€10,300 EPT High Roller
Day 1 Completed
2019 PokerStars.es EPT Barcelona
€10,300 EPT High Roller
Day: 1
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
It was an action-packed opening day in the €10,300 EPT High Roller that saw more than half of the field fall by the wayside. There were a total of 521 entries and only 218 players bagged chips to move on to Day 2.
Leading the pack is Ignacio Molina who bagged up a whopping stack of 347,000. He was sat at the same table as Kristen Bicknell (93,500) and Adrian Mateos (222,500) for the majority of the day and was able to hold his own. Some other big stacks advancing include Davidi Kitai (346,500), Julien Martini (318,000), and Alex Foxen (311,000). All three players finished the day on a high, accumulating the majority of their chips in the last level.
There were four PokerStars Ambassador's to move on to Day 2 including Ramon Colillas (206,000), Kalidou Sow (177,000), Maria Konnikova (151,000), and Fatima Moreira De Melo (27,000).
The tournament kicked off with 40 players taking their seats at 12:30 pm local time but that number quickly escalated and continued to do so throughout the entire day. Even with only a single re-entry format, the tournament still attracted a whopping a 521 entries on the opening day. Late registration will remain open until the start of Day 2 as the record of 557 entries is in jeopardy.
As most other tournaments are winding down at Casino Barcelona, the field was filled with notable names across each and every table. Unfortunately for some, things didn't go their way today and they will not be returning tomorrow. Ryan Riess, David "ODB" Baker, Sam Higgs, Jean-Noel Thorel, and last year's runner-up Norbert Szecsi all burned through both of their bullets.
A few other notables that will be moving on include defending champion Max Silver who quietly went about his business on Day 1 to bag a stack of 226,500 chips. Juan Pardo has had a succesful week at Casino Barcelona, winning a €25k single-day high roller, a €50k single-day high roller, and finished fourth in another €25k single-day high roller last night. Pardo has collected over €1,750,000 this week and will be looking to add to that. He will have his work cut out for him after only bagging up 25,500 chips.
For those that only fired off one bullet today, they will still have the chance to re-enter before the action kicks off tomorrow at 12:30 pm. The blinds will begin at 1,000/2,500 with a 2,500 big blind ante. The levels will be 60 minutes in length and the scheduled plan is to play 10 more levels.
Follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team for all of the continued coverage throughout the 2019 PokerStars EPT Barcelona.
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
354,500 | |
|
347,000
17,000
|
17,000 |
|
346,500
6,500
|
6,500 |
|
||
|
324,500
184,500
|
184,500 |
|
318,000
-1,000
|
-1,000 |
|
318,000 | |
|
311,000
13,300
|
13,300 |
|
||
|
307,000 | |
|
304,000
304,000
|
304,000 |
|
277,500
158,500
|
158,500 |
|
276,000 | |
|
|
273,000 | |
|
264,000
115,200
|
115,200 |
|
261,500
86,500
|
86,500 |
|
||
|
261,500
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
258,500 | |
|
253,000 | |
|
252,000
103,500
|
103,500 |
|
251,000
41,500
|
41,500 |
|
250,000 | |
|
244,000
-13,000
|
-13,000 |
|
243,500
-3,700
|
-3,700 |
|
||
|
240,000
-13,000
|
-13,000 |
|
235,000 | |
|
230,500 | |
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
With around 55,000 in the middle, the board read 
and Julien Martini was faced with a tough decision. He checked from the cutoff and his opponent jammed all in for 106,200.
Martini burned through four of his time banks and kept shaking his head as tried to figure it out. Eventually, Martini made the call and his opponent showed 
. Martini turned over 
for the only pair and scooped a massive pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
319,000
245,700
|
245,700 |
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Cary Katz registered late in the day for the €10,300 High Roller and was all in for around 30,000 with 
against the 
of Hirokazu Kobayashi.
The flop came 
giving Katz a pair but Kobayashi a set. The turn was the 
and the river the 
giving Kobayashi a flush and eliminating Katz.
He is still able to re-enter up until the start of play on Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
145,000 | |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Jorryt van Hoof check-called 11,000 out of the cutoff from Dario Sammartino on the button on oa 
flop.
The turn was the and Van Hoof check-called 25,000.
The river was the and Van Hoof used a time extension before moving all in for 33,000.
Sammartino used one of his own, and although he didn't seem that enthused about it, he called.
Van Hoof showed 
for a rivered straight and Sammartino was forced to show 
for an overpair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
170,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
155,000 |
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
After arriving at the table, Alex Foxen was being awarded a healthy pot and Aymon Hata was getting up from his seat. The board read 
and Foxen held 
. Hata's cards were already in the muck and his stack of around 70,000 was sent to Foxen.
In the next hand, Foxen opened to 5,000 and Shyngis Satubayev called on the button. The flop fell 
and Foxen check-called a bet of 7,000 from Satubayev.
The turn brought the and Foxen checked again. Satubayev tossed in a bet of 17,000 this time and Foxen still called. The river was the and Foxen checked for the third time. Satubayev checked it back and Foxen turned over for a flush to earn the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
297,700
177,700
|
177,700 |
|
|
||
|
|
257,000
-43,000
|
-43,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
A player opened to 4,000 and Michael O'Grady called on the button. Rodrigo Presutti squeezed to 16,500 from the big blind and the initial raiser folded.
O'Grady moved all in, covering Presutti, who promptly snap-called.
Rodrigo Presutti: 
Michael O'Grady: 
The Australian had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and Presutti swiftly flopped top pair on the 
board. It did give O'Grady a pair, however, and he turned two pair on the 
to leave Presutti hanging by a thread. The river was the 
and he was eliminated.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
165,000 | |
|
|
Busted |
Level 11
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Javier Gomez Zapatero opened to 4,000 and got a caller before Juan Pardo three-bet to around 35,000 off a 42,000 stack from the big blind.
Zapatero then re-raised all in, the caller folded, and the two-time Single Day High Roller champion Pardo called it off.
Javier Gomez Zapatero:
Juan Pardo: 
Pardo would need to win a flip to stay alive and he hit his king on the flop to move into the lead. The turn 
and river changed nothing and he doubled for his last 42,200 exactly.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
105,000 | |
|
85,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
Level: 11
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000