Martin Finger three-bet out of the big blind and continued for 200,000 on the flop to see initial raiser Jaroslaw Sikora call. On the turn both players checked and Finger bet the river for 700,000. Sikora gave it quite some thought and called to see Finger turn over the for a pair of sixes.
Sikora had that beat with and raked in a decent pot, nearing four times the starting stack after he was done stacking his freshly acquired chips.
A total of 209 entries took part on Day 1a of which currently 112 remain and the event is well on track to meet and surpass the guarantee of €5,000,000. At the end of the current level the final 15-minute break of the day takes place before three further levels of 40 minutes remain.
Marcel Luske was all in with ace-queen versus pocket kings on a queen-high flop and found no help. "Better luck tomorrow," the partypoker sponsored pro said after exiting the tournament area as he won't enter Day 1b. Pascal Hartmann will likely join Day 1b, though, as he was also among the recent casualties of the first flight.
Daniel Clark four-bet all in after a three-bet of Vlado Sevo for 220,000 and the Austrian folded.
Lander Lijo and Adrian Mateos have been eliminated with the latter heading over to Day 1b, while Karel Mokry also ran out of chips.
Oliver Price has chipped up nicely and he is on the same table as Christian Christner and Koray Aldemir. It was Aldemir that defended his big blind and checked a flop of . Christner bet 45,000 and Aldemir check-raised to 130,000. Christner didn't go anywhere, though, and called. The turn and river were checked through and Aldemir briefly showed his cards but couldn't beat the of Christner.
Jozef Hancin and Dawoud Fares clashed to see the former turn over . Fares had a flip with and Hancin asked for a ten after the turn, as that would counterfit the hand of Fares. He was as happy to see the on the river though, while Fares jumped out of his seat with a loud "no".
One table over, Kiryl Radzivonau was spotted all in and at risk for 440,000 on the flop and his sole opponent folded and forfeited a bet of 55,000.
Leonid Logunov raised to 65,000 and was called by Martin Kabrhel in the hijack, Sam Cohen in the small blind and Liwei Sun in the big blind. All four players checked through a flop of and the turn paired the board while also providing a second flush draw. Cohen checked, Sun bet 175,000 and that forced folds from Logunov and Kabrhel.
Cohen called and the river brought a check by Cohen. Sun moved all in and Cohen let go with just shy of the starting stack behind. After the hand was done, Fahredin Mustafov looked over from the table one over to check what book Kabrhel was reading. "Phil Hellmuth. You get aces, find a guy with kings and double, I read it in the book."
Aymon Hata and Albert Daher were spotted over on the other side of the tournament room, which confirms their elimination on Day 1a. Martin Weiemann's media ticket was also just handed over and the roller coaster ride of the German in bullet number two ended with disappointment.
Martin Kabrhel raised from early position and faced a three-bet to 185,000 by Daniel Nietrzebka from one seat over. Makarios Avramidis called out of the big blind before Kabrhel then moved all in for 770,000. Nietrzebka folded and Avramidis called.
Martin Kabrhel:
Makarios Avramidis:
The board came and Kabrhel more than doubled. "Why are you bluffing?" Kabrhel asked Nietrzebka, who replied with a confused look. "If you raise and fold here, it is bluffing," the Czech added.