EPT Deauville Day 1A

23h57 The results of Day 1A:

The first day was very eventful. Of the 349 players that started the day, only 198 finished. Their average is about 51K.

Overall, Team Everest Pro performed well. Here are their results:
- Cristiano Blanco: 55,000.
- Koen De Bakker: 38,000.
- Antoine Saout: 40,000.

23h15 Last minute details:

30 minutes of play remain during Day 1A. We're at level 9, with blinds at 500/1000 and a 100 ante.

Antoine continues his performance and now points to 92 000 ... no comment!

22h55 Superb performance!

After dropping to 5K, Antoine Saout proves once again he has mastered his craft by achieving a comeback of 80K, while the current average is about 46K!

While playing in the EPT Deauville tournament, he won two 2009 French Poker Awards:
- Improved Performance of the Year
- Best Newcomer of the Year

Also, he finished second in the category "Public Vote".

22h50 Some figures:

Here's a quick update of Team Everest Pro's standings:

- Cristiano Blanco: 60,000.
- Koen De Bakker: 42,000.
- Antoine Saout: 80,000.

21h10 The shock:

Voitto Rintala and Antoine Saout found themselves at the same table and the feared confrontation of two Everest Poker team members took place.

The heads-up came quickly: Voitto bet 1 600, followed only by Antoine Saout from BB.

With a flop of Qd Js 6d, both players check

The turn Announces Td
While Voitto check, Antoine bet 2 500

After a long thought, Voitto announces "All In" pushing the middle of the table with his 13 000 last chips. Antoine Saout hesitates but finally chose to call.

Voitto shows Jd Ah, while Antoine has a Qh 7h

The river will end the brotherly duel with a Qh - synonymous of a trips playoff for Voitto Rintala

20h10 The breathtaking tournament performance of Antoine Saout

While there is no more than 260 remaining players in this day 1A, 3 hours to play and blinds at 300/600 with 75 ante, Antoine Saout provides a fabulous shot against Patrick Masliah.

After a Bet/Call of 4 125 by Antoine, Patrick Masliah announces "all in" and gets an immediate response to Antoine Saout that follows showing Ah Ac while his opponent showed an ace Kh.

The board will not come to the aid of Patrick Masliah with Qs 4c 3s 4d 8c

Antoine doubled his stack with a good return of 38 000

19h10 Dinner Break: Players now have to 1 hour break for dinner.

18h47 Antoine Saout continues to be very active at his table and has begun Operation Come Back.

Our November Nine calls a raise to 1,000 of his opponent since the BB.

Flop: 7H 5D TH
Saout opens with 1,000 and calls his opponent fairly quickly.

Turn: 8C
Antoine bets 2,000 and calls his opponent again.

River: QH
Antoine maintains pressure with 5,000 chips remaining ... This time his opponent abandons the spot and drops her cards in the muck.

With this move, Antoine climbs to 13,000.

18h34 Antoine Saout went into attack mode by stealing a large number of small pots and he was forced to put his stack into the middle to win the pot ... his chip count is now up to 8,000.

Here the most recent figures for a few members of the Everest Poker Community:

- Cristiano Blanco: 30,000.
- Voitto Rintala: 19,000.
- Koen De Bakker: 34,000.
- Christian Debeil: 41,000.

17h15 Here is an updated chipcount for the members of Team Everest and some Everest Poker regulars who have qualified for this tournament.

- Antoine Saout: 7,200.
- Cristiano Blanco: 50,000.
- Koen de Bakker: 40,000.
- Voitto Rintala: 28,000.
- Christian Debeil: 31,000.
- Stephan Fajg: 28,000.

16h45 Players now have the chance to take a much needed 15 minute break.

16h00 The "rookie" of Team Everest, Koen De Bakker is doing rather well for his first EPT appearance. After losing a few hands early in the game, the tables turned in his favor when he won a large pot.

With the blinds at 100-200, the young Dutchman raises to 800 and the SB 3bet to 2,200 and he calls.

Flop: 9 5 J
Both checked.

Turn: 4
The SB checks, Koen bet 2,600 and the opponent calls.

River: 2
The SB checks again, Koen puts up 7,000 and calls his opponent.

Our Everest Poker player reveals a pair of 4s-making a trips-and his opponent sends his cards to the muck!

15h30 Antoine Saout is experiencing a slump and has lost some big pots. With blinds at 100-200, Antoine raises to 600 and 2 players call.

Flop: 8c 5d 8d
Antoine CBET to 1,100, one player calls and the second folds.

Turn: 8s
Antoine bets 2,900 and the player calls again.

River: Qs
Antoine bets 5,000 again and his opponent raises 11,000.

After a period of reflection, Antoine folds.

14h56 Players were allowed a well deserved 15 minute break.

14h30 After losing about 5,000 chips early in the game, Team Everest's Cristiano Blanco came back in the next stroke:

With blinds at 75-150, Cristiano discovers As Ks and decides to open 400 ... called by the BB.

Flop: 2c 4c Qs.
The BB checks, Cristiano bets 850 ... players call.

Turn: 7s.
The other players check again and Cristiano decides to check too.

River: Ts.
The BB opens at 2,000 and after a little "acting" to relaunch the Cristiano 5.500 ... paid by the BB.

Cristiano wins then the pot with a nut flush.

14h20 Here is an updated chip count for our Everest players:

- Antoine Saout: 34k
- Voitto Rintala: 33k.
- Cristiano Blanco: 35k.
- Koen De Bakker: 19,1k.
- Cristian Debeil: 40k.
- Stephan Fajg: 30k.

14h10 Antoine Saout just won a hefty shot. After a raise to 350, Antoine decides 3bet to 1,200 ... everyone raises to fold initial call.

Flop: 2d Ts 7d.
Players check in and Antoine CBET 1600 ... call.

Turn: 6h.
The players check again and Antoine bets 2.900.

River: 3d.
Both checked.

Antoine shows Td Jc and his opponent put his cards in the muck!

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Welcome everyone to the coverage of Team Everest at EPT Deauville! Hosted by PokerStars.com.

349 players have participated on Day 1A, among these are Antoine Saout, Cristiano Blanco, Voitto Rintala and the young rookie from the 2010 Live The Dream Team, Koen De Bakker.

Also, note the presence of familiar faces in the Everest community: Cristian "Oracle" Debeil and Stephan "Bouillonnette" Fajga.

The prize pool is estimated at € 2,702,400 but is not yet final. Players begin the tournament with an initial stack.

We will keep you up to date on their progress throughout the week.