There were 111 players in the High Roller yesterday, 76 when they returned this afternoon. Now that figure stands at 50.
Jean-Noel Thorel, who was in second place overnight behind Taylor Paur, was struck by Max Greenwood who relieved him of more than 40,000. Greenwood turned that into more than 300,000 after sending Jonathan Bensadoun home in the cruellest of fashions. Both players got their chips in with aces only for Greenwood to complete an almost immoral flush.
Paur is also up, keeping pace with Greenwood, with a hand against Saar Wilf and Thorel adding to his stack, which now sits at 235,000.
Juha Helppi is a smart man. For instance, as the Finnish press explained, he was the only one of a group of Finns watching the Barcelona v Madrid game last night to wear short trousers, saving himself some of the clammy discomfort of being surrounded by 90,000 soccer fans in 30 degree heat.
He also started the day well, winning a four way pot that took his stack up to 100,000 and contributed to the demise of Sorel Mizzi, who would be joined on the rail by the likes of Steve O’Dwyer, Ben Wilinofsky, Mike McDonald, Jannick Wrang and Pius Heinz all in the first level.
Meanwhile Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier put his ascent to 190,000 down to luck, which most of the time is about as accurate as putting his success down to peroxide.
Blonds have more fun?: “ELkY” Grospellier in action
JC Alvarado is also on the ascendant, up to 184,000. The form that secured him second place, and €788,674, in the Super High Roller a few days ago seems to have stuck around.
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John Juanda talks with Lynn Gilmartin…
