Main Event
Day 1a Started
2012 WinStar River Poker Series
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 WinStar River Poker Series
Buy-in
$2,100
Prize Pool
$2,788,000
Entries
1,396
Level
34
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
20,000
The River Poker Series Main Event Set to Start!
Welcome to PokerNews' coverage of the 2012 River Poker Series Main Event!
The WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma is the place to be for the next five days as the River Poker Series Main Event is set for kickoff. With a guaranteed prize pool of $2,500,000, you wont find a bigger guaranteed prize pool anywhere in the country. Last year, Bronson Tucker topped the 1,355-player field to collect a first-place prize of $640,400.
The $2,100 Main Event will consist of three Day 1 flights, followed by Day 2 on Sunday and Day 3 on Monday when a champion will emerge. The players are filling into the room as we speak and among those we have seen are Maria Ho, David "ODB" Baker, and TJ Cloutier. Others that will be participating either today or on one of the other Day 1 flights include Vanessa Selbst, David "Doc" Sands, Allen Kessler, and Greg Raymer. Plenty of the WSOP circuit grinders will be here, too, as Jacob Bazeley, Aaron Massey, and Kurt Jewell are also in town for the event.
This tournament is a re-entry tournament, so those who bust out today will be able to enter on either Day 1b, Day 1c, or both.
Play is expected to begin shortly and will last until either 10% of the field remains or until midnight, whichever arrives first. Be sure to keep it here at PokerNews throughout the day for updates on all of the exciting action!
Level: 1
Blinds: 25/50
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up And Deal!
Level 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
The 334 players that are currently registered for the first flight have taken their seats. Cards are officially in the air and the players have begun to vie for their share of the $2,500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Who's Here?
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 |
Selbst and Jejelowo Seated Together
We came upon two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst seated at the same table as AJ Jejelowo. Both players recently achieved success at the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event with deep runs. Selbst finished 73rd while Jejelowo managed a 36th-place finish. After both players' respective deep runs, they have returned to the felt and will be doing battle here in Oklahoma.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 |
More Familiar Faces
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 | |
|
15,000 |
Trips For Cloutier
We caught up with the action to see the board reading 
. TJ Cloutier fired out a bet of 400 and his opponent called from the cutoff. The two saw the board pair with the 
on the river and Cloutier fired out one last bet. His opponent called the bet of 700 and Cloutier confidently tabled 
for rivered trip kings.
Cloutier's opponent tapped the table and moved his hand into the muck. Cloutier is now sitting on a stack of about 17,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
17,000 | 2,000 |
Nguyen-ing Early
Huy Nguyen opened to 150 in early position and the next player to act called. A player from middle position popped it to 350 and action folded back around to Nguyen. He called, as did the preflop caller, landing an 
flop.
A check from Nguyen led to a bet of 775 from the preflop caller. The three-bettor ducked out of the way, Nguyen called, and the 
turn fell. Nguyen fired a bet of 1,375, receiving a quick fold from his opponent to take down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
17,000 | 2,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0