Player  - Chips
Andreas Hoivold  - 65,700
Allan Mclean  - 59,550
James Martin  - 54,175
Karl Mahrenholz  - 34,950
Jonathan Spinks  - 34,325
Richard Sinclair  - 30,750
Nathan Lee  - 25,100
Peter Wood  - 23,550
Andreas Papantoniou  - 23,375
Robert Price  - 23,050
Lloyd Rees  - 21,125
Richard Swerling  - 19,200
Jon O’Mara  - 17,475
Dan Owston  - 16,275
Mark Blandford  - 15,400
Reza Modir  - 13,875
Michael Moore  - 6,675
Jeff Kimber  - 6,500

Stephen Pearce refusing to come back Saturday with low chips and pushes with K9.  He gets a call from Dan Owston with AT.  He doubles up after hitting a KING.  He then takes the blinds and antes with further shoves and he’s up to average chips (approx 25k).

This next hand he makes it 3k to go, “this is the best hand I’ve seen, this one.  Come on in, the water’s fine”, he says to Andreas Hoivold.  Andeas obliges with a call from the button.

The flop is J92 and Stephen pushes for the ultimate time.  He gets a call from Andreas who has flopped top two.  Stephen has QJ and struggling a tad.  He’s out, but at least not coming back on Saturday with a short stack.

That’s it for today.  Chips are being bagged and tagged.  Chip counts a-comin’.  Cu tomorrow for Day 1B, when Neil “Black Belt” Channing will be in the house.

Alan McLean with a set of 999’s and Lloyd Rees in for the main pot of 21k with Qh8h and William Davies with AJ in the massive side pot.  Lloyd spikes a heart on the river to triple up and Alan takes out William Davies and we’re down to 19.

James Martin makes it 1.7k and Jon O’Mara 5.6k so Martin pushes the lot in.  5 mins. later and the clock is called on Jon.  “I have a big hand”, says Martin (inducing a call?)  The clock’s counted down to the wire and Jon folds.  Martin shows KK’s.

Blinds 400-800 ante 50 : 21 players remaining : ave. chips 23,300

Jonathan Spinks with KK’s takes out John Simon 77’s and alles ist in ordnung for the youngster.

It’s chocolate mousse drowsed with a creamy-choco liquer, which he graciously takes away from the table after succumbing to the A7 of Jonathan Spinks, Steve with KQ.  He does hit a Queen on the turn but the ACE on the river and it’s also a double up for Jonathan who has similar but slightly greater chips.

We’re down to 23

This from Dan Owston as he calls Nick Drinkwater’s 6k all-in bet from the BB.  Dan with AJ and Nick AK.  97T and yes, EIGHT on the turn and Nick needs a Jack to split it.  ‘Tis not to be and we’re down to 24 now.

Table - Seat - Player - Chips
4 - 9 - James Martin - 48425
2 - 1 - Richard Sinclair - 41575
4 - 4 - Nathan Lee - 41200
2 - 7 - William Davies - 32550
4 - 1 - Jon O’Mara - 27600
2 - 8 - Allan Mclean - 26175
2 - 5 - Lloyd Rees - 25450
4 - 7 - Andreas Papantoniou - 23300
2 - 2 - Andreas Hoivold - 21025
4 - 8 - Dan Owston - 20450
4 - 5 - Richard Swerling - 19425
3 - 5 - Jeff Kimber - 18300
3 - 6 - Steve Jelinek - 17875
4 - 6 - Karl Mahrenholz - 17825
2 - 4 - Franco Giamei - 15025
3 - 9 - Mark Blandford - 12300
4 - 2 - Nicholas Drinkwater - 9850
3 - 3 - Craig Brignall - 9725
2 - 6 - Anthony Romanello - 9700
3 - 1 - Stephen Pearce - 8900
3 - 8 - Michael Moore - 8550
3 - 2 - Simon John - 8075
4 - 3 - Reza Modir - 7150
2 - 3 - Robert Price - 6825
3 - 7 - Jonathan Spinks - 6350
3 - 4 - Peter Wood - 6175

Jonathan Spinks moves in on the flop with a TEN required for a gutshot straight.  He makes it on the river.  He’s called on the flop by John Simon with only ACE high.  Simon left with only 4k after shipping over 14k to Jonathan.

25 players remaining and we play down to 18 or level 9 today.