$5,150 Championship Main Event Day 1 | 2008 World Series of Poker Circuit - Atlantic City

12-15-2008 00:40 UTC-4

Good Fold, Bro

[user66118]

From middle position, a short-stacked player moved all in for just over 20,000. Two seats over, Scott Zakheim grabbed his whole stack of 32,400 and moved all in himself. The betting passed around to Dwyte Pilgrim, and he sat still, apparently contemplating a tough decision.

"Aw shit, bro," he said before asking for Zakheim's count. When he learned the number, he sighed and said, "I fold," as he flashed his {9-Spades}

. With the betting closed, the cards were turned up.

Showdown:
Zakheim: {A-Hearts}

Opponent:

There wasn't much drama for the all-in player as the flop came out {6-Spades}

. The useless {8-Diamonds}

and

filled out the board, and Zakheim earns his knockout, chipping his way up to 51,000.

Tags: Dwyte Pilgrim Scott Zakheim

12-15-2008 00:33 UTC-4

Mike Stucchio Out

[user22113]

Former chip leader Mike Stucchio has been eliminated from the event.

Level: 10

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 300

12-15-2008 00:14 UTC-4

Allen Bari Wins Monster Pot

[user22113]

Allen Bari appears to be the new chip leader. On a board of {3-Diamonds}

, Bari got it all in with {3-Hearts}

and was crushing Mike Stucchio's {3-Clubs}

. The turn and river came {6-Clubs}

and

as Bari now sits with nearly 250,000. Stucchio takes a big hit down to 34,000.

12-15-2008 00:11 UTC-4

The Proverbial Two Birds

[user66118]

Working with a short stack of less than 20,000, Will "The Thrill" Failla moved all in from early position. Next to act was David Fox, and he casually raised to 50,000. In the next seat over, Charles Furey came over the top with an all-in reraise, sliding out his full stack of chips. It wasn't much more to Fox as the tournament staff counted Furey down at 54,400 total. Fox quickly called.

Showdown:
Failla: {Q-Spades}

Fox:

Furey:

With Failla all in and a huge pot up for grabs, a crowd gathered around the table and the dealer ran out the board: {5-Diamonds}

.

It was safe for Furey, and he eliminated "The Thrill" Failla. As Fox counted out the rest of the call, a third floorperson came over and announced the amount as 64,400. This came as a shock to Fox, who heard 54,400 announced several times prior to the community cards. The ruling was made that he had called the all-in and had to put in the full amount. That was a problem for David Fox though, as his chips only added up to 64,100.

In the end, Furey eliminated two players, Will Failla and David Fox, and in the process chipped his way up to a very healthy 143,000.

Tags: Charles Fury David Fox The Thrill Will Failla

12-14-2008 23:59 UTC-4

We're Getting There

[user66118]

With that last elimination, we are down to our final seven tables; 63 players remain. We'll play on until we whittle down to 36 players, or until 2:00am if we get there first.

I'll take the under myself, as we have been losing about 15 players per hour since the dinner break ended.

12-14-2008 23:56 UTC-4

Gazing Down on the Rest of the Field

[user66118]

Billy Gazes again put a player all in, this time holding {K-Spades}

. His opponent had about 22,000 chips left, and they all went into the middle preflop with {A-Spades}

.

The board ran out {8-Clubs}

, holding up Gazes' big pair and sending yet another player to the rail.

With that knockout, Gazes has become the first player over 200,000 in chips, sitting now with 212,000 total. He is controlling the featured table, having increased his stack more than six-fold since he sat down just before dinner break.

Tags: Billy Gazes

12-14-2008 23:47 UTC-4

Another Round for Young

[user66118]

Jason Young told us earlier that if he ordered alcohol at the table, it would be a sign things were going bad. Well it took until 10:30pm, but Young just received his first beer delivery from the cocktail staff here at Harrah's. Moments later, we hear a commotion over at his table, so we meander over to see what's happening.

With 9,400 chips left, Jason Young had moved all in holding {A-Clubs}

and was looked up by a single opponent who tabled {5-Spades}

. Young was slightly ahead but at risk for his tournament life.

Board: {5-Hearts}

.

The community cards ran safe for Young, and he takes down a timely double-up to 21,000. Maybe he'll be around long enough to order a second beer after all.

Tags: Jason Young

12-14-2008 23:41 UTC-4

Reslock on Lock

[user22113]

Chris Reslock just busted two short-stacked opponents, one of them being Phil Sparta. His {A-Diamonds}

defeated

and Sparta's {8-Hearts}

when the board came {3-Clubs}

.

He now sits on a stack of 115,000.

Tags: Chris Reslock

12-14-2008 23:35 UTC-4

Phil vs. Pete

[user66118]

Phil Sparta opened with a raise to 4,500, prompting Pete Malkoun to move all in for a total of 20,500. Sparta asked the dealer to pull in the 4,500, and when he got a chance to eyeball the chips, he put in the call.

Showdown:
Malkoun: {A-Spades}

Sparta:

With Malkoun's life on the line, he watched the near-fatal flop come down {9-Hearts}

. With one foot in the door, temporary salvation came for him on the turn, as the {10-Hearts}

made him the leading ace-high straight. Still potentially one card away from elimination, Malkoun needed to dodge a board pair, and the {4-Spades}

on the river was indeed a safe card for him.

Malkoun earns a much-needed double-up to 44,000, leaving Phil Sparta with less than 5,000 in funny money to play with.