We found the dealer spread out a flop that read . Randal Flowers checked over to his lone opponent and he tossed out a single yellow t1,000 chip. Flowers took little time deciding to raise the action making it 2,175 to go.
Flowers' opponent mulled over the choice for a bit before swiftly dropping a blue t5,000 chip on top of his previous bet, effectively three-betting to 6,000.
Flowers looked at his chips before stacking them and moving them all into the middle. His opponent released his cards and Flowers took down the pot. He's currently sitting on about 33,000.
The flop read and we caught up to see Jean-Robert Bellande bet out an unknown amount. Bryn Kenney moved out a raise and it folded back around to Bellande who called.
With about 9,000 in the pot going to the turn, the dealer produced the . Bellande checked and Kenney did the same. A second nine, the , fell on the river and Bellande tapped the table once more.
"Ace-king," said Kenney.
Bellande rolled over for nines and fives and ultimately the best hand.
On a board reading , Maria Ho fired out a bet of 1,300 only to have her sole opponent in the hand call.
The fell on fifth street, strengthening just about every single draw. The card caused Ho to slow down as she lightly tapped the table. Her opponent moved out 3,100 and Ho thought for about twenty seconds before folding her cards. She's currently sitting right around starting stack.
Faraz Jaka, who finished in third place in this very event in 2012, is alive and well here on Day 1a. Jaka fell just short of making heads up play in 2012 and we're sure that improving on his finish this year is a prime goal on his mind.
When we came upon his table, we saw him check to his opponent on a board that read . Jaka's opponent bet 1,200 and Jaka called. The hit the river and Jaka checked once more. A 2,500 chip bet was placed and Jaka quickly released his hand. Despite this small hit, Jaka is at about 28,500 which is down only a bit from starting stack. We'll be keeping an eye on Jaka the rest of the day as he hopes to make back to back final tables.
From middle position, Jean-Robert Bellande opened with a raise to 400. Only the player in the big blind made the call, and the dealer spread out the flop. After the big blind checked, Bellande fired 525. His opponent made the call.
The turn brought the , and both players checked to see the land on the river. Both players checked again.
The big blind opened up the for a turned pair of deuces after flopping an open-ended straight draw. Bellande briefly paused, then mucked his hand.
We passed by the table just in time to see Joe Cada fired out a river bet of 3,500. The board was . Jason Duval called Cada's bet and saw the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event champion roll over for trip kings.
Duval flung away his cards and Cada scooped up a nice sized pot. He's currently sitting on quite the healthy stack with about 49,000 in chips.