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        <title>PokerStars Poker Blog :: Day 2</title>
        <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/</link>
        <description>Poker blog offering poker tournament news for PokerStars events. Includes European Poker Tour, Asia Pacific Poker Tour,  WCOOP, and WSOP coverage.</description>
        <language>en</language>
        <copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:50:51 -0500</lastBuildDate>
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        <item>
            <title>2009 PCA: Nothing Happens Unless First a Dream</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5">Pulitzer prize winning poet and writer Carl Sandburg once said, "Nothing happens unless first a dream." </p>

<p>At the start of Day 2, 380 players entered the Imperial Ballroom with a dream dancing around their heads. That dream? Winning the 2009 PCA and taking home a cool $3 million. Each player had their future in their own hands and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to transform a pipe dream into a reality.<br />
 <br />
By the end of the day, 102 players remained out of the original 1,347 runners.<br />
 <br />
David Baker ended Day 2 at the top of the pack as the unofficial chipleader with 925,000. Former bracelet winner Dan Heimiller was not far behind with 837,000.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3972.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3972.jpg" width="348" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><center><i>End of Day 2 chipleader - David Baker</i></center></p>

<p><br />
<span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3968.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3968.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><center><i>Dan Heimiller</i></center><br />
Some noteworthy players who advanced to Day 3 included.... 2008 WSOP champion Peter Eastgate, Ylon Schwartz, Team PokerStars player Alexandre Gomes, Team PokerStars Pro Vicky Coren, PokerStars Sponsored player Kathy Liebert, Mark Seif, Johnny Bax, Max Pescatori, Nenad Medic, Capt. Tom Franklin, Eric Liu, Kevin Saul, Joao Barbosa, and Matt Glantz.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3895.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3895.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><center><i>Alexandre Gomes</i></center><br />
Felipe Ramos from Brazil  began Day 2 as the chipleader with 360,100. He would lose the lead early in the day as it changed hands several times. Russia's Sergey Rybachenvo held the top spot for a brief moment before Simon Muñoz Marin snagged the lead late in the afternoon. The Spaniard would eventually lose the lead to David Baker who jumped out way ahead of the pack.</p>

<p>Sadly, several Team PokerStars Pros were eliminated on Day 2 and walked away with nothing. That list includes Vanessa Rousso, Lee Nelson, Humberto Brenes, Greg Raymer, Victor Ramdin, Katja Thater, and Andre Akkari. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3648.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3648.jpg" width="450" height="299" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><center><i>Vicky Coren and Vanessa Rousso</i></center><br />
Other notables who busted out before the money included Veronica Dabul  (PokerStars Sponsored player from Argentina), Alexander Kravchenko, Thomas Kremser, Eric "Rizen" Lynch, Raj Patel, Brandon Adams, Evelyn Ng, Jon Little, and Michael Martin.<br />
 <br />
At 5:19pm, the money bubble officially broke and the remaining 199 players were guaranteed prize money.<br />
 <br />
A couple of Team PokerStars Pros cashed including Tom McEvoy (134th), Barry Greenstein (148th), and Marcin Horecki (185th).</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3905.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3905.jpg" width="362" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><center><i>Barry Greenstein signs a copy of his book 'Ace on the River' as a knockout bounty</i></center><br />
Some notable players who cashed included... Scott Freeman (104th), Leo Fernandez (107th), Matt Stout (114th), James "mig.com" Mackey (120th), Arnaud Mattern (134th), Geroge Danzer (138th), James Worth (150th), Ricky "FiveFingerz" Puelo (152nd), Jon "ApeStyles" Van Fleet (161st), Thomas McLaughlin (167th), Shane "Shaniac" Schleger  (168th), Adam Junglen (172nd), Alex Kostritsyn (189th),  Jon Friedberg (191st), and VIP qualifier Friso Zwerver (193rd).<br />
 <br />
For a complete look back at our coverage from Day 2, see any of the links below. You can also see full coverage from <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pokerstars-caribbean-adventure/day-1a-4/">DAY 1A</a> and <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pokerstars-caribbean-adventure/day-1b-6/">DAY 1B</a>.<br />
 <br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-day-2-begins-and-some-tough.html">Day 2 Begins and Some Tough Tables</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-level-9-updates.html">Level 9 Updates</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-level-10-updates.html">Level 10 Updates</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-poker-camp-begins.html">Poker Camp Begins</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-level-11-updates.html">Level 11 Updates</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-level-12-updates.html">Level 12 Updates</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-level-13-updates.html">Level 13 Updates</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009/01/2009-pca-level-14-updates.html">Level 14 Updates</a><br />
 <br />
The latest approximate chip counts are on <A href=http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pca-chip-counts.html>the chip counts page</a>. When the full official counts are released, we will post them in the same place. <br />
 <br />
To view of list of Day 2 money winners, visit the <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pca-prizes-and-winners.html">2009 PCA prizes</a> page.<br />
 <br />
To see how the $25K High Rollers event turns out, check out the <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pokerstars-caribbean-adventure/25k-high-roller/">$25K High Rollers coverage</a> on PokerStars Blog.<br />
 <br />
You can always look back at all the video blog coverage on <a href="http://www.pokerstars.tv">PokerStars.tv</a> or check out any of our foreign language live reporting at these sites: <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.de/">German</a>, <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.nu/">Swedish</a>,  <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/es/">Spanish</a>, <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.it/">Italian</a>, <a href="http://www.psblog.net/br/">Brazilian</a> and <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pl/">Polish</a>. <br />
 <br />
See you back here at 12 noon for the kick off of the main event's Day 3, the conclusion of the $25,000 High Roller event, and the opening rounds of the World Championship of Battleship Poker.</p>

<p><i>All photos Joe Giron IMPDI and Neil Stoddart</i>.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/day_2_6/2009/2009-pca-nothing-happens-unless-first-a-035517.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/day_2_6/2009/2009-pca-nothing-happens-unless-first-a-035517.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2009 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:50:51 -0500</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>2009 PCA: Level 14 updates</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"><i>Real-time updates from Level 14 of the 2009 PCA are brought to you by Howard Swains, Paul "Dr Pauly" McGuire, and Brad Willis. Click <b>refresh</b> to see the latest updates. </p>

<p><b>Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 2,500-5,000 (400).</b></i></p>

<p><b><font color="red">Post last updated at 9.00pm</font></b></p>

<p><b>9:21pm--Day 2 play ends--David Baker leads</b></p>

<p>With 14 levels now behind us, the PCA is now ready to move to Day 3. Official chip counts show David Baker with 925,000 and the chip lead. In a close second is Dan Heimiller with 837. Chris Bush looks to be in third with 776,000.</p>

<p><b>9:01pm--Nearing the end</b></p>

<p>With 13 minutes left in Day 2, there are a few more than 100 players remaining.</p>

<p><b>9:00pm--Life of a champion</b></p>

<p>Peter Eastgate, who has run deep in this year's PCA, spent a few minutes with our video blogging team talking about what it's like to be a WSOP champion.</p>

<p><object data="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" height="247" id="embed_flash_html_1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="quality" value="best"></param><param name="wmode" value="window"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf"></param><param name="salign" value="tl"></param><param name="flashvars" value="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TU/pca-09-peter-eastgate-post-wsop-victory.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TU/pca-09-peter-eastgate-post-wsop-victory.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES" height="247" movie="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" quality="best" salign="tl" scale="noscale" src="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440" wmode="window"></embed></object><br />Watch <a href="http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TU/pca-09-peter-eastgate-post-wsop-victory.html">PCA 09: Peter Eastgate post WSOP victory</a> on PokerStars.tv</p>

<p><b>8:56pm--PCA vets</b></p>

<p>Looking around the room, it appears there are four former PokerStars Caribbean Adventure final table players left in the field. Kris Kuykendall and Hafiz Khan both final tabled in 2008. Nenad Medic and Miami John Cernuto made the final table in 2005.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3928.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3928.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><br />
<center><i>Kris Kuykendall</i></center> </p>

<p><br />
<B>8.48pm--Another champ in the mix</b></p>

<p>Despite Arnaud Mattern's departure earlier in this level, there are actually still two former EPT champions in the mix. Vicky Coren is one, as previously reported, but I just also caught sight of the EPT Warsaw champion Joao Barbosa, sitting behind about 210,000. Barbosa is fast becoming the EPT money-maker extraordinaire. This is his sixth EPT tournament and he has now cashed in four of them, including that victory in Warsaw.</p>

<p><b>8:43pm--Ylon and winding road</b></p>

<p>Ylon Schwartz is tenacious. We'll give him that. While not flying around with the big stacks today, he's managed to hang around long enough to put himself into a spot in which he can reach Day 3.  After calling a raise to 13,000, he saw a flop of 6d-Jd-5c. His opponent led at the pot for 20,000. Schwartz announced all-in for 42,000 more. His opponent labored before calling with J-T. Schwartz's A-J held on for the win.</p>

<p></p>

<p><strong>8.40pm--The big hitters </strong></p>

<p>Several players are vying for the chip lead, but there's little doubt which table has the most chips on it. Featuring the mighty stacks of Benny Spindler (480,000), Michael Durrer (530,000) and Dan Hiemeller (800,000), table 11 takes top billing.</p>

<p><B>8.25pm--"What a river..."</b></p>

<p>This statement was uttered ruefully rather than as a celebration moments ago as a jack on fifth street earned a double up for John Cernuto and cost another player about half his stack. The board showed 8d-10h-10c-Ks-Js and Cernuto bet 40,000. His opponent moved in and Cernuto called for all his remaining chips - about 50,000 more. Cernuto showed pocket kings for a turned full house; his opponent had A-Q for a rivered straight. Ouch. </p>

<p><b>8:22pm -- Speak of the devil...</b></p>

<p>Just as sure as we mention Arnaud Mattern, he's gone. He ran pocket tens right into pocket aces. The board rivered him a set, but also gave the aces a Broadway straight.</p>

<p><br />
<B>8.16pm--Three pairs</b><br />
There are three notable couples still surviving here at the PCA. The pair of former EPT champions are Arnaud Mattern (105,000) and Vicky Coren (250,000). The pair of Million Dollar Men still in the mix are Ylon Schwartz (180,000) and Peter Eastgate (100,000). And the pair of last year's PCA final table players are Hafiz Khan (340,000) and Kris Kuykendall (420,000).</p>

<p><b>8:11pm--Champion down</b></p>

<p>With KQx on board, Tom McEvoy, 1983 World Series champion just went down with K-J vs K-Q. </p>

<p><B>8:00pm--New chip, one player down</b></p>

<p>The 10,000 red chip is now in play and the 100 black chip is not. The PokerStars ShootingStar George Danzer had been very fond of the black chip up to now, putting together huge stacks of them. And although it's probably unrelated, Danzer has followed the black chip out of circulation. The German player was spotted standing by the cash-out desk moments ago.</p>

<p><b>7:56pm--Players return from break</b></p>

<p>The remaining 142 players in the 2008 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event are returning to play their last level of the night.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-14-updates-035516.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-14-updates-035516.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2009 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:39:29 -0500</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>2009 PCA: Level 13 Updates</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"><i>Real-time updates from Level 12 of the 2009 PCA are brought to you by Howard Swains, Paul "Dr Pauly" McGuire, and Brad Willis. Click <b>refresh</b> to see the latest updates. </p>

<p><b>Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 2,500-4,000 (400).</b></i></p>

<p><b><font color="red">Post last updated at 7:44pm</font></b></p>

<p><b>7:44pm--Players on break</b></p>

<p>The 142 remaining players are taking a 15 minute break before returning for the last level of the night.</p>

<p><b>7:35pm--16 Tables Remaining</b></p>

<p>Here's one table of note: Matt Glantz, Miami John Cernuto, Johnny Bax, Kathy Liebert, and Andrew Li.</p>

<p><b>7:25pm--One former, one current World Champion standing</b></p>

<p>The 2009 PCA featured a handful of former WSOP Main Event champions. You know a few such as Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Jesus Ferguson, Tom McEvoy, and Carlos Mortensen. And the last former World Champion remaining in the field? 1983 champion and Team PokerStars Pro Tom McEvoy. Although McEvoy is still alive, he's among the short stacks with 145 players to go.</p>

<p>But wait! There also remains the <b>current</b> World Champion. That is, of course, Peter Eastgate.</p>

<p><b>7:11pm--Greenstein eliminated, Gavin goes for a dip</b></p>

<p>We've just been informed of Barry Greenstein's departure. After a player opened with pocket fours, Greenstein pushed all-in with pocket aces. The player called and spiked his set on the turn. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3905.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3905.jpg" width="362" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><br />
<center><i>Barry signs his book</i></center></p>

<p><br />
To take our minds off losing one of our favorite players, here is a video blog of Gavin Griffin and his girl on the lazy river. </p>

<p><object data="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" height="247" id="embed_flash_html_1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440"><param name="flashvars" value="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TT/pca-09-griffin-takes-the-plunge.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="quality" value="best"></param><param name="wmode" value="window"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="salign" value="tl"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TT/pca-09-griffin-takes-the-plunge.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES" height="247" movie="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" quality="best" salign="tl" scale="noscale" src="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440" wmode="window"></embed></object><br />Watch <a href="http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TT/pca-09-griffin-takes-the-plunge.html">PCA 09: Griffin takes the plunge..</a> on PokerStars.tv</p>

<p><b>7:10pm--Bushman gifted half million stack</b></p>

<p>So, Chris "Bushman" Bush bet a flop of 4c-Kh-Td. Why wouldn't he? He had pocket sixes. So, he gets a call. No big deal. When the 6h fell on the turn, he checked. Why wouldn't he? His opponent, holding A-J was sure to shove an obscene number of chips into the pot at some point. And so, there went all the money into the pot--more than half a million of it. His opponent almost looked as if he might cry when the queen didn;t come on the river. Bushman now sits among the chip leaders.</p>

<p><b>7:03pm--Ricky "FiveFingerz" Puleo Eliminated</b></p>

<p>Ricky Puleo was all in pre-flop with pocket eights. One player called with Ac-10c. The board ran out A-9-9-5-7. Puleo's eights were no good and he was eliminated in 152nd place.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3793.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3793.jpg" width="351" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><center><i>Ricky "FiveFingerz" Puleo</i></center><br />
<b>6:55pm--Mortensen Eliminated</b></p>

<p>Former WSOP champion Carlos Mortensen hit the rail when he lost all his chips to a full house.</p>

<p><b>6:46pm--Madsen goes Ape</b></p>

<p>Jon Van Fleet, aka Apestyles, has just found his way to the rail courtesy of Jeff Madsen. Madsen's A-K was up against Apestyles' pocket tens. An ace came straight away on the flop. Apestyles couldn't fund a ten and he's gone. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3865.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3865.jpg" width="351" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><br />
<b>6:39pm--Double for Vicky</b></p>

<p>Vicky Coren has been shortstacked for most of the afternoon. She raised to 10,000. Her opponent min-raised her to 20,000. Vicky shoved for the rest of her chips and her opponent called. Vicky tabled Jh-Jd. Her opponent showed As-Qd. Vicky's Jacks held up and shed doubled up to over 85,000.</p>

<p><b>6:35pm--Chop Chop</b></p>

<p>Ricky "FiveFingerz" Puleo took a massive hit shortly before the break and slipped to under 50,000. He was all in for his tournament life with Ad-8h against Ah-9s. The board ran out 7s-7d-6s-Kd-6c and both players chopped the pot. Puleo is safe... for now.</p>

<p><b>6:30pm--Players return from break</b></p>

<p>Players are back from their break. They are scheduled to play levels 13 and 14 before breaking for the night. One hundred seventy two players remain.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-13-updates-035513.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-13-updates-035513.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2009 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:21:10 -0500</pubDate>
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            <title>2009 PCA: Level 12 updates</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"><i>Real-time updates from Level 12 of the 2009 PCA are brought to you by Howard Swains, Paul "Dr Pauly" McGuire, and Brad Willis. Click <b>refresh</b> to see the latest updates. </p>

<p><b>Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 1,500-3,000 (300).</b></i></p>

<p><b><font color="red">Post last updated at 6:19pm</font></b></p>

<p><b>6:17pm--Time for a break</b></p>

<p>Break time. Chips have been updated on the <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pca-chip-counts.html">PCA chip count</a> page. Also, we have a new chip leader. David Baker has 750,000.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3736.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3736.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><B>6.05pm--Putting in the miles</b></p>

<p>Barry Greenstein must have changed tables about four times today and he's hardly had it easy anywhere he's been. Having sat alongside Brandon Adams, Steven Devlin and John Mackey already, he now occupies the chair to the right of the 2001 World Champion Carlos Mortensen.</p>

<p><b>5:59pm--Mike Chiappetta cashes</b></p>

<p>We are happy to report that Mike Chiappetta, PokerStars qualifier, has cashed in this event. This was done without the benefit of actually being here today. As reported earlier, Chiappetta was forced to fly home for a family emergency before the start of Day 2. He still managed to earn $12,500 in absentia. We hope all is well at home and wish him and his family the best.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3811.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3811.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><br />
<center><i>Mike Chiappetta's stack at the bubble</i></center></p>

<p><b>5:55pm--Sternberg squeaks to money</b></p>

<p>PokerStars qualifier Alan Sternberg wasn't even sure if he had cashed. The bubble flattened rather than popped and for a few minutes it was unclear who had bubbled and who had made the money. As it turned out, Sternberg was the 199th finisher.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3837.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3837.jpg" width="331" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><B>5.50pm--Marcin Horecki eliminated</b></p>

<p>The Team PokerStars Pro from Poland has been eliminated just into the money, earning $12,500 for 188th place. He was forced to fold when Jeff Madsen moved all in from the small blind on Horecki's big, but the very next hand he was all in for about 45,000. Matt Smith raised from mid position, Horecki shoved and Smith called. Smith had two black tens, Horecki had Ks-Qs but the board ran out dry.</p>

<p><b>5:42pm--Let Sleeping Bears Lie</b></p>

<p>Barry Greenstein woke up from a slumber shortly after the money bubble. His stack was looking a little gaunt until he doubled up with A-K.</p>

<p><B>5.25pm--Getting paid</b></p>

<p>Now the bubble has burst, we are expecting the usual cavalcade of eliminations. With 40 minutes left in level 11, no one would be surprised to see at least 15 more bust outs before the blinds go up again. Among the players leaving the PCA with more than they came with are: Peter Eastgate, Ylon Schwartz, Marcin Horecki, Vicky Coren, Alexandre Gomes, Barry Greenstein, Tom McEvoy, Max Pescatori, George Danzer, Eric Liu, Jeff Madsen, Adam Junglen, Jon "ApeStyles" Van Fleet, and Ricky "FiveFingerz" Puleo.</p>

<p>The names of the prize-winners will be added to <A href=http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pca-prizes-and-winners.html>the prize-winners page</a> as and when they're confirmed, and the <A href=http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pca-chip-counts.html>chip counts page</a> will have all the major fluctuations. </p>

<p><b>5:19pm--We're In the Money!</b></p>

<p>The remaining 199 players have officially cashed in the 2009 PCA. They will win at least $12,500.</p>

<p><b>5:10pm--Hand-for-Hand</b></p>

<p>With 202 players remaining, action is now hand-for-hand. The money bubble looms. One interesting bit of information, Mike Chiappetta had to fly home for a family emergency. His stack has been getting blinded off but his empty chair is on the verge of cashing.</p>

<p><b>4:56pm--Rousso trouble, Liebert double</b></p>

<p>Though the exact circumstances are unknown, Team PokerStars Pro Vanessa Rousso has just found the rail, less than ten players off the money. Kathy Liebert was in similar jeopardy, but her pocket kings flopped a set for a timely double-up.</p>

<p><B>4.55pm--The Pirate plunders</b><br />
Max Pescatori just took down a pot of more than 300,000 from an unknown opponent. I arrived at the table with plenty of chips already in the middle and a flop of Qs-2h-9d down. Pescatori bet 23,000 at it, which his opponent called, and the turn was 8d and Pescatori bet another 45,000 at that, which too was called. The river was the 2s and Pescatori fired another cannon ball, weighing in at 95,000, which also earned the call. The Pirate flipped pocket eights for the turned set and his opponent, visibly disgusted, mucked. Pescatori now has 450,000.</p>

<p><b>4:41pm--Level 12 begins</b></p>

<p>With 17 players left to go until the bubble, Level 12 is underway with 1500-3,000 (300) blinds.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-12-updates-035510.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-12-updates-035510.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2009 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:13:12 -0500</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>2009 PCA: Level 11 updates</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"><i>Real-time updates from Level 11 of the 2009 PCA are brought to you by Howard Swains, Paul "Dr Pauly" McGuire, and Brad Willis. Click <b>refresh</b> to see the latest updates. <br />
<b>Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 1,200-2,400 (300).</b></i></p>

<p><B>4.30pm--A new force</b><br />
There's a new name at the top of the chip ladder as players go to the break. It's Simon Muñoz from Spain, who has close to 460,000 as is leading the charge to the half-million mark.</p>

<p><b>4:15pm--Fresh chips</b></p>

<p>The <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pca-chip-counts.html">PCA chip counts</a> page has been updated with counts from Level 11.</p>

<p><B>4:06pm: May the Schwartz...oh, we've done this headline before</b></p>

<p>Ylon Schwartz flat-called in the cut off and both blinds came with him to the flop. It was 10s-3h-4h and Riccardo Laccminelli, in the big blind, bet 3,500. Schwartz called and the small blind player folded. The turn was the 5h and Laccminelli this time bet 3,600 and drew attention to the peculiar-sized bet: "Just 100 more," he said. Schwartz didn't utter a word but let his chips announce: "How about 12,000?" and Laccminelli called. The river was the Kd and Laccminelli slowed down, allowing Schwatrz to fire 20,000 at it. That sent Laccminelli deep into the tank, but the Italian eventually called. Schwartz showed 7h-8h for the flush and Laccminelli mucked. He then reached to retrieve his folded cards, succeeding in rescuing a five. Perhaps he had another of those, perhaps not.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3761.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3761.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><b>4:00pm--Vanessa Doubles Through Vicky</b></p>

<p>Two Team PokerStars Pros battled. Vanessa Rousso emerged victorious when she doubled through Vicky Coren with trip Kings. Coren's rollercoaster day continues.</p>

<p><b>3:53pm--Hammer no good for Font, Durrer vies for chip lead</b></p>

<p>We call 7-2 offsuit the hammer. You can call it whatever you want. Regardless, it's led to one of the biggest pots of this tournament. Let us explain.</p>

<p>Germany's Michael Durrer opened to 7,100 in early position. Play folded around to the blinds where Spain's Alberto Font re-raised to 15,000 more. Durrer called and they saw a flop of 9-T-T. Font led at it for 27,500 and Durrer min-raised him. Font pushed all-in for some ungodly amount (north of 160,000). Durrer's snap call was easy. He hald pocket nines for nines full of tens. Font didn't want to turn over his hand, but the rules required it.</p>

<p>Yep, there it was 7-2o...good for the crippling of his 200,000 stack.</p>

<p>Durrer (seen below) is now competing for the chip lead with 400,000.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3786.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3786.jpg" width="342" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><b>3:43pm--Vicky Coren Doubles Up</b></p>

<p>Vicky Coren was shortstacked and all in for her tournament life with Ac-Qc against Alexander Kostritsyn's middle pair. The lovely Ms. Coren promptly flopped an Ace much to the chagrin of the young Russian. Coren now has around 80,000, while Kostritsyn's stack took yet another hit.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3777.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3777.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><br />
<B>3.40pm--Friberg surviving</b><br />
The former World Series final table player Erik Friberg has just doubled his short stack up to about 70,000. Friberg had A-J and got his last chips in, and then hauled double back in front of him.</p>

<p><B>3:36pm--Stuck in reverse</b><br />
The overnight chip leader Felipe Ramos has struggled to get things going quite so spectacularly here today and just took a 120,000 hit. Ramos had 10-10 versus Julian Kaplan's A-K all in pre-flop and the A-K made a four-flush on the turn. Kaplan has 220,000.</p>

<p><B>3.34pm--Paul-Ambrose talks</b><br />
The Team PokerStars Pro Steve Paul-Ambrose was a relative newcomer to the game when he took down the PCA in 2006, earning $1.4m after qualifying online. Now he is established on the circuit as a highly profitable player, the perfect person to offer words of advice to other tournament newbies. As he does right here:</p>

<p><object data="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" height="247" id="embed_flash_html_1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440"><param name="flashvars" value="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TM/pca-09-ambrose-on-plo.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="quality" value="best"></param><param name="wmode" value="window"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="salign" value="tl"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TM/pca-09-ambrose-on-plo.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES" height="247" movie="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" quality="best" salign="tl" scale="noscale" src="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440" wmode="window"></embed></object><br />Watch <a href="http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TM/pca-09-ambrose-on-plo.html">PCA 09: Ambrose on PLO</a> on PokerStars.tv</p>

<p><b>3:33pm--Underwood stymies Kostritsyn</b></p>

<p>And so it was that we saw a board of 2d-Kc-5s-7s-3h. Chris Underwood put in a 20,000 river bet...good for nearly half his stack. Last year's Aussie Millions winner Alexander Kostritsyn read Underwood for being able to fold and set his opponent all-in. Underwood labored long enough to be put on the clock. Finally, he pushed in his last 27,000 for the call. Kostritsyn shook his head ruefully. He must have had next to nothing, because he mucked. Underwood held K-J. His tablemates asked what in the world took him so long to call (what with the giant pot size and most of his stack being in the middle). Underwood, now smiling said, "You guys might have snap called, but I don't play this game. I was afraid of 4-6."</p>

<p>"I could've had 4-6 of spades," Kostritsyn said. He now has 80,000. Underwood (seen below after the hand) has 230,000.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3753.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3753.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><b>3:28pm--Shaniac On Fire</b></p>

<p>Shane "Shaniac" Schleger has been vacuuming up chips at his table. He just took out another player. Shaniac opened for 7,000. His opponent from Italy moved all in for 15,000.</p>

<p>"Regardless of what happens, you have the best hand," Shaniac said before he called.</p>

<p>Shaniac was behind with As-2s against Ad-7d. The flop was Js-4s-4d and Shaniac picked up a flush draw. The turn was the 8h and the river was the 10s. Shaniac flushed out his opponent and won the pot. Shaniac's stack is over 320,000. When hot, you're hot.</p>

<p><B>3:24pm--Liu on the move</b><br />
Eric Liu continues his terrific form, not just in this tournament but through the past year or so. He has more than 300,000 now, most recently knocking out a short-ish stack with his Ks-Jc against As-8h. An eight flopped but then a king turned an Liu added couple of stacks.</p>

<p><B>3:21pm--Aces everywhere</b></p>

<p>The French player Ludovic Lacay just watched a decent slice of his stack disappear across the English channel to Asa Smith. Lacay raised from mid position, Smith re-raised about 20,000 more from the button and Lacay shoved. Smith was all in but called instantly and showed aces. Lacay's As-9s never got any help and the 120,000-odd pot went to Smith.</p>

<p><b>3:15:pm--Russian leading the pack</b></p>

<p>The the first two levels of the day, Russia's Sergey Rybachenvo has moved out into the chip lead with more than 450,000 chips.</p>

<p><b>3:10pm--Level 11 begins</b></p>

<p>With 243 players remaining, Level 11 is kicking off with 1,200/2,400 (300) blinds.</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-11-updates-035505.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-11-updates-035505.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2008 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:50:22 -0500</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>2009 PCA: Level 10 updates</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"><i>Real-time updates from Level 10 of the 2009 PCA are brought to you by Howard Swains, Paul "Dr Pauly" McGuire, and Brad Willis. Click <b>refresh</b> to see the latest updates. <br />
<b>Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 1,000-2,000 (200).</b></i></p>

<p><B><font color="red">This post last updated at 2:56pm.</font></b></p>

<p><b>2:56pm--Level ends, chips up</b></p>

<p>Level 10 has ended with 243 players remaining. Selected chip counts have been posted on our <a href="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/2009-pca-chip-counts.html">PCA chip counts</a> page.</p>

<p><B>2:45pm--Germans on the charge</b><br />
After winning the World Cup of Poker last night, the trip to the Bahamas continues to be prosperous for players from Germany. Daniel Krätz only played one step one satellite on PokerStars and then went all the way to the PCA, a total outlay of $7.50. He's now sitting with Peter Eastgate, Eric Liu and about 280,000 chips. Better known, at least among the scarf-wearing, poker-playing fraternity, is George Danzer. He started today with only 96,000 in chips but now has 350,000. "I liked my table," he explained.</p>

<p><B>2:35pm--Barry Greenstein and the online sensations</b><br />
The torrents flooding out the door has meant that tables are breaking double quick and the seat arrangements are in continual flux. Having spent much of the opening couple of levels on the same table as Stephen Devlin, better known as "allinstevie", Barry  Greenstein is now sitting beside James Mackey, better name as "mig.com".</p>

<center><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3732.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3732.jpg"></center><BR><I><center>Mig meet Barry</i></center>

<p><b>2:29pm--261 players remain</b></p>

<p>In the first level and a half of Day 2, we've dispatched more than 120 players. We are now only 62 players from the money bubble.</p>

<p><B>2.15pm--Brenes burnt</b></p>

<p>Humberto Brenes just made his way to media row, miming a tear dribbling from his eye and ruefully saying, "That's poker." He started the day with only 25,000, was card dead for the first level, and then found pocket fives in late-ish position, which was good enough for a shove. The button called with J-J and although Brenes picked up a straight draw, it missed and he is out.</p>

<p><b>2:15pm--Alex Gomes speaks his mind</b></p>

<p>Here's what Team PokerStars Pro Alex Gomes has to say about his first couple of days in the PCA.</p>

<p><object data="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" height="247" id="embed_flash_html_1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf"></param><param name="flashvars" value="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TK/pca-09-gomes-goes-into-day-2.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES"></param><param name="quality" value="best"></param><param name="wmode" value="window"></param><param name="scale" value="noscale"></param><param name="salign" value="tl"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="SMILURI=http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TK/pca-09-gomes-goes-into-day-2.smil?from=embed&amp;APIHOST=http://www.pokerstars.tv&amp;ENABLEMENU=YES" height="247" movie="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" quality="best" salign="tl" scale="noscale" src="http://www.pokerstars.tv/common/flash/smil_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="440" wmode="window"></embed></object><br />Watch <a href="http://www.pokerstars.tv/movies/4TK/pca-09-gomes-goes-into-day-2.html">PCA 09: Gomes goes into day 2</a> on PokerStars.tv</p>

<p><b>2:05pm--Glad those glasses are plastic</b></p>

<p>It was a raise from Simon Muñoz, a re-raise from Brad Henry on the button, another re-raise from Muñoz, and an all-in from Henry. Neither guy was short. Muñoz had a decision to make. he made it faster than one might of thought. He held queens. Henry, of course, had aces.</p>

<p>Door card: queen.</p>

<p>Funny thing, though. Henry didn't react at all until the full board ran out. Then, almost immediately, his sunglass came off his forehead and hit the floor with such speed, it's impossible to believe they didn't bounce to the ceiling. Various (and frankly well-deserved) expletives then showered the table. Henry is left with 60,000, while Muñoz sits near 300,000</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3719.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3719.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><br />
<center><i>Muñoz with his new chip stack</i></center></p>

<p><br />
<B>1:55pm--Louis Cohen no more</b></p>

<p>Louis Cohen is making his way back to Denver losing all his chips to Poorya Nazari, the PokerStars qualifier from Canada. Cohen had Q-J; Nazari had 6-6, all of which made the flop of Q-Q-6 very cruel indeed for Cohen. The money went in on the turn, as it was always going to, and Cohen couldn't hit any of his few outs. Nazari now has 330,000.</p>

<p><b>1:50pm--Riccardo Laccminelli loves a bluff</b></p>

<p>Sabino Rosito, the PokerStars qualifier from Italy, moves all in on an ace-high flop for his last 30,000-odd. His opponent folds and he defiantly flips K-Q for no pair, which earns a thunderous thump of appreciation on the table from his countryman Riccardo Laccminelli.</p>

<p><b>1:47pm--Pocket Aces and Mark Seif </b></p>

<p>Mark Seif's stack surged to over 210,000 after he doubled up with Aces.</p>

<p><B>1:36pm--First break of the day</b><br />
The first level was brutal, with six tables being broken. We're now down to 313 players. </p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-10-updates-035501.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-10-updates-035501.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2009 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:24:28 -0500</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>2009 PCA: Level 9 updates</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5"><i>Real-time updates from Level 9 of the 2009 PCA are brought to you by Howard Swains, Paul "Dr Pauly" McGuire, and Brad Willis. Click <b>refresh</b> to see the latest updates. <br />
<b>Levels are 75 minutes long and blinds are 800-1,600 (200).</b></i> </p>

<p><B><font color="red">This post last updated at 1:28pm.</font></b></p>

<p><B>1:28pm--Schwartz lets one go</b></p>

<p>The river is out and the board is interesting: Kh-Qd-Qs-Qc-4c. Riccardo Laccminelli bets 18,000 into a small-ish pot, and Schwartz is put to the test. Ultimately he lets it go and Laccminelli suddenly shouts something in his native Italian before thumping his cards face up on the table: he shows A-7 for a bluff. Although there's a good chance, of course, that he was ahead.</p>

<p><B>1:24pm--Brandon and Barry button raising</b></p>

<p>Barry Greenstein and Brandon Adams are deep in conversation, until it's folded around to Greenstein's button and he makes it 4,200 to go.  The conversation stops immediately as Adams calls. The flop is 8h-Kd-5d and Adams checks, Greenstein bets, and Adams folds. Next hand, it's folded to Adams' button and he raises to 4,000. Not quite so successful this; Stephen Devlin re-raises all in for about 30,000 and forces a fold from Adams. </p>

<p><b>1:20pm--Jon Friedberg Doubles Through Felipe Ramos</b></p>

<p>Four-way pot pre-flop. All in on the flop between former chipleader Felipe Ramos and Jon Friedberg. Ramos had pocket Queens while Friedberg flopped a set of sixes. Friedberg's hand held up and his stack is around 115,000.</p>

<p><b>1:10pm--Mass Team slaughter</b></p>

<p>In just the last few minutes we've seen the end of Victor Ramdin, Andre Akkari, and Katja Thater. The latter of the three was exyremely short-stacked and saw some value in a raise from Dan Heimiller, a flat call, and a re-raise from George Danzer. She put her last 17,000 in, Heimiller and the caller went away, and Danzer called with his pocket tens. Katja had Jc-7c. She caught her seven but never got better.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3679.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3679.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3665.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3665.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><b>1:00pm--Greg Raymer Eliminated</b></p>

<p>The Fossilman is nevermore. He was super-short-stacked at the end of Day 1A and trying to bust. "I went all in 20 times at the end of Day 1 and nobody called me," he said. </p>

<p>Raymer was interested in playing in the $25,000 High Roller event currently underway on the other side of the Imperial Ballroom, so he shoved blind from the cutoff. Dan Heimiller woke up with pocket nines and called. Raymer flipped over his cards one at a time. He tabled the Jd and the 8s. </p>

<p>"I have one over," Raymer said.</p>

<p>The board ran out Jc-9s-2c-Ks-10d. Heimiller won the pot with a set of nines. "I hope I brought you some good luck and you'll win the $25K," mentioned Heimiller. Raymer gathered his things and headed for the cashier.</p>

<p><b>12:58pm--Seeing the sights</b></p>

<p>Three things you rarely see around a poker table:</p>

<p>1) A former World Champion eating an apple (red).<br />
2) A Serge Gainsbourg T-shirt.<br />
3) A newly-crowned World Cup of Poker champion.</p>

<p>All of that, and more, on table four today, where Tom McEvoy (apple); Cliff "Johnny Bax" Josephy (French crooner) and Malte Strothmann (World Cup winner) are seated.</p>

<p><b>12:53pm--The room just got uglier</b></p>

<p>Word of Veronica Dabul's exit has made it was across the room. the Argentinian knock-out just got knocked out herself when her jacks ran into aces.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3653.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3653.jpg" width="327" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><br />
<center><i>Dabul now on the rail</i></center></p>

<p></p>

<p><br />
<b>12:44pm--Denes Kalo busts Alexander Duszat</b></p>

<p>Hungary's Denes Kalo, 2008 EPT Grand Final runner-up, just busted Germany's Alexander Duszat. Kalo's A-K was all good against Duszat's A-5, all-in pre-flop. Neither hand paired and Duszat was out. Across the table, Adam Junglen said to Kalo, "You and me would've played a big pot. I had tens."</p>

<p><br />
<strong>12.41pm--New weapons</strong></p>

<p>You know you've entered the second day of competition when the preferred betting unit is the 5,000 blue chip. Christopher Bush and Sascha El-Abiad just started splashing a few around, with Bush raising to 3,200 pre-flop, called by El-Abiad. The flop came Jc-2c-10c. Bush bet 10,000 (this in a stack of yellow chips) and El-Abiad called. The turn was Jd and Bush checked, prompting El-Abiad to bet 15,000 (three blue chips). Call. The river was the 7d and Bush checked again. This time El-Abiad counted out 40,000 and after an age in the tank, Bush called. He showed 10h-9h and his two pair (tens and jacks) beat El-Abiad's pocket fours out of a 120,000+ pot. In the nine seat, Benny Chen watched and stroked his stack of about 190,000. The Team PokerStars Pro Victor Ramdin arrived to the table in the middle of all this. He has NO blue chips at all.</p>

<p><b>12:34pm--Thomas Kremser Eliminated</b></p>

<p>EPT tournament director Thomas Kremser was short stacked and open-shoved from under the gun for 22,000 or so. One player in Seat 7 re-raised to isolate Kremser and everyone folded. Kremser tabled Ac-Jc while his opponent flipped over Qd-Qs. The flop was Jh-9h-2s. A glimmer of hope flashed Kremser's way after he picked up a couple of more outs on the flop. The turn was the 6d and the river was the 10d. Kremser could not improve his hand and the <b>Best Dressed Man in Poker</b> over the last decade was nevermore.</p>

<p><b>12:28pm--Short-stacked OUT! </b></p>

<p>No surprises to learn that the first player out this morning was the PokerStars qualifier  	Vijayan Nagarajan, who returned to his seat on day two with only 1,700 in chips. That's one big blind and one ante, in tournament currency. The vultures gathered beside his table this morning to watch him commit to his professed strategy of "Any decent hand and I'm going all in." He did on the first hand he saw, Q-9 suited but ran into A-K and he was gone. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3631.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3631.jpg" width="333" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p><b>12:22pm--Day 2 is underway </b></p>

<p>Day 2 is underway with 380 players remaining. </p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-9-updates-035499.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-level-9-updates-035499.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2009 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:14:04 -0500</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>2009 PCA: Day 2 Begins and Some Tough Tables</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><img class="noborder" src="http://www.pokerstars.com/graphics/2008pca_promo_th.jpg" align="left" hspace="5">There are 380 players who survived the opening flights of the 2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. The top 199 players will be awarded prize money and the money bubble should break sometime this evening. Felipe Ramos from Brazil is the current chipleader with 360,100.<br />
 <br />
"It's all about your table draw," one pro once told me about the key to surviving Day 2 and advancing to Day 3 of a major tournament.<br />
 <br />
I took a quick glance around the tournament room inside the Imperial Ballroom and noticed several tough tables. Here's a run down...<br />
 <br />
Table 2:  Eric Liu (168,500) and Jon "ApeStyles" Van Fleet (122,600)<br />
 <br />
Table 4:  Team PokerStars ProTom McEvoy (65,900), David Benefield  (93,400), and Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy (24,800)<br />
 <br />
Table 9 (with a couple of bracelet winners and the chipleader): Matt "all_in_at420" Stout (95,100), Jon Friedberg  (50,200), Mark Seif  (53,000), Louie Cohen (136,000), and Felipe Ramos (360,100)</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJ2_4379.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJ2_4379.jpg" width="335" height="500" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span><center><i>Table 9</i></center><br />
Table 11: Team PokerStars Pro Lee Nelson (103,500), Tyler Reiman  (118,100), Alberto Andres Font Rytzner (108,400), Mike Rowe (120,900), and Christopher Fernandez   (210,700)<br />
 <br />
Table 12: Shannon Shorr (55,500) and Kathy Liebert  (54,800)</p>

<p>Table 14: Team PokerStars Pros Alexandre Gomes (123,800) and Marcin Horecki (167,300)</p>

<p>Table 15: Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko (40,500) and PokerStars ShootingStar Jan Heitmann (45,800)<br />
 <br />
Table 21: Arnaud Mattern (120,500), Kevin "BeL0WaB0Ve" Saul  (81,300), and Ricky "FiveFingerz" Puleo  (111,800)<br />
 <br />
Table 24: Team PokerStars Pro Barry Greenstein  (38,900) and Brandon Adams (58,700)</p>

<p>Table 25: Alan Smurfit (23,800), Peter Jetten (60,000), and Eric "Rizen" Lynch (27,300)</p>

<p>Table 27: Michael "SirWatts" Watson  (25,200), Capt. Tom Franklin  (55,300),  Edward Sabat (209,000), and Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes  (26,600)</p>

<p>Table 28: Team PokerStars Pros Victoria Coren  (50,900) and Vanessa Rousso (26,000)</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="PCA09_10K_IJG_3648.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/PCA09_10K_IJG_3648.jpg" width="450" height="299" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p>Table 32:  Michael Martin  (72,000) and Hafiz Khan (27,400)</p>

<p>Table 34: Shane "Shaniac" Schleger  (146,900), Jeppe Nielsen (10,100), Erik Friberg (83,600), and Benny Chen (195,600)</p>

<p>Table 36: Team PokerStars Pro Greg Raymer (55,000), Justin Pechie (55,900), Daniel Heimiller (178,300), PokerStars ShootingStar George Danzer (96,300), and Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater (33,700)</p>

<p>Table 37: John Myung (54,200) and Matthew Glantz  (28,000)</p>

<p>Table 38: Paul "X-22" Magriel (44,400), David Baker (219,600), and Jonathan Little (201,900)</p>

<p>Table 42:  Alexander Kostritsyn (99,000),Scott Bateson (177,600), and Thomas Kremser (26,600)</p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-day-2-begins-and-some-tough-tab-035498.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/pca/2009_pokerstars_caribbean_adventure/2009/2009-pca-day-2-begins-and-some-tough-tab-035498.html</guid>
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">2009 PCA</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">Day 2</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag">PCA</category>
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:57:00 -0500</pubDate>
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