Event 17 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout Day 1 | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-09-2008 04:54 UTC-7

$1,500 No-Limit Shootout Begins at Noon

[user33020]

Expect another full Amazon Room on Monday!

The crack of noon on Monday brings the start of Event #17 at the this year's WSOP, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout. The first two rounds of play are scheduled to be held on Monday, meaning that the day's action here could, conceivably, run well into the morning hours.

Last year 900 players joined the fun and a similar turnout is expected this time around. Donald Baruch claimed the bracelet and $264,107 winner's check in 2007.

06-09-2008 11:53 UTC-7

"Let's Get It Started"

[user4144]

Good morning, poker fans, and welcome to Event 17, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout. Although juggling the troubles of the world with just one hour's sleep, Dana and I have downed our All-In energy drink, strutted our stuff to the now customary "Let's Get It Started" introductory theme tune and pitched up tent here at ringside, ready for action and raring to go.

Now, when you hear the word shootout, you may conjure images of Clint Eastwood, guns at dawn and murky saloons, but sadly none of the aforementioned will be appearing today. As with Event 11, today's event involves two round of STTs with the winner, and winner only, advancing through to the next round of play.

As is always the case with these tournaments, one table is destined to take hours longer whilst an impatient motley crew of second rounders await the conclusion, but whether it takes a few minutes or a fortnight (please poker gods, not the latter), we'll be here to bring you all the action... as it happens. Should be fun!

06-09-2008 12:05 UTC-7

Sellout

[user46392]

Yes indeed, our first round of STTs should be a corker, with a sellout field of 1,000 currently donning their ipods and sunglasses and sitting themselves down for round one. Notable folks playing today include Phil Laak, Jennifer Tilly, Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Erick Lindgren, as well as two gentlemen who've done rather well already so far this Series, 2008 bracelet winners David Singer and Nenad Medic.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

06-09-2008 12:10 UTC-7

Fashionably Late

[user4144]

At the moment, there are fewer famous faces than there are colours of the rainbow, but many big names have a tendency to arrive fashionably late and will surely be gracing us with their presence very shortly.

Those familiar names already seated include Kenna James, Lee Watkinson, Tim Vance, Phil Gordon, and WSOP 2002 winner Robert Varkonyi. Flying the European flag are a handful of Brits including Rob Sherwood, Martin Green and the glorious sight of Liv Boeree.

"Shuffle up and deal!"

06-09-2008 12:18 UTC-7

Very Early Exits

[user46392]

...And less than 10 minutes into the tournament, perhaps not wanting to waste any valuable time that might better be spent in the pool, say, or playing a different tournament, two famous names have already busted out.

In circumstances unknown, Gavin Smith and EPT Copenhagen champion Tim Vance have been sighted putting their only recently shedded coats back on and heading out of the Amazon Room.

Tags: Gavin Smith Tim Vance

06-09-2008 12:38 UTC-7

Blinds Still Small, Stacks Still Large

[user46392]

Those early exits are, we suspect, the exception to the rule. Largely we expect the action to be pretty slow for the first few levels, rising to a crescendo of frenzied bust-outs a few hours from now when the blinds get really big.

Until then, other notable names still on roughly their 3,000 starting stack include Bill Chen, Daniel Negreanu, Hoyt Corkins, Humberto Brenes, EPT champs Arnaud Mattern and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier representing for France, and Phil Ivey.

06-09-2008 12:43 UTC-7

Phan Busts out to Quads

[user46392]

Another early casualty is John Phan -- he got his chips in preflop with A-K versus pocket jacks, and his opponent flopped a third jack for a set and then made quads on the turn for good measure.

Tags: John Phan

06-09-2008 12:50 UTC-7

Steam Tran

[user4144]

With just 3,000 in starting chips, some players have decided against sitting patiently and waiting for hands, including JC Tran who just pushed over the top of Kenna James' 250 preflop raise for a total of 3,300 before proudly revealing pocket ducks.

"Don't do that again," threatened the ever-chatty, but highly entertaining James. "I will race you."

"It's difficult to make a pair in this game," added Tran, echoing word for word a line that James had thrown at the table earlier in the day.

Tags: JC Tran Kenna James