River Rats
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2014 WinStar River Poker Series
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 WinStar River Poker Series
Buy-in
$2,400
Prize Pool
$3,175,200
Entries
1,323
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000
Gardenhire Takes a Hit
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
We arrived in time to see Justin Gardenhire and two other players looking down at a flop of 
. Gardenhire was first to act and led at the pot for 1,250. His first opponent called and the next folded, leaving two players heads up to fourth street.
The dealer produced the 
on the turn and Gardenhire continued his aggression with a bet of 2,800. His opponent stayed the course, allowing the duo to see the 
grace the felt on the river. Gardenhire fired 3,000 only to have his opponent instantly come over the top for 15,000 total. Gardenhire flashed a smile while he sat riffling his chips.
"Do you have the ten of hearts in your hand?" Gardenhire asked his opponent. He received no reply.
After about 30 seconds, Gardenhire kicked his cards into the muck and the pot was pushed to the other end of the table. With this hit, Gardenhire's stack is down to roughly 13,000 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
13,000
-12,000
|
-12,000 |
Faces From the Field
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
||
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante:
Steven Doubles Early
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
We arrived in time to see Dan "Wretchy" Martin and Brandon Steven involved in a hand on a flop of 
. Martin led out and Steven came over the top with a raise. Martin three-bet to 4,750 only to have Steven ship all in over the top for what looked to be just under 20,000. Martin called and the hands were turned over.
Martin: 
Steven: 
Both players flopped sets but Steven's jacks trumped the fives. The board finished with the 
and the 
, allowing Steven's set to secure him a double up. He scooped the pot and brought his stack up to around 45,000. Martin, on the other hand, was left with just about 4,800. He was eliminated from play soon after.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
45,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
Busted |
More Players
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
25,000 | |
|
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
Past Winners
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
In 2007, the first tournament series took place here at WinStar. It was called the Red River Round Up in the first year before changing to the River Poker Series in 2008. Vikram Vijay would take down the first title and $230,000 edging poker legend T.J. Cloutier who would collect $120,000 for his second place finish. Here's a look at all the winners since:
2008: Jim Carroll, $700,000
2009: Bobby Hempkins, $710,000
2010: Khoueng Souvoravong, $646,690
2011: Bronson Tucker, $640,400
2012: Aaron Massey, $651,559
2013: Kaophone Inthavong, $473,900
Familiar Faces
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Here's a look at some of the familiar faces we saw during an initial pass through the tournament area of the Global Events Center.
Most notable is tournament regular Aaron Massey, who won this very event two years ago for for a score of over $651,000. Massey is in the field today and seated at the same table as RunGood pro Justin Gardenhire.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
||
|
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
That Didn't Take Long...
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
It only took a few minutes before we heard our first "Seat Open" and we arrived at the exiting player's table to get the details. According to Aaron Massey, the eliminated player couldn't get rid of 
on a 
board and was felted at the hand of an older gentleman's .
Fortunately for him there are plenty of opportunities to get back into the tournament as the event is an unlimited reentry until registration closes at 3 p.m. as well as two additional starting days.
Shuffle Up And Deal!
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Cards are officially in the air for Day 1a of the WinStar World Casino River Poker Series Main Event!