As we mentioned in the intro post, this event got just 188 players last year. Well it looks like this year is going to trounce that number, as we already have 184 players registered. In addition, we still have Day 1b later on today! Its safe to say that the number of entrants will likely be double and then some from last year's tournament.
Bryan Devonshire waited until the first break to come down to the Pavilion and take his seat. He is at the same table as LA pro Ray Henson. In another interesting development, Freddy Deeb has been moved to a rather tough seat, as Scott Clements is sitting to his direct left.
The board read and already had a pot worth 3,500-chips. It was being contested by Joe Tehan, who was in position, and one other opponent. The player first to act fired out 2,200 before Tehan upped the action to 5,700. After some thought, the opponent let his hand go and Tehan moved up to 23,500.
Brandon Cantu has just taken his seat, and to no one's surprise, he jumped right into the action in a pot with Dennis Phillips and another player. There was 1,200 in the pot, with the board reading . It was checked to Cantu, who bet out 650. Both his opponents called, and the river came the . Phillips check, and their opponent fired out a bet of 1,600. Cantu looked a bit frustrated as he folded his cards to the deal, and Phillips folded as well, showing for a busted straight draw. Both players are down from their starting stacks, but still have plenty of ammunition left.
Scott Clements opened the pot with a raise to 400 before being three-bet by Michael Souza in late position to 1,200. After it folded back to him, Clements opted to four-bet to 3,200 and Souza immediately moved all in. Clements didn't hesitate to make the call.
Clements:
Souza:
The flop was and Souza fell way behind. The turn and river didn't change anything and after the chip counts, Souza was covered by just a few hundred chips.