4.20pm: Half-time break
Oranges for all. You'll find new updates in a brand new post. -- MC
4.15pm: Final number is in
We have the final numbers for UKIPT Edinburgh and we've broken through the 600-mark! After checking the numbers the powers that be informed us that 357 players sat down today, taking the total to 611. This is now the biggest UKIPT Edinburgh ever held in the three season of the tour. -- MC
4.10pm: One out
UKIPT Bristol runner-up James Greenwood wandered over to a mate and said: "I'm out queens against queens against aces. I had one live flush card!"
Further investigation revealed that Ben Price raised with the aces, a short stacked Greenwood shoved for 5,000 with queens, he was then flat called by Connor Hogarty, Price then shoved for around 16,000 and Hogarty called it off. No miracle outdraw for either player and now Price is up to 47,000. -- NW
4.05pm: Hulme doubles through Zawadowicz
I reached the table to see a bet of 450 in front of the original raiser and a bet of 1,100 in front of Andrew Hulme (button). The action had passed to Paweł Zawadowicz in the big blind, he took a look at Hulme's stack (roughly 6,800) and then four-bet to 2,525. The original raiser mucked his hand, but after a think of roughly 20 seconds Hulme moved all-in and Zawadowicz made the call.
Hulme: [Qh][Qs]
Zawadowicz: [As][Qd]
The [Js][2s][Qc] flop seemed to have ended things, but the [10h] turn gave Zawadowicz a straight draw. But, the [7d] fell on the river and Hulme doubled to 14,350. -- NW
4pm: Patience pays off for Kay
Dominic Kay has played a patient game today (so he says), and that patience has paid off with a double up to 20,000.
He was on the button and called a late position raise whilst sat on the button. The flop fanned [6][5][5] and Kay treated a 700 c-bet with a raise to 1,650. His opponent insta-jammed queen-nine off suit and Kay called with pocket sixes! The turn bricked and the hand was over. -- MC
3.50pm: Luske can't shake off Richard Milne
Marcel Luske open folded top two pair on the river when a third diamond fell, and his stack has dropped to 8,000 as a result.
The Team PokerStars Pro raised from mid position and was called in three spots en route to a [qc][5d][td] flop. He continued for 1,200 and was only called by Richard Milne to head to the [3s] turn. Luske quickly bet 3,000 and was called even quicker by Milne. The last card on show was the [8d] and when Luske bet 3,000 again Milne snap-shoved for 8,000.
Luske wasn't happy and threw [qs][ts] face up in to the muck, -- MC
3.30pm: Williams folds but is doing well
Kevin Williams is a regular on the UKIPT and has done well in the tour's previous high roller events winning more than £17,000 on the last two stops alone. He has 21,500 at the moment despite having to fold in a hand versus Roddy Davidson.
Williams was on the button and called an under the gun raise whilst sat on the button. The flop fell [jh][js][8c] and Williams saw his 500 bet check-called. Both players checked the [ks] turn to head to [4h] river where Davidson led for 1,525. Fold. -- MC
3.20pm: 600?
Ladies and Gentlemen we have a sweat on. Yesterday 254 players entered this event, today the tournament board is showing that 345 have entered. That takes the total to 599. Late registration has now closed, but of course the tournament board could be wrong and this tournament might reach 600 runners.
I'll bring you details on the final number of runners as soon as I get it. -- NW
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 100-200
3.10pm: Exits
What comes up, must come down and the following players chips stacks have come all the way down to zero: Edward Egre, Jan Wawryluk, Gerald Karlic, John Angus, Eamonn Blake, Daniel Rout, Felix Haeusler, Doverklint Nils Leif Michael, Mark Morgan, Daniel Samson, Kjetil Myhr, Deborah Worley-Roberts and Raine Hilson -- NW
3pm: Chip counts
Here's some chip counts of the names and notables: Ben Jenkins (19,625), Chaz Chattha (20,200), Chris Dowling (20,200), Rob Yong (17,750), Dowling and Yong are having a conversation about Mulit-Prize Pool poker, a concept developed by Roberto Romanello and being trialled at Yong's Dusk Till Dawn club.
Elsewhere Dominik Nitsche, has 21,500, should the young German win an EPT before October this year then he'll break Jake Cody's record for the youngest ever Triple Crown winner. Speaking of Cody the Team PokerStars Pro is holding steady on 25,000, whilst Marcel Luske is on 16,000.
There's a number of Irish pros in the field today, Jason Tompkins has 17,000, Fintan Gavin has 19,000 and Emmett Mullin is on 18,500. It's not going so well for some players who know what it's like to make a UKIPT final table, Jack Ellwood has 8,000, UKIPT Bristol runner-up James Greenwood is down to 5,400, Robbie Bull, third in Bristol, has 14,800 and Lee Atherton has slipped to 12,000.
Whilst, Kevin Williams has 14,500, Sam Ravazi has doubled to 14,000 and Geroge-Clyde-Smith, fresh off a deep run in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, has 19,500. -- NW
2.47pm: Mikielewicz binks a double
Grzegorz Mikielewicz is back in the game after fading a diamond and a four on the river to more than double up.
The action was four-handed to the turn of a [8s][3d][9c][2d] board. William Cheung led for 1,000 before Stephan Schreitl put in a raise and Mikielewicz shoved for 5,300. Cheung moved out of the way to let Schreitl call with [ad][4d] for flush and straight draw. The PokerStars Team Online member opened [th][td] and was happy to see a [qc] appear on the river. -- MC
2.35pm: Cody gets played back at
Jake Cody had a fruitful first two levels where he seemed to win most of the medium sized pots on offer. His opponents are catching on to his style of play though and fighting back.
The Team PokerStars Pro opened to 325 from under the gun and was called in the next seat before Andy Grant three-bet to 850 from mid position. Both players called to the [2d][4h][4s] flop where they check-folded to Grant's 1,700 c-bet.
The very next hand David Blacklaw completed from the small blind and Cody checked his option before he bet 150 on the [jc][ac][jh] flop. Blacklaw check-called and bet 250 on the [5c] river after both players checked the [6h] turn. Cody folded quickly. The "newbie" sits on 25,000 chips and is sipping Redbull to stay alert. -- MC
2.20pm: A couple of chip counts heading into level 3
Ian LeBruce - 19,000.
Jame Dale - 16,025
Matthias De Meulder - 15,000 after finally getting out of bed.
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 75-150
2pm: Break time
Two levels down and time for a break we think. --MC
1.50pm: Online star finding it tough going live
Grzegorz Mikielewicz has swapped his PC screen for the baize of a poker table this week. The PokerStars Team Online member hasn't transferred the same level of success so far though.
His raise was called in two spots on the way to a [qd][kd][2d] flop. The Pole continued for 275 and was only called by Warren Malcolm. Both players checked the [7d] turn before Mikielewicz led for 250 on the [jh] river. Call.
Mikielewicz opened [qh][jc] for two-pair but lost out to his opponent's straight with [as][ts]. With that loss he dropped to 6,050. -- MC
1.35pm: It's not getting any easier for Razavi
When you've lost half your stack already you probably don't want to see Jason Topkins sit down at your table. "Late regged #UKIPTEdinburgh @Sam_Razavi still smiling with a half stack, he must know something I don't," tweeted the Irisman, who final tabled EPT San Remo in 2012. -- NW
1.25pm: Three more sent out into the cold
Craig Burke, John McAnulty and Antonis Poulengeris have all fallen in the second level of the day.
Sebastiaan Heijnen was close to being at risk as well but somehow managed to get his shove through. Kevin Monroe opened to 300 from under the gun and was three-bet to 725 from Heijnen. Stewart McFarlane was in the small blind and put in four-bet to 3,200 which was enough to oust Monroe but not Heijnen, who five-bet jammed for 6,100.
Instead of calling McFarlane tank-open-folded [7d][7h]. Monroe questioned his fold and McFarlane sort of admitted he should have called.
Sam Grafton was sat and the table and he needled by saying, "I'm just saying, when he mucked I saw a six flash!" -- MC
1.15pm: News from around the room
After one hour of play here's a few snippets of what's been happening around the two very packed rooms.
- Chris Dowling and Dominik Nitsche have just taken their seats. The latter tweeted, "just sat down at #ukiptedinburgh . went for a nice long walk outside and now I'm feeling great" Whilst Dowling is seated at the same table as Rob Yong.
- Team PokerStars Pro Marcel Luske has had a slight uptick to 16,000 from his 15,000 starting stack. He's merrily chatting away to a table mate.
- Ian LeBruce, who's hoping to make it three UKIPT main event cashes in a row in Edinburgh, is up to 17,000.
- UKIPT Dublin champion Richard Evans is playing he's had a slight dip to 14,600, whilst Steve Watts is down to 11,000 and Jeff Kimber has 16,000. -- NW
1.05pm: Cool hand Jake
Jake Cody has had a great start and is already up to 27,000 chips. "Just been getting some cool hands," was how he described his start. -- MC
LEVEL UP: BLINDS 50-100
12.55pm: Bad start for Razavi
Despite the snowfall Sam Razavi managed to get to Edinburgh on time, although he's probably wishing he hadn't. "Double already in first 40 mins of #UKIPT Edinburgh! #DoubledDown 😪 need to spin back or spin off home... 8k," tweeted the UKIPT Cork champion. -- NW
12.45pm: First lady down
It didn't take long to lose our first player today. The unfortunate soul was Melanie Finan and her hand? You guessed it, pocket aces.
She made it to the river [k][q][7][t][3] board and was up against Kieran St Clair. Both players had around 6,500 chips left and St Clair bet all of them. Finan took her time and made the call only to be shown pocket kings by St Clair for top set. -- MC
12.30pm:Big field, big names
With 297 players already in their seats here on Day 1B, there are obviously a few big names dotted around the tables. Among the players that the others won't want to see to their left are: Dominik Nitsche, Sam Razavi, Sunny Chattha, Chaz Chattha, Simon Deadman, Jack Ellwood, Ben Jenkins, James Greenwood, Fintan Gavin, Chris Dowling, Jon Spinks and Sam Grafton. -- NW
12.20pm: Honeybone off to a good start
James Honeybone will be unknown to most in this field but the talented New Zealander has been plying his trade all over the globe these past six years. He now resides in Brazil and won a package to leave those warm shores for the sub-zero temperatures of bonny Scotland.
He's sat to the right of Steve Watts and the two played out a three-bet pot with another player. Honeybone raised to 150 from the button and was called by Watts before the big blind three-bet to 475. Both players called to the [8s][2s][7s] flop where the big blind continued for 775. Honeybone raised to 1,900 and took the pot as both opponents folded. -- MC
12.02pm: Welcome, Jake Cody
Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody entered the room a fashionable two minutes late, was announced to the room, and received a generous round of applause. -- MC
12pm: Shuffle up and deal
Cards are promptly in the air for Day 1B. -- MC
11.50am: More of the same at UKIPT Edinburgh
We enjoyed yesterday's helping so much that we're back for more of the same today. We have another eight levels of play for you today and a brand new line up for Day 1B.
Also brand new is Jake Cody. He's a familiar face on the tour but today is a special day as he is making his UKIPT debut as the newest member of Team PokerStars Pro. Poker's youngest ever Triple Crown winner is a fantastic addition to the squad.
Joining Cody will be a host of other familiar faces including three of his Benelux team cousins: Marcel Luske and the De Meulder twins, Christophe and Matthias. Team Online will also be represented by Grzegorz Mikielewicz of Poland.
Play is due to get underway very shortly and we expect a much bigger field to be sat down today.
PokerStars Blog reporting team in Edinbrugh: and their favourite type of snow Marc Convey (Snowmen) and Nick Wright (Snowcones). Photos by Mickey May (Snow Angels).