$5,150 Circuit Championship Main Event Day 1 | 2009 World Series of Poker Circuit - Tunica

02-01-2009 23:49 UTC-5

Live from Mississippi

[user66118]

Hello and welcome to PokerNews' continuing coverage of the World Series of Poker Circuit! For the current stop, we find ourselves adjacent to the mighty Mississippi, in the land of riverboats and crawdads, Tunica. The Circuit is certainly no stranger to this third largest haven for legalized gambling in the United States, but things are a little different this time around in Tunica.

Last year, we were at the old familiar Grand Casino. The Championship Event in 2008 required a buyin of $7,500, and it was Bart Tichelman who bested the 179 other entrants to claim the top prize worth more than $400,000. Those 180 players represented a sharp decline from the 377 who entered the year prior, when the buyin was a little bit kinder to the pocketbook, at $5,150.

The building is the same, but that's about it. All of the "Grand Casino" signs have been painted over this time around though, replaced by that colorfully familiar Harrah's shooting star logo. The action has been relocated from the second floor tournament room to the cavernous theater complex on the far end of the casino. Looking to return this Circuit Event to the pinnacle of the mid-season poker series, the Harrah's tournament staff has again lowered the buyin back to that same $5,150, hoping to spark a resurgence in the turnout. While they are optimistic, they remain realistic and are planning for a field of right around 200 runners.

Action hits the felt at high noon CST on Monday, and we hope you'll join us then for every flop and turn here on the shores of the big river.

02-02-2009 12:06 UTC-5

Almost Time

[user66118]

The Harrah's Event Center is abuzz with action this morning as last minute satellites are underway for today's Championship Event. The preliminary events have been running for almost two weeks here, and now it's time for the big show. As we speak, 78 players have registered, and that number continues to climb slowly but steadily as we stare at the scoreboard.

The tournament staff is hard at work making final preparations to the room and the tables, and we expect to be underway right on time for our noon start time, just less than an hour from now. So stretch your legs, grab a snack, and join us right back here at high noon for all the action!

02-02-2009 12:45 UTC-5

Accelerated Level Satellites Still Available

[user42991]

Players can buy into this $5,150 event until 1 p.m. As a result, the floor staff are running satellites with "accelerated levels." The word turbo has been avoided when advertising these satellites. At the moment, 102 players are registered. According to one of the floor staff, sixteen players have won their way in via mega satellites, but have not been entered into the player counts. Only fifteen minutes until cards are in the air.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

02-02-2009 13:03 UTC-5

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user42991]

Jimmy Sommerfeld kicked off the event with the customary announcing of tournament rules. At the conclusion of announcing the rules: "Shuffle up and deal!"

Also, as a courtesy, he announced that if any players bust out of the event, they can play in the $125 event tonight.

Players will start with 20,000 chips and each level will last one hour.

Tags: Jimmy Sommerfeld

02-02-2009 13:17 UTC-5

Notable Names

[user42991]

Quite a few names have already taken their seat at this circuit Main Event. Gavin Smith, Bill Edler, Matt Stout, Adam Junglen, Jordan Morgan, Allen Kessler, Kathy Liebert, and Sabyl Landrum are all in today's field.

Tags: Adam Junglen Allen Kessler Gavin Smith Matt Stout Sabyl Landrum

02-02-2009 13:20 UTC-5

Smith Chipping Up

[user42991]

When walking by Gavin Smith's table, we noticed him sitting at the table with a 'what can I say' look on his face. Although we did not see the hand, Smith has already increased his stack by 25%. He is sitting around 25,000 in chips.

Tags: Gavin Smith

02-02-2009 13:34 UTC-5

Moneymaker Wanting to Make More

[user42991]

Flying almost under the radar at table 12, seat nine is 2003 WSOP Main Event Champion, Chris Moneymaker. Moneymaker has been playing in several of the preliminary events leading up to this Main Event. He finished runner-up in Event #10, and is now trying to take down this circuit event title.

Tags: Chris Moneymaker

02-02-2009 13:41 UTC-5

Deadly Ladies

[user42991]

Table four has the dubious honor of having both Kathy Liebert and Sabyl Landrum at the table. Landrum is in seat three and Liebert in seat six. It's likely to be a long day for the guys.

Tags: Kathy Liebert Sabyl Landrum

02-02-2009 13:56 UTC-5

Junglen Takes One Shot, Then Surrenders

[user66118]

Adam Junglen, with his new red hair, has been starting things off actively over on Table 6. We picked up the action with him again involved in pot, this time heads up against a gentleman in a cowboy hat across the table.

The flop shows {A-Diamonds}

, and there are already 550 chips in the middle of the table. Action is on the cowboy, and he opens with a bet of 300. Junglen pauses to consider for a moment before putting out a raise to 850. "How much is it? I call it," came the response from the other end of the table.

The turn card comes the {Q-Spades}

, and this time, both men deliberately check.

Fifth street is the {7-Clubs}

. The cowboy musters his gumption and fires out a single 1,000 chip. That's enough for Junglen as he surrenders his hand, having been bumped down to 18,075.

Tags: Adam Junglen