Cards are in the air – by design not by any evil force and day 1b is underway. A bigger field than yesterday with 132 sitting down to play. It's top heavy with Irishmen as you'd expect but large chunks of the world are represented. Among those here...

John Tabatabai -- Wales
A new face on the EPT scene. He finished second in the WSOP Europe giving his profile a boost. Originally from Cardiff he now lives in London and tears up games on the internet.

George McKeever – Ireland
Ever present on the Irish poker scene. Seventh in the WSOP main event back in 1999.

EPT Baden winner Julian Thew

Julian Thew -- England
One of the most popular players on the circuit who topped his six previous cashes by winning the EPT Baden earlier this month, paying off the last of his mortgage in the process. Can he make it two in a row?


Luca Pagano

Luca Pagano – Italy -- Team PokerStars Pro
Five cashes and two final tables in the EPT to date and a mainstay on the tour since its early days events like this are part of Luca’s successful day job.


Katja Thater

Katja Thater – Germany –Team PokerStars Pro
Katja got everyone’s attention this year by winning a bracelet at this year’s WSOP, preceding that with a final table appearance in the EPT Warsaw. She cashed in Barcelona in September and has cemented her reputation as one of the best players in Europe.


Last year's EPT Dublin winner Roland De Wolfe

Roland De Wolfe – England
His past life as a journalist fades more and more as Roland keeps winning. The first player to win both a WPT and EPT event Roland made that record in Dublin last year and shows no sign of slowing down.

Mickey Wernick – England
A former European Player of the Year and veteran of Vegas in the old days, Mickey has cashed twice in the EPT.


Thomas Wahlroos

Thomas Wahlroos – Finland
Always good to listen to at the tables the ruthless Finn normally batters his way deep in tournaments or is out in the first levels. He plays like it means nothing and gets results.

Roy Brindley – Ireland
Born of England now a native of Ireland. One of the unsung talents of the game in Europe and winner of numerous tournaments around the world.

Tony Cascarino – Ireland
The former footballer turned poker player cashed in London last month and will want to at least repeat that feat on home soil.


Liam Flood

Liam Flood – Ireland
A veteran of the European poker scene Flood is also a tournament director.


Patrick Bruel

Patrick Bruel – France
Solid poker player and singing sensation in the French speaking world. Normally followed by the cameras of the French media for selling millions of records and winning a WSOP bracelet along the way.

Andreas Hoivold – Norway
The cartoon collector made headlines when he talked and played his way to EPT success is Dortmund last season.

Arshad Hussain – England
Popular player on the English and European poker scene. The family man from the north west of England came second in the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo in season two and has a fondness for Ferraris.

Praz Bansi – England
Since winning a bracelet at the 2006 WSOP has gone on to win a GUKPT event and cashed all over the place.

Ben Grundy – England
An internet grinder and one of the best English players in the game. Still known as the ‘Milkybar kid’ for his youthful looks he may never lose that moniker.


Annette Obrestad

Annette Obrestad – Norway
Short to international fame after winning the inaugural WSOP Europe main event in London earlier this year. Could certainly take the EPT by storm.

Jonas Molander – Sweden
Three strong finishes in the EPT including a final table appearance at Baden last year, a ninth in Dublin and 12th here in season two.

Anthony Lellouche – France
Another of the popular Frenchmen crowd, Anthony had his best EPT to date in London last month where he finished sixth.

Thor Hansen – Norway
An old style gambler and a successful one who has made his living from pool and poker for many years. A mathematician and well respected member of the poker community. When he wins everyone is pleased.

Florian Langmann – Germany
Back for more EPT action after his second place finish in London last month.

Juha Helppi – Finland
The extreme poker champion as well as holder of various other titles. Famously came second to Phil Hellmuth as the Brat won his 11th bracelet.

Ram Vaswani – England
‘Crazy Horse’ is one member of the Hendon Mob and won this event in its first year, then finished second in Copenhagen. He has two other final table appearances including last season’s Monte Carlo Grand Final.


William Thorson

William Thorson – Norway
Young, aggressive and Scandinavian. One of the best players in the game today he finished third in the EPT Dublin last year and has shown his ability around the world.

Surinder Sunar – England
An English professional and regular on the Late Night Poker series which revolutionised poker. Described as quiet he takes no prisoners at the table.

Thomas Fougeron – France
Popular Frenchman and regular on the EPT. The Parisian made a stunning comeback at EPT Dortmund last season coming from a single chip on day one to finish on the final table.

Karl Mahrenholz – England
Another new face to the poker scene in the last year he has had GUKPT success and wins across the world. He also has four WSOP chases to his name.