A Thrilling Day 1 at the $25,000 Second Chance Event of the 2024 European Poker Tour Cyprus
The stakes were high as players gathered at the luxurious Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa for Day 1 of the $25,000 Second Chance event, one of the final high roller tournaments of the 2024 European Poker Tour (EPT) in Cyprus. Among the glitz and glamour that characterizes this prestigious competition, players from around the globe came together, eager to showcase their poker prowess and vie for a share of the substantial prize pool.
The Beginning of Day 1
On what was to be a brief but action-packed Day 1, 31 players took their seats, eager to capitalize on this crucial opportunity to regroup and make their mark after the earlier events of the EPT. Over the next four intensive hours of play, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement, and the tension on the felt was palpable. Despite the tournament being designed as a Second Chance, the competitive edge remained fierce, with players eager to redeem themselves.
As the clock ticked, the initial players quickly fell by the wayside, leading many to reenter and boost the total entries to 38. The late-registration window remained open until the start of Day 2, providing a further chance for aspiring high rollers to make their entrance into this thrilling event.
Chip Leaders and Notable Players
At the close of Day 1, Albert Daher emerged as the dominant player, bagging up a staggering 885,000 chips, a formidable lead over the 25 remaining players. Daher, a staple in high roller events and a seasoned veteran with three EPT titles under his belt, signified that he is not to be counted out easily. His latest triumph was notably in Cyprus last year when he bested a smaller field of 29 entries, securing a first-place prize of $264,690.
Close on his heels was Elias Gutierrez, a PokerStars Team Pro who managed to amass 808,000 chips. Gutierrez wasn’t just an observer; after his recent victory in the $25,000 SHR Warm Up, he was riding high on momentum. Completing the top three was Hassan Nashar with 805,000 chips, who displayed relentless aggression at the table, squeezing every chance to build his stack.
Top Ten Chip Counts
As the players prepared for Day 2, the top chip counts were as follows:
| Rank | Name | Country | Chips | Day 2 Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert Daher | Lebanon | 885,000 | 148 |
| 2 | Elias Gutierrez | Spain | 808,000 | 135 |
| 3 | Hassan Nashar | Senegal | 805,000 | 134 |
| 4 | Johannes Straver | Netherlands | 624,000 | 104 |
| 5 | Teun Mulder | Netherlands | 616,000 | 103 |
| 6 | Vladimir Korzinin | Estonia | 587,000 | 98 |
| 7 | Kayhan Mokri | Norway | 541,000 | 90 |
| 8 | Danilo Velasevic | Croatia | 500,000 | 83 |
| 9 | Aleksejs Ponakovs | Latvia | 454,000 | 76 |
| 10 | Vicente Delgado | Spain | 430,000 | 72 |
The Action of the Day
Day 1 began with excitement as Masashi Oya rapidly jumped into the lead, notably slowplaying pocket aces against Juan Pardo, who held ace-king on a king-high board. Despite a calm approach for much of the evening, Oya concluded the day with an average stacked 356,000 chips.
The action intensified as Jelle Moene wrestled the chip lead early on, only to face a brutal cooler situation against Jérémie Zouari. However, all eyes were soon on Nashar, who entered shortly after the break and turned the day on its head with a bold style of play that included high bet sizes and even playing hands without looking at his cards.
While Gutierrez managed to exploit Nashar’s unpredictable strategy, he soon found himself clashing with him, resulting in both a double and later the elimination of Nashar from the tournament. However, Nashar reentered the fray quickly, signaling that his fight was far from over.
Daher’s notable pot was against Simone Andrian, where he hit a miraculous five on the river to take down a significant pot, which further surged his stack as the day drew to a close.
Looking Ahead to Day 2
With Day 2 set to kick off on Thursday, October 17, at 12:30 p.m. local time, the remaining players will commence play at Level 9, featuring blinds of 3,000/6,000 and a 6,000 big-blind ante. Players can anticipate fifteen-minute breaks after every four levels and a more extended 75-minute dinner break after Level 20.
The stage has been set for an exhilarating continuation of this prestigious tournament, and with additional last-minute entries anticipated, the competition is bound to heat up. Players and fans alike are encouraged to follow PokerNews for continuous updates and detailed coverage as the next high roller champion emerges from the thrilling battles yet to come.
As the poker community watches, one question lingers: who will rise to claim the victory in this elite field of competitors? The answers await on the felt as Day 2 unfolds.
