Just over 100 players returned for Day 2, part of the long slog for the coveted title of Dublin EPT 2006 Champion. Many hopefuls seeking to get their hands on this life-changing first prize of €554,000.

Ultimately there would be many disappointed faces come Saturday night, the nearly-men of this world. They will be back however, they will get their day in the sun, no doubt about it.

A man who was eager to make an impression today was local Dave O’Callaghan. With only one hour left on Day 1A the former Barcelona EPT runner-up was staring at 4,000 chips and had absolutely nowhere to go.

He had to gamble and gamble he did, giving himself a fighting chance in this second day’s play by starting with 21,000 in chips and a gun-ho mentality.

With perhaps every corner of Ireland holding a stake in the young Dubliner, Dave was out to do it for the home nation. He had built up his stack to just over 31,000 before the second level of the day and was beginning to look a real threat in this year’s tournament.

But the never-say-die attitude finally caught up with him and his pocket 5’s were no match for Jacks and he left the building at 4pm.

Another golden boy for the home crowd was Northern Irishman Andy Black, who was eager to impress following his inclusion on the televised table.

Staring down Willie Tann and doing some serious moving and shaking, Andy was in no mood to employ the patient game.  Perhaps the most verbal of those sat at the table, Black attempted to gain a psychological edge right from the outset.

He did, however, have the chip leader Swede William Thorson to contend with for the day. Indeed the two would clash in a massive pot, with the local boy getting his money in with very much the worst of it:  99 vs KK.

After the raggity flop Black had his coat on and the cigarette in his mouth. The turn brought a third Heart and Andy was starting to get interested again. A Heart and only a heart would save him from disaster. Sure enough the Ace of Hearts saved his bacon. At least the Buddhist showed modesty in announcing “I played that hand horribly!” As for Thorson, he was too chocked to say anything but nodded in agreement.

Frenchman Paul Testud was another plying his trade on the feature table. His customary hand in the air yelling foreign words was amusing opponents and spectators alike.

Sporting a dishevelled look Testud enjoys acting the clown and being the moaning Frenchman. With national hero Pascal Perrault long gone, Testud had the French fan club solely for himself.  It wasn’t long before it was “tappi” after “tappi” – that’s French for ‘all-in’ – and the Frenchman was soon called and beaten, sending him out the door with €20,000 for his troubles.

Troubled Scandie Thorsson wasn’t going to sit around mopping or feeling sorry for himself, it was clear to see. Following his bad luck against Andy Black, the Swede took a reality check away from the table.

He was there to win and got right back amongst it taking the next pot he played. Indeed he outlasted the in-luck Irishman, as Black missed the money.

Going into the day second in chips, one would presume Thorsson was happy to finish the day in the same position with only eight opponents this time.

William [Thorsson] appears to be holding his form, following his success in this year’s World Series main event cashing for some $900,000 and runner-up in the Danish leg of the Showdown Poker Tour.

Perhaps he will be the one to beat tomorrow but Roland de Wolfe will have something to say about that. Finishing the day as chip leader on 1,352,000, de Wolfe was favourite to land the spoils.

With an abundance of class, guts and all-important confidence, the Londoner is only seven places away from bringing home the big prize and adding it to his WPT success in Paris and the small matter of a $1,000,000 in the Bellagio earlier this year.

Don’t rule out a recovery mission either with Gavin Simms, lying in third place with 442,000. A lack of experience at this, the highest level is sure to be a worrying factor. But perhaps Simms is the one to pull out all the stops.

What about steady veteran George McKeever landing the prize for the home nation? Having been nearly out the door on Day 1 George has hung around for some time and might just hang around for the climax too. Should he win the tournament tomorrow, there will be a party galore ‘up north’ on Bank Holiday Monday that’s for sure.

Roland de Wolfe will have two countrymen alongside him tomorrow with Rob Young, lying in forth position and Nick Slade sixth. Young, who is no stranger to these shores, got to the final two tables in the Irish Open earlier in 2006.

Nick Slade will perhaps know his way around a final table as he was there earlier this month in the EPM in Austria. Having finished eighth that day, Nick will be looking for at least an improvement on that and perhaps more. With over €50,000 guaranteed at this point nobody can be too disappointed come the big showdown tomorrow.