Days 1a and 1b of the PokerStars European Poker Tour Vilamoura main event, have been completed and the result is 177 hungry poker players with their eyes firmly set on a top prize worth EUR404,793 (about $605,000 USD).

322 players initially signed up to compete at this most recent stop on the European Poker Tour including top pros like Andy Black, Chad Brown, Jason Mercier, Ross Boatman, Alexander Kravchenko and Luca Pagano, all of whom survived their first days and are now well on their way to the EPT final table. 

One of the notable chip leaders of the two starting days, who actually ended Day 1b at the top of the ranks was Jeff Sarwer, a former chess prodigy that also recently made a very deep run at the EPT Warsaw.  Sarwer, is known by many as the inspiration for the kid in the movie Searching For Bobby Fischer, who the hero Josh Waitzkin defeats at the end of the film, however, if Sarwer's obvious skills continue to push him deep in these events, he may soon be as well known for his poker prowess as he is for his formidable game of chess.

For more information on the PokerStars EPT Vilamoura visit the PokerStars blog (www.pokerstarsblog.com).


Story by Mark Anderson