Finnish champion Ilkka Koskinen has taken a narrow lead over German Team PokerStars Pro Sebastian Ruthenberg at the end of Day 1b of EPT Copenhagen.

Koskinen has 140,900 while Ruthenberg is just 100 chips less with 140,800. However both players are still lagging behind Day 1a leader Andrew Pantling from Canada on 155,800.

Koskinen, currently ninth in the Finland All Time Money List, has won three major Finnish championships in the last three years including the Helsinki Freezeout in January for €138k.

Team PokerStars Pro Peter Eastgate from Odense in Denmark, the 2009 world champion and runner-up at EPT London this season, is lying in fourth place with 128,300 while Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier is also thriving with 113,700.

A total of 243 players are through to Day 2 of the 37,250 Danish Kroner buy-in Main Event, from an original starting field of 423 players. The entrants hail from 36 countries including 152 Danish players who are fighting it out on their home turf.

Also through to Day 2 are Team PokerStars Pro Luca Pagano – possibly heading for a record 15th EPT cash – and fellow team-mates Arnaud Mattern, Dario Minieri, Ruben Visser and Johnny Lodden.

All are eyeing up a first prize of DKK 3,675,000 (€493,700 approx.). The total prize pool is DKK 14,212,800 (approx. € 1,909,000) with 56 places paid.

News on February 18th 2010, from Anthony McGregor Clarke