The bubble at bursting point...

We're close to the bubble bursting here in Sunny Beach, as the final 30 players await their fate with the poker gods.

With just three players left to miss out on the money, the small and medium stacks will be wondering just how their luck will hold up - while the big stacks will surely be taking full advantage.

Among the players remaining we have two players with positive PPT experience to draw upon, as Czech player Viscak Marek and and Viktor Szuster both hope to make it a second final table appearance of the season.

Marek was the second-place finisher in London, while Szuster took sixth in Madrid and will surely feel that fate will be on their side again as we close in on the cash.

Day Two, shuffle up and deal...

Day Two is here and for our remaining 45 players, the race is on to make the money before the battle for the PPT Bulgaria title can commence.

The €105,000 prize pool will be carved up 27 ways by the end of play, with the minimum win €1,260 for the lucky few. Let the bubble begin!

Chip Count
Miroslav Malchev 91,225
Srom Marek 82,600
Astalakis Dimitris 79,750
Arodounnp Arodenole 76,550
Christos Mastrokypiakos 76,450
Egyaps Avenga 75,825
Libetah Myners 75,300
Maptuh Cauieb Dospel 70,175
Viscak Marek 69,350
Aleksander Asenov 69,225
Lukasz Gebica 68,575
Jan Lhotak 63,525
Nahaun Juheb 62,825
Yordon Dimitrov 57,300
Alexander Nedkov 54,425
Anders Andersen 52,200
Bartlomiej Zkokol 50,500
Tsvetan Pavlov 48,150
Rouxel Romain 48,025
Nnameh Lmabpeb 47,375
Philipp Roch 42,785
Emre Nuhoglu 42,125
Tsakalakos Dimitrios 41,000
Diogo Figueira 39,800
Adrian Stan 39,650
Daniel Todorov 39,275
Anaeegguh Bayu 38,100
Norbert Laszlo 37,925
Ahjoh Llerpol 31,850
Radu Mihai 29,500
Manusz Niski 28,500
Aske Muff 28,025
Hapumh Zhapanugcka 27,375
Miguel Rato 26,850
Kitty Obel 26,000
Maksymiliom Wozda 25,600
Nikolav Pishmishev 25,150
Sabin Filev 22,825
Ulah Monob 21,275
Ubalino Pumzel 20,250
Viktor Szuster 17,450
Nat Jarmonthavat 16,600
Kooraguh Ubanhol 15,775
David Mille 12,075

The PPT blog sends its apologies in advance for any mispellings in the above - but handwriting can be tougher to decipher than Phil Ivey!

Closing in on Day Two

We're all set to wrap up here at the Crystal Crown Casino, with at least 45 players set to reach the midway point of the tournament.

We'll have a full chip count ahead of tomorrow's action, as well as more detailed hands and interviews to report as the field thins further.

Unfortunately Tommy Ahmedof (pictured) will not be among those coming back on Sunday, as the Swedish pro lost a flip for his tournament life.

Facing an all-in from a loose-aggressive button, Tommy made the call with 88 and saw his opponent flip A10, then hit the 10 on the flop.

"I had two coin flips today and lost them both," he told us, "Had I won either or even both, it could have been a very different day.

"But I'm happy with that play because I'm crushing a big percentage of his range in that spot and 50-50 with nearly all of the rest.

"It's frustrating to go out with the money in sight and to miss out on Day Two, but I wanted to come back with some chips, not to grind it out as a short stack."

And then there were 57 - plus one Tour League winner

The blinds are biting chunks out of our remaining players stacks now, despite the slow structure, but one man who has clung on to reach his goal is Toni Merivuori.

The Finn is now top of the Tour League and seems certain to secure the €10,000 plus entry into all of next season's PPT events. Congratulations go to him for winning the inaugural honour!

With one 'bubble' burst, we can now look ahead to the money, with 27 players set to cash out of the PPT tomorrow. Below is the payout structure in full:

1st €26,250
2nd €14,700
3rd €10,500
4th €6,300
5th €4,620
6th €4,200
7th €3,990
8th €3,255
9th €2,835
10th €2,520
11th €2,205
12th-14th €1,995
15th-16th €1,680
17th-18th €1,469
19th-27th €1,260

Update - Toni eventually finished in 47th place to earn 53 points.

Toni's bubble on the verge of bursting

If you've ever had a run-in with the bubble, spare a thought for the frayed nerves of Toni Merivuori this evening, as the Finn chases top spot in the ParadisePoker Tour League.

Needing a 66th-place finish to overtake current leader Johnny Jensen, Toni is fast becoming the biggest story on Day One in Bulgaria - and he'll grab the headlines if just seven more players hit the rail before him.

There are a few permutations that could still deny him the prestigious title, €10,000prize plus free entry into the full 2010/11 PPT calendar, but it is Jensen's 192 tally that he must beat.

"I've been folding for the last hour so it's definitely affecting my game," smiled the likeable Merivuori, "Normally I would play a few more hands but I've been lucky today; three times I've had Aces.

"It's a big prize for me - it would be the biggest I've ever won - so I just don't want to lose any chips!

"I've got around 23,000 (26,000 avg) so I'm playing tight. I might even fold if I get three-bet with AK because this is like being on the bubble on my own.vIf I make it to 60th-place or so then I'll probably loosen up."

It would be a well-earned victory if the Finn takes the top prize, having finished in the points in all four legs of the ParadisePoker Tour.

An 8th-place finish in London remains his best result to date, but that could all be about to change!

Meanwhile, friends of the PPT blog Ed Frost and Hugo Almeira missed out on the race for the money as they came unstuck.

Jensen exits stage right; Toni senses his big chance

Johnny Jensen's day is done after his big stack crashed in dramatic fashion in Sunny Beach.

The ParadisePoker pro had been dominating early on but his super aggressive style got him into trouble and saw him head to the rail.

Still aloft at the top of the Tour League for now, the Dane is in real danger of losing that honour - as well as a cheque for €10,000 - as his main rival for the season victory is still in play.

Toni Merivuori (pictured) can surpass Johnny's 2009/10 score of 192 with a 34-point addition to his current 159 tally.

After making the final table in London, the Finn needs a 66th-place finish to achieve that goal and walk away the cash prize plus free entry into all of next season's events.

Here are the standings as they were at the start of play:

1st Johnny Jensen 192
2nd Toni Merivuori 159
3rd Lim-wai Cheung 151
4th Georges Tohme 146
5th Daniel Dankelman 121

Sunny on the rise in PPT Bulgaria

Having made his mark in Madrid with a final table appearance, Sunny Khosla is back on track after a tough start today.

The Danish player mistimed a bluff early on and was crippled at one stage, dropping to as low as 3,000 chips, but it seems he has fought his way out of that particular corner in typically aggressive style.

"I'm now on the average stack after I doubled up a couple of times," Sunny told us, "I've created a bit of a loose image with some plays so I got paid off when I had pockets Aces.

"I added to that image and won a big pot a bit later on when I showed a huge bluff.

"I raised with 6-9s in position against a tight big blind but the button re-raised me by 1,000 and I decided to call.

"The flop came A-5-3 and I checked, he led out for 2,500 and I raised and got him to fold - then showed it face up.

"I think that should earn me some respect and hopefully scare them a little, then I can play a different style."

The amateur is one of only a few players who could still catch compatriot Johnny Jensen at the top of the Tour League, with a strong performance likely to seal entry into a 2010/11 event on ParadisePoker.

Things won't come easy however, as Sunny pointed to the tougher opposition down by the Black Sea.

"The level is a little bit higher here than in Madrid, but I managed to get back to the average stack and now we'll see."