With almost all Dutch pro's collectively deciding on skipping the PokerStars Championship in Monaco - due to Dutch tax regulations - it's up to two-time WPT National winner Paul Gresel to represent Oranje.
On a board, Gresel bet 1,200 in a 3,000 pot holding for king-high. His opponent Konstantinos Nanos called... and mucked upon seeing Gresel's hand.
"Why you bet? Nobody knows why you bet" Nanos grumbled, who apparently called with worse.
"I knew I had the best hand", smiled Gresel, who triumphantly stacked the chips.
Andrew Chen bet from the button on a flop, and a player in the big blind check-raised to about 4,000. Chen called, and both checked through the and . The first player showed , and Chen seemed surprised to drag the pot with .
Liv Boeree was in the big blind and bet 3,300 into two opponents on a board. Only the small blind called, and both players checked the . Neither had a flush. Boeree turned up but her opponent could beat that with for a set.
Long-time French pro Michel Abecassis was forced to the rail in one of the first hands of the level. After Jean-Paul Zaffran opened with pocket kings, Abecassis shoved with pocket sevens for 25 big blinds. Zaffran had an easy call and no sweat on an ace-high bord that featured zero help to Abecassis.
We found Mudasser Hussain shoving all in from middle position for 16,275 after an opponent on the button three-bet his open. The player on the button called, showing , but Hussain had a huge lead with . The board ran out , safe for a Hussain double.
More and more familiar faces are taking a shot at the PokerStars Championship Main Event here in Monaco. After the break, PokerStars Team Pro Liv Boeree walked in the tournament area to take her seat. With the brand change, Boeree has a shot to become the first EPT and PokerStars Championship winner.
Louis Salter, Benjamin Pollak, Philipp Gruissem and reigning champion Jan Bendik are also playing.
Norweigan poker pro Andreas Høivold has been through a lot in his life, and is now planning more surgery after a terrible accident over 20 years ago, but as ever, he's still smiling. He chats to Laura whilst playing day 1b of the PokerStars Championship presented by Monte-Carlo Casino®
for king-high. His opponent Konstantinos Nanos called... and mucked upon seeing Gresel's hand.
flop, and a player in the big blind check-raised to about 4,000. Chen called, and both checked through the 
and 
. The first player showed 
.
board. Only the small blind called, and both players checked the 
. Neither had a flush. Boeree turned up 
for a set.
, but Hussain had a huge lead with 
. The board ran out 
, safe for a Hussain double.
