Big blind Johnny Lodden check-called 4,600 from a player in the cutoff on a board. He checked the river, and his opponent checked back and showed . Lodden had it beat with for two pair, and he continues to roll on Day 1b.
Earlier today Faraz Jaka was playing in PokerStars Shark Cage, which was filmed for broadcast later in the year. After that, and an afternoon nap, he jumped into the Main Event. It proved a wise decision as he's done nothing but build since then,
We asked Jaka, who is seated at the same table as big stack Felix Stephensen, how he acquired his chips. Jaka singled out one hand that had taken place not long ago.
According to him, a player raised to 1,500 from early position and Jaka called from the big blind with the . The flop was huge for Jaka, but the question was whether or not he'd get paid. At first it didn't appear so as it went check-check, but Jaka got a little when he bet 3,200 on the turn and got called.
When the completed the board on the river, Jaka fired out 8,200 and snap-called off his remaining 30,000 or so when he opponent moved all in with just for a bluff.
Liviu "0Human0" Ignat opened for 1,000 from early position and Benny Spindler called from middle position. Lebanon's Hady El Asmar then three-bet to 2,900 from the hijack, Liviu four-bet to 6,700, and Spindler got out of the way. El Asmar made the call and then moved all in after Liviu led out for 2,500 on the flop.
That sent the online player into the tank, and eventually someone at the table called for a clock. The floor counted off 52 seconds before Ignat released his hand.
With one of the largest stacks within the Salles des Etoiles, 2014 WSOP Main Event runner-up Felix Stephensen can afford to play aggressively. Artem Litvinov opened to 1050 from the hijack, and Stephensen, who was sat one seat to Litvinov's left 3-bet to 2700. Litvinov quickly folded but showed the .
"The problem," he explained to his opponent, "Is that if I call and I am bluffing against you, it's not good for me."
"I think you had kicker problems," came Stephensen's reply.
Viktor "Isildur1" Blom bet 12,600 on a completed board of from middle position, and Ben Heath wasted little time before calling on the button. The online superstar showed down and took the pot.
William Foxen got his last 4,775 in with preflop and got action from an opponent in the big blind who had . The flop brought a few outs for Foxen's opponent, but Foxen held a blocker and neither player improved.
At a neighboring table, Mikal Blomlie got his last 9,525 in with against an early-position opener who put Blomlie at risk with . Blomlie had three outs but managed to flop a queen and survive.
At another table, mega-baller and EPT Monte Carlo Super High Roller winner Erik Seidel grabbed a seat.
We got to the table and Paul Hoefer had his head in his hands. The board was with the all-in player Alexander Stadler having the pot pushed towards him after he had tabled for a turned full house. The dealer had already flipped Hoefer's hand over but we were told that it was - his trips were no good.