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PCA 2016: Day 1 $25,000 High Roller updates

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* Day 1 will end after 10 levels of play (approximately 12am)
* Dinner break scheduled for 6.30pm
* 111 players registered so far

2:40pm: Contrasting fortunes
Level 3 - Blinds 150 - 300 (25 ante)

In order to win a poker tournament it's not essential that you get off to a great start. Countless players have lost a ton of chips early and made a stunning comeback to win all of the chips in the room. That's the path that Britain's Tamel Kamel will have to take if he wants to win any cash in this event. Through a series of unknown circumstances Kamel is down to just 2,000 and shoving at will.

Just one table away it's going much better for Shaun Deeb. He just jammed the river and escaped without getting called to take him up to 56,000. - RJ

2:25pm: Selected chip counts
Level 3 - Blinds 150 - 300 (25 ante)

Andrew Chen - 95,000
Ole Schemion - 80,000
Ian O'Hara - 78,000
Calvin Anderson - 67,000
Jonathan Little - 58,000
Charlie Carrel - 58,000
Joe McKeehen - 57,000
Talal Shakerchi - 55,000
Andre Akkari - 43,500
Mike McDonald - 37,000
Shaun Deeb - 36,000
Eugene Katchalov - 23,000

2:20pm: Play resumes
Level 3 - Blinds 150 - 300 (25 ante)
Players have returned for the third level of play. There are now 103 registered.-SB

2.10pm: End of Level 2
Players are now on a 15 minute break. Some 98 players have registered so far.-SB

2:05pm: Latest arrivals
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Thomas Meuhloecker
Tamer Kamel
Steve O'Dwyer
Andrey Zaichenko
Calvin Anderson
Marvin Rettenmeier
Sorel Mizzi
Isaac Baron
Justin Bonomo

2:00pm: Aces vs Kings
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Noah Schwartz is not happy. Ole Schemion was causing the problem.

Noah Schwartz

There was plenty in the middle from earlier action in the hand, but on a board of [9c][6s][9d][8h], and both players playing out of the blinds, Schwartz moved all-in for around 28,000, easily covering what Schemion had left. Schemion called and nodded when Schwartz turned over pocket aces. Schemion had kings.

The river came [kh]

Ole Schemion

Schemion leaned over and dropped his kings onto the river card, as if playing snap. Schwartz walked off, muttering something, returning to his stack of 9,000. Schemion though is up to 81,000.-SB

1:55pm: Not this time buddy
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

When it was folded to Sean Winter on the button he made it 600. Mike McDonald was in the small blind and wouldn't stand for this button abuse; he three-bet to 2,200. Now Charlie Carrel's interest was piqued in the big blind. He gave Timex a good old stare and seemed to be thinking about getting creative before a begrudging fold.

Charlie Carrel

Winter had had some time to think while Carrel was posturing. So when the action was back on him he moved quickly and four-bet to 5,800. McDonald folded. Maybe Winter did really have the goods, or maybe he just wasn't prepared to lose this hand no matter what. He's now back to his starting stack and 'Timex' is on 30,000. - RJ

1:50pm: Sean Winter has not been thrown out
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

"Can you believe I got 86th?" he said.

"You got 86'd?" someone asked.

"No, I finished in 86th place," replied Winter.

Winter finished in 86th place in the Main Event. He was not "86'd", which refers to being kicked out of a casino or bar.

1:45pm: Did he have quads?
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

The Greenwood twins continue to frustrate the field here in the High Roller with their solid play. This time it was Sam's turn to win a pot and it was against Ole Schemion.

Schemion check-raised to 4,500 on the [5s][4c][5d] flop and Greenwood called. The turn was [5c], making quads for one of these players a very real possibility. Schemion checked now and Greenwood bet 3,000. It was enough to take the hand. Greenwood has 47,000 and Schemion is down to 41,000. - RJ

Ole Schemion - 41,000
Sam Greenwood - 47,000

1:35pm: This could get good
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Charlie Carrel and Sean Winter are having a fun back-and-forth on their table. Carrel had cold four-bet pre-flop and was called by both Winter and Talal Shakerchi. A bet on the turn of a [ad][2d][kc][6c] board took it down for Carrel.

As he raked in the chips, Carrel took the time to compliment Sean Winter on his stare that had been in place during the hand. However, there's a problem. Carrel is from England and has a thick, non-RP accent. Winter is American through and through and had no idea what Carrel was saying. So Winter took the time to point out how skinny and pale Carrel's arms were instead.

"That's why I don't play these much", said Carrell, "I give someone a compliment and they're like f**k your arms!" It's all fun and games - until the blinds increase later on, of course. - RJ

1:30pm: New arrivals
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Shaun Deeb
Sean Winter
Andrew Chen
Nick Petrangelo
Noah Schwartz
Eugene Katchalov
Joao Veira

1:25pm: Andress wins against Shakerchi
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Talal Shakerchi opened for 1,600 under the gun. The action was folded around to John Andress in the big blind who called for a flop of [4s][qd][3d].

He then checked to Shakerchi who bet another 2,100, and Andress called again. The turn was the [ts]. It looked like the pattern would continue as Andress checked to Shakerchi who bet 4,100. But this time Andress raised to 13,500.

Shakerchi called and watched as the [ah] landed on the river. Andress immediately bet 17,000 and waited for Shakerchi, who looked at his cards again, eventually folding.-SB

Talal Shakerchi - 44,000
John Andress - 59,000

1:20pm: The other Greenwood is good
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

We just reported that Luc Greenwood is off to a good start, but he has a twin in the High Roller crowd today and he is doing just fine too. Sam Greenwood squeezed to 2,500 from the small blind after a raise and call from Jeff Rossiter and Christoph Vogelsang. It was enough to make both men fold and pick up the pot. Greenwood is just over his 50k starting stack now. - RJ

Sam Greenwood - 50,000

1:10pm: Greenwood gets his way
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Andy Philachack is complaining that he just can't win a pot against Luc Greenwood today. The latest loss came when both checked the river of a [8s][5h][9s][9c][5c] board. Greenwood's Ace-King was good enough to beat the [kh][qh] of Philachack, who is down to 39,000.

Greenwood is up to 60,000 after a good start. - RJ

1:05pm: A new level
Level 2 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Play has entered level 2, however the blinds are repeated for a further hour.

1:00pm: Lovely Carrel
Level 1 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

It's never quiet when Charlie Carrel is in town - either visually or aurally. The Brit is looking resplendent in Aladdin-style flowing trousers, a bright orange vest and flowery scarf. In fact, he has brought a collection of loud scarves with him today and dished one out to compatriot Simon Deadman, who is sat on a neighbouring table.

Charlie Carrel

Carrel will have a tough time in front of him on the poker tables today, though. He's seated with Talal Shakerchi, Mike McDonald, Peter Jetten and NFL legend Richard Seymour. It's started just fine for Carrell, he has 50,000. - RJ

12:55pm: Latest arrivals
Level 1 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Just arrived to take their seats are:

Andre Akkari
Govert Metaal
Daniel Dvoress
Ole Schemion
Jeff Rossiter
Christoph Vogelsang

Andre Akkari has taken a seat

12:45pm: Magic Ike
Level 1 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Isaac Haxton is having a good PCA with two final tables and over $700k in winnings so far. He's started well in this one too, winning a pot versus Tyler Patterson just now.

Patterson check-raised on the [5s][6c][7c] flop and Haxton called. The action slowed down on the [6d][ks] turn and river, both going check-check. Haxton turned over [7d][5d] for a flopped two pair and it was good against Patterson's [jh][9c]. Ike is now on 55,000. - RJ

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12:30pm: Shakerchi wins an early pot
Level 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Talal Shakerchi is up to 53,000 after a hand against Brian Tae-Hyun Yoon. After some pre-flop betting and calling the flop came [6c][3h][th]. Shakerchi check-called Yoon's bet of 1,800 for the [8h] turn card. Both checked for the [4c] on the river. Here Shakerchi bet 6,600. Yoon thought about it but was forced to pass.-SB

Talal Shakerchi - 53,000

12:25pm: Merson is not turbo-charged
Level 1 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

It's the first sighting of Greg Merson in one of the marquee High Roller events this week. Acclaimed poker author (and tablemate) Jonathan Little wondered why Merson didn't play the one-day $50,000 event.

The reason? "I hate turbos." Merson also said he had no idea what to do in them - though we suspect Merson's version of no idea is significantly better than ours... - RJ

12:15pm: World champion of world champions
Level 1 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

High roller poker players are very good at some things - mainly poker - but tend to be very bad at another thing, turning up on time. Today's $25k event officially started at noon but quite a few tables are only now starting to fill up. And it's a certainty that there will be a steady stream of players filing in throughout the day too.

Two players who did show up bang on time are 2012 WSOP world champion Greg Merson and his 2015 counterpart Joe McKeehen. They're seated across from each other and will be out to prove who wears that shiny gold bracelet better than the other. - RJ

12:05pm: Among those who have taken their seats
Level 1 - Blinds 100 - 200 (25 ante)

Jonathan Little
Joe McKeehen
Olivier Busquet
Mike McDonald
Talal Shakerchi
Luke Greenwood
Simon Deadman
Isaac Haxton
Charlie Carrel
Scott Seiver
David Peters
Greg Merson
Will Molson
Richard Seymour
Keith Lehr

11.45am: Re-enter the high rollers

As the Main Event plays on into Day 4 the high rollers return for a three-day $25,000 buy-in single re-entry contest. Play starts at noon today, with three days of play ahead.

Want to be here next year? Sign up for PokerStars and start your journey. Click here to get an account.

Take a look at the official website of the PCA, with tournament schedule, videos, news, blogs and accommodation details for the Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas.

Also All the schedule information is on the EPT App, which is available on both Android or IOS.

PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $100,000 Super High Roller: Stephen Bartley and Ross Jarvis. Photos by Joe Giron.