blonde poker forum

Well, it's still the night of the 23rd here in Las Vegas, operating in Pacific Time, but we're already in the Rio in spirit, ready to bring you as live an update as possible from the sprawling horde assembled in the Convention Centre.  Our first LV update will be this most pricey and prestigious of World Series events, the Hold'em, Omaha 8/b, Razz, Stud and Stud 8/b - limit poker at its most comprehensive and expensive.  Will there be more entrants than last year?  Who will be playing?  Will we be able to notice differences in the enormous stacks until midway through Day Two?  Join Snoopy, Homer and myself in rotation during the next five days and find out...12pm LV, 8pm London time.

For pared down, information-only updates, visit:  http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=24973.0 (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=24973.0)

We've been guestimating the number of Brits playing this one.

Floppy = 2
Jen = 3
Me = 4

Place your bids now...

 8)

After bowling and "bet which lift arrives on the floor first" this will be the third thing Snoopy beats me at...

De Wolfe?

Devilfish?

Ben Roberts?


er I will guess 3

2's my guess... good luck with the updates guys

my guess ...6...

1,2,3,4 & 6 taken


5

23 for me (using the great grandfather rule)

9 for me

if i had the money make it 10

but as i havent got 50k make it 9

I'll go for 4.

Mr Wolf
Mr Fish
Mr Horse
Mr Bear

5

Ram, Harry D, Mark G, Roland, Devilfish

They should seriously consider increasing the buyin next year to get rid of the rif-raf.

looking forward to reading the updates on this tourney... wish i was still there :(

hornswaggleU... i think u should go and aid with the updates seeing as you are there anyway... go on...

Cooeee  :hello:

It's hotel time at the moment, but we'll be wandering over to the Rio in just a jiffy.

In the mean time, check out this creepy before and after piccy of my pre-flight trim.

Back off ladies, I'm taken!

What a difference a haircut makes, I've gone from Yeti to school kid in the space of a couple of hours!

Oh to be young again.  ;D

You look like farther Ted in the first one

Or rather a priest out of a really scary movie..

I think the yeti was cooler. Speaking of cool, is The Prince of Docness playing? He deserves our support.

Is he a good looking chap?

Well actually he's dead Snoops....but then i altered my thoughts to the second post after thinking more..xx

Well, we're all openly relieved not to have to sit next to someone who looks like Mountain Man... but there appears to be a surprising quietness in the Rio pressroom and Convention Centre hallway at the moment.  With just over half an hour to go before the H.O.R.S.E and the simultaneously planned mixed (limit/no-limit) hold'em events, I am surprised at the lack of swarming around the area.  But pleased - we haven't had breakfast in anticipation of the queue for credentials, the fight for a power socket, but in actual fact are now free to eat the Press Danish.

On the hunt for a (probably not complete yet) player list - play starts at 12pm (8pm UK).

Well, with it being 50k entry, chaces are slim to none, but we'll keep an eye out for anyone chewing on a bat.

< waves to Dana and very much looks 4ward to her next live update...xx

Oh, hello! Yes, I'm looking forward to it too, although I have an updateless month going on here. Sigh, it's raining in London and everything. Bet it's not raining in Vegas.

Here it is, the inevitable, traditional first photo from the first World Series event covered:  The Overview of the rows of lights and tables stretching to the horizon under the canopy of air conditioning ducts.  Welcome to the Rio. 

Hello updaters, by the way. It's all lonely here without you, just me and the sick cat.   :'( ;reallyamsorry;

No it's 110 degrees.  I feel weird.

Well, I've just had a quick check, and as expected they are indeed starting with a massive 100k in chips with the denominations as such:

Pink = 25k
Blue = 5k
Yellow = 1k
Light Blue = 500
Dark Blue = 100

Three different shades of blue, no joke, two of which look the same. Nightmare!

Quick Numbers Predictions

(Last year was 143 entrants)

I'm going to go 164

139

194

Those who remember Jason Lee of Nottingham Forest fame will appreciate this photograph.

I bet she plays football better.

As mentioned by Negreanu (playing this event, of course), the blinds actually start:

Hold'em 600-1200
Omaha HL 600-1200
Razz 800-1600
Stud 800-1600
Stud H/L 800-1600

This being the case, he anticipates a quicker start (well, Day One at least) to the event than last year, more eliminations etc. - I seem to remember that only two people exited on the 2006 first day...  Here's a photo of one of the stacks being counted out pre-start.  It's still going to take quite a lot to get through a whole one.

thats stupid

why give them 100k then make the starting blinds 600/1200

better off giveing them 10k and blinds at 25/50

As expected, plenty of stars, of which I quickly noted the names of as I endured a quick sprint around the crowd-infested cardroom...

Kirk Morrison (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=849)
Dewey Tomko (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=527)
Mike Wattel
Ralph Perry
Gavin Smith (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=553)
Minh Ly
Mike Matusow (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=671)
Erik Seidel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=545)
Ralph Perry
Captain Tom Franklin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=770)
Lyle Berman
Erick Lingren (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=541)
Daniel Negreanu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=515)
Marco Traniello
Josh Arieh
Steve Zolotow
Annie Duke
Bill Gazes
Victor Ramdin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=895)
Sam Farha
David Gray
Sam Grizzle
Doyle Brunson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=532)
Mickey Appleman
Justin Bonomo (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=848)
Tony G
Mike Sexton
David Benyamine (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=518)
Greg Raymer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=561)
Jennifer Harman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=842)
John Kabbaj
John Duthie (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=209)
Chris Ferguson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=503)
John Juanda
Jani Sointula
Barry Greenstein (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=478)
Phil Ivey (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=709)
TJ Cloutier (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=767)
Alex Kravchenko
Scotty Nguyen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=874)
David Singer
David Oppenheim
Patrick Bueno
Jeff Lisandro (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=594)
Max Pescatori (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=660)
William Chen
Jason Lester
Jon Hennigan
Noah Jefferson
Andy Bloch (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=470)
David Chui
Andy Black (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=469)
Jim Betchel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=598)
Chip Reese
Bruno Fitoussi

are they using blinds or antes for the stud/razz games?

What did the blinds start out at last year?

Doesn't feel as deep as I thought it would be.

is that a complete list???

if not how many runners??

sorry if has already been mentioned

Disaster strikes. Even though there is more than 15 tables (20 in all I think), they just announced that all media must now stand behind the rail, thereby endering our press passes totally useless. We'll do our best to provide you with updates, all though until the 3 row thick crowd peter out, it's going to be tough going.

Can't believe they have thrown us out, it's outrageous, especially considering that we signed something today agreeing that we'd move to the rail whenever a tournament had 15 tables or less. What's the point in signing a list of terms and conditions if they're going to change them whenever they feel like it?

Angry face  ;grr;

That is not a complete list. I seriously doubt that they will even consider providing us with one. At the moment, we're just Joe Public to them.

There as still empty seats, so expect a few names to arrive late. I wonder if Hellmuth is playing?

ok snoops. no worries

gl with the poker police

We're used to it - the situation remains tolerable until mid Main Event - hence our hedging on whether we will be updating through the last few days when it could be the case that we can only see the back of hundreds of other peoples' heads.  Today seems OK - the H.O.R.S.E. tables are laid out in two long rows of tables, meaning that effectively every table is 'railside' so we can get fairly close to the players - enough to catch a few hands, even.

Time to take the camera and capture some of the starting runners.

hi jen and snoops,

gl updating. the guantanamo effect has kicked in early i see. please say the following in a slow drawl...

"if you cross the yellow line maam, i will be forced to use the tazor. pass right on through mr helmuth sir.."

Ahem, he actually plays for Notts County now and was our top scorer last season....looking forward to the updates guys and gals.

I wonder will Ed Pelligrini play?

"No flash photography, I repeat, all media, no flash photograph." bellows the announcer. "If we see a flash, you will be ejected."

Crikey, I'm scared to do it by accident and double checked each time I took a photo.

Before we collect any hands (very little of note happens during the first level or two), here are a quick NON-FLASH piccies I took on my last outing.

Andy Bloch & Eli Elezra

Howard Lederer & Gabe Kaplan

Gavin Smith & Steve Zolotow

Michael Mizrachi, Huck Seed & Ralph Perry

Are the games even worht playing if they don't?

I'm not sure as we haven't got to that end of the Horse yet.  :)

Wow Lederer has put on a few pounds hey!

Snoopy have pokernews not bought the rights to update exclusively from the W.S.O.P?
Cardplayer dont seem to be doing any this year

Hes always been huge

O


Right at the end of the row we find Isabelle Mercier!  And, she's right in the middle of a hand with the gent pictured beneath...

The board:  8h 3s 2c 8c, and he is just calling her in-position bet.
River:  Td   Bet-call and it's showdown...

Isabelle shows:  Ad 4d Jd Js
Against:  Ac 4h 8s 6c

And she's not delighted as this means a three-quarter for her, as they tie the nut low while her two pair is beaten by 8-8-8...  She's still smiling, though, and it's early early days yet.

I was talking to Andy Bloch on Monday, and he said ... absolutely nothing of any relevance here - but I just liked to be able to put the statement, "I was talking to Andy Bloch..."   8)

O

TJ Cloutier (pictured) picks up a pot from Phil Ivey, uncalled on a board of 9d Ks 5c 9h Kh...  His table is no picnic, as you can see - in fact the announcements in the Tournament Area are still half-heartedly encouraging people to register for this event as it's, "A nice soft field...still half an hour to sign up, if you're hanging around the Convention Centre with nothing to do... just $50,000 and you too could join this tournament..."

Jen, tell Obi-Wan Snoopobi to just use his light saber if the crowds get in the way.

(http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=24972.0;attach=15712)

(http://www.insidepulse.com/columnImages/image10961.jpg)

It's not easy collating hands, due to a combination of ensuring you know what game it is and having the time to follow both the action AND the cards, but I thought I quickly jot down a few random hands witnessed, just to show you how the betting is going.

The first two are from the Omaha Hi-Lo, as we crept onto Razz.

O

Flop = 5s 6d Tc

Cyndy Violette bets 600 and receives two callers, one of whom is David Chui.

Turn = 5h

Cyndy bets 1,200, both players fold.


On another table, two former Main Event winners clash.

Board = Ts 2c 3s 6s

Johnny Chan bets 1,200, Jim Betchell makes it 2,400 and Chan calls.

River = Tc

Chan bets 1,200, Betchell calls.

Betchell = Ac Ahrt 4h 7h

Chan = 4s 6h Kc Aspades

Split pot, Chan taking the most with the nut flush high and half of the A-2-3-4-6 low.

R

Lindgren = ? ? Aspades 5d 3d 2d ?

Mateyboy = ? ? Ad 4c 3s 4s ?

Lindgren bets the River, Mateyboy fold, showing 2c 2s in the process.

now were in razz can you tell me if its blinds or antes

Table Draw!!

20
Andy Bloch
Robert Williamson
Neal Friets
Thomas Schneider
Harry Thomas
Jack Zwerner
Noah Jefferson

19
Daniel Harmetz
Chad Brown
David Chiu
Cynthia Violette
Tuan Le
Eli Elezra
Andy Black

18
Sam Grizzle
Sammy Farha
David Grey
Bari Sklar
Daniel Shak
Bill Gazes
Chris Reslock

17
Howard Lederer
Brandon Adams
Chip Reese
Bruno Fitoussi
Luke Neely
Jim Bechtel
Vladimir Troyanovskiy

16
Kirk Morrison
Ali Eslami
David Singer
TJ Cloutier
Mike Sexton
Dewey Tomko
Phil Ivey

15
John Kabbaj
Bradley Helm
Gus Hansen
Alexander Kravchenko
Gregory Mascio
Suk Sung
Jessee Jones

14
Mark Tenner
Rafael Perry
Thomas Weideman
Amnon Filippi
Patrik Antonius
Ted Lawson
Mike Wattel

13
Meikle Partin
Bart Hanson
Patrick Pezzin
Jason Lester
John Hennigan
Gabe Kaplan
David Benyamine

12
Roy Thung
Rafi Amit
Tony Cousineau
Benjamin Lin
David Williams
Rob Hollink

11
John Duthie
David Sklansky
John D'Agostino
Sherkhan Farnood
Greg Raymer
Jennifer Traniello
Robert Mizrachi

10
Charles Kaelin
Scotty Nguyen
Lyle Berman
Charles Lehr
David Levi
Kristy Gazes

9
Chris Ferguson
John Hanson
Greg Mueller
Mickey Appleman
John Juanda
Robert Feduniak
Joseph Tehan

8
Jani Sointula
Allen Cunningham
Hasan Habib
Nicholas Schulman
Allen Kessler
Barry Greenstein

7
Todd Brunson
Tony G
Matthew Hawrilenko
Phil Laak
William Edler
Doyle Brunson
Justin Bonomo

6
Mike Matusow
Darrell Dicken
Chau Giang
Thor Hansen
Jeffrey King
Bon Phan

5
Nikolaos Frangos
Erick Lindgren
Ariel Schneller
John Cover
Daniel Negreanu
Marco Traniello
Shih-Ping Sun

4
Bill Chen
Jerri Thomas
Max Pescatori
Thien Phan
Mark Gregorich
Jeffrey Lisandro
Ted Forrest

3
Stephen Wolff
Mark Vos
Jerrod Ankenman
Thomas Franklin
Erik Seidel
Maureen Feduniak
Abraham Mosseri

2
Patrick Bueno
Soheil Shamseddin
David Oppenheim
Isabelle Mercier
Michael Mizrachi
James Owens
Raymond Dehkarghani

1
Annie Duke
Josh Arieh
Steve Zolotow
Tad Jurgens
Gavin Smith
Minh Ly
Annand Ramdin

Just as I got to the end of typing this list, I noticed a felt-tip pen mark on the front which told me, and now you, that this is "Incomplete" - perhaps some of the members of the audience have taken up the TD's challenge and signed up spur-of-the-moment style...

I rather think that the Bruson Sr. vs. Brunson Jr. table might be one to watch, what with Tony G and Phil Laak on there too.  Actually it's a NameFest in there, no wonder the crowds have started to form.

Spot Hansen and Kabbaj lurking in the back table...

will they be moving to 8 handed tables when registration is closed?
if they are that means closing 2 tables

Todd has moved to Iveys table

John Kabbaj and Andy Black, the only Brits?

John Duthie's there.

Marc Goodwin said he was playin on an interview the other day

Snoopy wins again. :(

I think ESPN should use this picture to promote the event.

It's standard Stud setup - ante from all players (currently) 200 - with a compulsory bring-in for, in this case (it's now Stud) the lowest card shown face up.

S

As I was watching Jeff Lisandro (? ? 8c 9h) fold to a bet from Andy Bloch (? ? 8d 6d), three Europeans (and neighbours, incidentally) in Alex Kravchenko, John Kabbaj and Gus Hansen all crossed swords.

Kabbaj = ? ? 3h 9h Td Ts ?

Hansen = ? ? 2c Qd 3d Ad ?

Kravchenko = ? ? Ks Ahrt 8h 4s ?

Kabbaj bets 1.6k, the other two call.

The final card is dealt face down. Kabbaj checks, Hansen bets 1.6k, Kravchenko calls and Kabbaj folds.

Bracelet winner and Russian citizen, Alex Kravchenko, takes the pot with (Kd) (Jd) Ks Ahrt 8h 4s (4c)

We'll try to ambush chip counts in a level or twos time as not too much changes in Limit HORSE until later on (only 2 players eliminated on last year's Day 1 remember).

In the meantime, I met blondeite Rio Rodent, who cashed in a recent $1,500 event for over 3k. Doesn't sound like too much, but it's not bad when he qualified on the cheap. Well done that man.

Whilst we find more hands, photographs and whatnot, here are a handful (well, a big hand really) of blondepedia entries to keep you entertained.

Simply click their name to see the entry.

Dewey Tomko (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=527)
Gavin Smith (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=553)
Mike Matusow (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=671)
Erik Seidel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=545)
Captain Tom Franklin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=770)
Erick Lingren (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=541)
Daniel Negreanu (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=515)
Victor Ramdin (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=895)
Doyle Brunson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=532)
Justin Bonomo (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=848)
David Benyamine (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=518)
Greg Raymer (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=561)
Jennifer Harman (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=842)
John Duthie (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=209)
Chris Ferguson (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=503)
Barry Greenstein (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=478)
Phil Ivey (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=709)
TJ Cloutier (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=767)
Scotty Nguyen (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=874)
Jeff Lisandro (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=594)
Max Pescatori (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=660)
Andy Bloch (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=470)
Andy Black (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=469)
Jim Betchel (http://www.blondepoker.com/blondepedia/blondepedia_view_player.php?player_id=598)

The players are currently on a short (20 mins I think) break.

I did catch one of our flag fliers in the hallway though.

John Kabbaj: "I'm doing all right, not bad, am on 125k"

Oh My Gosh!!!

It's the other Notts County fan!!!

All together now "I had a wheelbarrow......"

Euro-watch Player Photos:

Andy Black
Jani Sointula
A blurry Carlos Mortensen?  Not on the list but I think it is him...

Without antes stud games don't really work as there is no incentive for players to create action if they are not forced to bring in, which is totally random, so there would be uproar and alot of boredom if antes hadn't been included :).

PRIZE BREAKDOWN:

Total monies contributed by the final count of 148 players:  $7,104,000

1  $2,276,832
2  $1,278,720
3   $852,480
4   $586,080
5   $444,000
6   $337,440
7   $259,296
8   $188,256
9   $131,424
10  $131,424
11  $117,216
12  $117,216
13  $103,008
14  $103,008
15   $88,800
16   $88,800

The wheel fell off......

Youuuuuu piiiiiiiiies  ;D

Well, we're at least one man down as they've already broken a table.

148 started by the way on 20 tables.

Neighbours Max Pescatori and Thien Phan.  Max looks to be chuckling uncontrollably like he just read that BB House story written by Jungle Cat, while his sterner looking neighbour is in the process of shooting him the kind of sidelong glance one might expect to have been learned from Medusa...

Gosh, we both need to get our roots done!

Before they get down to 15 tables and chuck us out permanently, here are a few more photos of the 'stars', although some are of their backs as I am not allowed to trundle down the middle in case I "interfere with the tournament directors".

David Chui & Chip Reese

snoops they might have broken a table as 148 runners only need 19 tables

after the registration finished no need to be playing 6 and 7 handed

They might have at-table hairdressing services eventually, Snoopy; at the moment it's the usual masseuses... pictured is Robert Williamson in salmon shirt relaxing through the early levels.

The two Johnnies.

John Hennigan & John D'Agostino

John Juanda & Robert Williamson III

We experienced some downtime there due to host problems, but we're back now. Apologies for the delay.

Now where was I...

Oh yeah, Mark Gregorich & Erik Seidel

Thor Hansen, Hasan Habib & TJ Cloutier

Here is the current top ten courtesy of worldseriesofpoker.com:

1st  Sam Farha -- $155,000
2nd  Soheil Shamseddin -- $154,000
3rd  Barry Greenstein -- $140,000
4th  Joe Tehan -- $139,000
5th  Eli Elezra -- $137,000
6th  Andy Bloch -- $136,000
7th  Phil Hellmuth Jr. -- $132,000
8th  Doyle Brunson -- $130,000
9th  Isabelle Mercier -- $128,000
10th  David Grey -- $120,000

While reading the updates i cashed in my first HORSE STT ! .... this time next year i'll sit between Chip Reese and Doyle Brunson !! 

Great coverage btw

Can anyone confirm that Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson is playing 2 events at once?

Ever so slight detour off-topic, now, to say Congratulations to Dr Pauly - stanchion of the updating community, writer and clearly player too, whose Day Two return today saw him bust just now, according to Brad, to Erica Schoenberg...here he was, pictured earlier today.  Snoopy salutes you, and knows you're good for those side bets now...

Fig. 1  Cheerfully chip-twiddling as the lady to his left busts out
Fig. 2  Seriously counting his own chips with one finger

Not sure, I can definitely say that he's playing the HORSE. I wouldn't be surprised though, he can sit out the whole day and still have a good sized stack tomorrow.

I just saw him move tables in the Day Two of the $1,500 NL...so he's definitely in that one.  Don't think he's got a seat in the H.O.R.S.E. though...

Can anyone comment on Hellmuths ability at the non-texas games?

Wow, seeing as we both answered Nemesis' question in the opposite way, it looks like he must, indeed, be two-timing today.  Good luck Jesus!

????

do u guys talk??

O

Johnny Chan has lost a chunk on a 4-4-A-K-J board, his opponent scooping with a set of Aces, so I can only assume Chan had the 2-3 and a decent high hand.

surely that would be aces full

H

Allen Kessler gets the rockets - and takes a pot of nearly 20k off Jani Sointula, after getting to the river with the board 6h7h 7c 4h 3d.  I think the river was checked, with the Ahrt Ac for Kessler (pictured with something in his eye) winning the pot. 

It's impossible to tell really unless I watch his every move, and even then, I'm no genius on all the games.

However, I did speak to John Duthie during one of the breaks, and he send that although people seem to think that the Hellmuths of this World only play this Event due to its status as 'The Real Main Event' and the one that identifies the true poker players, the standard is actually very high.

He also stated that the reason why there aren't more Brits playing is because of the money rather than lack of skill in the 5 games. "Most of the Americans in this get bought in," he added.

Agreed.

O

Board = 3h 3d 4d Qc

Young Aussie Mark Vos bets 2k, Stephen Wolff calls.

River = Js

Wolff bets 2k, Vos folds (missed flush draw perhaps).

Had a very quick corridor-chat with Padraig Parkinson, who was walking towards the tournament area with John Duthie.  I asked if they were playing, and Padraig said something along the lines of not being foolish enough to take on the Americans at their game for lots of money, making a parallel with how UK and European players "love to come play pot limit Omaha with Americans..."

O

4-way pot.

Board = Ad 4c 8d Qh 4s

Bueno bets 2k and is called in two places by Soheil Shamseddin and another player who I believe is James Owens.

Bueno = Ac 4d 8h 2s

Shamseddin = Ahrt Qc Ts 9c

Owens = 2d 7s 3d 4d

If my Omaha is up to scratch, that means Owens and Bueno split it (nut low and full house), whilst Shamseddin and his paltry two pair receive a big fat nothing.

Courtesy of worldseriesofpoker.com (who, of course, I am obliged to credit)

1st  Soheil Shamseddin -- $154,000
2nd  Joe Tehan -- $143,000
3rd  Barry Greenstein -- $140,000
4th  Eli Elezra -- $137,000
5th  Andy Bloch -- $136,000
6th  Sam Farha -- $132,000
7th  Phil Hellmuth Jr. -- $132,000
8th  Erik Seidel -- $130,000
9th  Doyle Brunson -- $130,000
10th  Isabelle Mercier -- $128,000

H

More Europeans willing to take them on, however, but seeming to continually be playing each other:

Gus Hansen
John Kabbaj (both pictured)

The former taking a pot off the latter with Jc 9c (board 4c 6d Kc Js 3d), Kabbaj calling the Great Dane down but mucking at the end.

WHo is the guy next to Gus I have that Hoodie :D.

Alexander Kravchenko.  He seems to be pretty highly rated over the pond...

Just going to join Snoops on a Euro-chip-count before the next break, bear with us.

Of course, we're only joking, credit to worldseriesofpoker.com for allowing us to print the top ten chip counts.

The following, however, were plucked from the left hand row with my very own fair hands, and are a representation of the European army currently vying for that 2.5 million first prize.

Tony G -- couldn't see
David Benyamine -- couldn't see
Andy Black -- 99k
Bruno Fitoussi -- 122.5k
John Kabbaj -- 101k
Alex Kravchanko -- 133k
John Duthie -- 108k

E

As I was accumulating counts, I witnessed Eli Elezra win the biggest pot of the night off Tuan Le (I beleive David Chui was also involved).

Eli had 7c 5d 5c 5h and revealed 3c 4h 2d, whilst Tuan Lee simply mucked his Ac 9s 9c 8d without even showing his other three cards.

115k pot goes to the High Stakes Poker star.

And here is chip leader Eli Elezra with his newly acquired 331k stack...

eek!

All these red letters remind me of that song, D.I.S.C.O by Ottawan (I think it was).

I'm not sure H.O.R.S.E would be quite as catchy if sung in disco form.

And what would the letters stand for?

She's hairy, ogre-like, randy, stupid and egocentric perhaps?

Celebrity Logo-Match!

Three branded musketeers now, one Full Tilt (Steve Zolotow), one Pokerstars (Viktor Ramdin) and one Ultimate Bet (Phil Hellmuth).  While part of our three-page contract-style press credentials thing says "Credentialed media shall not wear or otherwise display more than one logo or trademark of any party that is larger than 12 inches square," the players have a trademark freeforall and I wonder how long it will be before the UK poker scene is obsessing over who is advertising where and how large they're doing it.

S

Andy Black = ? ? 5s 3s 7d Td

Tuan Le = ? ? Jc 7s 6s Ac

Le bets 2.4k, Black calls.

Final card face down.

Both players check.

Le takes the pot with (Jh) (5c) 5s 3s 7d Td (Qc)

Andy looks frustrated.

wow snoops i would look peed of if i was andy too ands le just stole his up cards

S

With 2s Kc 7h 6h showing, John Cover bets 2.4k, only to be re-raised to 4.8k by Daniel Negreanu and his 2h 2c 6d Tc. Cover called.

After they were dealt their face card, I believe a bet was made and called (although I didn't see who did what) and Negreanu took down the pot with 6s 2d Jc vs. Ahrt 5h 3h, Kid Poker's full house pipping his opponent's concealed flush.

Nice pot for Negreanu who moves up the ladder.

Some vital statistics now, and no, I don't mean Isabelle Mercier's bra size.

Double Chair Stacker Sitters = 6, Rob Hollink, David Chui, BIll Gazes, Maureen Feduniak, Nikolaos Frangos, Mateyboy
Receiving Massage Sitters = 2, Daniel Negreanu, Kristy Gazes
Standing Chair Sitter = 1, Annie Duke (pictured)
Inverted Chair Sitters = 0, out of respect for Nick Slade

More Euro-counts from the Left Hand Side...

Patrick Bueno    36,200
Patrik Antonius  around 100k
Rob Hollink        94,000
Thor Hansen    105,000
Isabelle Mercier   154,000
Carlos Mortensen  140,000+

Forgot all about this but will be keeping an eye on it now.

My tip is Kirk Morrison to win it, sound bloke whos been on fire this year. Would also be nice to see isa final in this as she has been working on her other games very hard this year.

 Is Goodwin playing this btw?

Poo watch has been a disappointment so far, I haven't been able to urinate next to anyone famous as of yet, I do hope the stars haven't been given their own toilet, sorry, restroom.

I think the best time to strike will be at the End of Day 2 when everyone's buggered off.

I did spot the Walsall mob in the hallway though, Ben Callinan, Ian 'hotdog' Fieldhouse, Des 'Bling Bling' Jonas and the Peters.

--- apologies for the hour delay, we' weren't being lazy, just hampered by horrid host problems. Should be okay no though ---

Anyhow, back to the poker...

As expected very few exits, although I do know that Jeff Lisandro has departed. Rumour has it though that mixed Limit poker isn't his strength and that perhaps he was out of his depth slightly. Still, he seems to be kicking ass elsewhere, he's already won one bracelet this year.

S

As I complete what has become a routine circuit of the two rows of tables, I spot a slight kafuffle at Table Antonius. Calmly receiving a massage, which, incredibly, appears to be focussed on the ears, Antonius sits patiently and silently in his chair, awaiting the arrival of the Tournament Director.

When the TD arrives, however, it is not Antoius who requires a ruling, but more the dealer, as Ralph Perry, the other player in the hand, had unfortunately been the victim of what I’d call ‘jumpy card disease’ in which his final ‘face down’ card managed to fall the wrong way up as it was dealt.

As the two discussed what happened and what should occur next, Antonius continued to receive his ear massage in his familiar nonchalant manner. Shirt unbuttoned, upright posture, Antonius really has a supremely confident ‘I am a Greek God!’ look about him, and you can just tell that if the TD somehow announced his ruling of “I have decided that Patrick is to be disqualified”, the Flying Fin would probably still have the same expression on his face.

Of course, that wasn’t the ruling, and the TD decided that the fairest thing to do was to have Antonius reveal his final face card too. As such, the hands looked like this:

Perry = ? ? 3d 9h 3c Kh (Qs)

Antonius = ? ? 7d 6s 4d Ad (5h)

The previous street appeared to have been bet (2.4k), re-rasie to 4.8k and call (not sure who made the final call), but both checked the final card, perhaps due to the dealer’s faux-pas.

Perry may have evaded a dead-hand situation, but he still lost the hand as Antonius revealed what appeared to be 5-5-Q for a set.

We've been offline for about a half hour due to actual technical difficulties, so we have a bit of a backlog of stories, but that will make the next fifteen minutes seem action packed.  Apologies for the delay.
_______________________________________________

E  Ante 300, bring-in 300, then 1,200/2,400

David Oppenheim and Isabelle Mercier get involved in a pot. 
Mercier:  ? ? Ac 3c Qc 9d
Oppenheim:  ? ? 2c 5c 7h 8d     Isabelle calls his 6th street bet and then faces another 2,400 when all their cards are out... thinking for a while, she eventually calls showing  Jh Aspades Tc.
Oppenheim's 6h 2d Kd made a comfortable low, but just a pair of deuces for the high hand. 

;kc;

Meanwhile, on another and perhaps less menacing table, there was three-way action involving former bracelet winner Mark Vos, and veteran female player Maureen Feduniak.

There was an early 1.2k bet from Vos that was called in two places, a 1.2k bet from Maureen on the next street – again, called twice, a treble check next card, before Muareen called a final 2.4k bet on the end.

By then, the hands looked like this:

Maureen = ? ? 2d 6c 5h Ks

Vos = ? ? Aspades Td Tc Jd

Mateyboy = ? ? 4h 8d Qs 6d – fold

On their backs, and Maureen takes the pot, with 3-2-K in the hole for two pair.

Courtesy of worldseriesofpoker.com:

1st  Eli Elezra -- $355,000
2nd  Abe Mosseri -- $203,000
3rd  Bruno Fitoussi -- $194,000
4th  Alexander Kravchenko -- $181,000
5th  Barry Greenstein -- $175,000
6th  Phil Ivey -- $175,000
7th  Allen Cunningham -- $171,000
8th  Andy Bloch -- $170,000
9th  Scotty Nguyen -- $165,000
10th  Gavin Smith -- $165,000

During that unavoidable timeout, I took the opportunity to take a few more snaps from the rich person battlefield...

Johnny Chan & Alex Kravchenko

David Benyamine & Jennifer Harman

Chris Ferguson & Joseph Tehan

O

Just been watching the effortlessly smooth Bruno Fitoussi get cheerfully involved in pot after pot of the Omaha 8/b, first getting Chip Reese to pass on the turn with the board reading Th 7h 7d 2c, but showing him his hand after he passed - I glimpsed the A-A-3-x, then winning the next pot, also on the turn.  Not showing that one.  I wonder if that's his favourite H.O.R.S.E. game - I am sure they all have their preferred and least preferred rounds: does anyone actually like Razz?

Maureen Feduniak & Minh Ly

Meanwhile Bill Chen took a pot off Max Pescatori at the end of the last round I was watching pre server-hiccup, betting after his final downcard came giving him ? ? ? Ac 2d Kc 6c
Max called the 2,400, but handed over the pot when he was shown Ahrt Th and what was probably the Kd although I was standing a table's length away and my eyesight isn't what it was.  Plus I was distracted by the following:

Mike Matusow, clearly having just won something he shouldn't have, saying, "See how skilful it was for me to hit that case Ace on the river?  I'm playing my C game don't worry..."

David Oppenheim & Ted Forrest

They've just announced that the H.O.R.S.E. tournament is now going on dinner break.  Does that mean a hotdog, a plastic cup of lukewarm Pepsi and a 20 minute power nap on a bench in the hall?  No - not for those who pay $50k for one tournament - these high-rolling all-rounders get a complimentary trip to the steakhouse.  For two hours.  That probably includes four courses, after dinner cigars and a 20 minute power nap on a bench in the hall.

Back at 9pm US time - that's 5am UK time (eek!) - hope some of you insomniacs will join us for more...

Howdy ho, we're back. Not looking toooooo busy here on the updates, so hopefully you'll read this in the morning. I don't think now would be the best of times for a pop quiz.

Anyhow, back to the poker, and we're close to the restart. However, the most important issue is the $10 bet I have with Pauly of Taopoker. We originally went for beards, but that proved rather tricky to decipher, so now we're punting on the number of baseball caps currently in the HORSE event. I've gone for 15 or below, and Pauly has anything above.

Come on the hats!

I want a quiz!

Quiz! Quiz!

 ;cupcake;

Yep, one Carnival of Buffet later and we're ready for more struggling through the Poker Cavern.  I thought that Snoopy might make it through one day without betting on something stupid with Dr. Pauly, but no, it was not to be.

OK...

1) Which Manchester runner-up accosted us in the Rio hallway just before the dinner break and told us a bizarre story involving being evacuated from the Orleans swimming pool because of another sort of evacuation in the Orleans swimming pool this afternoon?

2) Which three players do you think will go deep in this event?

3)  Name four blonde members who have already cashed in events in this year's WSOP (not including Karl Mahrenholz and Jeff Kimber who were in the last 60 of the second day of the $1,500 NL last time I checked)...

3) Make up a new acronym a la H.O.R.S.E out of initials of poker variants which will amuse me.

Hiccup! Oh, really sorry. Exhausted.

 ;sleep;

The blinds are now 1,600 and 3,600 and we're on Razz. Looks like Eli Elezra is still your chip leader:

1st  Eli Elezra -- $375,000
2nd  Bruno Fitoussi -- $215,000
3rd  Abe Mosseri -- $203,000
4th  Sherkhan Farnood -- $188,000
5th  Alexander Kravchenko -- $181,000
6th  Barry Greenstein -- $175,000
7th  Phil Ivey -- $175,000
8th  Allen Cunningham -- $171,000
9th  Andy Bloch -- $170,000
10th  Phil Hellmuth Jr. -- $168,000

courtesy of worldseriesofpoker.com

Crap, I was slightly off. 33 caps in all.

Next time Pauly, next time!

(http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Screen/7219/7.jpg)

R

Andy Black adds a few vital chips to his stack, frustrating the highly rated and last year bubbling Robert Williamson in the process.

A bet with 3d 5c 2s revealed was enough to force Williamson to fold, but he wasn't too happy when Black showed his whole cards for a clearly (judging by the reaction) behind 9-5.

R

Nice pot for the Duffster!

John Duthie = ? ? 2d 4h 9s 6h

Toto Leonidas = ? ? 5d Ac 6c Td

Duthie bets 3.6k, Toto calls.

Final card dealt, Duthie bets out again, Toto calls.

Duthie shows 2s 5h 7h to take the pot.

R

Two former final tablists from this event last year go head to head on the far table, Chip Reese making a 3.6 bet with 6h 4s Ts Kd, Jim Betchel calling with 4c Qd 2h Kc.

The three time bracelet winner takes it down with 6s 5s 2d, which doesn't seem like the best Razz hand to me... but it was good enough.

The board reads 143 players on 18 tables with an average stack of 103,496.

I couldn't see Johnny Chan on my last outing, so it looks like one of the many legends playing today has bitten the dust.

S

David Grey = ? ? Ks Qh 8s

Tuan Le = ? ? 2s 2c Qd

Grey bets 3.6k, Le calls.

Grey = 4s

Le = 5d

Greay bets 3.6 again, Le calls.

Grey then bets 3.6k (although he shoved in a brown chip and announced a bet of 25k), but this time Le folded.

S

To prove that the price of poker has gone up, Patrick Bueno is struggling with just 39,400, after losing a chunky pot to well-respected cash game pro, David Oppenheim.

Oppenheim was showing Ts 6h and Bueno Aspades Qd. The Frenchman bets, and the American called.

Next cards out were Ad for Oppenheim and 7d for Bueno. This time it's Oppenheim leading the way, Bueno calling the 3.6k.

Final face up card is an Ahrt and 9h respectively. Bueno bets out what is currently showing as Ace high, but Oppenheim makes it 7.2k, which Bueno hesitantly called.

Cards dealt face down, and Bueno check-folds to a bet, but the hand on a whole cost his a decent amount.

R

Carlos Mortensen and Bon Phan play a hand against each other, caught from when Mortensen was showing X X 6h 7d and Phan X X Kh Ac.  It was the recent WPT Final champion doing the betting, and Phan stayed with him all the way.
On 6th street Carlos Mortensen had X X 6h 7d Aspades Ad vs. X X Kh Ac 6d 6s.  He bet the final street without looking, but Bon Phan called revealing his Td 4c 5c and taking the pot.

Top of the poker pops courtesy of worldseriesofpoker.com

1st  Eli Elezra -- $400,000
2nd  Allen Cunningham -- $230,000
3rd  Alexander Kravchenko -- $221,000
4th  Bruno Fitoussi -- $215,000
5th  Abe Mosseri -- $204,200
6th  Sherkhan Farnood -- $188,000
7th  Barry Greenstein -- $175,000
8th  Erick Lindgren -- $170,300
9th  Erik Seidel -- $170,200
10th  Phil Hellmuth Jr. -- $168,000

Ladies with little trays selling the odd yet traditional mix of candy, cigarettes and single cellophane-wrapped roses periodically walk through the tournament area.  Robert Williamson III called one over just now and bought a bunch of the individual dead flowers and gave them to an admittedly large section of female fans railing him, as well as his masseuse, greeted with Ooohs of delight.  The old smoothie.

Jennifer, I actually have been thinking about that question during the past few weeks I spent at the Rio.

Like, they could expand the HORSE. I mean, HORSE is ok, but if they were adding one game starting with letter "S" (let's say 5 Card Stud), another starting with letter "H" (like, double flop Hold'Em like they have in Paris) and other games I don't know about yet starting with "T" and "I" letters, that could be cool.

Because, it would give as a result the H.O.R.S.E S.H.I.T event. Which would be totally awesome. Or not. I dunno. I've been here for too long.

Also, they could try to come up with other animal names. I was thinking about a friend of mine living in Australia. Why don't they have the KOALA event ? First round could be Keno, next one Othello, next one American Roulette, etc...

Yes, the rest of the KOALA could be Ludo and Articulate.  I remember people coming up with some good ideas last year, but my memory being as unreliable as Snoopy's tips for how many players in a given event will be wearing hats, I don't recall them.  Going to have to reopen that one when more people are awake...

And here are a few more chip counts:

Erik Seidel -- 129,400
Victor Ramdin -- 129,400
Howard Lederer -- 85,300
Jim Betchel -- 47,400
David Skalnsky -- 89,500
John Duthie -- 68,500
Jennifer Harman -- 75,500
Chris Ferguson -- 75,000
Mickey Appleman -- 128,500
Justin Bonomo -- 98,500
Phil Laak -- 143,500
Tony G -- 76,500
Mark Vos -- 36,300

I had to exlude a few as it was too difficult to state their count with considerable affirmation due to poor lighting, badly designed chips, dodgy colour choices, etc. 25k is a hell figure if I miscount just one of those browny pink chips.

How about HIPPOPOTAMUS, that would be the longest tournament ever?!

Bad news Irish Brit monk fans, I just overheard a bellow from the pressroom of "Andy Black is out!"

Isabelle Mercier -- 89,200
Ted Forrest -- 138,100
Todd Brunson -- 107,500
David Oppenheim -- 200,700
David Singer -- 100,700
Michael Mizrachi -- 62,400
Mike Sexton -- 40,200
Kirk Morrison -- 77,800
Phil Ivey -- 203,800
Dewey Tomko -- 141,200
Mike Wattel -- 89,900
Rob Hollink -- 122,300
Noah Jefferson -- 76,800
Kristy Gazes -- 130,200
David Grey -- 143,000
David Levi -- 89,400

I like Razz  :)


And I would go for S.H.O.E.H.O.R.N.

1 stud, 1 eight and over, 1 razz, 2 holdem rounds, 2 omaha rounds, and one no limit holdem round.
It's not as funny as H.O.R.S.E.S.H.I.T. or H.I.P.P.O.P.O.T.A.M.U.S. but I really wouldn't mind playing a game of S.H.O.E.H.O.R.N.

What about W.H.O.R.E?

Just swap Western Roll for Stud and we can find out who is the King or Queen W.H.O.R.E

H

Watching Limit Hold'Em is easier for us to follow, but doesn't seem to create as much action as you might expect.

I did notice that Howard Lederer is struggling after being check-raised off a 9d Jd 8c Flop by Sam Farha.

The Professor is currently tootering along with a vulnerable but no-need-to-panic-just-yet 60,800.

H

Elezra marches on!

Flop = Kd 8s 3h

Elezra bets 2k, Hassan Habib makes it 4k, Elezra calls.

Turn = 8d

Both players check, Habib rather tentatively as if suspicious of Elezra.

River = 3s

Elezra bets 4k, Habib calls, Elezra wins with Queens.

Nice value bet.

H

And after getting on for 12 hours, I witnessed my first all-in!  It was a big blind A-Q getting it all in on the fourth bet preflop against A-7 and doubling up.  I was still excited to see some cards on their backs and admit hung there like a vulture.  I think Charles Lehr was the doubler-upper with the cutoff rag-ish Ace, but he's probably not bothered about that now because he won an enormous pot soon thereafter.  It looks like this particular table may have been a bit dominated by Scotty Nguyen, however, who looks like he has over 180k. 

He is pictured below, in all his medallioned glory.  Always chatting in a good-natured sort of way too.

HIPPOPOTAMUS certainly has a future. It's the most flexible game around, If you're not accustomed with all the games, you can simply play HIPPO instead.

E

I forgot to mention that before the most recent game change I was kind of resting my feet standing still in front of the Patrik Antonius table.  The statuesque Finn was coolly winning hand after hand of the game, the last one I watched being one where having bet until his board showed X X 5c 2s 5s 2h, against a showing of X X Qs 8d 4h 8h, at which point he check called.  A good thing clearly happened for him on the river, as he scooped that pot revealing his down 6c 3h 4d...

At which point a certain couple of young Dutch players on the rail shouted:  "You're our hero, Patrik!"  They received the same quiet treatment as everyone else, but I'm sure he was grinning inside, at least a little bit.

Welcome to the aquarium, although, I have to confess, Mateyboy is one hell of a player.

(1) Kirk Morrison
(2) Mateyboy
(3) David Singer
(4) TJ Cloutier
(5) Mike Sexton
(6) Dewey Tomko
(7) Phil Ivey
(8) Todd Brunson

The game is now turning to 2k/4k limit Omaha 8/b... after a brief break.  We are looking probably at another couple of hours of play tonight, but we're not sure of anything yet.  The last hold'em round I saw Thor Hansen take down a good couple of pots, once with a pocket paint pair (I tell you, my distance vision is really shaky).  Also Thien Phan re-raised from the small blind after Bill Chen raised in the cutoff, and proceeded to bet out every street, until with the board Tc 4h Jh 2d Qs his river bet saw off his opponent without showdown.

17 tables
136 of 148 remaining
Average Stack = 108,823

O

Caught the end of a hand between Tim Phan and Ted Forrest. The board reading 7h-6s-5s-3s-4c, a split pot with Forest's 2s-7s-6d-7d taking the high and Phan's 2h-5d- Ah-Kh snapping up the low.

More importantly, is that this could be the new Table of Dooooooooooom:

(1) William Chen
(2) David Chui
(3) Max Pescatori
(4) Tim Phan
(5) Mark Gregorich
(6) Chad Brown
(7) Ted Forrest
(8) Andy Bloch

O

Raisy daisy hand between Ade Mosseri and Erik Seidel.

Flop = Ac 7d 6c

Abe bets 2k, MB calls, Erick raises to 4k, Abe re-raises to 6k, MB folds, Erik calls.

Turn = Qc

Abe checks, Erik bets 4k, Abe makes it 8k, Erik calls.

River = 9d

Abe check calls 4k, Erik scoops with 3d Jc 2h Tc.

Courtesy of worldseriesofpoker.com

1st  Eli Elezra -- $427,000
2nd  Bruno Fitoussi -- $310,000
3rd  Gavin Smith -- $237,000
4th  Alexander Kravchenko -- $235,000
5th  Toto Leonidas -- $224,000
6th  Scotty Nguyen -- $215,000
7th  Allen Cunningham -- $198,000
8th  Phil Hellmuth Jr. -- $192,000
9th  David Oppenheim -- $191,000
10th  Matthew Hawrilenko -- $190,000

Oh, and I was just about to stun everyone with my chip count coup that Bruno Fitoussi was probably chip leader, or close, with 300k.  Well, did you know he'd just moved tables as the second one of the evening was broken?  Next to John Juanda?  He has, giving a noncommital modest shrug when I gave him the stack-counting-thumbs-up. 

I was entirely wrong about the predicted finish of tonight - it's actually at the end of this level, which is Razz, in about 15 minutes' time...they don't make the $50k H.O.R.S.E.rs run a marathon, just a five-day jog.

It's not often we get the chance to follow so many name players in such a concentrated area, so with that in mind, I've taken the opportunity to take a few more snaps before the end of today's play.

Kirk Morrison, Tuan Le & Jesse Jones

Greg Raymer, Jason Lester & Phil Laak

A couple of other counts from the vantage point allowed by the rail:

Erik Seidel   165k
Maureen Feduniak   28k

And a final few pictures:

Sam Farha
Jennifer Harman
Rob Hollink

Cyndy Violette, Doyle Brunson & Marco Traniello

Abe Mosseri, David Sklansky & Victor Ramdin

Sam Farha, Max Pescatori & Allen Cunningham

Sam Grizzle & Joe Cassidy

And with that, the poker referee has blown his final whistle, and we're done for the night. It's been an odd day, as the HORSE tends to be, but an interesting experience nonetheless. I believe we lost around 15 players today, which is a big difference to the 2 we lost on Day 1 of last year. If you want to learn more about that, then it's certainly worth reading Daniel Negreanu's blog where he comments about the structure of this weeks 50k event.

Anyhow, I believe the chip counts (or hope) will arrive in my inbox as soon as they are available, but until then, check out these top 10 chip counts from worldseriesofpoker.com...

1st  Eli Elezra -- $520,000
2nd  Bruno Fitoussi -- $360,000
3rd  David Oppenheim -- $270,000
4th  Gavin Smith -- $237,000
5th  Alexander Kravchenko -- $235,000
6th  Barry Greenstein -- $231,000
7th  Toto Leonidas -- $224,000
8th  Scotty Nguyen -- $215,000
9th  Darrell Dicken -- $200,000
10th  Erik Seidel -- $190,000

 ;stickaforkinme;

;stickaforkinme;

We return tomorrow at 2pm, LV time, or, for you in the UK, 10pm tonight. 

Thanks guys, just caught up> brilliant updates, i'll be playing O.C.T.O.P.U.S tonight.... any guesses?

Terrific stuff Guys, tyvm!