Main event
Day 1 Completed
2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Foxwoods
Main event
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012-13 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Foxwoods
Prize Pool
$924,652
Entries
615
Level
32
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000
Day 1 Draws 578 Entries at First-Ever WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Main Event; Aryeh Cohen Leads
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
It was a long day at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut as both Day 1a and 1b completed twelve 40-minute levels of play in the latest World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event. It marked the first time the WSOP Circuit had visited the colossal property, so it was no surprise that players turned out in full force.
A hefty 350 players tried their luck on Day 1a, which began at 11 a.m. ET, but only 123 of them would advance. Leading the pack with 143,100 was Eric Rando of East Providence, Rhode Island. We didn't catch Rando's big hand, but according to Andy Frankenberger, he got plenty of chips when his 
overcame 
and in a three-way all-in situation.
On Day 1b, which allowed for re-entries, 228 runners took to the felt, of which 73 advanced. Finishing with the chip lead from that flight, and the overall top spot, was Aryeh Cohen, who bagged up 180,000.
Another player who advanced from Day 1a, albeit with a less impressive 72,300 in chips, was the ever-consistent Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler. He managed to win a decent pot in Level 11 (500/1,000/100) against Zachary “zackmorris99” Donovan, who won the WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Event #1 $365 NLHE Re-Entry for $48,112.
In the hand, Kessler opened for 2,500 from the hijack seat and the player in the cutoff seat called. Donovan then moved all in from the button for 10,700, the blinds folded, and Kessler made a quick call. The cutoff seat took his time before folding and the cards were turned up.
Donovan: 
Kessler: 
Kessler had Donovan out-kicked, and according to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, he was a 64.50% favorite to win the hand. The 
flop saw that increase to 79.19%, while the 
turn left Donovan, who only had a 6.82% chance of surviving, asking for a three to chop or ten to double. Unfortunately for him, the dealer did not oblige, and he was eliminated from the tournament.
Day 1b saw many of the fallen fire another bullet, but it didn’t prove fruitful for the likes of Kurt Jewell, Ronnie Pease, Micah Raskin, Roland Israelashvili, Chris Tryba, Victor Ramdin, Jamie Kerstetter and the Massey Bros. — Ralph and Aaron.
"They got me," Ralph Massey yelled to his brother from across the room in Level 9 (300/600/75). It happened when Massey opened for 1,300 and received calls from three opponents, one being Bobby Corcione. Massey then bet 2,850 on the 
flop, Corcione raised to 10,000, and the other players folded. Massey responded by moving all in for a bit over 30,000 and Corcione called.
Corcione: 
Massey: 
Massey got it in good, but he needed to dodge the flush draw and backdoor straight draw of Corcione. He did so on the 
turn, but he wasn't so fortunate as the 
spiked on the river to give Corcione the flush.
While many players fell throughout both starting flights, a number of notables advanced to Day 2. They include Greg Raymer (89,500), Nancy Birnbaum (109,500), John Dibella (30,400), Andy Frankenberger (94,000), Erek Gaines (133,600) and John Pito (124,900), all of whom advanced from Day 1a; while players like Igor Borukhov (180,000), Buck Ramsey (158,600) and Ylon Schwartz (73,900) all made it through from Day 1b.
Day 2 is set to resume at noon ET on Sunday. Be sure to join the PokerNews Live Reporting Team then for more great poker action from Foxwoods Casino!
Official End-of-Day 1 Chip Counts (Combining Day 1a & 1b)
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
180,000 | |
|
|
163,300 | |
|
158,600 | |
|
150,300 | |
|
143,100 | |
|
|
133,600 | |
|
|
126,500 | |
|
126,300 | 126,300 |
|
|
124,900 | |
|
116,200 | |
|
116,100 | 116,100 |
|
115,000 | |
|
|
112,200 | 112,200 |
|
|
111,400 | -8,600 |
|
109,500 | |
|
109,200 | |
|
107,800 | 47,800 |
|
|
107,100 | |
|
|
107,100 | 107,100 |
|
|
105,500 | 105,500 |
|
104,000 | 104,000 |
|
103,300 | 35,300 |
|
94,700 | 94,700 |
|
94,000 | |
|
|
94,000 | 94,000 |
Some End-of-Day-1b Counts
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
Here are a few counts following quick trip around the room as the last 75 or so survivors from Day 1b bagged their chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
180,000 | 22,000 |
|
|
163,300 | 18,300 |
|
|
158,600 | 158,600 |
|
|
150,300 | 4,300 |
|
|
126,500 | 19,950 |
|
|
115,000 | 115,000 |
|
111,000 | 111,000 |
|
|
104,000 | 104,000 |
|
|
90,200 | 37,200 |
|
|
82,700 | 82,700 |
|
80,500 | 80,500 |
|
73,900 | -18,100 |
Bardah Busts
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
WSOP bracelet holder Ronnie Bardah had been enduring with a below average stack for much of the final stages of Day 1b.
Unfortunately for Bardah, he'd commit his last chips on the final hand of the night with 
versus an opponent's , and failing to improve had no chips to bag at night's end.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Schwartz Shove Works
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
They'd reached fourth street with the board showing 
and more than 30,000 in the middle. Ylon Schwartz's lone opponent fired a bet of 12,000 from early position, then after a bit of a tank Schwartz pushed all in for more than 40,000. His opponent thought about a half-minute, then let his hand go.
Schwartz exhaled and turned over his hand before dragging in the chips — . Subsequent discussion revealed Schwartz likely had more than just straight outs and that his queen and ten may have been live, but he was clearly glad to win the pot right there.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
92,000 | 32,000 |
Five More Hands
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
The tournament staff has just announced that the remaining players, of which there are approximately 78, will play five more hands before calling it a night. We're going to head out to the field to catch any last-minute hands and chip counts.
Stay tuned for those and a full recap of both Day 1a and 1b action from Foxwoods!
Grimes Climbs
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
With the board showing 
and about 20,000 in the middle, Terry Grimes checked from the blinds, then his lone opponent playing from late position bet 7,500. Grimes eyed the bet for a moment, then said "I call."
At the sound of Grimes's declaration, his opponent nodded and slid his hand face down toward the dealer. Grimes showed his hand — 
— and collected the chips.
"Did you muck a winner?" asked another player of Grimes's opponent, who answered he did not. Grimes is hoping to return to another WSOP Circuit Main Event final table after finishing fifth at WSOP Harrah's Atlantic City in December.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
62,000 | 13,000 |
Epstein Falls for the Second Time Today
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
A multi-way pot just took place that has resulted in the elimination of Scott Epstein, who was firing his second bullet.
Epstein was already all in when we stumbled upon the action while two other players were active on a board reading 
. A bet and fold made it heads-up between Epstein and a single opponent, but the former needed some major help as his 
was far behind the latter's 
set. Epstein needed a ten on the river to make a straight, but it wasn't in the cards as the 
blanked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Cohen's Stack Growin'
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
In the final hand of the previous level, Aryeh Cohen won a huge pot to push up over 150,000 and into what appears to be the overall chip lead with just one 40-minute level left to go.
The hand began with the player to Cohen's left opening for 2,300 from under the gun. Cohen then made it 7,000 to go, then watched as a player a couple of seats over shoved all in for about 50,000. It folded back to the original raiser who let his hand go, then Cohen called.
Cohen had 
and his opponent 
, and the tens remained best through the 
flop and 
turn. The dealer then burned a card and slid the fifth street card into place... the 
! Another player hits the rail as Cohen collected the big pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
158,000 | 44,000 |