by Simon Young

Professional online player Paul "mrp123" Ihrie was having an average day at the office where his stack was stuck more or less at its starting point of 74,300. But PokerStars qualifier Paul must have had something special for dinner, because when they returned from the break he dealt out a sickening beat to bust an opponent.

Paul Ihrie: rivered set busts unlucky opponent

With the blinds at 1,000-2,000 with 300 ante, he looked down to find J-J and a bet before him of 5,500. He re-popped to 11,500 and, after a mini-dwell, his opponent moved all in for another 20,000 or so. Paul, from Baltimore, called and found he was up against K-K - not a healthy position. The board came 8-2-10-7 and ... J. The river sent his opponent into a visible state of shock. He stood up, slammed his chair into the table, then realised that a quiet retreat would be more sensible.

"Sorry guys," he said. "Good game." And off he went into the Vegas night.

Paul raked in a nice pot that takes him up to 180,000 in chips, and within striking distance of Day Three.

"When he re-re-raised me all in I knew I was probably behind, but my 11,500 bet had committed me to the pot. The flop was no help and I was just hoping for a runner-runner straight. The seven on the turn gave me that hope - a 9 for the straight or another jack would win it for me. Thankfully, it was one of two remaining jacks that came out on the river."

Paul, who got to Vegas in a PokerStars $33 rebuy satellite, has been sitting opposite Team PokerStars' Humberto Brenes for much of the day. Humberto has see-sawed a bit in chips, but currently sits on 70,000, up from his 47,900 start. He's finding it difficult to get much action, and I watched him raise twice pre-flop only to get everyone folding behind him each time. For now, his pair of sharks sit patiently on his chips, ready to be waved in the air in triumph.


Humberto Brenes: his sharks are keen for action

A few tables along sits Norway's Sverre Sundbo, who is representing PokerStars here. He is now up to 220,000 - and two A-A hands have set him up nicely. "The second time I got them I got a caller before the flop. It came 8-4-4, he checked I made it 13,000 and he called. An ace came on the turn, giving me the full house - I bet 20,000, he makes it 40,000 and I re-re-raise to 90,000. He backed off and I pulled in the chips."


Sverre Sundbo: Finding aces at the right time
Elsewhere Italy's Dario Minieri, who was the first PokerStars player to buy a Porsche with his frequent player points, is also doing nicely, up to 275,000. He's wearing a colorful woolly scarf - not the normal attire for this part of the world.

Unfortunately we lost Team PokerStars' Chris Moneymaker before dinner. After a flying start he got involved in a nasty hand when, holding a king, he got all his chips in while ahead on a king-high flop. His opponent, Philip Ye from Sweden, was well behind with his 3-3, but turned a 3 to take the pot - and all of Chris' money - down.