There are all sorts of emotional responses made in poker tournaments, some specific, some unpredictable...
Apologies aren't always common for example, sounded mostly in times of stress and when trying to appease the bashed nerves of a bad beat victim. One player tried the commiseration route, wishing to sooth the agony of another who was walking away from the table and looking back forlornly, after his A-K was beaten by K-Q; the queen hitting on the river. No one left at the table was under any illusion though, and were glad to see another player bust.
There was slightly more humour at the other end of the room where two players were tentatively edging their way to a showdown. The caller assumed it was going to be close, agonising for a while before calling his opponent's all-in on a board of 9-Q-Q-6-9. He called, saying "alright" without actually sounding the "l" or the "t", and put fistfuls of his chips across the line. Then he showed his 6-4 which was annihilated by his opponents pocket queens. Quads. He laughed as if victim to a practical joke.
Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko
Silence is what Alex Kravchenko does best, or more a steely lack of emotion. The Team PokerStars Pro had made it 2,750 pre-flop in late position with the action was folded back around to the player on his right who had limped a few moments before.
In these positions Kravchenko waits for people to make their choice with a granite posture, staring at the table with patient menace, his hands covering his cards, his teeth probably grinding.
The call came as the end of the level sounded; the flop coming J♥-A♥-5♣. The action was checked to Kravchenko who wasted no time in betting 2,500 before resuming his vigil. Theo Jorgensen strolled over to have a look, perhaps walking off the pressures of the chip lead, but left before the hand was mucked to a close.
No word from Kravchenko as to whether the decision was good or bad. That information costs. The Team Pro is up to nearly 20,000 as the blinds shift upwards to 150-300 with a running 25 ante in level six.
Meanwhile, the prize payouts for EPT Copenhagen have been announced - and better still, you can find them right here.
