2015 Master Classics of Poker

For the first time ever, the Main Event of the Master Classics of Poker provided two starting days. On the first, 100 players ponied up the €4,250 buy-in, either via direct entry, reentry, or after winning their seat in one of the satellites at the Holland Casino in Amsterdam. After nine levels of 60 minutes each, the field was whittled down to 44 survivors and it was a tight race for the overnight lead.

Ultimately, it was 2013 MCOP €1,500 Reentry and 2012 MCOP High Roller champion Rens Feenstra who claimed the top spot with 149,100 in chips. He was closely followed by EPT11 Malta Main Event winner Jean Montury (145,000), Wouter Beltz (144,800), Georgios Zisimopoulos (141,800), and Sampo Ryynanen (133,900).

Other notables going through to Day 2 included Govert Metaal (128,200), Przemyslaw Piotrowski (102,200), 2011 MCOP Main Event champion David Boyaciyan (100,200), Thomas Muehloecker (95,200), Daniel Dvoress (73,900), David "MissOracle" Yan (60,100), Pascal Hartmann (57,900), Jason Wheeler (55,800), defending champion Ruben Visser (50,900), 2013 MCOP Main Event winner Noah Boeken (48,500), Juha Helppi (41,600), and Clyde Tjauw Foe (30,800).

Among those that will have to return for Day 1b after busting in their first attempt(s) were familiar faces such as Vlado Banicevic, Nikolaus Teichert, Richard Milne, Senh Ung, Mateusz Moolhuizen, Tom Hall, Marcel Vonk, Raoul Refos, Hossein Ensan, Martin Finger, Faraz Jaka, Matthias de Meulder, former November Niner Jorryt van Hoof, Surinder Sunar, and Dominic van Embden.

Two more side events determined winners today; Tobias Peters won the €500 Speed Event after coming second to van Embden last night in the €1,500 Reentry Event, and Kuljinder Sidhu took down the €10,000 High Roller for a payday of €161,172. The duo is expected in the starting field for Tuesday's Day 1b at 14:00 local time and the overall field size will be boosted significantly.

Make sure to tune back in when the PokerNews Live Reporting team brings further updates from the event up until a winner is crowned on Friday.

Not much has been happening as of lately and the clock has been stopped with five minutes left in the level. Three more hands will be played before Day 1a officially comes to an end.

On a board of , Clyde Tjauw Foe called down all streets and ultimately did so for his tournament life on the river. Johan Verhagen was about to muck but the dealer reminded him that it was an all in showdown, thus making him reveal the for a bluff.

Tjauw Foe turned over to double up his stack in an attempt to gamble or bust and restart fresh for Day 1b.

Jean Montury raised and was called by both [Removed:17] and Wouter Beltz on the button. On the flop , Montury continued for 3,300 and both opponents called to see the appear on the turn. Montury now led for 7,700 and Yan called, Beltz raised to 35,700.

The Frenchman folded and Yan moved all in with the for a straight and the additional flush draw. Beltz had the and got freerolled for the full pot, however the river was a blank.

On the river of a board with around 22,000 chips in the pot, the opponent of Clyde Tjauw Foe checked. The 4th place finisher of last year moved all in and his opponent eventually called the shove for his last 26,000. Tjauw Foe could only show ace-high while the opponent flipped over his for nines and sevens to double up.

Jasper Meijer van Putten had vanished from the tables of the Main Event, though his previous table was the last one to break. Just now, he was however spotted with a drink in the hand and very casually watching the final table of the €500 Speed tournament to confirm his elimination.

Also out: Mateusz Moolhuizen and Tom Hall.

On the river of a board, Reens Feenstra 20,000 into a pot of what looked like 30,000. His opponent gave it some thought and then paid off the 2012 Master Classics of Poker High Roller champion. Feenstra rolled over for a ten-high flush and that was enough to take down the pot.