Live the Dream: The Top 20 Finalists

It's been a long, long day, but we've finally decided upon the 20 players to continue on tomorrow and a shot at a year-long sponsorship with Everest Poker.

Actually, this year, the field was so talented that we had a tie. 21 finalists will be moving on to the final day of competition!

(FR) Thibaud Durand
popotib

(ES) Javier Martinez
elflacokanu

(IT) Francesco De Vivo
raffa.de

(DE) Tobias Wagner
tobestar11

(FR) Leonard Truche
leoledingo

(JP) Shingo Nozaki
-45-

(NL) Niels Van Gent
nielis

(DE) Mark Willeke
razzelo

(IT) Davide Rugi
M@t@ciclista

(FR) Jerome Senac
jeje130014

(HU) Viktoria Szilasi
SexyGirl

(NO) Sigurd Eskeland
TheBigViking

(BR) Marcos Cesar
XT@TX

(BE) Jonas T'Syen
GiveItAll

(IT) Gavino Bechembauer Virdis
Bechembauer

(DE) Ronnie Pickard
Spadesman

(NL) Koen de Bakker
koendb

(FR) Julien Claudpierre
Garrincho54

(DA) Thomas Frøslev
DannyMcCoy--

(FR) Fabien Perrot
Schumyfab

(BR) Norson Shinti Saho
JenniferWood

Live the Dream Day 1 in pictures

It's been a long but exhilarating day. As things wind down a bit before the big announcement of the Top 20 players who will continue on to tomorrow.

Let's check out a few memorable images from today's competition.

Registration began bright and early on Saturday morning...

Followed by the opening ceremonies...

Sweden's Samir Boldin (MADSAM) goes for his Dream again

Selected as one of the Top 20 in the previous Live the Dream competition from two years ago, Samir Boldin (MADSAM) just missed making the original team. This year, he's back and ready to go all the way.

So far, MADSAM is having a good day in Vienna, winning his first sit & go -- which will certainly increase his Live Poker Ability score. Good luck to MADSAM and all of our players awaiting their fate on the first day of Live the Dream Casting. Within the next few hours, we will name the Top 20 players to continue in the competition.

But remember, all players who do not make it are invited to a special freeroll for a seat in a 2010 WSOP Side Event and Steps tokens.

Live the Dream Group B Sit & Go #1 Results

After a quick lunch, the second group of 100 players met in the Royal Flush Room of the Palais Auersperg for two single-table sit & go tournaments.

Both the cash games and live sit & gos are an important factor in deciding the 10 players who will be named to the new Live the Dream Team. Live poker ability accounts for 25 points out of the players total score.

Group B Results
Sit & Go #1

Table #1
1) -uvnler-
2) raffa.de
3) Fabio65
4) sirpaul
5) morpheo
6) magico.
7) Christian07
8) joubi44
9) Nollipap.de

Table #2
1) bechembauer
2) frantina
3) jp10@-
4) paperino65
5) raquino
6) @16Rittler
7) Marcilan
8) cobretti
9) Sky141

Table #3
1) razello
2) -GiveItAll-
3) maybebluff23
3) Pavel1985
4) Germain133 
5) smalMike
6) litledragon
6) Benny_J_Hill
7) kaleids
8) curtez86
9) 3erAndy
10)XT@TX

Table #4
1) yin-yang
2) SpaceyFCB
3) Memorax
4) Big_Jaws
5) restaurant
6) pbpassamassa
7) D.Elbazian
8) leoledingo

Table #5
1) big-shoot
2) Goalgetter76
3) leontave
4) mickystar94
5) ROMCO22
6) DannyMcCoy--
7) a_van_w
8) yostyle

Table #6
1) zerfer03
2) Romgrav
3) Aasisdebaas
4) Davidamon88
5) tbotoi
6) blesss
7) pierluca

Table #7
1) hetbuffeltje
2) Ronaldinho38=
3) TheSnip
4) LOL_U_91
5) mr_aces222
6) pokerjo18
7) zKwis
8) ADOLPH088
9) bobistuta

Table #8
1) LucasTheKid
2) rougier
3) Mr_Las_Vegas
4) Tidus29
5) djeeezes
6) adosso
7) pouskikdtc
8) IsacNL

Table #9
1) elflacokanu
2) LUCKI69
3) anguila55
4) mysticusus1
5) jeje130014
6) ryanghall
7) caramuxoreal
8) Prcris05
9) tobestar11

Table #10
1) JenniferWood
2) chachoo
3) Anttitoto
4) EvaAngelina
5) Puzo
6) Tommy1000
7) nicbaboul
8) m@t@ciclista

Table #11
1) Tribupoker
2) nielis
3) choiinwook
4) r0y_L215
5) Jim1969
6) F.C.INTER
7) serena90
8) BaDCoDK
9) ferros80

Four French Qualifiers -- Tribupoker, ROMCO22, nicbaboul and SmalMike

The French are well-represented in Vienna, with 53 players going after their dreams of becoming a sponsored player. Here are a few of the players who may end up being the next Fabrice Soulier or Antoine Saout.

If you follow French poker, you most likely know Anis Zenati, or Tribupoker, as he is known online and in France's large poker community. . The creator of Tribupoker.fr, one of France's biggest poker sites, is also a full-time financial analyst. He says he's not a fan of having free time, which is why he devotes hours upon hours to not only his own website, but also as a regular in many of Everest Poker's deep-stack multitable tournaments, particular the weekly $100,000 Guaranteed and monthly $250,000 Guaranteed. The Paris resident with incredible taste in designer sunglasses is long-time member of the Everest Poker community, mainly because of the wide offerings of affordable, deep-stack tournaments and live event satellites.

Once a civil engineer, Romain Cojean (ROMCO22) gave it all up three months ago. Serious about his poker career, Marseilles' ROMCO22 started honing his poker skills at the Shasta tables three years ago. "Everybody starts at Shasta," he says. Currently, ROMCO22 works with a poker coach in an effort to take his game even further. His specialty are MTTs, and he continues to dominate the Leaderboards at Everest. "I discovered poker with Everest, I started here; of course I have tried many others, but in my heart, it is Everest."

The poker blogger extraordinaire of Leparisien.fr, Nicolas Babel (nicbaboul) has been playing poker since his teens. He is consistently ranked amongst the top players in France among many poker publications (6th in 2009) and has been playing at Everest Poker for three years. Although nicaboul is a regular at the $2/$4 cash tables, he won his ticket to Vienna through an All-France Direct Entry.

While growing up, Michael Janot (smalMike) was one of France's brightest talents on the football field, playing on the highest level team. "The personal and team objectives in football are not unlike what you find in poker," says smalMike. "This is true of both football and poker." A two-time Live the Dream qualifier, SmalMike is also a member of the poker club Marseilles Hold'em, the first official partnership between Everest and France. After winning the Everest-sponsored Marseilles Hold'em Championship, smalMike played the Poker Stars 2007 EPT Barcelona. The married father of two works full time, but poker and travel are his two favorite hobbies, so a sponsorship might be something smalMike is ready for. "I think your personal, social, professional, poker life, all very close one to the other and you have to manage in the same way, but you must always try to find balance in life."

Team Everest's Fabrice Soulier wants a few new teammates

One of the world's top players (Nine cashes in the 2009 WSOP alone, plus a few Omaha titles along the way) and Everest Poker ambassador Fabrice Soulier wants a few new additions to the Everest Poker family.

Live the Dream Group A Sit & Go #2 Results

The first group of sit & go players have finished playing and have moved onto their cash games and one-on-one interviews. After playing their first sit & go, Group A switched tables and faced off against new opponents for their second single-game sit & go. Here are the results:

Sit & Go #2
Group A Results

Table #1
1) LPZZ
2) Pragmos
3) ExaMeter
4) torciec
5) orka76
6) janiesengel
7) TheBigViking
8) ciekawy37

Table #2
1) atiyyyyy
2) Marcho007
3) MR.Wildbrain
4) Golden.Moon
5) yz199

Table #3
1) yz199
2) Cash_Pisser
3) -ORACLE-
4) popotib
5) Tooren
6) Ekzism126
7) Brainst0rm86
8) jahguide

Table #4
1) gims77
2) RiseOf-era
3) maju2280
4) andreosa
5) -MJP-
6) Husmusen
7) SexyGirl

Table #5
1) koendb
3) ToniPeperon
4) Carnicero67
5) NLDegen
6) SuperTomte
7) pierroo
8) housemom48

Table #6
1) Agasajo1
2) Khimboo
3) donkey321
4) ggmanutd
5) MADSAM
6) RichyChip
7) Valentino86
8) szergej01

Table #7
1) ItalArtist
2) paskuda84
3) blurrrr
4) HoTsTePPa
5) tollefomholt
6) captainreg
7) nkeyno

Table #8
1) sebprochess
2) rfl81
3) macqueen
4) garrincho54
5) dom1960
6) U_R_MY_GIMP
7) 69chris669
8) karaknobba

Table #9
1) Spadesman
2) Schumyfab
3) Imobe
4) heidelberg99
5) Black255
6) Caio-Schmidt
7) toaster

Table #10
1) -45-
2) lucky.fish
3) Robby123
4) Rafichon
5) JonyKJ
6) Padiddy2
7) TheSystem
8) Filth22

Table #11
1) GuilhermeOSA
2) sailfun
3) diesereine1
4) MarcoAzul
5) Beseker
6) burle25
7) hyahhoo
8) SoSick_84
9) MrMister82

Everest Poker's Olaf explains the Live the Dream decision process

What factors weigh into the Live the Dream casting? Everest Poker's Olaf Schimpf explains the Live the Dream interview process and what goes into making the decisions on who should represent Everest Poker at the world's biggest live events.

Live the Dream Opening Ceremonies

Following an early morning registration, at 10:00 CET the 2010 Live the Dream Casting kicked off. The opening ceremonies featured a bit of inspiration from Team Everest's Cristiano Blanco, Maria Maceiras, as well as original Live the Dream Team winners Steven van Zadelhoff and Voitto Rintala.

Live the Dream Group A Sit & Go #1 Results

In addition to one-on-one interviews, the players also have to compete in a cash game and two single-table sit & go tournaments directed by Thomas Kremser of TK Events and one of the biggest names in international poker. The first group of sit & go players have finished and the results are in for both tourneys.

Each player started at one of 11 tables with a deep stack of 3000 chips. If a player goes out of the first sit & go, they simply wait to play in the second. It's that easy, and with 15 minute blinds, the action in the Royal Flush Room was definitely fast and furious.

Sit & Go #1 Group A Results

Table #1
1) toaster
2) paskuda84
3) sebprochess
4) koendb
5) Ekzism126
6) Husmusen
N/A Misabijoe
N/A 05apa
N/A Brobot

Table #2
1) SergioXXL
2) -45-
3) pierroo
4) ExaMeter
5) burle25
6) -MJP-
7) tollefomholt
N/A LOLOGUIL
N/A HustlaStylez

Table #3
1) popotib
2) hyahhoo
3) LPZZ
4) SexyGirI
5) ToniPeperon
6) MR.Wildbrain
7) Caio-Schmidt
8) 69chris669
9) Filth22

Table #4
1) lucky.fish
2) Agasajo1
3) Tooren
4) Pragmos
5) garrincho54
6) captainreg
7) MrMister82
8) Imobe
N/A soren196

Table #5
1) Carnicero67
2) ggmanutd
3) SoSick_84
4) ItalArtist
5) macqueen
6) andreosa
7) torciec
8) Rafichon
N/A NewKidSon

Table #6
1) MADSAM
2) Spadesman
3) Cash_Pisser
4) atiyyyyy
5) Jack.
6) gims77
7) nkeyno
8) rfl81
N/A Tucapoker

Table #7
1) maju2280
2) ciekawy37
3) U_R_MY_GIMP
4) NLDegen
5) Beseker
6) jahguide
7) RichyChip
8) Golden.Moon
N/A StratoPrince

Table #8
1) SuperTomte
2) GuilhermeOSA
3) -ORACLE-
4) Marcho007
5) Valentino86
6) janiesengel
7) RiseOf-era
8) Black255
N/A dinhooo

Table #9
1) Robby123
2) szergej01
3) orka76
4) dom1960
5) blurrrr
6) MarcoAzul
7) JonyKJ
8) heidelberg99
N/A vinc25

Table #10
1) TheBigViking
2) sailfun
3) Padiddy2
4) yz199
5) karaknobba
6) HoTsTePPa
7) donkey321
N/A Melarvinzz
N/A bompang

Table #11
1) housemom48
2) Khimboo
3) TheSystem
4) pafax
5) Schumyfab
6) Brainst0rm86
7) diesereine1
N/A easyeasy69
N/A Mick_25

Meet two German qualifiers -- razello and pokerjo18

Two of our German players, Mark Willeke (razello) and Jo Max Krautwald (pokerjo18) might be competitors at the tables but they're also great friends. How did they meet? From playing online and live events with Everest Poker. Once an aspiring politician, Razello gave up a government job to pursue his dream full time and plays at Everest because he loves the live event offerings, the MTT structures, the VIP Summit Club, and most of all his fellow players. "I love the community, and everything Everest stands for," says the WSOP, SPT and Montesino Grand Slam qualifier. "Everest is not only where I started playing poker, but it is also where I have gotten to know many of the players, who I now consider my friends."

Pokerjo18, a 21-year-old from Wedel, Germany, is another strong German player who often sits on the top of the MTT Leaderboard. He got into poker because of his father, long-time Everest player ulleulle. Like many of Everest's best players, pokerjo18 built the foundation of his bankroll at the Shasta tables. "I started with $0. My father told me that if I bettered my game, he would add money to my account. Once I got up to $50, he gave me $100." Pokerjo18 has played his entire career at Everest, mainly for the simplicity of the software, the deep stack tournaments and most of all, because of his fellow players. (And his father, of course.)

Meet two Italian qualifiers -- maybebluff23 and cobritti

Meet two of the 17 Live the Dream qualifiers from Italy!

Gianluca Trebbi -- maybebluff23 -- won over €100,000 only FOUR DAYS AGO after finishing second in Night of Poker, which was televised throughout Italy on Sky. You can find maybebluff23 in many of Everest's most popular multitable tournaments.

Last night's Live the Dream press party

Rikard from PokerTube is filming video throughout the entire Live the Dream weekend. Check out his first video, featuring interviews with Team Everest's Maria Maceiras and Cristiano Blanco from last night's press party.

Halfway through Day 1 of Live the Dream

The first half of the players are almost done with their interviews, and scores from today's first cash games and tournaments are now being tabulated.

Amazingly, the atmosphere in Vienna is still fairly relaxed, with players taking a lunch break in between their interviews and live poker play. So far, everyone seems to be in a very good mood, although many players worry they forgot to add something important in the seven-minute interview, but that's only natural.

Here's a taste of today's Live the Dream action. Let's check out a few photos from this morning's first sit & go. For the Sit & Go Tournaments, one block of 100 players played two sit & gos in the morning, with the final group of 100 going in the afternoon.

The Royal Flush Room, where all of today's Sit & Go action is going down.

Germany's pokerjo18 -- Joe Max Krautwald -- in his player interview.

A few of this morning's sit & go players.

Japan's Shingo Nozaki (-45-)

France's Thibaut Durand (popotib)

Keep checking back for more up-to-the-minute news and information from Vienna!

Live the Dream is here!

The 200 Live the Dream qualifiers have descended upon Palais Auersperg and are now getting started on a very busy day. After the opening ceremonies at 10:00am, the players have gone off with their assigned group for interviews and live play

Today, all players will go through seven minute interviews with members of the Everest Poker staff and brand ambassadors. Sounds stressful, doesn't it? When the players are not in their interview (or waiting for it), they will be playing in two sit & go tournaments and a cash game (Sorry, it's not real cash).

By the end of today, the field will be narrowed down to 20 players, but all other Live the Dream contestants are invited back tomorrow for a very special freeroll with a top prize of a seat in a 2010 WSOP Side Event! Registration begins at 8:00am and is open to the first 140 players.

Alas. I wish we could sign everybody.