The EPT Main Event does not allow for reentries. So unlike other events on the schedule in Prague, once a player is eliminated, he or she can no longer rejoin the field.
Adrian Mateos is off to a good start and now up to 60,000 chips. Just before the break, the Spanish poker pro won a pot when the action was raised from a player in early position to 400. Mateos from the blinds three-bet the pot to 1,600 and received a call.
After the flop came , Mateos bet 1,800. His opponent didn't waste too much time tossing his hand into the muck.
Mateos is the chip leader on a star-studded table which includes Justin Bonomo (20,000), Martin Kabrhel (16,000) and 2016 WSOP November Niner Kenny Hallaert (22,000).
flop and a player called from under the gun. That same player check-called another 3,500 on the 
turn and both players checked the 
river. The first player opened 
but Adinolfi had taken the lead on the turn with 
and raked in another pot to add to his already huge stack.
, Justin Bonomo was in the big blind and facing an all-in shove for his remaining 6,725 from cutoff Martin Kabrhel. 
, Mateos bet 1,800. His opponent didn't waste too much time tossing his hand into the muck.
