Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit - Palm Beach
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit - Palm Beach
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,035,960
Entries
712
Level
32
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000
Day 1a Finish Line
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 9
: 300/600, 75 ante
The Day 1a entrants have played their requisite nine levels, and they're done for the day. Not us though, no siree. We've got a fresh batch of faces scheduled to hit the felt at 7:00 P.M. for "Day 1b." Or "Night 1a" as we're calling it.
The first half of the day saw 468 players (including two former WSOP World Champions) take their seats for the Main Event. At the end of the day, there appears to be less than 250 of them remaining, though we'll have to wait for a full count at the end of the day. Among those who came and left quickly were Greg Raymer, Tristan Wade, and Jeff Banghart. Harrison Gimbel shot up to the top of the counts early, but he too fell by the wayside before the clock ticked down to zero.
The other World Champ, Jerry Yang is still in contention, and he'll return tomorrow with a slightly above-average stack. Jared Jaffee, Stuart Paterson, TJ Cloutier, "Captain Tom" Franklin, and Chris Tryba are among the couple hundred who survived, and they'll have the rest of the night to grind, or drink, or bet on the dogs before their return at noon tomorrow. We'll have full chip counts for the survivors as soon as they're available for us.
But for now, it's a break. It's dinner time until 7:00 P.M., but we'll be back for Night 1a of this event in just a bit over an hour.
And Speaking of Gimbel...
Level 9
: 300/600, 75 ante
...he gone.
We were across the room when he fell so the details will remain a mystery, but our early chip leader has been eliminated here with less than a minute left in Day 1a.
A Leader Emerges
Level 9
: 300/600, 75 ante
Well, Harrison Gimbel had been in and out of the chip lead for the bulk of the day, but he's most certainly out of it now.
We don't have the hand that robbed him of all but about 10,000 chips, but we do know that Tom Nguyen was the beneficiary of the exchange, and it's now he who finds himself atop the pack with more than 150,000 chips in front of him.
There are about ten minutes left in this flight.
Engel Steps Afoul
Level 9
: 300/600, 75 ante
We can't be sure of the preflop action, but we can make some educated guesses. Ari Engel was on the button with 10,900 chips out in front of his seat when we walked up, and the big blind was all in for 26,075. We'll infer from the chips that Engel was the preflop raiser and four-bettor, and the big blind had five-bet shoved. Make sense? Engel was deep in the tank as we approached, and he apologized to the table for taking so long.
After several minutes, "BodogAri" announced the call, turning up his meager 
. It was the right call unless he was dominated, but alas, he was. The big blind turned up 
, then rubbed it in with an amateur-ish, "What?! Did you think I was bluffing?!"
the board ran out 
, and Engel has granted his opponent a big double up, knocking his stack down to 53,000 in the process.
The big blind continued to talk, "I figured you had to have at least queens when you were thinking that long. You know, I was just ready to go all in and double up or not have to come back tomorrow."
"I understand," Engel said as he cut out his debt. "You played it well, nice hand."
Cloutier Not Chasing
Level 9
: 300/600, 75 ante
The player under the gun opened to 1,400 and T.J. Cloutier called on the button. The blinds folded and the flop came down 
.
The preflop raiser fired a continuation bet of 3,200, quickly getting called by Cloutier. The 
turn card fell and the next move was all in for 11,575. Cloutier nodded his head and flashed 
before folding his hand.
Cloutier is down to about 35,000
Last Level
Level 9
: 300/600, 75 ante
This is Level 9, and it's the last level of Day 1a. Have no fear, poker fans! There's more poker in store for today. The survivors from this first flight are off until tomorrow at noon, but a second group of runners are slated to take the felt at 7:00 P.M. tonight for another nine levels of action.
The day is almost over, but it's only just beginning at the same time.
Among those we've seen mulling around the tournament area waiting for Day 1b are Dwyte Pilgrim and Kevin Calenzo. The second flight figures to be significantly smaller than the first due to the late evening start, among other things.
Level: 9
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 75
Riccobono Steps into a Snare
Level 8
: 250/500, 50 ante
Under the gun, Al Riccobono limped in, and Jared Jaffee raised to 1,300 a couple seats over. The small blind and Riccobono both called, and it was three ways to the flop.
The dealer spread out 
, and action checked to the raiser. Jaffee checked behind.
The turn came the 
, and Riccobono now took the betting lead with 4,500 of his own chips. Jaffee flatted, the small blind folded, and it was heads up to the river.
It was the 
, and Riccobono eyed up Jaffee's 15,000 remaining chips before settling on a bet of 5,000. Jaffee cut down his whole stack, studied his opponent, then moved all in for that 15,000. Riccobono was frustrated with the spot he's put himself into, and it would be several agonizing minutes of tank time before he passed on the bet and announced a fold. He showed his 
, and Jaffee let him turn over one of his own cards, the .
Riccobono is down to about 23,000 now, while Jaffee climbs to about 34,000.
Double For Spadavecchia
Level 8
: 250/500, 50 ante
John Spadavecchia was all in for 10,900 with 
, racing for his tournament life against an opponent's 
. The board ran out 
, safe for Spadavecchia who is now up to about 25,000.