In contrast to the PokerStars.com EPT Warsaw which you might remember staged a day three that lasted a few minutes over two hours, the EPT San Remo has nothing like that kind of pace, even with Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri at the reins.

He did managed to get the crowd, (who were already on the feet) to jump up and down on their feet, when he pushed in with pocket nines and watching as Dag Palovic laid down his pocket jacks - a break for the Italian.

Earlier on Palovic had been the beneficiary in a similar hand with Dario, all-in with A-K against Dario's pocket jacks. The mother of all flops hit the board - A-A-J, with a king on the turn.

Meanwhile the fourteenth place finisher is German PokerStars qualifier Henrik Brockmann. He pushed in with A-Q and Mark Flowers called with pocket kings. A king hit the flop ending all hope of a revival for the German, who picks up € 22,400 for three days work.

As reported several times in the blog this week Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Rahme never wavered from his particular style of poker. It's a style distinguished by one key feature - it's successful. He was all-in a few times on day one, and more on day two, but his plan of attack remained the same, even after the bad beats - get chips and keep building.

Alas, his tournament came to an end a short time ago, the book closed on a great debut EPT for Rahme that taught the young guys a thing or two, even if they would never want to admit it. Easy to pick out on the tournament floor thanks to his white hair you always knew whether Ray was in a hand by whether or not he had his glasses on.

On day one he was down to 19k with his aim two hours from the end of getting through on about the same. Instead he returned and raked in the pots, finishing the day with double. The same happened today, almost like a switch clicking on. Tired of being bullied off pots he took chances when they came up not flinching from the plan even after a pot with fellow Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri that nearly decimated his stack. A short time after that hit he was back up to more than he'd had originally.

All-in now though he had fours to his opponent's aces. Always a long shot he got no help from the board and his EPT San Remo was over.

"I had a go at it! It was a good day and I'll be in Monte Carlo."

Results so far...

Eliminated for € 11,200

35th -- Nicolo Calia -- Italy -- 11,200
36th -- Sandro Soncini -- Italy -- 11,200
37th -- Dennis Doran -- Denmark -- 11,200
38th -- Marius Bobinas -- Lithuania -- 11,200
39th -- Asger Boye -- Denmark -- 11,200
40th -- Cristian Ragala -- 11,200

Eliminated for € 9,600

41st -- Andrea Cortona -- Italy
42nd -- Alessio Isaia -- Italy
43rd -- Raymond Rahme -- South Africa -- Team PokerStars Pro
44th -- Giampiero Coccio -- Italy
45th -- Henrik Kask -- Sweden
46th -- Rolf Slotboom -- Netherlands
47th -- Rob Hollink -- Netherlands
48th -- Hans Eskilsson -- Sweden

With Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri storming ahead (another big pot, busting another player) and French PokerStars qualifier Eric Koskas well in front, a few more players have felt the bite of the blinds, made a move and been banished to the rail including Theo Jorgensen, and PokerStars qualifiers Henrik Warn, Mikael Gibbemark, Matt Kay, Yung Hwang, Soren Eriksen, Maurizio Marchese, Justin Truesdell and Luca Mortarino.

Tournament officials announced earlier that we will play down to 32 players or a full nine levels, whichever arrives first. At this pace I would predict the former outcome.

Eliminated for € 8,000

49th -- Hakan Sahl -- Sweden
50th -- Giorgio Marletta -- Italy
51st -- Jochen Heirman -- Belgium
52nd -- Niels Rikhof -- United States
53rd -- Liz Lieu -- United States
54th -- Jesse White -- United States
55th -- Massimiliano Trifoglio -- Italy
56th -- Brandon Schaefer -- United States -- PokerStars qualifier

Eliminated for € 7,020

57th - Luca Mortarino - Italy - PokerStars qualifier
58th - Sandro Bellusci - Italy
59th -- Steven van Zadelhoff -- Netherlands
60th -- Dennis Baratta -- Italy
61st -- Justin Truesdell -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier
62nd -- Maurizio Marchese -- Italy -- PokerStars qualifier
63rd -- Soren Eriksen -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier
64th -- Yung Hwang -- USA -- PokerStars qualifier

Eliminated for €5,750

65th -- Roberto Masullo -- Italy
66th -- Matt Kay -- Canada -- PokerStars qualifier
67th -- Anders Vind -- Denmark
68th -- Mikael Gibbemark -- Sweden -- PokerStars qualifier
69th -- Henrik Warn -- Sweden -- PokerStars qualifier
70th -- Theo Jorgensen -- Denmark
71st -- Filippo Galtieri -- Italy
72nd -- Loic Perret -- France

Joseph Mouawad did it in London, Reuben Peters did it in Dublin, Mike McDonald did it in Dortmund and Tim Vance did it in Copenhagen. Did I mention that Gavin Griffin did the same at the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo last year?

Exactly what these champions did was win their seat on PokerStars.com. As PokerStars qualifiers they turned a few dollars into hundreds of thousands, or even millions. And if you want to get in on the action and have your chance at repeating Gavin Griffin's € 1.8 million Euro performance last year your last chance to win a seat is fast approaching.

The final online super satellite for the PokerStars.com EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo takes place this Saturday, 5th April on PokerStars.com, at 2pm ET (8pm Central European Time). There are feeder satellites running now for the 'Last Chance', with entry from $5.50 and you can also qualify via the 'Steps' Sit & Go program, which will remain open until midnight 24.00 ET.

Do note though that all remaining qualifiers for Monte Carlo receive a *Seat Only* package ($16,800 $1,500 spending money) and qualifiers will need to make their own accommodation arrangements for this event.

The tournament itself starts on Saturday, 12th April and you can find full details of the best poker tournament outside the WSOP main event by clicking here.

So far, over 225 players have qualified on PokerStars for the 2008 EPT Grand Final. Just how much did last year's champion pay to play? Well Gavin Griffin qualified on PokerStars via a $220 double shoot out, and took home $2.4m in prize money.

Gavin, who has since gone on to become the only player to hold WSOP, WPT and EPT titles, will be in Monte Carlo to defend his title and the 2005 EPT Grand Final winner Rob Hollink is among those competing here in San Remo. So too is current chip leader Eric Koskas, a PokerStars qualifier from France who currently sits with over half a million chips...

See you in Monte Carlo.

Before the dinner break we said goodbye to Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano, who's seemed unable to pick up where he'd left off on day one.

Then things began to move fast. Ten minutes of the fifteenth level is all it took to break the money mark with one of the overnight chip leaders Eric Koskas sending Evert Jan Dongergoor to the rail in quick time. Whilst Evert left with nothing, his disappointment provided joy for 72 others who are each guaranteed at least € 5,750.

This means good news for the likes of Team PokerStars Pro Raymond Rahme, playing and cashing in his first PokerStars.com EPT. Despite a setback in a hand against Dario Minieri's aces he stuck with his earlier momentum and now sits with a stack of 85k - not bad for a table featuring Anthony Lellouche on 120k, Rob Hollink and of course Dario Minieri on 75k.

PokerStars Sponsored players Johannes Strassmann and Jan Heitmann are doing their chances no harm. Johannes has 130k whilst Jan sits with 140k. PokerStars qualifier Brandon Schaefer has 65k and will record his fourth EPT cash.

Londoner Paul Alterman was facing a raise by Denmark's Theo Jorgensen. The Danish chip tricker, already enjoying his 3rd cash finish in an EPT event raised three times the big blind from early position. Alterman, brother of Ashley and a regular face on the British poker scene since the early 90s, was in mid position and smoothly re-raised to 20,000, getting Jorgensen 's full attention in the process . The Dane, holding Ace Queen, gave it a shortish dwell before waving all-in - a raise of a further 40k.

Alterman counted out a third of his chips, pushed them into the middle and turned over ace-king. A raggy flop and Jorgensen was soon asking tournament director Thomas Kremser what compensation he was due for a 70th place finish (€5,750). Alterman, now on around 140k, is aiming higher.

Whilst Ashley took comfort in that, Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri, who earlier today had to contend with some shaky ground, just doubled up again - first notification being the roar of "Si! Si!" from a close friend of Dario who grabbed him for a hug. Dario's stack has now swelled to 200k - the hand being jacks against 4-5. It seems hard to work out how there could be a home turf advantage in poker but it may just exist in Dario's case.

To keep track of results click here for details of finishing positions and payouts...

Everyone's poker career starts somewhere, and for most that involves picking up a poker book and starting from page one. But those books have to be written by someone who has already been there and done it, as the video blog team found out...

Raymond Rahme moves all-in. Leo Gizzarelli, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, is in the tank. The others at this table look relieved to have nothing to do with any of this. There's 39k of Raymond's in the middle, put there after a raise from Leo who now faces the prospect of losing a big chunk of his stack, if not more. He mucks. Probably a smart move, for this is the start of the Rahme tear.

Playing his first PokerStars.com EPT Raymond is now 25 places from a cash finish. The spotlight found the South African at the World Series Main event, long overdue recognition for a player who, ahead of 6,357 others he finished third, picking up $3,048,025 and becoming the highest place African finishers in the history of the event.

After a cash at the Aussie Million in January it was back home to the All Africa Poker Tournament in Swaziland, where his third place finish scored him another $38,000.

Cut back to the EPT San Remo and he's raising again. 8k this time, with Andreas Glannbro with the decision to make. Andreas looks over at Raymond on his left - Raymond responds by looking right back at him. He calls for a flop of K-T-2.

As if thinking that 8k before the flop wasn't enough to chase out the Swede, he now makes it 20k, quickly getting the desired result as Andreas mucks. Yet another pot for the South African.

Leo Gizzarelli moves in again. Looking at him from the front his face is one of wide-eyed resignation; a cigarette still dangling from his mouth, an unkempt beard - a look usually caused by lack of sleep, nicotine withdrawal or kids.

"How much is it? Forty?" asks Raymond. It's about that but still too much.

With the last hand of the level before dinner players begin drifting towards the exit where the door leads to the buffet. The formalities of a lame-duck hand before the break take an unusual turn on this table though, which by the way also features another Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri.

A 7k late position raise from Raymond was countered by a Dario all-in. The inter-Team PokerStars Pro clash had gathered the cameras, press and close to every Italian in the room as focus turned to Raymond. Easily covering the Italian he called, quickly spotting his mistake.

Dario showed two red aces. For Raymond A-2.

The flop came 9-6-J. Raymond went to shake Dario's hand but the young Italian politely refused, preferring not to tempt fate before his chickens had hatched - or something like that. A three on the turn, a king on the flop. His aces had held up, doubling him up at the break.

Not so good for Raymond...

"I played bad" he said with a laugh. "I raised 7k - I was trying to steal because I'd been limping all day and they'd been bullying, so...."

It didn't pay off this time and Raymond takes a hit, whilst Dario Minieri continues his climb up the chip list as play pauses for 60 minutes.

Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano had a dynamite day 1a. His foot on the gas from the world go Luca put aside his obligations to the tournament (he is part of the organising team here) and set about gathering chips. At one point he was up to over 50k and finished the day with just a little less. A good day for the Italian in pursuit of his record setting ninth PokerStars.com EPT cash.

Then there's today and things aren't going so well. His table features Marcus Golser and Robert Cohen, both capably stacked, and pretty soon another Frenchman, Paul Testud, joins them in seat eight.

All the while players are walking towards the door from all corners of the room, shaking their heads, muttering a few words, the shock of elimination still all too raw. The rail is thick at one end whilst at the other the television stage is being constructed in preparations for EPT Live which starts tomorrow. It makes for a cramped feel as we work our way towards the bubble.

Another hand gets flicked with contempt towards the muck by Luca, followed by a few more...

Then a live one, a bet of 4,100 from Luca (blinds in level 11 are 600/1,200 with a 100 ante) only there are no takers. You get the sense that on day one a hand like this would have turned into something big for Luca. But today not so. Poker is all about playing the player as much as your hand but maybe there's momentum to contend with - an unaccountable and fickle force quite capable of messing everything up. Luca may just have run flat bang into it.

A hand develops though between Luca and Testud.

"I slow played kings and Paul Testud called with K-J. He made a straight on the turn."

The board had read Q-3-T-9-3 when Luca showed his hand. Testud's straight on the turn blasts Luca out of his chair and into a short walk to calm down. Down to 21k now - a tough couple of hours...

"I've been unlucky, but I've been lucky not to lose everything. But it's okay... I just have to make up some ground...

Whilst all this went on Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri arrived at this end of the tournament room with 49k and few of the headaches currently plaguing his friend and countryman Luca. It's a different game altogether when a few thousand lost doesn't put a serious spanner in the works.

The video blog team caught up with Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri before play today...

Dario made it 4,100 to go on a flop of 4-K-A. It's the kind of hand Dario plays with the distinct air of not caring - a slight obstacle on his way to something else. His bet was like a punishment bet, designed to make his opponent's life a little more difficult and to make him sweat.

With the bet in place Dario assumed the same position Luca had been in- one hand rested against his face, the other riffling chips. You could fall asleep like this...

"All-in..."

"Huh?" It's a phrase certain to jolt anyone awake and Dario wastes no time in mucking his hand. Let this one go.

Two Team PokerStars Pros, two of the best Italian poker players, and two different fortunes entirely as we reach the break.

Kara Scott has the update...

The video blog team caught up with Team PokerStars Pro Dario Minieri before play today...

For latest chip counts click here.

From the start Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu's table looked a difficult one. It featured PokerStars Sponsored Player Jan Heitmann for one and Mark Petersen (final table PokerStars.com EPT Copenhagen Season two) for another, as well as Thor Hansen sitting opposite.

Thor had the same problem as Daniel though, that of being hamstrung by a short stack - just over 10k in Daniel's case. But well rested, watered and fed, Daniel was ready to give it a go.

Naturally the press had gathered around his table long before the double up. Like crowds gathering for an execution he had cameras in his face from all angles, getting shots in before what they deemed his inevitable demise. But sometimes even the best players in the world find a bit of luck.

With blinds at 500/1,000 with a 100 ante, there was a bet of 2,600 from Petersen. Next to act, Daniel began talking to himself, a light hearted evaluation of the whole scene, concluding with a decision to push. Mark called showing red aces.

Daniel got ready to leave, laughing as he turned over his A-3. 7-4-7 on the flop - Daniel now resigned to spending the rest of the day in the sun. Then a five on the turn.

"Hey, a six or a deuce..!" he said and the six promptly hit the river. "Whoa! That's so sick, sorry man..!" by now back in his seat. "Well played, right?"

Just then Peter Jepson came over to check on Daniel, "Don't mess with him" he said joking, pointing at Mark.

"I just did!"

"Tell him not to do that again please..." says Mark... "tell him not to do that again..."

A few laughs in the early stages with Daniel up to 21,700. So it was disappointing to see him walking the other way from the tournament floor. The comeback was over.

"Ooops..."

A-K against A-Q was the hand, with a queen on the flop. Next stop Monte Carlo for Daniel...

Meanwhile Thor Hansen busted out, queens against A-T which turned into a straight on the river. Pascal Perrault is also gone, losing a big hand against American Liz Lieu, her A-Q outkicking the Frenchman's A-J.

Liz Lieu chatted with the video blog team before playing today...