EPT Grand Final Monte Carlo
Day 1A

Wednesday the 29th March 2007. Not your average Wednesday it has to be said. The picturesque Monte Carlo situated in the heart of Monaco plays host to the conclusion of the 3rd and most successful European poker tour. 600 budding poker purists were here for the glory of the big time, the closing event, the showcase tournament of European poker, which kicks off here today.  A far cry form the €20 tourneys that many have played in the past, this is many ways the pinnacle of a poker players career surely. What better place to play than in this location, with millions of euros waiting for the finalists. This is the grand stage and the poker public have come to perform for all to see.

Unlike many EPT events, it wasn’t just the European elite here this weekend this was the world elite. Like any other sport, the bigger the stake the higher the calibre of entrant. Popular poker personality and WSOP champ Greg Raymar was one face, which could be found mulling around the poker room. Greg would be in hot action early on as his standard raise with JJ, got re-raised. The champ responded with the big push, only to get a quick call. Raymer was reaching for his jacket already but he let out quite a smirk when he realised he was more around the 50:50, than the 80:20 mark. A welcoming board brought no help for big slick and Raymer was given a nice early double up for his troubles. Its strange how no matter how many chips you give some players there is till something fascinating about them “all in” words, which always leads to early casualties.

One big name who was not enjoying early joy was EPT Dublin champion Roland De Wolfe. Getting his chips in with trop two pair against a flush draw, De Wolfe was surely content to play the odds at this point and get his weekend motoring. The odds were quickly out of favour for him when the heart arrived on the turn. Roland one of the early casualties today but as the wise man said, “you win some and you lose more”. De Wolfe will surely have happy memories of this EPT series I should think; he will no doubt enjoy the rest of the weekend regardless.  

Jani Vilmunen also known as the flying Finn won one of the most lucrative pots of the day worth over 100k in chips. He made a huge raise into Barney Boatman with a diamond flush draw and hit the given suit on the turn. These Scandinavian players have made an art form of getting called for towering amounts of chips on draws and hitting the flush on the turn. Power poker indeed!  Jani finished the day second in chips with 95k.

With the Finnish flag being very much, it was a Norwegian who spoiled the party and finished the day as chip leader. Christopher Ulsrud finished the day with 133,875 in ships exactly. Not as massive as we have come to expect from other EPT legs but we have to remember the increased play in the grand final. Starting 2 days earlier means this is a contest that cannot and will not be determined on the opening day. Saying that Ulsrud will no doubt be overjoyed with his efforts and look to cement his progress through the tournament in day two.

Englishman Steve Jelinek was the highest placed non-Scandinavian finishing the day in third position. Completing a fairly low profile trio of chip leaders for the day ending 1A, Jelinek will be one seeking to make a name for himself this weekend and have his home in stars on Sunday evening. He certainly is going about it the right way today. He will however be one of many looking over their shoulders this weekend for the invasion of Viking style proportion, which continues to progress here in Monte Carlo. Like many other EPT legs this term, the players from the Northern European countries are the ones to watch. Will they be able to add a few more to the peak tomorrow in the conclusion of day one here in Monaco? It would be foolish to bet against it.