Exactly 600 players will comprise the combined Day 2 field at the 2012 European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Main Event Tuesday, each seeking the first Shamballa Jewels bracelet of Season 9. Day 1A saw 403 players begin the festivities and another 679 registered for Day 1B, bringing the total field to 1,082 runners. Those numbers make this the largest Barcelona stop in the history of the European Poker Tour, easily eclipsing the previous record of 811, set last year. In fact, this is the largest EPT Main Event since the Season 7 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure back in January 2011.
Israel’s Guy Bachar emerged from Day 1B as that flight’s chip leader with 193,000 chips, but the Day 1A tandem of Aku Joentausta (236,200) and Guy Thomas (211,000) will enter Monday’s Day 2 as the overall leaders.
The 1,082 players created a total prize pool of €5,247,700, broken down as follows:
1. €1,007,550
2. €629,700
3. €404,050
4. €301,750
5. €230,900
6. €178,400
7. €125,950
8. €76,100
9 – 10. €55,100
11 – 12. €46,700
13 – 14. €40,400
15 – 16. €34,650
17 – 24. €29,400
25 – 32. €24,650
33 – 40. €20,000
41 – 56. €16,800
57 – 72. €14,150
73 – 96. €11,550
97 – 120. €9,950
121 – 160. €8,400
Among the notable players who will be taking chips into Day 2 are Lex Veldhuis, Gus Hansen, Ivan Demidov, Andy Frankenberger, Jake Cody, Sebastian Ruthenberg, Juha Helppi, Ilari Sahamies, John Juanda, 2012 World Series of Poker champion Pius Heinz, Sam Holden, Barny Boatman, Daniel Negreanu, former tennis star Boris Becker, Luca Pagano, Martin Staszko, Leo Margets, Barry Greenstein, Faraz Jaka, and Jason Mercier.
The likes of Bertrand Grospellier, 2010 WSOP Main Event champ Jonathan Duhamel, Justin Bonomo, Dario Minieri, Liv Boeree, Scott Seiver, and Sorel Mizzi were all shown the door in their respective Day 1 flights.
Ruthenberg and Sweden’s Kent Lundmark both still have a chance to become the first repeat winners of EPT Barcelona. Ruthenberg won it in Season 5 while Lundmark took the title in Season 7.
Day 2 is already underway at the Casino de Barcelona, as the 600 Day 1 survivors inch their way closer to the money. The plan is to play five or six levels before calling it a night. With the payouts starting at 160th place, it looks like it the bursting of the money bubble will likely have to wait until tomorrow.
2012 European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Main Event– End of Day 1B Chip Leaders
1. Guy Bachar – 193,000
2. Samir Hadad – 169,200
3. Hila Dan – 168,400
4. Alain Roy -146,600
5. Jason Wheeler – 142,900
6. Kevin Schulz – 140,900
7. Enver Khvitia – 140,800
8. Alexander Syuldin – 132,900
9. Mohsin Charania – 132,400
10. Lucille Cailly – 131,400
2012 European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona Main Event – Combined End of Day 1 Chip Leaders
1. Aku Joentausta – 236,200
2. Guy Thomas – 211,000
3. Guy Bachar – 193,000
4. Emanoil Sayin – 190,600
5. Samir Hadad – 169,200
6. Hila Dan – 168,400
7. Mauro Canavese – 155,400
8. Lex Veldhuis – 148,800
9. Alain Roy -146,600
10. Jason Wheeler – 142,900
