Main Event
Day 1 Completed
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Caesars Atlantic City
Main Event
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2010-11 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Caesars Atlantic City
Buy-in
$1,500
Entries
442
Level
29
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
5,000
Official End-of-Day Chip Counts and Seat Draw
Note that players with a "1" as their chip count did not report their count at the end of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
309,800 | |
|
294,000 | |
|
|
271,000 | |
|
257,600 | |
|
248,000 | |
|
245,800 | |
|
237,000 | |
|
|
227,000 | |
|
223,300 | |
|
207,500 | |
|
|
183,000 | |
|
169,000 | |
|
|
152,000 | |
|
|
151,300 | |
|
150,900 | |
|
|
150,500 | |
|
148,900 | |
|
|
145,000 | |
|
143,900 | |
|
135,500 | |
|
|
135,000 | |
|
|
134,200 | |
|
|
131,600 | |
|
|
130,900 | |
|
|
127,300 |
Day 1 Concludes
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
The WSOP Circuit resumed its nationwide journey today, stopping off at Caesars Atlantic City this weekend for another well attended Main Event. While early estimates had some predicting a field of about 300 for this $1,500+$150 tournament, a total of 442 ultimately made their way into the Palladium Ballroom at Caesars Atlantic City, all hoping to be the one ultimately to gather all of the chips, the ring, entry into the WSOP Circuit National Championship in May, and a handsome payday of $139,284.
Among those getting off to a fast start today was Andy Santiago. Santiago's early success came as no surprise to him, convinced perhaps more than most that this event was his for the taking. Santiago even wrote an "affidavit" to that effect before the tourney began, stating his belief that he'd be the one to it down. However, despite enjoying the chip lead during the first few levels, Santiago ultimately ran into a couple of hard luck hands against tablemate Paul "paulgees81" Volpe to go out after the dinner break.
Volpe was another player who found himself sporting a large stack and challenging for the chip lead today. The online phenom stumbled, however, in a big hand in which he five-bet shoved with 
only to be called by an opponent holding 
. Suddenly down to a short stack, Volpe jammed once more with a big ace, but this time ran into pocket rockets and was eliminated.
Other notables failing to make it through Day 1 included 2005 WSOP Main Event runner-up Steve Dannenman, Josh Brikis, Mike Sica, Sirous Jamshidi, Will "The Thrill" Failla, Alex Bolotin, and Beth Shak. Two poker authors -- David Apostolico and Matt Matros -- were among today's field of entrants as well, and while both fought gallantly for most of the day, neither survived to return on Saturday.
As the march of players to the rail continued, Frank Argano, Dylan Drazen, and Patrick Houchins, John Andress, and Edward Pham rose to the top of the counts. Argano in particular became involved in multiple large-pot hands as play neared its conclusion, pushing past 300,000 while leaving several eliminated players in wake.
And when the final hands were dealt and the bags came out just after 1 a.m. local time, Argano was the one with the most chips to count with 310,000. Others who will be coming back to stacks of a quarter million or more tomorrow include Roland Israelashvili, Drazen, Houchins, and Daniel Buzgon. Joe Chaplin, Eric Buchman, Russell Crane, and Michael "The Hugginator" Hug will also be among those returning to the Palladium Ballroom to play more poker on Saturday.
Cards go back in the air tomorrow at high noon, with 81 players still fighting for those top 45 paying spots and the ring at the end. Thanks for following our coverage today, and see you back here tomorrow for all the action as the tourney plays down to the final nine.
Double Knockout OMG
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
A player in middle position opened to 5,000 and Roland Israelashvili called on the button. Dave "doubledave22" D'Alesandro squeezed all in for 44,200 from the blinds and the original raiser tank-called. It was Israelashvili's turn to go into the tank, and after a minute or two he called as well.
The flop fell 
and both players checked. The 
turned and the original raiser moved all in for just over 30,000. Israelashvili returned to the tank, but again he called and all three hands were turned face up.
Original Raiser: 
Israelashvili: 
D'Alesandro: 
D'Alesandro needed a jack. Israelashvili needed a king or a spade.
Miraculously the 
spiked on the river, sending the entire pot to Israelashvili and eliminating both players. Israelashvili is now among the chip leaders with over 200,000 chips.
Argano Wins an Absurd Hand
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
It all started with a limp from under the gun and a raise to 6,200 from Russell Crane in early position. Frank Argano flatted in the hijack seat and Mike Leah three-bet to 26,200 on the button. The UTG-limper flatted, Crane folded and Argano moved all in having the entire table covered.
Leah burst out laughing then went into the tank for upwards to two minutes. He had already committed more than half his stack, but didn't think he was getting the right odds to call and folded.
The hands?
UTG: 
Argano: 
The 
flop was clean, but the 
spiked on the river giving Argano the lead. The on the river was paint, but it did not improve the UTG player's hand and he was eliminated. Argano raked in a monster pot and is now above 300,000 chips.
The very next hand Leah was all in preflop with 
against an opponent's 
. The board ran 
and Leah made broadway, doubling to nearly 50,000 chips.
Hug Hanging On
Level 16
: 1,200/2,400, 400 ante
Michael Hug continues to nurse a short stack as we wind our way closer to the conclusion of play here on Day 1. With a half-hour left, Hug has survived a couple of skirmishes during the last orbit to hang on with a stack of 25,000.
The big board tells us 89 currently remain with chips.
Level: 16
Blinds: 1,200/2,400
Ante: 400
Pham-tastic
Level 15
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
We're cruising toward the end of Level 15. And Edward Pham continues to cruise as well, having just eliminated another opponent.
This time Pham used to conquer his short-stacked foe who was all in before the flop with 
. The board came , and Pham added the short stack to his.
Pham is now sitting with about 190,000.
Shak Out
Level 15
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
Beth Shak has been eliminated from the tournament. We don't know how, but we know who the culprit is; Dylan Drazen.
With the KO Drazen is now the chip leader with 260,000 in his stack.
Apostolico Ousted
Level 15
: 1,000/2,000, 300 ante
David Apostolico had been nurturing a short stack for the last several levels before he pushed all in from middle position for his last 18,000 with . Alas for the poker author, an opponent in the big blind woke up with .
The board ran out 
, and Apostolico hits the rail with just over 100 players remaining.