February 24 2011, Barry Carter

Online poker takes a step closer to live poker today, as 888 Poker have launched Pokercam Tables. Pokercam tables allow players to play face to face via webcam technology bringing a true home game experience to the online world. All 888poker players with a web cam can join specially marked “Video” tables in the lobby and be seen and heard along with everyone else at the table using in-built online communication technology similar to Skype.

This new technology opens up a new dynamic to the world of online poker. It will no doubt provide a fun home game element to the tables with plenty of banter. At the same time this will be the first time that physical tells may play a part in the online decision making process (Unless the player is hiding from the web cam).

Maytal Ginzburg, VP Poker at 888Holdings, speaks about the new pokercams at 888poker as an extension of the ‘we play different strategy’: “We believe that real poker is not just about winning money, but it’s about the thrill, the fun, the excitement and the social poker experience. Online poker has been traditionally focused on the ‘money making’ element – we feel that there is no reason why online poker should not enable players to meet, socialize and play together. Our new pokercam tables offer our customers a place to meet, play and socialize and are a true indication of our commitment to play different. It’s all about opening our doors to customers that want a casual game of poker, some may play for fun and some may play for real money what we offer is a fun and exciting game of poker against people who share the same interests as you and now you can actually see and talk to them!”

Hili Shakked, Director of Poker Offering, 888Holdings stated: “I’m thrilled to offer current and new customers of 888poker this innovative and fun feature. It’s been almost a year in the making and we are delighted at the result. Players can look forward to enjoying a completely new and different poker experience, by simply downloading the new 888poker software on a computer with a standard webcam. Now the greater challenge will be how to conceal the big smile when you get pocket aces!”

Not only can you play PokerCam tables exclusively at 888, you can also play in our exclusive $5,000 Leo Margets Freeroll series where you can play with, and bust, 888 poker star Leo Margets.

February 23 2011, Jen Mason

Day 2 of the DKK 35,000 buy-in PokerStars European Poker Tour Copenhagen Main Event brought 262 players back to the centrally located and, as of last night, snow-covered Radisson Blu. The combined survivors from both start days were either looking to double through quickly or augment their already healthy stacks — no one came back just to fold through the day, slow structure or no slow structure. This attitude was reflected in the rate of attrition in the Scandinavian Ballroom. By the end of the day, the field had shrunk to just 73 and was led by Michael Tureniec who bagged 640,000 in chips.

Close behind him is Per Linde with 514,000, while just missing out on reaching the half-million mark were both Joel Nordkvist and Team PokerStars Pro JP Kelly. Kelly is one of three Team Pros to make it to Day 3 — his fellows are Florian Langmann and Johnny Lodden. Fernando Brito has also made Day 3, but the EPT Player of the Year leaderboard topper is sitting with a relatively short stack.

Making it over the Day 2 hurdle are most of the leaders from last night, although they are no longer in the upper echelons — Michael Aron ended on 205,400 and Domantas Klimciauskas on 212,200. An exception was Ramzi Jelassi, who was eliminated late in the day along with 2008 World Series of Poker champion Peter Eastgate.

Eastgate went out with on the flop of . He check-raised a bet of 8,000 from PokerStars qualifier Aron to 27,700. Aron clicked it back to 50,000 and Eastgate moved all-in. A quick call came from Aron as he held the for middle set. Eastgate’s two-outer wouldn’t appear as the fell on turn and the hit the river, meaning Eastgate’s return to the felt was left with him leaving empty handed.

Other notable bustouts included Annette Obrestad and Scott Montgomery, who happened to bust at the same time on different tables, Kevin Stani and Team Pros Ville Wahlbeck and Toni Judet.

From behind his trademark aviator shades, Tureniec assessed his constantly changing table lineup (changing mainly because he kept winning races and busting players) and built up steam throughout the day, despite facing off against players like Lodden, Juha Helppi, Mark Gork and ex-leader Klimciauskas. In all, the leaderboard is topped by three Swedes.

In total, the 449-player field created a prize pool of DKK 15,086,400, or around €2 million, and the last 64 players will all receive a taste of it. Having finished fairly close to the money, expect the bubble to be a brief affair tomorrow, especially considering the relentless aggression displayed by the majority of these players.

Be sure to join Pokernews for live reporting from midday local time on Thursday in Copenhagen as we travel to the prize money and beyond.

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