We are one level in today, and we still see plenty of people filing in as the day goes along. Timothy Finne just took his seat, and we also saw points leader Rex Clinkscales walking around, but he has yet to take a seat.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
Players continue to take their seats as we move into Level 2, with the big board already edging toward 250 players for this first of two Day 1 flights that will be playing out today.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
||
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
"We've got your chip leader here! Come here... put it in the blog!"
So said a table mate of Adam Lippert, who with a sheepish grin acknowledged that an early addition to his stack has given him a good start to nudge him ahead of the rest after about an hour's worth of poker.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
42,000
22,000
|
22,000 |
Circuit grinder Ting Ho has taken her seat at the main event, though she is without her trademark puppy Bella, who is sleeping right now. She did say that if she makes the dinner break, she will bring her down, so keep an eye out for puppy pics!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
Level: 3a
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Steve Dannenmann has arrived, having taken a seat near the end of the second 40-minute level.
Just now Level 3 began with Dannenmann getting involved in a three-way hand that saw a player fire 1,500 on the turn with the board showing 
, Dannenmann calling, and the third player stepping aside.
The pot was up around 5,000, then, when the river brought the 
and a smallish bet of 1,000 from Dannenmann's opponent. The 2005 WSOP Main Event runner-up paused just a beat, then let his hand go.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
17,000
-3,000
|
-3,000 |
With the board showing 
and about 1,500 in the middle, Timothy Finne checked from the blinds and watched as a late-position opponent bet 1,050. Finne called, then both players checked the 
turn.
The river brought the 
and a hefty bet from Finne, enough to cause his opponent to muck his cards quickly.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
27,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
Following a button raise, Kim Findura defended her big blind then saw a flop come 
. Findura checked, her opponent fired 1,500, and she called. The turn then brought the and a bet of 2,100 from Findura. Her opponent raised to 5,000, and after a pause Findura called.
The river was the 
, and this time Findura waved her hand to signal she was checking. Her opponent bet 3,500 and Findura called. Her opponent showed 
for a flush, and Findura mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,500 |
A player in early position raised to 400, a middle-position player called, then Terry Grimes reraised to 1,500 from late position and both of his opponents called.
The flop came 
, and when checked to Grimes continued for 2,000, getting just one caller from the original raiser in early position. Both players then checked down the 
turn and 
river.
Grimes's opponent showed 
, and Grimes winced as he folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
25,500
5,500
|
5,500 |
The players are done with the first three levels of play, and they are now on a 15 minute break. Cards will be in the air again shortly.