Jack Effel is the tournament director and he just took to the microphone to run through some of the rules and regulations. Most are fairly standard but there were a couple that stood out.
1) Despite the lofty price tag this event is an unlimited re-entry event and re-buys are allowed until the start of Day 2.
2) The recreational players are allowed poker coaches. However, the coaches must stay out of the tournament area, the player that he/she is coaching is allowed to talk to them at any point when they are not in a hand.
The tournament started with a total of 3 tables in play. Just now, a new table opened and several players were reseated. Right now, 4 tables are open with 22 players in the field. As soon as we receive the official seat draw, which should be any minute now, we'll post exactly who's in the field.
It was a battle of the sports bettors over on Table 7 where James Bord and Andrew Pantling got involved in a hand. The former raised it up to 30,000 from the hijack and Pantling smooth called on the button "I thought you were a pro," said Cary Katz, who's sandwiched between the two, to Pantling. "He has a day job," confirmed Bord to Katz as a flop hit the felt.
A quick rap of the table from Bord was followed by a bet of 27,000 from Pantling and the Brit swiftly folded his hand. Pot to Pantling.
From early position, Paul Phua raised to 26,000. He picked up no less than 3 callers; Paul Newey on the button, Jason Strasser in the small blind and Haralabos Voulgaris in the big blind.
Both blinds checked to Phua on and he bet 52,000. Just Voulgaris called.
Voulgaris check-called another 104,000 on the turn before both of them checked on the river.
Voulgaris tabled for runner runner full house and Phua mucked.
"A non-six river would've been interesting," Voulgaris said, "not sure what I would've done."
There are five different chip denominations in play and they are as follows:
Yellow chips
1,000
White chips
5,000
Pink chips
25,000
Grey/purple chips
100,000
Orange chips
500,000
If you needed confirmation that this is a big tournament then a 500,000 chip in play helps ram that message home. Each player starts with 5,000,000 and their starting stack contains six of the big 500,000 denomination chips and a further 15 of the 100,000 denomination chips.
Anatoly Gurtovoy raised to 35,000 from under the gun, and action folded around to Patrick Madden in the small blind. He three-bet to 80,000 and Gurtovoy called.
The flop came and both players checked. Madden checked again when the fell on the turn, and Gurtovoy bet 50,000. Madden quickly called, and both players checked the on the river.
Madden tabled for a Broadway straight, and Gurtovoy mucked his cards.
![[user265690]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop hit the felt.
and he bet 52,000. Just Voulgaris called. 
turn before both of them checked on the 
river.
for runner runner full house and Phua mucked. 
fell on the turn, and Gurtovoy bet 50,000. Madden quickly called, and both players checked the 
on the river. 
for a Broadway straight, and Gurtovoy mucked his cards.