Day 2 beckons ...and so does bed

Our dealers are shuffling up four more times this evening before the chip-bagging begins so we rushed round the room to give you a selected chip count.

The official chip count will be posted on the blog tomorrow morning, so for now here are some of the familiar names in your Fantasy Poker teams:

Selected Chip Count

Bastian Bluem - 32,000

Joao Brito - 90,000

Fernando Martin - 25,000

Carlos Oliveira - 15,000

Christos - 24,000

Steve Hill - 47,000

Lukasz Gebica - out (TBC)

Aleksandar Abutovic - out (10s run into AA)

See you tomorrow!

Over the hump, Hill heads for Day 2

Steve Hill has been feeling the burn of a gruelling Day 1 for some time but there's nothing like eliminating an opponent to add spring to your step.

Hilly the fish has certainly been more shark-like today, lying in wait for long periods before gobbling up another stack from across the felt, and he just added another name to his victim list as the clock counts down.

The poor villain was already clinging to his tournament life by the time he shoved his last 10k with AQ, only for Hill to peek at QQ in the hole. A set of Queens on the flop all but ended the contest within a few moments of his snap-call.

On the downward slope now, surely only disaster would prevent our poker writer from continuing his tale into Day 2.

Late night takes its toll

One more level until Day 1 is complete and the long day has seen a slight acceleration in the number of exits in the Gran Casino Barcelona.

Tibor Boros shoved his 25bbs pre-flop with KQ only to run into AKs; the rest, as they should say, is what you expect from an 80-20 match-up.

Also missing out on the chance to return is Paul Senter it seems, after the Englishman's chair was ominously vacant on our last skim around the cardroom, while blogger/player Alexander Kraiczy concluded his "roller coaster" day earlier than planned.

Fantasy Poker fairytale?

The PP Blog has just tracked down our latest Fantasy Poker winner, Stefan Uhrinak, who claimed his package after FP victory in the Vienna event.

His Team Best tied for first place back in October so Stefan had to square off with 'Craslorg' for his seat, coming out on top in the heads-up battle.

Currently sitting on around 28,000 chips, he is a little short of the average, but what a story it would be if the Hungarian lifted the PPT Barcelona crown.

Just another fantasy that could be reality...

Gabor banks the chip lead

Bank in Vienna

The average stack standing at 33,800 and the blinds are taking 300/600 +50 ante, but neither will worry Gabor Bank who must to be our chip leader.

The man known as 'Gabriel' has approximately 100,000 chips with which to boss his table and there looks to be little stopping him of late.

The Hungarian pro, who has long plied his trade on ParadisePoker, cashed at PPT Vienna when he finished 4th in the PLO side event - and now has his sights set on a bigger score.

Back in 2007 Bank wore PP colours to the Budapest Open and cashed for $6,200, but even that success would be beaten by a top 10 finish here in Barcelona.

News of his Day 1 success will please the seven Fantasy Poker entrants who picked the big stack - but will be deliver the points?

173 remain at penultimate level

Level 8 is here which means we're in touching distance of Day 2, with less than two hours on the clock and 173 players intent on returning to Gran Casino Barcelona tomorrow afternoon.

One man who won't be among them is PPT regular David Pishvafar, after his earlier defeat proved his undoing in the long run.

The German had been left with around 15 bbs after his JJ ran into trouble and it left him little room to manoeuvre. Inevitably he had to take some risks and having picked up A9 he promptly shipped his chips into the centre, only to be called by AJ.

Compatriot Bastian Bluem has enjoyed a little more success, having battled his way back up to 27,000 chips.

Quick chip count

A few chip counts for you blog readers...

Aleksandar Abutovic - 15,000
Carlos Oliveira - 19,000
Tibor Boros - 25,000
Lukasz Gebica - 30,000
Zoltan Kapitany - 28,000
Fernando Martin - 21,000

Other available on request!