2022 The Festival Bratislava Live Blog – Day 1de

Pavel Svach bagged the most out of the 141 survivors in Day 1d.

Day 1d attracted 458 entries to bring the total field size up to 1,052 entries with still more to come. A recap of the day will be included in tomorrow’s intro due to the ongoing turbo Day 1e flight. Here is a look at all of the chip counts.

Our very own Jacob Dideriksen-Nielsen (JDN) has done a fantastic job representing PokerListings as he just won the two-day €250 Heads-Up tournament for €2,700.

He was up 1-0 in a best-of-three against Ori Elul and had him on the ropes and down to just four big blinds when the final hand took place.

Elul jammed with king-eight and was called by JDN with fives. Elul pulled far out ahead after his king connected with the king-nine-four flop and it appeared the match would go on. But JDN pulled it off when a five came on the turn to give him a set and leave his opponent drawing dead. A queen completed the board on the river and JDN has represented PokerListings fantastically with a title at The Festival Series Bratislava!

Meanwhile, Day 1d of the Main Event is coming to a close with the final four hands just announced. We will provide the final chip counts of the flight as soon as it is ready.

At the same time, there are already 70 players registered in tonight’s turbo Day 1e flight. While PokerListings will not be covering this opening flight with hands, we promise to also provide chip counts of all the survivors from the final opening flight as well.

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 198/449

Juhana Konttinen had his last 25 big blinds or so in the middle with big slick and had a coin flip for his stack against The Festival Series founder Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk with jacks.

A jack came on the flop and eventually, Franke ousted Konttinen with a full house to bring his stack up to near 120,000.

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 202/446

We caught up with a hand where on the turn Matus Kucera raise-jammed the turn with the 5 5 6 4 on the board for about 20 big blinds and was called by Marek Krchnar.

Marek Kchnar: 5 5
Matus Kucera: J J

Kucera would have normally had a great hand with jacks on this type of board but was already drawing dead with Kchnar waking up with quad fives. The pot was shipped over to Kchnar after the Q completed the board on the river.

Kucera was back at it again in a four-bet pot and his stack committed with A K against another players’ Q Q . Kucera won the flip after his king connected with the 5 5 K 4 8 board to double his stack.

Matus Kucera – 120,000
Marek Kchnar – 100,000

Players are on their final 20-minute break of Day 1d.

Sascha Manns has one of the bigger stacks in the room with about 170,000 in chips.

He shared that he got a chunk of it during Level 8 as follows.

Manns three-bet squeezed for 5,000 from the hijack with jacks and both the original raiser and a caller came along for the ride to see the jack-five-trey flop with two clubs.

Two players checked before Manns fired out for 10,000. The original raiser folded, and the other player opted to call. The other player checked and Manns fired out for 25,000 after an eight came on the turn. The other player in the hand called to see an eight pair the board on the river.

Manns jammed for 55,000 and his opponent went into the tank before she asked if Manns would show his cards.

“I will show after you call,” Manns shared.

Manns’ opponent eventually found a call and got the bad news after she turned over her ace-jack that she was up against Manns’ full house.

Sascha Manns – 220,000

Check out the highlights from Day 4 of The Festival Series Bratislava.

Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 233/438

The Festival Series’ Karev Tralla has been busy, busy, busy all festival long but found some time today to get into the action on Day 1d in the Main Event.

We just had a look at his stack, and he is up to 90,000 in chips. He shared that he busted Henrik Riis en route to tripling his starting stack.

Meanwhile, The Festival Series founder Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk also is up to 90,000. The table shared that Franke four-bet jammed with ace-jack and was up against the ace-king held by Juhana Konttinen. Franke got lucky with the run-out but Konttinen, who has some history playing with Franke, shared he initially got lucky by being dealt the better hand.

Martin von Zweigbergk – 90,000
Karev Tralla – 90,000
Juhana Konttinen – 40,000

The Festival Series founder Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk has entered the Main Event for the first time. He showed us the ticket number and it read 1,015. So even though Franke will contribute towards the prize pool, he wasn’t part of making the guarantee.

Before The Festival Series Bratislava, I had Franke on our On The Road with PokerListings by Jason Glatzer. Listen to the episode by clicking on the image below.

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 265/420

A player limped from early position before Noelia Ivars raised to 1,200 from the button. Jeroen Aarts and the early position limper called from the big blind for three players to witness the K 7 8 flop.

The action checked to Ivars who fired out for 3,500. Aarts raised to 9,000 and the player that limped folded. Ivars called and the J followed on the turn. Aarts jammed for 21,000 and Ivars snap-called.

Jeroen Aarts: 8 7
Noelia Ivars: K K

Despite flopping two pair, Aarts was already drawing dead when all the chips went into the pot. The 6 river completed the board and Aarts shared he would get some rest before deciding if he would re-enter today or on Day 2 tomorrow.

Noelia Ivars – 90,000
Jeroen Aarts – 0

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 267/416

James Akenhead is one of the biggest names in the Main Event today. Unfortunately, we witnessed him just leave the poker room but apparently, he will be coming back for another bullet.

He recapped a hand to The Festival Series reporting Dana Immanuel and shared that a player in middle position opened before he three-bet from the small blind with big slick. The big blind woke up with aces and fired in a four-bet. Akenhead five-bet jammed and didn’t get a miracle to get ahead of his opponent’s rockets after he called.

Best of luck to Akenhead on his second Main Event bullet.

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 267/410

Tomas Hajek three-bet jammed the button for under 25 big blinds and was called by Johannes Huisman from the cutoff.

Tomas Hajek: A J
Johannes Huisman: 9 9

Hajek let out a sigh of frustration after Huisman improved to a set on the 9 6 2 flop and was drawing dead after Huisman further improved to a full house on the 6 turn. The K river made the hand official and Hajek was on the rail.

Johannes Huisman – 80,000
Tomas Hajek – 0

The €500,000 Main Event guarantee has already been met midway through Day 1d. Going into today, there were 594 entries and Day 1d thus far has attracted 409 entries to bring the field up to 1,003 entries and counting.

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 272/395

Players are on their second break. We will update some of the bigger stacks from around the two rooms hosting the Main Event.

The Main Event thus far has already attracted 991 entries including 395 in today’s Day 1d flight.

Level 6: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 276/392

Riccardo De Rubeis bet 2,400 into a pot of a bit more on the 2 8 9 flop. Dalibor Zjacic raised it up to 7,000 and De Rubeis called.

De Rubeis check-called a bet of 7,000 on the 2 turn by Zjacic before both players checked the 3 river. De Rubeis turned over 6 6 but didn’t win the pot with Zjacic showing down Q 9 for a better two pair.

“I was trying to bet you off the pot,” Zjacic said after the hand.

Riccardo De Rubeis – 125,000
Dalibor Zjacic – 105,000

Level 5: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 297/351

Gernot Asanger fired out for 2,500 into a pot of exactly 5,000 after the 10 K 4 flop and was called by Natalia Chuprinskaia, Vlantouts Kourka, and Jozef Cajka.

Three players checked before Cajka bet 6,500 on the 10 turn. Chuprinskaia and Kourka both folded while Kourka called.

The 7 river completed the board. Kourka checked. Cajka jammed for 17,100 and Kourka went into the tank.

“Don’t know why I put you on a flush draw,” Kourka said more than once. “If I fold, will you show?”

Cajka remained silent the entire time.

“OK,” Kourka said. “I call.”

“Good call,” Cajka said as he turned over the Q 8 . Kourka only had 5 5 but this was good enough to win the pot and add some chips to his already big stack.

Vlantouts Kourka – 165,000
Jozef Cajka – 0

Level 5: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 297/349

J.J. Hazan hosted a PLO Masterclass earlier this week at The Festival Series Bratislava. Feedback from players was great but now he will take his chances in a two-card event. Hazan also was one of the commentators this week for The Festival Series live stream.

We know that Hazan can also play well with two cards as during the last The Festival Series Bratislava in 2021, he won the PokerListings Deepstack for €7,375.

Hazan ran into a bit of a cooler early on Day 1d of this Main Event as he held top two pair with ace-queen. However, his opponent flopped a set of tens. All the chips went into the middle and Hazan immediately re-entered.

J.J. Hazan – 30,000

Level 4: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 297/342

There were already 20,000 in the pot with the J Q 2 10 on the board after the turn when Brenden Oeystein check-called a bet of 10,000 by Riccardo De Rubeis.

Both players checked the 5 river. Oeystein turned over Q 3 for top pair. De Rubeis also held top pair with A Q and was awarded the pot thanks to his ace-kicker.

Riccardo De Rubeis – 60,000
Brenden Oeystein – 30,000

Level 4: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 291/321

Day 1d is officially too big to fit into one room with the field already at 321 entries. Among the players sitting at a table in a room usually used for the side events is Daniel Sahlin, Ant Gokcek, Monika “Hey Monia” Zukowicz, and Jon Kyte.

Both Kyte and Gokcek are on their second bullets of the day but things have been going better for Sahlin. Earlier this festival, Sahlin defeated Leif Iversen heads-up to win Event #11: €250 PLO Masters for €5,482 and could be in line for much more in the Main Event if his success continues.

In a recent hand, Matyas Kende checked with 4,000 in the pot and the A 4 Q on the board. Sahlin fired out for 4,000 and Kende tanked for several minutes before he called.

Kende quickly checked after the 6 followed on the turn. Sahlin opted to jam for about 40,000. Kende, with about 20,000 left in his stack once again went into the tank. After a couple of minutes, he opted to fold and the dealer awarded Sahlin the pot.

Daniel Sahlin – 60,000
Matyas Kende – 20,000

Players are on their first break of Day 1d.

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 274/293

Erol Hamid was the first player on the rail during Day 1d. He hopped back into the action and it appears things are going smoother for him on his second bullet of the day.

Toni Radonic checked with the J K Q 2 2 on the board. Hamid fired out for 4,500 into a pot of around 6,000. Radonic tanked for a minute before he called. Hamid turned over A A for two pair with aces over deuces and won the pot after Radonic mucked his cards.

Erol Hamid – 45,000
Toni Radonic – 15,000

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 261/272

Three players checked with about 4,000 in the pot and the 3 8 8 on the board before Sandor Leitenroth fired out for 1,700. Jan Hajek called. Another player folded before Andreas Pavli called.

The action checked around after both the 5 turn and the 5 river. Hajek mucked his cards before anyone showed their hand. Pavli turned over A K but this wasn’t enough as Leitenroth was awarded the pot after he tabled 6 6

Jan Hajek – 25,000
Andreas Pavli – 50,000
Sandor Leitenroth – 45,000

Level 2: 100/100 (100)
Entries: 249/255

Miroslav Druga bet 2,700 from the blinds into a pot of around 4,000 after the 4 8 6 landed on the flop and was called by Marcin Niedzwiecki from late position. Druga opted to check after the 5 followed on the turn. Niedzwiecki fired out for 3,000 and Druga called.

The action slowed down after the 5 paired the board on the river. Both players checked. Druga turned over Q Q and won the hand after his opponent mucked his cards.

Miroslav Druga – 75,000
Marcin Niedzwiecki – 16,000

Level 1: 100/100 (100)
Entries: 244/249

Ant Gokcek is a close friend of this author as we are both ex-pats living in the glorious Lithuanian capital of Vilnius and have a passion for poker.

Gokcek decided on a last-minute trip and got into his car at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning for a marathon 14-hour drive here to Banco Casino Bratislava. He has had his rest and is ready to rumble.

Unfortunately, Gokcek is among the first players to hit the rail. He shared with PokerListings that he got his chips in with cowboys on a queen-queen-ten flop and was up against ace-jack. Unfortunately for our friend, an ace spiked the river. Gokcek shared he plans to get back into the Main Event action with his second bullet shortly.

While the Main Event is absolutely packed, there are also many players at the moment getting their tickets to the two-day PokerListings Championship starting at 1 p.m. in the Rome Room.

The event boasts an affordable €250 buy-in and features an amazing structure with 30,000 in opening chips and 30-minute blind levels.

Best of luck to everyone that gets into the action!

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 207/208

The field has already grown to more than 200 entries. Erol Hamid, who we recently reported a hand about, lost the rest of his chips and was the first player out on Day 1d.

Meanwhile, over on Table 54, Jean-Pierre Vieilletoile had a decision to make. Sascha Manns jammed for 12,100 into a pot of around 20,000 with the 3 Q A 7 J on the board after the river. Vielletoile went into the tank and there was some table talk between the duo at this point.

Eventually, Vielletoile decided to fold but not before flashing to the table he laid down A for at least top pair.

Sascha Manns – 32,000
Jean-Pierre Vieilletoile – 15,000

Here is a look at the Main Event figures after the first three opening flights:

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 168/168

Yordan Dichev bet 2,000 into a pot of nearly double that with the J 9 2 2 on the board after the turn and was called by Erol Hamid.

The 6 completed the board on the river and Dichev fired out for a blue 5,000-denominated chip. Hamid snap-called and shook his head and mucked his cards after Dichev turned over K 8 for a flush.

Yordan Dichev – 40,000
Erol Hamid – 22,000

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 149/149

Cards are in the air for Day 1d. A total of 149 entries were entered before the start of the day with many more to come.

Welcome back to the coverage of The Festival Series Bratislava by PokerListings. As will be the case the entire week, our coverage will focus on the Main Event will providing some highlights and information about the plethora of side events.

The first three opening flights attracted 585 entries with 181 players finding bags. This number will grow significantly today featuring the final two opening flights of the Main Event.

€500K GTD Main Event

The poker highlight of The Festival Series Bratislava is, of course, The Festival Series Bratislava €550 Main Event from Oct. 11-16. The Main Event guarantees a whopping €500,000 but it appears based on yesterday’s Day 1a along with many more players still yet to arrive.

Players will have plenty of opportunities to build a big stack with five opening flights from Oct. 11-14 including Day 1d today starting at noon CEST. Not only can players re-enter if they lose all their chips twice per opening flight but also can re-enter (or register for the first time) during the first two blind levels of Saturday’s Day 2.

The first four opening flights will feature 40-minute blind levels with the final opening flight taking place tonight moving along twice as fast with 20-minute blind levels. Players will bag chips today on Day 1a after 12 blind levels are completed.

Attila Kuna is currently on top of the leaderboard after the first three opening flights after parlaying his 30,000 opening chip stack into a massive stack of 384,000 in chips during yesterday’s Day 1c.

Today’s Side Event

Here is a look at today’s side event schedule. It is possible that some of the starting times will be pushed back to accommodate the insatiable demand by Main Event players.

PokerListings will begin its coverage when cards are in the air at noon. Stay tuned for updates throughout the day.