Joel Holmberg parlayed his opening stack of 50,000 into 318,000 to lead the 115 Day 1c survivors out of the 260 entries in the field. This also placed him on top of the overall chip counts with Jonatan Fors coming out of Day 1c in second place overall with 297,000 with Tarmo Tammel nearly bagging up around the same. 

Check out all of the Day 1c chip counts below:

The tournament director announced the final four hands of Day 1c. While we focus on the chip counts of the nearly 120 survivors, we will also start reporting Day 1d after the first break.

Level 10: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 127/260

Big action on the turn as the board was dealt ,  Anders Hansson was the original raiser and he made another 10,000 bet on the turn. His opponent was Pyry Kekalainen and he re-raised him to 35,000 which Hansson called.

On the river Hansson checked, shortly after Kekalainen put another 40,000 into the pot, and the Swede folded.

Pyry Kekalainen showed to everyone after Hansson revealed he had the .  

The big bluff earned Finland's Kekalainen a pot worth over 130,000 chips.

Greger Larsson hit the rail in the end of last level after loosing his good stack in a few pretty harsh hands against Justus Kursi. 

First he doubled Kursi with versus on a very dry board and lost 37,000 to the Finn. A few hands later they were five to see the flop . Larsson who had flopped the nut flush with on his hand checked and the guy after him made a tiny tiny raise to 1,5 big blinds as Justus Kursi raised. Action was folded to Larsson who pushed his chips in and was called by Kursi who turned over for a flopped set. So far so good but that didn't last long as another queen came on the turn and his opponent got a full house leaving Larsson down to only 4,500 left in his stack. 

Larsson managed to spin his last chips up to 27,000 until he ran into eights with his sevens and the journey was over for our Swede . 

"At least Calle managed to double up", Larsson commented as he walked around in the tournament area deciding if he wanted to fire another bullet in the tournament as day 1D was just about to start (and you can buy in all the way until tomorrow morning). When saying Calle he refers to Calle Hansson who managed to get a good beat as his survived against his opponents doubling up to around 125,000.  

Level 10: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 146/256

Day 1c has progressed to its final blind level of the day before surviving players bag their chips for tomorrow's Day 2.

Meanwhile, the final opening flight in Day 1d just began with a field of 20 entries. This flight is a little different than the others as it boasts 30-minute blind levels instead of the 40-minute levels prevalent during the rest of the event. 

Our Day 1d coverage will begin after the first break while we focus on the tail end of Day 1c.

Level 9: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 146/258

Eirimas Tomkevicius raised from the button, followed by a big blind jam for 37,500 chips by Renars Sakauskis, not long after Tomkevicius called.

Eirimas Tomkevicius:
Renars Sakauskis:

Quite behind with the lower pair Tomkevicius was hoping for one of the sevens on the flop as he shouted "seeeveen" and that is exactly what he got on the flop.

Sakauskis didn't look happy with this flop and needed a King to stay in the tournament. The turn was and the river was . 

Unlucky for Renars Sakauskis as he busts 1 level before Day 1C Finishes.

Level 9: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 153/256

Christoffer Bering three-bet from the button before Mantas Ramanauskas four-bet shoved from the small blind for 65,000. The initial raiser, folded while Bering called off his stack of a little less.

"Oh no," said Ramanauskas. "What did I do?"

Christoffer Bering:
Mantas Ramanauskas:

Unlike most players who would root for a jack, Ramanauskas began to apologize to his opponent after his jack connected on the flop. Neither the turn nor the river saved the day. Bering began to leave but not before Ramanauskas got out of his chair to say sorry once again and give his opponent a hug.

"You've been doing that to me all day," Bering said in a friendly tone.

"Sorry, again," Ramanauskas.

The Swedish Poker Federations chairman Robert Svedin is one of the players in today's field and had a good start to the day as he was up to 120,000 in chips after a few levels but the past two of them weren't as successful and he's holding on to a thread as he's now playing with only 9,000 in front of him on the blinds 1,000/1,500 with a big blind ante of another 1,500. 

But it's like they say. A chip and a chair and Svedin is known for his skills to spin up and we wish him good luck as the play resumes for the last two levels of today here in flight 1C. 

Svedin's good friend and a Swede who's doing much better is Anders Hansson who sits with 233,000 in front of him right next to his fellow countryman Davor Pavic who just moved to his table. 

Level 9: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 158/254

Andres Leppik raised from the cut-off to 3,000, followed by a call and a three-bet to 15,000 by Maruen Zormati on the big blind. With no hesitation, Leppik put forward all of his chips and just as quickly Zormati called for 70,500 chips.

Andres Leppik:
Maruen Zormati:

To the flop which was not bad at all for Leppik as he picked up a lot of outs to win the hand. He needed a spade, ace or a deuce to win over his opponent, but the turn and the river didn't get him there.

 The Finn scoops the whole pot and Leppik was left with just 3,000 chips.

Players are on their final break of Day 1c. Blinds will increase to 1,000/1,500 with a 1,500 big blind ante before moving to the final blind level of the day with blinds at 1,000/2,000 with a 2,000 big blind ante when the action resumes. After these two levels, players will bag and tag chips into Saturday's Day 2.

Level 9: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 174/249

Paulius Vaitiekunas jammed his crumbs from under the gun and was called by Deividas Butnoras (pictured below) before Eemil Tuominen three-bet jammed for more than 30,000. Butnoras called this as well and the cards were turned over.

Paulius Vaitiekunas:
Eemil Tuominen:
Deividas Butnoras:

Touminen eliminated Vaitiekunas while doubling through another Lithuanian in Deividas Butnoras after the ran out on the board.

Level 8: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 179/249

Tarmo Tammel raised the button and Paulius Vaitiekunas defended from the big blind. 

The  flop went check-check. Vaitekunas led the turn for 10,000 chips which was an overbet and Tammel jammed it all in for 45,000. After a short thought, his opponent called.

Tarmo Tammel:
Paulius Vaitekunas:

Vaitekunas was ahead with his two-pair, while Tarmo needed a ten, ace, or a king on the river.

And indeed he binked the on the river wining 90,000 chips. Vaitekunas was left with only 2,600 chips which he doubled the next hand.

Level 8: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 179/249

Day 1a and Day 1b attracted 246 entries behind. There are already 249 entries in Day 1c making not only the largest opening flight but also larger than Day 1a and Day 1b combined.

Level 7: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 183/245

Sandro Herrero jammed about half a starting stack over a raise by Jari-Pekka Juhola and was snap-called by Juhola.

Sandro Herrero:
Jari-Pekka Juhola:

A great flop gave Herrero better odds of winning the pot as he was drawing to a flush, an ace, or perhaps one of the two Kings left.

The turn wasn't what the Spanish player wanted, neither the on the river.

Level 7: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 185/244

Norwegian poker sensation Jon Kyte (pictured below) was busy deciding which finger he wanted the majestic WSOP Circuit gold ring to be fitted for after winning Event #8: €1,100 PLO 4, 5, & 6 Cards for €34,780. After he decides which finger, he will also have to deliberate on design decisions.

Kyte isn't off to a hot start on Day 1c as he has already lost more than half his starting stack but after winning a ring last night, Kyte appears to be very low-stress and ready for another day under the lights and cameras competing for a coveted WSOP gold ring.

Meanwhile, a hand took place at his table as we were having a chat. Antti Karkkainen got his last 16,600 into the pot with the on the board after the flop and was up against Timo Ruuska.

Antti Karkkainen:
Timo Ruuska:

Ruuska's top pair wasn't good enough and it didn't get any better the rest of the way to double Karkainen. Karkkainen's good fortunes were short-lived as shortly after he was witnessed leaving the tournament arena.

Level 7: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 191/240

Lithuanian poker beast Paulius Vaitiekunas opened for 2,200. 2022 Battle of Malta Spring Edition Main Event champion Giuseppe Rosa three-bet to 7,000 before Rauno Arras four-bet shoved for approximately 15,000. Vaitiekunas folded while Rosa snap-called.

Rauno Arras:
Giuseppe Rosa:

Arras got out of his seat but kept his eyes on the table. Shortly after he left the room after bricking the runout.

As the 190 players still in the field (of 238 already bought in) have left for their second break here on day 1C of the €1,500 Main Event we have spotted some notable stacks around the tables. 

Jun Beum Chun is in the lead with 191,000 in his stack just before Anders Hansson with 183,000. Below you'll find some more chips across the grand ballroom here at the Hilton Park and Olympic Casino. 

Players are on their second 20-minute break. Blinds will increase to 500/1,000 with a 1,000 big blind ante when the action resumes.

Level 6: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 196/229

Cho Min Ho opened the pot from an early position to 1,800 and was called by two players, one of them being Skommar Hansson Jr., but he got re-raised from Henri Wagner on the big blind to 5,600.  Min Ho folded, Hansson called the three-bet, and one more player called.

The flop was dangerous and everyone checked it down. The turn was which paired the board and Wagner bet 7,200 into the pot followed by an all-in from Hansson who was wearing a black hoodie over his head and looked just as dangerous.

Not long after Wagner folded which led to the Swede scooping up a nice pot.

Meanwhile, Skommar Hansson Sr., the father of Skommar Hansson Jr., is also in the field beasting it up on a nearby table with 175,000 in chips.

Level 6: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 196/229

Edgars Beizaks checked with about 20,000 in the pot and the on the board.

Magnus Pukk (pictured below) tanked for a couple of minutes before he bet 9,000. Beizaks tossed in two black chips designating a call only to much his hand after Pukk exposed the for a flush.

Meanwhile, Lithuanian poker hero Andrius Bielskis was at the same table and has been continuing to climb up the chip count leaderboard with a stack of 160,000.

The 2023 WSOP Circuit Tallinn €1,500 Main Event is a huge tournament to be playing. For most it is about the money, the ring, and the prestige. For others, it is just about the ring and prestige. This is the case for Estonia's Priit Parmasto, who already has a big stack on Day 1c but is also multitabling high-stakes cash games on his telephone simultaneously.

Parmasto is an absolute cash game wizard according to any well-versed Estonian we asked and we tend to agree with this opinion. However, in recent times Parmasto showed he can beast it up in tournaments as well as back in March of this year, Parmasto shipped the €500,000 guaranteed Kings of Tallinn €1,100 Main Event here at Olympic Park Casino for €97,400.

We wish Parmasto the best of luck in his pursuit of the ring, and, of course, we also wish him to crush the cash games he is playing at the same time.

Level 5: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 199/224

Kaspars Avots three-bet jammed for close to 15,000 and was called by 2023 WSOPC Tallinn Event #1: €555 NLH champion Viacheslav Sultanov (pictured below), who originally opened from under the gun.

Kaspars Avots:
Viacheslav Sultanov:

Both players connected with their ace on the flop.

"Chop," a player not in the hand requested.

The turn reduced one of Avots' outs who now was down to a two outer.

"Eight," pleaded Avots.

No eight came, not even the which wouldn't have been good for him as this would have completed a flush for Sultanov. Instead, it was the river completing the board and Avots will need to re-enter if he wishes to advance to Day 2 and beyond.

Level 5: 300/600 (500)
Entries: 200/223

We had Aki Pyysing (pictured below) again in action against Ville Keranen, after some two-sided aggression both went all-in preflop for about 45,000 each.

Aki Pyysing:
Ville Keranen:

Aki managed to hold his hand on the all-low cards board and doubled up to a healthy 90,000 stack.

Level 4: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 192/214

Davis Modans was already in a three-bet pot against Karl Relander, in which he re-raised pre-flop.

The flop was bet from modas for 7,000 with already 14,000 in the pot. The turn was checked by both players.

The river was and Modans bet 9,000 which was quickly raised to 18,000 by Relander. Not long after Davis Modans pushed all of his chips in covering Relander's remaining stack.

Relander folded and Modans revealed his to everyone. The big play earned him more than 32,000 chips.

The Swede Greger Larsson was just seen walking around with his WSOPC bottle of water in the tournament room. After our last post, we assumed he might have lost a hand but it was the total opposite. We asked if something had happened since he looked a bit shaken up but he replied with a big smile on his face: "I'm running too good right now, I needed to walk around a little and shake it off a bit". "But if you're running hot you should sit at your table", we replied and he agreed and said it was between two hands.

He had just added another 35,000  to his stack and almost tripled his starting stack of today in only four levels and is one of the chip leaders in the big field we have here today which is up to 214 players in total. 

Level 4: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 189/199

Matti Lasanen bet 6,500 into a pot of around 10,000 with the on the board after the turn. Greger Larsson called and the action river completed the board.

Lasanen bet 16,500. Larsson went into the tank before he called.

Lasanen turned over the for a flush.

"Ooooh," Larsson said as if it was a pleasant surprise before turning over the for a stronger flush. "Lucky!"

"I was so happy to see that river," Lasanen said. "I was going to give up if I didn't get a heart."

Players are on their first break of Day 1c. The action will resume in 20 minutes with blinds at 200/500 along with a 500 big blind ante.

Level 3: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 162/171

Christopher Berggren called a jam by fellow Swede Erik Friberg with the on the board after the turn.

Erik Friberg:
Christopher Berggren:

Berggren was far ahead with his turned trips with Friberg down to just two outs. The river wasn't one of them and Friberg was on the rail.

Level 3: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 154/161

Riccardo Usai and Martti Keel both checked the board after the turn when Jarmo Salonen fired out for 6,000. Usai called and Keel shrugged his shoulders before he folded.

The floor then came by to ask Keel to move tables so he wasn't able to see the rest of the hand which first involved Usai and Salonen checking the river. Keel turned over the and let out a whisper of a celebration after his pair of kings was good against a pair of sevens after Usai failed to get there on the river with .

Level 2: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 144/147

The floor was called over with the on the board and 50,000 in the pot due to Antti Eeva betting 12,000 out of turn.

The floor explained to Anna-Mari Hursti and the rest of the table that all of her options were open. She can check, and then the bet by Eeva would have stood. If she bets instead, Eeva's bet gets taken back and the hand moves on from there.

A few minutes passed by before Hursti opted to fold.

Level 2: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 135/137

The Day 1c field stands at 137 entries and counting with 135 players in their seats after Yusuke Kakiuchi joined Adrians Imsa on the rail.

Meanwhile, things are proceeding slightly better for the formidable Tomi Rasanen. There was 7,000 in the pot with the on the flop when Claudio Cecchi fired out for 2,800. Marius Vaitkevicius folded before Rasanen jacked it up to 7,500. 

Cecchi took his time but eventually called to see the turn. Rasanen bet 12,000 after afte Cecchi checked and his opponent went into the tank for a couple of minutes before he folded.

WSOP bracelet winners Ranno Sootla and Juha Helppi went back to their roots last night and both entered different WSOPC Tallinn Main Event mega satellites.

Both players would have hopped into the Main Event regardless of whether they won a seat in their perspective satellites or not after a quick chat with both players late in the evening.

Finnish poker legend and journalist Aki Pyysing also is hunting for the most prestigious gold ring of them. Hassan Sey, Aurelijus Sipavicius, Justas Semaska, and the popular Swedish player Gregor Larsson are also already in the mix.

Level 1: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 113/114

The Day 1c field has already grown to 114 entries. Adrians Imsa was the first players out on the rail on Day 1c but still has plenty of time to re-enter if he so chooses.

Level 1: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 61/61

Cards are in the air for Day 1c with 61 entries. There are many more gathering their seat slips at the cashier line, so expect this figure to grow quickly.

Get ready for some action on Thursday at the 2023 World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Tallinn with the final two of four opening flights of the 2023 WSOPC Tallinn €1,500 Main Event starting its action on Tuesday at noon. Not only will a play win a coveted WSOPC gold ring but also a lion's share of what promises to be a massive prize pool with a €1 million guarantee slapped on this event.

The four-day Main Event is a deep-stacked affair boasting four opening flights from Sept. 19-21 with players starting with 50,000 in opening chips. Blinds increase slowly at every 40 minutes during the first three opening flights with the final opening flight moving along a little quicker with 30-minute blind levels.

Players will have plenty of opportunities to accumulate chips with unlimited re-entries permitted throughout the four opening flights and during the first two blind levels of Day 2. The battle will continue on Sept. 22-24 with one hour blind levels until the first-ever WSOPC Tallinn Main Event winner is crowned.

We will see many big names, including Finnish poker legend and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Juha Helppi (pictured below), who built up a big stack on Day 1a only for bad beats and coolers to take it away, hunting for the Main Event gold ring awarded to the winner along with a healthy top prize and an invitation to a $1 million guaranteed 2023 WSOP Tournament of Champions freeroll where a WSOP bracelet is on the line.

The first two flights thus far attracted 246 entries with Estonian poker beast Urmo Velvelt advancing with the largest stack of 293,000 on Day 1b with Day 1a chip leader Joni Rantamaki from Finland is just behind with 276,000.

Our coverage starts at noon with blinds at 100/200 and a 200 big blind ante. Follow the Main Event journey throughout the week while we report the biggest hands, bad beats, and stories until a winner is crowned.