Five players went to a flop of A♣9♦Q♦ when a player under the gun bet 5,000. Only Jim Dietel called in the cutoff.
The turn was the 8♦ and the under-the-gun player moved all in for 2,200. Dietel snap-called and turned over A♦3♦ for the nut flush, and his opponent was already drawing dead with A♠10♣. The river was the 8♣ and Dietel earned the knockout.
Sparky was also recently sent to the rail.
A player in the big blind bet 1,000 on a flop of 10♥7♦4♥ and picked up two callers before Rick Lataille moved all in for 5,800 in the cutoff. The big blind then reshoved to force out the rest of the table.
Rick Lataille: 4♣4♠ 
Opponent: K♥10♦
Lataille had flopped a set to take the lead, and the rest of the board ran out J♦10♣. Lataille got up to leave after seeing his opponent had hit trips on the river, but the rest of the table pointed out that he had improved to a full house.
"Oh, shit. That saved me," Lataille said as he sat back down.
A player in the cutoff raised to 1,200, Jorge Baptista three-bet to 4,800 on the button, and the cutoff called.
The flop came 9♠4♣2♣ and Baptista bet 8,000. His opponent then moved all in, and Baptista shrugged before calling for his last 15,500.
Jorge Baptista: 7♣7♥
Opponent: A♣K♣
Baptista was ahead with his sevens, but he needed to dodge his opponent's two overcards and nut flush draw. The J♠ turn was safe, while the river came the J♦ to earn Baptista the double up.
"I booked a room. I'm here all night," Andre Proctor, dressed in a fine black suit with purple tie, told his tablemates.
Three players built a pot of around 10,000 as they went to a flop of J♣J♦7♥. A player in middle position then bet 5,000, and Proctor raised to 10,000 in early position. His opponent called.
Both players checked the 6♥ turn. Proctor then bet 12,000 on the 10♠ river, and his opponent called all in for his last 10,000.
"I have a boat," Proctor said, showing 7♣7♠ for a full house to win the pot and send his opponent to the rail.
"The former champ is back to reclaiim his glory. Signed, Andre Proctor, Esq," he added after the hand.
Defending champion Rick Ziegler is seated directly to Proctor's right.
Level: 2
Blinds: 200/400
Ante: 0
With around 3,000 in the pot on a flop of K♦10♣K♠, a player in the hijack moved all in for 1,500 and Michael Brissette called on the button.
All-In Player: A♦8♥
Michael Brissette: K♥10♠
Brissette had flopped a full house, and the at-risk player was already up from his seat and heading out the door as the board ran out 8♣8♠. Brissette pretended to take out his wallet to tip the dealer as he raked in the pot.
A player in the hijack bet 2,500 on a flop of 10♦8♥4♦ and was called by Michael Mathur in the cutoff, as well as another opponent in early position.
Action checked to Mathur on the 10♣ turn, and he bet 3,000. Only the early-position player called this time.
The river was the 7♠ and the early-position player led out for 4,000. Mathur quickly called, and the early-position player showed J♣10♠ for trips. Mathur, though, had K♥10♥ and won the pot with his king-kicker.
After a series of limps in front of him, Sparky raised to 1,300 in the big blind and only an early-position player called.
The flop came 10♦5♠2♠ and Sparky bet 2,500. His opponent called to the 4♣ turn, where Sparky moved all in for 18,000. His opponent folded this time.
"Can you beat that?" Sparky said, showing the 10♠.
"How about this?" he added, also revealing the A♦ as he took the pot. His opponent then revealed he folded jack-ten.
Chris Rinn raised to 400 in early position before an opponent in the cutoff three-bet to 1,600. Rinn called.
Both players checked the 2♣7♣6♥ flop. Rinn then bet 1,500 on the 8♦ turn, and the cutoff called.
Rinn bet another 3,000 on the K♣ river, and his opponent quickly called. Rinn showed 10♣9♣ for a flush, and his opponent tossed K♠K♥ into the muck.
"This guy looks amazing. He smells as good as he looks," a tablemate said about Rinn, who showed up today in a finely-tailored suit.
The ballroom inside the DoubleTree by Hilton is packed, with 19 tables currently in play to start.
Tournament director Glenn McCrory has given his welcoming remarks, and action is underway.
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