2013 World Series of Poker

Event #48: $2,500 Limit Hold'em (Six Handed)
Day: 1
Event Info

2013 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$206,796
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$780,325
Entries
343
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
15,000 / 30,000
Ante
0

Pros Push it to the Limit

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 0 ante
Tom Schneider is Just One of the Many Pros to Dominate Here on Day 1
Tom Schneider is Just One of the Many Pros to Dominate Here on Day 1

As the field has been whittled down, slowly yes, but steadily throughout the day, the professionals have demonstrated their natural aptitude for the limit format.

Multiple bracelet winners Phil Hellmuth, Eric Froehlich, David "Bakes" Baker, Barry Shulman, Max Pescatori, Tom Schneider, and David Chiu have all survived through nearly eight levels of play.

Defending champion Ronnie Bardah is also still alive as he attempts to win this event in consecutive years, while 2009 Main Event champ Joe Cada has also built a stack with which to make a Day 2 run.

There are also many pros still with chips who are attempting to win their first WSOP bracelet, including Jonathan Little, Jon Turner, Mike Leah, and Ray Henson.

With the limit format demanding extreme patience, an ability to read hands accurately, and a knack for controlling the size of the pot, the fact that so many recognizable pros are still competing for this title is a testament to their skills, and to the subtle beauty of Limit Hold'em.

Tags: Barry ShulmanDavid "Bakes" BakerDavid ChiuEric FroehlichJeff ShulmanJoe CadaJonathan LittleMax PescatoriMike LeahPhil HellmuthRonnie BardahTom Schneider

No Chance in (Hell)muth

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 0 ante
Phil Hellmuth (Seen Here in an Earlier Event) Has Failed to Gain Any Momentum Thus Far
Phil Hellmuth (Seen Here in an Earlier Event) Has Failed to Gain Any Momentum Thus Far

With the a flop of {7-Spades}{7-Clubs}{k-Spades} already spread across the felt, Phil Hellmuth tried to move his opponent off the hand with a raise to two bets.

Unfortunately for the "Poker Brat," the player flatted to see the {8-Clubs} drop in on the turn. Hellmuth slowed down with a check, and he tanked for a bit after a bet into him.

Eventually, after squeezing the life out of his cards, Hellmuth flashed the {A-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds} to his opponent before mucking his hand.

Despite failing to gain any traction here thus far, Hellmuth's patience is legendary, and he is more than capable of running up a stack in a hurry.

Player Chips Progress
Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
6,800
400
400
WSOP Main Event Champion
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer

Tags: Phil Hellmuth

Mr. Buzzkill

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Phil Hellmuth made his stand by getting four bets in before the flop, and two other players called to see the {7-Spades}{k-Spades}{8-Clubs} hit the felt.

After a bet put Hellmuth all in, the two players checked down the turn ({10-Diamonds}) and river ({8-Spades}).

"I've got aces!," announced Hellmuth, obviously expecting to win the hand. "You've got the jack-eight offsuit?!"

Marco Johnson had quietly rolled over the {J-Spades}{8-Hearts} for trips on the river, and this sent Hellmuth storming towards the exit, but not before he got one last word in for his former tablemates.

"Yeah, you got four bets in with the jack-eight off, I saw that," shot Hellmuth, the disdain dripping from his every word as the other players laughed it up. "I'm glad you all are having so much fun."

Player Chips Progress
Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
Busted
WSOP Main Event Champion
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer

Tags: Phil Hellmuth

Bagged and Tagged

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

The remaining 119 players have bagged and tagged their chips for the evening, and we will have unofficial end of day chip counts for you shortly.

Unofficial End of Day Chip Counts

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 0 ante

Here are the unofficial chip leaders and counts for notable names at the end of this first day of play.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Mattioda us
Paul Mattioda
57,900
Ray Henson us
Ray Henson
53,900
-11,100
-11,100
$25K Fantasy
Marco Johnson us
Marco Johnson
46,600
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 2X Winner
Jon Turner us
Jon Turner
43,800
Danny Warchol us
Danny Warchol
41,600
Tom Schneider us
Tom Schneider
38,000
-200
-200
WSOP 4X Winner
David "Bakes" Baker us
David "Bakes" Baker
35,800
11,200
11,200
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 3X Winner
Otto Richard fr
Otto Richard
31,800
Ronnie Bardah us
Ronnie Bardah
30,200
10,800
10,800
WSOP 1X Winner
Joe Cada us
Joe Cada
20,400
11,500
11,500
WSOP Main Event Champion
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 4X Winner
Hal Lubarsky
Hal Lubarsky
19,100
10,600
10,600
Max Pescatori it
Max Pescatori
14,100
WSOP 4X Winner

Day 1 of Event #48 ($2,500 Limit Hold'em Six-Handed) Has Reached its Limit

Level 8 : 500/1,000, 0 ante
Paul Mattioda Pushed the Limit All Day, and He Was Rewarded With the Unofficial Chip Lead Heading to Tomorrow's Second Day of Play
Paul Mattioda Pushed the Limit All Day, and He Was Rewarded With the Unofficial Chip Lead Heading to Tomorrow's Second Day of Play

A total of 343 runners took their spots at the starting line this afternoon for Event #48 ($2,500 Limit Hold'em Six-Handed), and after eight full levels of limit action, just 119 have survived the slow but steady carnage.

When the day began, the atmosphere in the Brasilia Room was subdued relative to the usual excitement generated at World Series of Poker events, with much of the energy in the Rio being devoted to the Big One for One Drop high-roller event being held across the hall. Nonetheless, the action gradually picked up its pace, with professionals trickling in throughout the late registration period to try their hand at Hold'em's traditional variant.

Among the notable names to fall short here on Day 1 were Barry Greenstein, Andre Akkari, Jeffrey Lisandro, J.C. Tran, Kenna James, Chris Tryba, Ylon Schwartz, and Dwyte Pilgrim. Phil Hellmuth also hit the rail, in the particularly cruel fashion that has become the "Poker Brat's" trademark, after getting four bets in preflop with {A-Clubs}{A-Spades}. Unfortunately for Hellmuth, Marco Johnson went exploring with a marginal hand, and he found trips on the river to send Hellmuth home in a huff.

Circuit grinder Paul Mattioda emerged from the fray as the unofficial chip leader, weaving through the minefield known as Day 1 to steadily build a stack of 57,900 when play concluded. With this ammunition in his arsenal heading into Day 2, Mattioda will be looking to add his first WSOP cash, a final table run, and perhaps even a shiny gold bracelet to his growing poker resume.

Mattioda has company when it comes to stack size, however, with dangerous pros like Marco Johnson (46,600), Jon Turner (43,800), Tom Schneider (38,000), David "Bakes" Baker (35,800), and Joe Cada (20,400) hot on his heels. In addition to these notable names, defending champion Ronnie Bardah (30,200) will also return tomorrow with an above average chip stack, looking to win this event for the second consecutive year.

Check back with PokerNews tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. local time to follow all of the action live from the Rio, as the $2,500 Limit Hold'em Six-Handed event continues!

Tags: Andre AkkariBarry GreensteinChris TrybaDavid "Bakes" BakerDwyte PilgrimJC TranJeff LisandroJoe CadaJon TurnerPaul MattiodaPhil HellmuthRonnie BardahTom SchneiderYlon Schwartz

Event #48: $2,500 Limit Hold'em (Six Handed)

Day 1 Completed