03-16-2007 15:34 UTC+1

All action from the start

[user1220]

Patric Martensson looks on as Farid Meragni scoops a pot

Players are already dropping like flies and the action is fierce, especially on table 11 where David Welch told us three have busted out from his table alone. Welch himself is now "freerolling" (in his own words) after a narrow escape:

Welch in seat 1 made it 5k to go. Soren Kongsgaard Nielsen reraised his remaining 12k. Welch said afterwards he was going to call this but seat 3, Farid Meragni, called the all-in bet. That persuaded Welch to fold his pair of tens.

The cards came over {Q-Clubs}

for Nielsen and {A-Diamonds}

for Meragni who dominated.

The flop was {3-Clubs}

. No help for Nielsen.
The turn was {J-Diamonds}

. Now Nielsen was ahead.
River {9-Diamonds}

!! Meragni makes his flush and Nielsen has gone.

David Welch is grateful to Meragni for his preflop call and survives with a manageable stack. Meragni collected an additional 17k or thereabouts. He has had some good early cards having flopped a set with 44 earlier on and is now comfortable.

Tags: David Welch Farid Meragni Patric Martensson