As expected, the World Series has attracted a plethora of countries from around the globe, but it's the Brits who have possibly caused the biggest stir. Adorning more jewelry of Mr. T and Scotty Nguyen's love child, the UK picked up bracelet number five last night, and there are plenty of UK-based players looking to echo Steve Jelinek's success today.
As well as November Niner James Akenhead, we also have fellow Hit Squad member Karl Mahrenholz, as well as Neil Channing, Jamie Roberts, David Tighe, Rob Sherwood, Sam Trickett and many more. If the Brits continue their good form, then there's no reason why they can't hit Vegas for six before the Main Event arrives.
If you were planning on hitting the can, we'd suggest waiting 20 minutes until players are back from break. Unless, of course, you aren't in the Rio. In that case, go ahead.
As has become the trend this year, the opening day of the 12pm event ground to a halt at the conclusion of the break as the latest two bracelet winners were honored in their very own ceremony: Steve Jelinek and, now, two-time bracelet winner Frank Kassela.
After the final beats of Stars and Stripes kicked in, Jack Effell congratulated both players on their achievements before repeating those immortal words: "Shuffle up and deal."
Consequently, players have now retaken their seats and play has resumed with Kassela looking to tie the current record of three bracelets in one Series.
Eugene Todd had raised to 350 in the cutoff but was re-raised to 1,025 from the player in the small blind. Todd decided to four-bet all in and was looked up by his opponent.
Todd:
Small blind:
The board ran out and with neither player holding a club, Todd's aces held and he is now up to 5,200 chips.
Bracelet winner Peter Gelencser is pushing up the poker daisies. He got it all in preflop wth , but ran head-first into the American Airlines, . The flop offered a glimmer of hope, all of which disappeared on a turn and river.
I joined the action on the flop with 2,000 in front of Antonio Esfandiari (middle position) and 600 before his opponent (button), thus suggesting the Magician had pulled off a check-raise. After a brief pause, his foe made it 4,200.
Esfandiari mulled over his options for about 30 seconds and counted out his chips before moving in for his remaining 3,700. His opponent immediately made the call and showed , but was chagrined to see Esfandiari table for the flopped set.
The turn and river rolled out and respectively, leaving Esfandiari with a new and improved stack of circa 12,000.
Phil Ivey won't be tasting bracelet number nine in this event as he's just been snipered down by Brian Zimcosky. It was the latter who kick-started the action, raising it up to 400 from the cut-off. Ivey moved all in for 2,600 with and Zimcosky made the call with .
Although Ivey spiked a second cowboy on the flop, he was immediately desaddled on the turn, before the river sealed his fate. This left his victor with 11,000 and the scalp of (according to the general consensus) the best player in the world.
As Ivey departed, he left a $20 bill on the table. Neighbour Brian Alioa was so excited by this that he pulled out his wallet and exchanged the bill for one of his own, just so he could own Ivey's bill. Meanwhile, the tournament directors were trying to decide what to do with the remaining bill. Spin it up, I say!
![[user4144]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and with neither player holding a club, Todd's aces held and he is now up to 5,200 chips.
for a straight that turned into the nut flush and Junglen mucked. Schick now has 13,800 chips while Junglen is down to 14,700.
, but ran head-first into the American Airlines, 
. The 
flop offered a glimmer of hope, all of which disappeared on a 
turn and 
river.
flop with 2,000 in front of Antonio Esfandiari (middle position) and 600 before his opponent (button), thus suggesting the Magician had pulled off a check-raise. After a brief pause, his foe made it 4,200.
and 
respectively, leaving Esfandiari with a new and improved stack of circa 12,000.
.
flop, he was immediately desaddled on the 
river sealed his fate. This left his victor with 11,000 and the scalp of (according to the general consensus) the best player in the world.