$5,150 Circuit Championship Day 1 | 2009 WSOP Circuit - Caesars Atlantic City

03-11-2009 23:03 UTC-4

Welcome Back to Atlantic City!

[user66118]

PokerNews warmly welcomes you to our continuing coverage of the 2008-09 World Series of Poker Circuit. This week's stop brings us to the shores of New Jersey for the first time this calendar year where Caesars Atlantic City will play host to the latest installment of the Circuit Championship.

The preliminary events have been underway for the past week in the cavernous Palladium Ballroom, and the turnouts have been impressive thus far. Just shy of 1,000 runners came out for the $340-buy-in Event #3, and any decreases over last year's field sizes have been marginal. Everyone hopes that the trend will continue for the Main Event, though there are a few big tournament series running concurrently around the world. Still, we expect a solid field with a good mix of top-tier pros, local east coast grinders, and relatively inexperienced satellite winners.

Play kicks off at high noon tomorrow (Thursday), and PokerNews will be inside the ropes, bringing you all the action. We hope you'll join us then!

03-12-2009 11:45 UTC-4

Almost Set to Go

[user66118]

Good morning! You're joining us live from the Palladium Ballroom at Caesars Atlantic City where the room is abuzz with action. The dealers have just taken their chairs and the staff is setting up the room for play. One hundred forty players have already registered for this $5,150-buy-in event, and with about 20 minutes left to go, that number is still climbing steadily. The tournament director tells us he expects a field of right around 200 players for today's Championship.

The action gets underway at 12:00 sharp, so join us right back here in just a few minutes for the most famous words in poker.

03-12-2009 12:12 UTC-4

Let's Get it On

[user66118]

2009 World Series of Poker finalist Dennis Phillips was on hand, and after a flattering introduction from the tournament staff, he was handed the microphone.

"Anybody got a bad beat story?" he asked, drawing a room-wide chuckle. "All right, well I'm ready to play some cards!"

With that came the booming, "Shuffle up and deal," and play is underway!

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

03-12-2009 12:26 UTC-4

Notable Players

donpeters

There are plenty of notables in the field today. Both the online and live forums are well represented. Bernard Lee, "Miami" John Cernuto, Nick Frangos, Jason Young, and November Nine member Dennis Phillips are in the field as we kick things off today. Roy Winston and Al Riccobono are also getting in on the action.

Matt "All in at 420" Stout, Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah, Casey "bigdogpckt5s" Jarzabek, Eric "sheets" Haber, and Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy are just a few of the big online names spread throughout the tournament floor.

Players are still filing into the room at a pretty decent rate, but in no hurry to find their seat. The tournament should boast right around 200 runners.

03-12-2009 12:50 UTC-4

Tough Draws

[user66118]

If you're sitting at Table 35 today, you'll have to deal with two formidable Circuit regulars. Mike "GoLeafsGoEh" Leah is occupying the four seat while Chris Reslock is donning a hat and mirrored sunglasses in the nine hole.

A few tables over at 39, things are no easier. The cheerful but dangerous Dennis Phillips is there in seat four, and directly on his left sits Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy.

Another 2009 WSOP finalist is with us today as well. Ylon Schwartz is right next to the dealer at Table 58. A bit further down the line, seat four holds another dangerous pro, Rhett Butler. With a plethora of amateurs in the room today, these three tables are the toughest in town.

03-12-2009 13:01 UTC-4

Still Time to Get In

[user66118]

The tournament clock is now showing 202 players registered for today's Championship Event. With registration open for another level, that number should continue to tick a little bit higher.

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

03-12-2009 13:12 UTC-4

Nick Frangos Off to a Good Start

[user22113]

With a board reading {A-Spades}

, Frangos bet 3,000 and his opponent called. Frangos flipped over {9-Clubs}

for a set and his opponent mucked.

Frangos is now sitting on a stack of 31,000.

Tags: Nick Frangos

03-12-2009 13:49 UTC-4

Ylon Schwartz Chipping Up

[user22113]

There was 3,500 in the pot and a board of {Q-Hearts}

. Action was checked to Ylon Schwartz who bet 2,125. His opponent raised it up to 5,500 and Schwartz shot a look over to him. "Really?" Schwartz asked. He deliberated for a few moments before moving all in. His opponent quickly threw his hand away and Schwartz is back up to around 27,000.