2012 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Greg Merson joins the PokerNews Podcast to talk about the controversial tweet he released on Tuesday regarding private public cash games at Aria, and respond to criticism regarding the language of the tweet. Merson also discusses Macau, the potential return of online poker to New Jersey, and his friend Tony "End Boss" Gregg's win in the $111,111 One Drop High Roller.
Barry Hutter (6th), Jacob Bazeley (7th), Thomas Hall (13th), Orjan Skommo (14th), Marcus Aurelius (19th), Gabriel Nassif (23rd), Matt Salsberg (31st), Amanda Musumeci (39th) all placed in the top-40 of that event, earning between $8,614 and $77,685 for their efforts depending on their finish.
After weaving through a massive field to make the final five tables just a few days ago, these players are trying to turn the trick again, and with thousands of runners already entered here today, the seven will definitely have their work cut out for them if they hope to best their Event #54 finishes.
Rex Clinkscales (Seen Here in an Earlier WSOP Event)
Rex Clinkscales is just one of the dozens of young circuit grinders trying to make his way from the minor leagues to the Big Show, and after his recent win at the 2012-13 WSOP Circuit Harrah's Philadelphia Main Event, Clinkscales is ready to add a bracelet to his jewelry collection.
We caught Clinkscales using some of his patented post flop aggression to take down an early pot, after an opponent raised his big blind to 775. After defending with a flat, Clinkscales checked the flop, giving the other player an opening to bet 600. Despite the highly unusual betting pattern employed by his opponent, Clinkscales was unfazed, and he announced himself all in for his last 3,500 or so.
With pain etched across his face, the other player flashed his to the table before mucking the beaten big slick.
"What he show?," asked Clinkscales, turning the needle just a bit. "Oh, ace-king." He then tabled his own , leaving his opponent to wonder if he had made the correct play.
After taking to Twitter earlier to inform his followers about the four ladies at his table, Jason Duval has just shipped some of stack across the table to one of them, with Jennifer Tilly the grateful recipient.
We caught the action on the flop, with Duval facing a bet of 250 from Tilly. After flatting, Duval saw the come on the turn, and Tilly tap the table for a check. Following up on his tweeted proclamation to ramp up the aggression, Duval tossed out a bet of 550, and Tilly quickly announced herself all in for her last 2,325.
It turns out that player was none other than circuit player Maurice "Mo" Hawkins, a man who has earned over $1 million in live earnings while defining the term grinder, playing events of all level, around the country and throughout the year. With four cashes and three top-40 finishes here at the 2013 WSOP, Hawkins is definitely a player who has earned the right to critique his elders, and although he was obviously joking during his appraisal of Brecher's play, the generational clash speaks to the divergent styles that have emerged during poker's rapid evolution.
Today, Hawkins is in attendance competing on Day 1A of the Little One for One Drop, and wouldn't you know it, he is sitting directly to the left of another of poker's elder statesman. None other than T.J. Cloutier will be Hawkins' neighbor as the day continues, and we will be sure to check in periodically to see whether or not the young gun and the old saw engage one another in combat, verbal or otherwise.
With the board showing by fourth street, Amanda Musumeci tried a feeler bet of 125, and watched as an opponent raised it to 325. Another player flatted the raise, as did Musumeci, and the river fell .
Musumeci slowed down by tapping the table, and the raiser made it 700 to play. This bet folded Musumeci, but the third player in the hand called, only to see the tabled for the nut straight.
Trishelle Cannatella (Seen Here Competing at a Previous Edition of the WSOP) is Trying Her Hand Here Today
After making her name by appearing on MTV's hit series The Real World, Trishelle Cannatella has tried to transition her on-screen skills to the felt, with a 3rd place finish at the 2010 WPT Invitational Tournament to her credit.
Cannatella is in the house here this morning, just a short walk from the Palms Casino where her debut season of The Real World: Las Vegas was filmed, but the Rio has not proven to be as hospitable.
We saw Cannatella drop an early pot to cut her starting stack in half, after she fired two barrels with second pair. The board read by the turn, and Cannatella led out for a bet of 800. Her opponent studied the board for a moment before tossing out a call, and the completed the board on the river.
Cannatella bet it again, this time for 1,100, and the other player quickly called with . With just , Cannatella's hand was second best, and she was forced to start the day from a short-stacked position.
The day is here, the day 'The Little One for One Drop' kicks off. Members of the poker community have been talking about this event for quite some time and all things point towards this tournament being massive.
It's not just another $1,111 No-Limit Hold'em tournament; it's different in many aspects. The main difference from most tournaments played this summer is the charity aspect. $111 from every entry goes to One Drop, Guy Laliberté's non-profit organization which strives to ensure that water is accessible to all, today and forever.
In the 'every entry' part we find another twist, since during the first four levels of play on Day 1A and 1B people can choose to re-enter if and when they bust. Players can even enter both flights, although it will cost them $1,111 each time of course. Also different than any other tournament is that the starting stack isn't the standard three times the buy-in. Instead, players receive 4,000 in chips every time they enter.
There will be no dinner break on Day 1A and 1B. Instead, there will be a 20 minute break after every two levels played. The plan is to play eight 60-minute levels on both Day 1A and 1B, making the structure look like this:
Level
Small blind
Big blind
Ante
Duration
Re-entry possible?
1
25
25
-
60 minutes
yes
2
25
50
-
60 minutes
yes
20 minute break
3
50
100
-
60 minutes
yes
4
75
150
-
60 minutes
yes
20 minute break
5
100
200
-
60 minutes
no
6
100
200
25
60 minutes
no
20 minute break
7
150
300
25
60 minutes
no
8
200
400
50
60 minutes
no
The tournament starts at noon and we expect a lot of players to register. We are ready for a full day of updates with hand descriptions, photos and interviews from this special World Series of Poker tournament. Take a look at the PokerNews Daily Update video to get ready for the action, and then keep it here throughout the day for continuous coverage live from the floor of the Rio.
![[user101598]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop, giving the other player an opening to bet 600. Despite the highly unusual betting pattern employed by his opponent, Clinkscales was unfazed, and he announced himself all in for his last 3,500 or so.
to the table before mucking the beaten big slick.
, leaving his opponent to wonder if he had made the correct play.
flop, with Duval facing a bet of 250 from Tilly. After flatting, Duval saw the 
come on the turn, and Tilly tap the table for a check. Following up on his tweeted proclamation to ramp up the aggression, Duval tossed out a bet of 550, and Tilly quickly announced herself all in for her last 2,325.
by fourth street, Amanda Musumeci tried a feeler bet of 125, and watched as an opponent raised it to 325. Another player flatted the raise, as did Musumeci, and the river fell 
.
tabled for the nut straight.
. With just 
, Cannatella's hand was second best, and she was forced to start the day from a short-stacked position.
