Theo Jorgensen and his can't-lose tactic, Thor Hansen's optimism and Team PokerStars Pro Noah Boeken's fighting spirit on the vBlog before each sat down to play on day two...

With play underway Ola Brandborn, the Swedish journalist in second place on the chip list overnight came out firing, raising every pot on the first round of hands, winning a few and extending a lead.

Whilst he was getting busy Dutch player Leroy Soesman had taken it on himself to entertain his table, and each camera pointed in his direction. "Floor, I need a table change please!" he joked, possibly in response to similar ribbing from countryman Rolf Slotboom sat next to him. This is what a stack of over 50k does to a man.

"Please sir, I beg you. I promise you I have the best hand!" This isn't Soesman, it's a few tables along and comes from Danish player Kristian Pedersen, all-in with the player next to him, Torbjorn Jonson, thinking of the call. "And I'll buy you coffee. A small one. And a cookie too!"

Pedersen stands out on this greyest of days wearing as he does a solid gold coloured suit. Gold blazer, gold tie, he even has gold hair and a look of distinguished health. The man glows. It's a ray of sunshine on a table of short stacks looking concerned.

Torbjorn was still thinking....

"Please!!!" That did the trick, or not. Torbjorn folded and Pedersen flipped up his A-Q. "Of course I wanted you to call. But now I get to sit here for another ten minutes!"

He offered the man coffee anyway.

On the next hand it was Soren Jensen's turn to risk everything, all-in with K-Q which held out against Q-J. He went into a series of shouts, the adrenal kind, which surged through him, something he expressed with various arm movements. He was only doing what was natural but spent a full five minutes in the lobby walking it off before sitting back down.

Team PokerStars Pro Noah Boeken was giving tell tale interviews to people on the rail - his tournament over without too much of a surprise. He moved in on a flop of K-T-6 holding T-J only for his calling opponent to flip over A-K. It was always a big ask to revive a 9k stack.

Earlier on two more familiar faces talked to the vBlog team - Austrian Markus Golser and Frenchman Nicolas Levi...

We've played the first level. Blinds go up to 500/1,000 with a 100 ante.

All photos © Neil Stoddart

As the dinner break looms a look at the chip counts has few big swings on show, but Frenchman Nicolas Levi looks to be ahead...

Nikolas Levi - France -- 28 K
Markus Golser - Austria -- 17 K
Michael Tureniec - Sweden -- 14 K
Mads Andersen - Denmark -- 12 K
Jan-Olav Sjåvik - Norway -- 12 K
Rob Hollink - Holland -- 12 K
Gunnar Råbe - Sweden -- 12 K
Frederik Hostrup - Denmark -- 12 K
Dustin Mele - PokerStars Passport winner - United States -- 12 K
Tomas Brolin - Sweden -- 11 K
Johan Storåkers - Sweden -- 10 K
Theo Jörgensen - Denmark -- 9 K
Andy Black - Ireland -- 9 K
Micke Norinder - Sweden -- 8 K
Luca Pagano - Team PokerStars Pro - Italy -- 7 K
Christian Grundtvig - Denmark -- 7 K
Peter Hedlund - Sweden -- 7 K
Anders Berg - Norway -- 6 K
Tom McEvoy - Team PokerStars Pro -- 6 K
Casper Hansen - Denmark -- 6 K
Ramzi Jelassi - Sweden -- 6 K
Sören Kongsgaard - Denmark -- 3 K
Hans-Martin Nakkim - Norway -- 3 K
William Thorson - Sweden -- 2 K

That was then but a lot can happen in the space of a few hands. Team PokerStars Pro Tom McEvoy knows that only too well. With about 7k he found pocket queens and was all-in when he was called by A-T. Like Tony G and fellow Team PokerStars Katja Thater earlier on Tom was crushed by a wicked river - an ace, seeing him to the rail shortly before dressing for dinner.

To say William Thorsen's exit was interesting would be missing the point - it could have won Understatement of the Year at the Scandinavian Poker Awards. It was one of those stories that take a while to tell - you want to get the mood right and throw in a couple of red herrings.

Five people limped to see the K-T-9 flop. The important bit to note was that the king and nine were spades. There was betting all over the place - a gun fight with bullets flying everywhere. The big blind bet, Thorsen called, the button made it 2,500, the small blind moved all-in, the big blind folded (perhaps he was the only one left alive to tell the tale) and Thorsen called the all-in. So did the button player who showed Q-J of spades.

The big blind showed K-T for two pairs, Thorsen pocket nines for a set. The turn changed all that and should have been called the flip. A ten of spades that made Thorsen a full house, the big blind a bigger full house and filled the straight flush for the button player. We don't know his name just yet, but suspect he's called Merlin.

The next big faller today is Tony G. Believe it or not this is G's first EPT and it didn't last long. He made a flush on an all heart flop whilst his opponent's two pairs became a full house on a merciless river.

Tony is in good company though as Team PokerStars Pro Katja Thater also found her Copenhagen experience to be a little on the short side when she was dealt a pair of aces from the dark side rather than the good side - where they tend to stand up. They were topped by trip kings which materialised on the river - another to suffer on fifth street. There's now a Katja shaped space on table 41.

One player not here today is Nicola Voss. Her story is an interesting one - one of work commitments literally getting in the way at the last minute.

Journalist Nicola was bought into the EPT Copenhagen by her company and was on her way to the Casino Copenhagen this morning to register when her plans changed slightly. Top of the news here in Copenhagen was a bomb blast at 11am in the Osterbro district of the city just three miles from here. Whilst nobody was hurt duty called for Nicola who is now covering that story instead of making her own story here.

Andy Black, complete with lucky Vajra, is laying down the law of Andy - an attack on the tranquil course that the table could easily have taken. By the look in his eyes that flick side to side looking at each player at his table, Andy wants to win chips. And fast.

When he gets into this mode it's like he can actually see how the future should take shape - a bet, a check, a fold - a glimpse of something no one else knows. When it doesn't go as expected his eyes get back to darting around again, up and down, from the table to the player, re-adjusting to fit this new reality with this world order that's being nudged slightly. Why? The answer is buried in his head somewhere. But for now it's the chips that matter.

Another pot, this time involving Stig Farholt and Alexander Petersen and both clearly don't see the future as Andy does. Black calls a Farholt bet and Petersen, wearing a desert shamag around his neck re-raises to 550, getting both opponents to call.

A 3-8-4 flop checked all round. An ace on the turn and Farholt makes it 1,500, ruining this one for Andy who's forced to muck. Black still follows the action as if still armed with live cards. Next hand and Black is firing again.

Again it's Farholt making the running and Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano is in on this one as well. 4-5-J on the flop and big bets from Black which forces Luca and Farholt to muck. This is more like it. The equilibrium is restored to Andy Black's face. You almost image there to be a rumbling inside his head.
He's in the next hand too...

Petersen once more, taking the pot. "Why can't you fold?" asks Andy. No reply.

And the next hand...

Pocket threes this time for Andy on an 8-T-5-2-5 board. It beats whatever Luca had - he mucks. Black did this in Dublin and has done it each time he's played an EPT. It's called chip building - all part of the law of Andy.

The settle-in period has begun - that one hour spell where, unless something unusual happens, you glide through simply getting comfortable. Here that includes a 'help yourself' coffee service inside the rail and comfortable chairs. Even the dealers are enthroned in ergonomically sound contraptions with headrests, arms rests and fiddly handles capable of correcting the posture of the most severly twisted spine. So yes, all is well in the first level - it's mirror, signal, manoeuvre poker - nice and easy - nobody gets hurt.

Peter Hedlund is on one of his walks. The Swede has had his triumphs on the EPT and is a vocal celebrator of all that's good in his game - and quick to tell anyone who'll listen. He talks to Mikael Norinder of Prague collapse notoriety, before returning to his table.

And it's not a bad table, featuring Team PokerStars Pro Tom McEvoy and EPT Prague winner Arnaud Mattern in the mirrored sunglasses of the California Highway Patrol. It could have been an even weightier match-up had two other players been who their name suggested there were. Marcus Palm in seat one is not THE Marcus Palm known as a stand-up comedian in these parts. And Anders Rasmussen over in seat ten is not THE Anders Rasmussen who happens to be the Prime Minister of Denmark. Still, it was worth a second look.

McEvoy was involved in a scary looking pot with the Prime Minister of Denmark shortly after the start, when on a Q-Q-J-T board McEvoy was betting and Rasmussen calling. After a seven on the river they both showed Q-J for an anti-climactic finish to the hand, but a good warm-up nonetheless.

Across the railbird gangway two Danes, Theo Jorgensen and Rehne Pedersen, sit alongside each other. Beyond them is PokerStars passport winner Dustin Mele.

Whilst Dustin's table features few of the names able to beckon the cameras at will it's still home to one of the most stylish players on the tour - Gino Alacqua. He sits opposite fellow Italian Dario 'Bonzo' Nittolo from Naples playing his first ever EPT. Like Trond Eidsvig and Thor Hansen yesterday these two are today's inter-generational rivals - youth against experience.

The financial boost of a second place finish in Prague has freed up Gino to play a little more these days, a break from the no doubt cut throat business of antiquing. He mucks a hand to a raise from Sandor Hollaar who wears big black sunglasses, the type issued to soldiers for Nevada test blasts fifty years ago. No such paraphenalia for Gino, just the subtly expensive suit and open neck shirt.

No major movements, although one notable casualty at this stage is EPT Warsaw winner Peter Jepsen. Blinds now up to 50/100.

All photos © Neil Stoddart

If you're up to speed on your basic knowledge of quantum physics, and goodness knows we can all be a little shaky on that, you might be familiar with the 'Copenhagen Interpretation'. To put it loosely it refers to the inability to predict something that previously had seemed straightforward. Well here we work to a 'Casino Copenhagen Interpretation' and it runs a similar course. Yesterday we lost two of the game's best players in Daniel Negreanu and Gus Hansen, whilst in other parts of the room players few people had heard of before flourished like well tended weeds.

But enough of that. They were among the 230 starters of which 84 made it through the eight levels of play - a 32 per cent survival rate that will be tough to better today. The same number start this afternoon in the packed out splendour of Casino Copenhagen and cards will soon be in the air.

The field is as strong if not stronger as yesterday and no doubt will throw together some big names and create a few more. That's the nature of the game and just as we talked of Negreanu and Hansen going late last night no doubt the same will be said of some of the following...

Tom McEvoy - Team PokerStars Pro - United States
A legend in the game form the era before the internet. A world champion and multiple bracelet winner who has not given up winning the big one again. An EPT title would go nicely with that as well which will be his intention this week.

Andy Black -- Ireland
The Irishman is always a good bet to cash or final table in an EPT. He has four cashes and a final table in Monte Carlo to date and narrowly missed out in Dublin earlier this season. Good for table talk too he'll be here to steal honours from the locals...

Katja Thater - Team PokerStars Pro - Germany
A bracelet winner at the WSOP and an EPT final table finisher in Warsaw last year. The pride of Germany is here to steal victory from across the border.

Steve Jelinek - PokerStars qualifier -- England
Persistent PokerStars qualifier Steve has three EPT cashes to his name, two of which came in grand finals including a 6th place last year. He did so again in Dortmund a few weeks ago and is a regular on the UK poker scene.

Stephen Devlin -- Ireland
The Irishman held the chip lead in Prague before crashing out before the money. He went on to cash at a side event at the PCA.

Marc Goodwin - England
A snappy dressing popular Englishman good for a laugh if you're standing near his table. He's usually found reading for the first level or two, choosing not to get involved unless absolutely necessary. When he does he's pretty effective, having racked up close to a million dollars in tournament winnings. Not bad for a former double glazing salesman.

Nicolas Levi -- France
The Frenchman's best EPT result came in Dortmund last year where he finished seventh. Since then cashes in the WSOP have followed. Easy to pick out in a crowd for his white peaked hat...

Tony G -- Australia
A celebrity in poker circles the motor mouthed champ is a fearless warrior when it comes to amassing chips. Full name Antanas Guoga he has a WPT title and over $2.5 million in tournament prize money. His no prisoners approach to the game is something to be seen but remains a gentleman away from the table.

Richard Toth - Hungary
a successful player in his own right he is remembered for calling a move by Theo Jorgensen in the Copenhagen final last year thinking Jorgensen was bluffing when in fact he had aces. He'll want that thought behind him here.

Luca Pagano - Team PokerStars Pro - Italy
A serial EPT cash finisher (seven so far) including a 24th place finish three time. One of those was here in Copenhagen back in season two...

Arnaud Mattern - France
The diminutive Frenchman is one if his country's best and proved that by winning the EPT Prague in December.

Jeff Kimber - England
Fresh from a GUKPT win last week in Walsall and £84,000 Jeff has yet to cash in an EPT but is a highly regarded UK pro more than capable of turning that around in Copenhagen.

Gino Alacqua - Italy
'El Diablo' finished runner-up in Prague to Arnaud Mattern.

Dustin Mele - PokerStars Passport winner - United States
Dustin plays his second live event since becoming the PokerStars passport winner.

Mike McDonald - United States
The EPT Dortmund winner who dazzled many with his style of play and all whilst still in braces. 'Timex' as he's known online is young enough, cheeky enough and talented enough to make it two in a row. The internet forums would go crazy.

Peter Jepsen - Denmark
Peter won the EPT in Warsaw last year with an orderly annihilation of his opponent. The former soldier who was wounded whilst serving in Iraq is now one of the country's top professionals.

Play is about to commence with blinds at 25/50. You can keep up to date with the latest from the event here on the PokerStars blog with stories and the vBlog team will be reporting from the tournament floor.

The EPT Copenhagen sold out within hours of registration opening several weeks ago. Thanks to the internet it was an orderly scramble. Had the 460 had to turn up in person they would have overwhelmed the four man registration desk in the Casino and left most of them in bitter tears. Demand for a seat here is higher than anywhere else on the tour. Big scale glory on home turf comes but once a year and twice the size this place would still sell out.

But that glory moment remains a vague hope for only 84 of the 230 who started today.

Even with the crowds things still started on time, or thereabouts, just a 20 minute delay. That would stretch the day out for a couple of players who would find themselves exiled and home bound earlier than expected. Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri was among them. Unable to find a fighting gear he jack-knifed early, joining the likes of Sebastian Ruthenberg watching from the rope line.

The fact that this is a tourism town will please few. The Opera House, the Borson or the Danish National Gallery is scant consolation for poker heads, and most will head towards the cash games next door. But those bagging chips this evening, glancing up at the screen for proof of their first day triumph, doing the math in their heads of average stacks (a shade above 27k) and just how many will get paid. Tomorrow will be a day off for them and that can be good or bad.

Today was a certainly one of the tougher starts to an EPT. Contrary to the usual weaker day one phenomena the field looked more like an obstacle course. Team PokerStars Pro ElkY Grospellier may have thought that - not that he fears anyone necessarily but across from him sat his nemesis from last year Magnus Petersson, who at one stage seemed to hold the fate of the Frenchman in his hand before mucking - worth a moment's pause to leave him hanging though. ElkY survived this early attack of the fears but things never seemed to pick up for him and it as Bill Chen who eventually put him out in a Team PokerStars civil clash.

Fresh from picking up two gongs at the Scandinavian Poker Awards last night was Annette Obrestad (Best Performance and Best Female). She doesn't drink the night before playing and always appears at her best when she does, but even she suffered today, exiting in the early levels out kicked by an ace to her king.
Ola Brandborn worked his way to the front of the chip counts as play progressed beyond the dinner break. The former press room man got ahead thanks to a big pot against Russian WSOP destroyer Alex Kravchenko that saw Ola breach the 70k mark.

Meanwhile at the other end of the room the likes of Boeken and Daniel Negreanu, now sat side by side, tried to stay afloat as the blinds went north fast and the opposition closed in. Ultimately it was another case of Team PokerStars fratricide when Noah took it upon himself to see off Daniel who skipped the rope line minutes before friend and rival Gus Hansen. EPT Baden winner Julian Thew was also there.

That brought an end to the day that seemed to go by in a flash. Eight levels played with another 230 on their way to Casino Copenhagen tomorrow at 2pm local time. Towards the top of the pile tonight sit Ola Brandborn on 79,300, Denmark's Mathias Andersen on 71,600 and young Canadian PokerStars qualifier Tommy Pavlicek on 67,000. But top of the pile is local man Peter Eastgate on 79,700.

Peter Eastgate -- Denmark -- 79,700
Ola Brandborn -- Sweden -- 79,300
Mathias Andersen -- Denmark -- 71,600
Tommy Pavlicek -- Canada -- PokerStars qualifier -- 67,000
Dennis Naci Hansen -- Denmark -- 63,300
Allan Bække -- Denmark -- PokerStars qualifier -- 50,900
Peter Kalsen Petersen -- Denmark -- 50,900
Marcin Horecki -- Poland -- PokerStars qualifier -- 50,100
Tom Larsen -- Denmark -- 50,000
Mattias Ressner -- Denmark -- 50,000
Leroy Soesman -- Holland -- 46,000
Frederik Brink Jensen -- Denmark -- 45,700
Børge Dypvik -- Norway -- PokerStars qualifier -- 44,200
Rasmus Hede Nielsen -- Denmark -- 43,100
Alexander Kravchenko -- Russia -- 40,500
Bill Chen -- USA -- Team PokerStars Pro -- 40,300
Jonas Danielsson -- Sweden -- 39,700
Christoffer Thorsen -- Norway -- 39,400
Jarle Aasen -- Norway -- 38,000
Matin Talebi -- Denmark -- 35,400
Trond Erik Eidsvig -- Norway -- 35,400
Jesper Askholt -- Denmark -- PokerStars qualifier -- 35,300
Jospeh Serock -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 35,200
Anders Henriksson -- Sweden -- 34,300
Lars Juul Madsen -- Denmark -- 34,200
Ulrik Pedersen -- Denmark -- 33,600
Jesper Hougaard -- Denmark -- 33,400
Kresten Nielsen -- Denmark -- 32,900
Thomas Christiansen -- Denmark -- 32,100
Bengt Sonnert -- Sweden -- 31,900
Wim Emo -- Holland -- 30,900
Martin Bjerring Hansen -- Denmark -- 30,800
Barny Boatman -- UK -- 30,000
Mathias Kuerschner -- Germany -- 29,200
Tobias Holmeide -- Denmark -- 28,400
Brian Jensen -- Denmark -- 28,200
Morten Erlandsen -- Denmark -- 28,000
Andreas Per Ragnar Davidsson -- Sweden -- 27,300
Anders Bekhøj Hansen -- Denmark -- 27,300
Joseph Morneau -- USA -- 26,200
Sidsel Helle Boesen -- Denmark -- 25,900
Nikolas Liakos -- Sweden -- 25,800
Runar Runarsson -- Iceland -- PokerStars qualifier -- 25,400
Severin Hovde -- Norway -- 24,600
Jens Hansen -- Denmark -- 24,500
Andreas Hoivold -- Norway -- 23,600
Morten Klein -- Norway -- 22,200
Claus Bentzen -- Denmark -- 22,100
Daniel Ryan -- USA -- 21,400
Michele Limongi -- Italy -- 21,000
Roar Wang -- Norway -- 20,400
Thor Hansen -- Norway -- 20,200
Kenneth Lyons -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 19,300
Torbjörn Jonson -- Sweden -- 19,300
Thomas Petersen -- Sweden -- 17,600
Anders Martinsen -- Denmark -- 17,400
Marcus Friman -- Sweden -- 17,200
Piotr Paruszewski -- UK -- PokerStars qualifier -- 17,100
Jesper Petersen -- Denmark -- 16,000
Peter Hauerslev -- Denmark -- PokerStars qualifier -- 15,900
Morten Johansen -- Denmark -- 15,400
Jonas Klausen -- Denmark -- PokerStars qualifier -- 13,800
Anthony Chatelain -- Sweden -- 13,600
Lasse Jeppesen -- Denmark -- PokerStars qualifier -- 13,300
Christina Orth -- Sweden -- 13,000
Paul Grabowski -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 12,600
Nhi Bui -- Sweden -- 12,600
Ryan Badii -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier -- 12,600
Peter Eichhardt -- Sweden -- 12,000
Kaj Jørgensen -- Denmark -- 11,400
Claus Tversted -- Denmark -- 10,300
Sigbjørn Mortueit -- Norway -- 9,900
Ulrica Skönnemark -- Sweden -- 9,400
Noah Boeken -- Holland -- Team PokerStars Pro -- 9,400
Gesi Bason -- Holland -- 9,200
Georgios Pittas -- Greece -- 8,800
Jerzy Hajdamowicz -- Poland -- 8,300
Luca Ferrario -- Italy -- 7,600
Tommy Dender -- Denmark -- 7,400
Pehr Petersson -- Sweden -- 7,100
Sven Polarski -- Holland -- PokerStars qualifier -- 7,000
Jannick Wrang -- Denmark -- PokerStars qualifier -- 4,300

Tomorrow will see a few more big names enter the Copenhagen arena, notable Patrick Antonius, Team PokerStars Pros Tom McEvoy, Katja Thater and Luca Pagano, as well as former EPT winners Mads Andersen, Peter Jepson and tour regulars Marc Goodwin, Tony G, Andy Black and William Thorson.

For now that's over 12 hours away. If you want to catch up on all the reports from today as well as the video blogs featuring the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Noah Boeken and Gus Hansen, click on the links below...

The tour reaches Scandinavia

History repeating itself

A changing landscape in the poker room

Three years on for Noah Boeken

Chip counts at the dinner break

Ladies and gents your hosts - the Danes

Chips and tribulations into level 7

Elimination galore on the road to day 2

A final recap on the day from the video blog team...

With more players heading to the rope line which has advanced down the room thoughout the day, all signs pointed towards the end of day 1a. It's not far off but with less than an hour of play left there was still time for catastrophe and the loss of all hope. For some anyway.

One player enjoying this closing level of the day is Trond Eidsvig, winner of the Rookie of the Year award at the Scandinavian Poker Awards last night. He may be thinner than the cards he holds and wearing a woollen hat despite the 22 degree air conditioning but he's quickly closing in on the chip lead - playing not only with the cockiness of youth, but the cockiness of youth on a winning streak. Next to him is a player who is a few generations ahead of Trond - Thor Hansen - a hero of the yonger player. But the young man's 50k dwarfs the 10k of Hansen.

Daniel Negreanu on the other hand has gradually seen the momentum rug pulled from beneath him. He tangled in a three way pot with Flemming Hilt and Thomas Christiansen that would leave him staring elimination in the face.

Christiansen raised from early position, 600 pre-flop. Hilt on the button called as did Daniel in the big blind. On a flop of K-5-J Christiansen made it 2,500 and Hilt pushed in for 12k total. Daniel tank called before Christiansen also moved in.

"I'm definitely in third place now" said Daniel and wasn't wrong. Hilt showed K-J for two pair whilst Daniel K-Q for just one. Christiansen meanwhile showed pocket fives. The turn was a nine, leaving an inside straight possibility for Daniel

"A ten would be pretty sick now" said Daniel for karma insurance - just in case it did come. But it didn't. The fives were good and Daniel was down to less than 8k.

Meanwhile Englishman Julian Thew has been eliminated. A simple pre-flop scrap between kings and tens. Julian held the tens and is out in level eight.

That punctuated the last hands of Daniel Negreanu. On a 4-6-4 flop he bet 2,500 watching as fellow Team PokerStars pro Noah Boeken ruined everything by pushing all-in, covering what Daniel had left.

"I got four fours" he said. "No, just kidding..." he tabled Q-5 instead, beaten by Noah's pocket eights. Tem PokerStars down another one.

And to cap off a string of eliminations everyone's favourite Dane Gus Hansen is also out - his pocket nines to A-K. The ace on the turn did it for Gus who can now digest any food properly.

30 minutes left to play...

Ole Brandborn is one of those people who swapped the press room for the tournament room some time ago. Not happy to watch from the rail he's an accomplished tournament player and thanks to Alex Kravchenko sitting to his right now has a stack worth over 70k and the chip lead.

Whilst Kravchenko looks fearsome - mirrored sunglasses and a Teddy KGB red zip up top with the stripes down the arms, Ole wears the uniform of many a young poker player - sponsored polo shirt, comfortable shoes and three days of beard. It's a tough looking table with Andreas Hoivold and Bill Chen also among the company.

Meanwhile Daniel Negreanu continues the table hoping that takes him to what must be his fourth table of the day. He's now sitting alongside fellow Team PokerStars pro Noah Boeken who, like the rest of the table, lets Daniel lead the talking.

Winning or losing Negreanu likes a chat, which breaks the monotony of a slow period for players and press alike. But Noah's hopes of double Copenhagen glory are looking slim as his chip stack suffers, down to just 5,200 now - not big compared to some chip counts at the break at the end of level six...

Tommy Pavlicek - PokerStars qualifier - Canada - 35k
Peter Eichhardt - Sweden - 21k
Bengt Sonnert - Sweden - 24k
Daniel Negreanu - Team PokerStars Pro - Canada - 26k
Noah Boeken - Team PokerStars Pro - Holland - 5,100
Thierry van der Berg - Holland - 6k
Thor Hansen - Norway - 10,700
Trond Eidsvig - Norway - 45,500
Bill Chen - Team PokerStars Pro - 12k
Ole Brandborn - Sweden - 74k
Alex Kravchenko - Russia -- 35k
Andreas Hoivold - Norway -- 14k
Jonas Molander - Sweden - 12,300
Mel Judah - Australia - 7,300
Gus Hansen - Denmark - 14k
Barny Boatman - England - 15,500

He's still the headline Dane here today - Gus Hansen displays his own technique for keeping on top of things...

"I've played against everyone - Americans, Europeans, Scandinavians, Asians. And you guys... I hate the most!"

That was Daniel Negreanu at the PokerStars Scandinavian Poker Awards last night. Legend has it of course that the sickest and most volatile players come from here. In a few generations I expect grandfathers will tell their young folk bedtime stories of poker beasts from these parts with no fear, seemingly no sense, and hefty bankrolls capable of crushing hope itself. Kids will then hide under duvets and hope the bogey man gets them instead.

For anyone not clear on the specifics only three countries make up Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Outdrawn by a player from Finland - he's no Scandy, you got beat by a Fin. Same goes for any Icelandic players out there (both are Nordic countries).

But as far as Denmark is concerned it's often classed as the poor cousin of the three, despite being able to see Malmo across the water from this very hotel and a wealth of poker talent that goes beyond Gus Hansen.

Incidentally there are seven other players playing today alone with the surname Hansen - Christoffer, Lars, Dennis, Per, Jens, Anders and Martin. Jensen seems popular too but you get the point.

Sander Lylloff is the leading Dane on the EPT Tournament leader board, sitting in 21st place having won the EPT Barcelona last September. He's not here today but Theo Jorgensen has had his share of final tables having made it there in Deauville (season two) and Copenhagen last year. Another Dane Peter Jepson took the title at the first EPT in Warsaw last year, whilst Mads Andersen won here in season two. Not bad for a country of 5.4 million.

Avid stamp collector Christian Grundtvig has yet to win big on the EPT but has a WPT title to his name having won in Paris two years ago. Rehne Pedersen beat Patrik Antonius heads-up in the WPT Five Diamond at Bellagio two years back. And law student Anina Gundesen became the highest cashing woman on the EPT in season two (a record since beaten by Vicky Coren) when she made the final table at Casino Copenhagen in season two and went on to win the Best Woman Player award at the Scandinavian Poker Awards 12 months ago.

Add to that list the likes of Martin Wendt, Soren Konsgaard, Lars Bonding, Martin Vallo, Fredrik Hostrup, Tommy Dender, Casper Hansen and Ricky Nielsen and no wonder some consider this place to be dangerous territory.