Day two of an EPT main event is actually the second part of day one.  Confused? Just wait until the tour rolls into Dublin!  It meant the remainder of what was ultimately a 485-runner field were to make their bid for glory today.

Those that played and stayed from yesterday’s marathon session get a chance to relax and plan their assault, whereas today’s contestants began their climb towards the summit with no prospect of a rest day should they make it to the final table which we all strive to reach.

It’s a big disadvantage with such long sessions and, let’s be practical, the windowless casino environment is conducive only to insomniacs.  But, then again, considering the red-eyed sessions some online players inflict upon themselves...

Play began on time again although American ‘gob-on-a-stick’ Mike Matasow strolled in over an hour late, which was pretty impressive as he was strolling out just an hour later!  That said, he outlasted Marcel Luske whose flush came up very short against an opponent who had flopped four-of-a-kind.

Pokerstars.com sponsored-pro Isabel Mercier and WSOP/WPT bracelet winner John Gale also departed early.  Gale, incidentally, regularly proves the over used declaration that “poker players are mathematical geniuses” is pure folly.

This fella somehow believes he smokes just 40 cigarettes a day!  Trust me, four packets of 20 means it is nearer 80 and, with the hands taking an average of two minutes apiece and his addiction given no respite during a tournament, I’d estimate he plays just half of the hands in any competition he enters.

Meanwhile Andy Black was soon showing what it takes to make the final table of the WSOP.

The practising Buddhist cracked pocket Aces with an Ace-King and saw his Jacks prevail over Kings.  In both coups the money went in pre-flop and I for one am considering a change of religion!

Away from the disappointments, good fortune and general carnage tournaments always provide, the Gran Casino’s two bars were doing a brisk business. 

Here you will find hard luck stories and tales of nauseating bad-beats encouraged by copious quantities of Spanish cava.  With tables becoming free there is also an eagerness to get into the first cash games offered in two days.  All these antics are simply a sideshow to the ongoing circus which is the EPT.

Back in the main arena Finland’s Llari Sahamie was working himself into an overall second place with 109,500 chips, Matt Tyler was the second highest earner of the day caressing a stack of 82,600 followed by Irishman Ian Marmion clutching 79,100.

A notable mover was 2004 Barcelona EPT winner Alexander Stevic holding 63,900 but the likes of Gus ‘The Great Dane’ Hanson, Julian Gardner, Andrew Black, Peter Roache, William Thorson, Jeff Lisandro and Noah Boeken were waiting in the wings alongside 153 remaining candidates for the €691,000 winner’s purse and coveted title.