The PokerNews Podcast caught up with Octo-Niner Robert Salaburu this week to talk about the long break, his antics at the table, and what he plans to do with his winnings.
Registration is closed here on Day 1a of the 2012 Horseshoe Hammond Main Event, and the total number of entrants is 834. Last year, when the tournament was changed to a re-entry format for the first time, Day 1a attracted a total of 912 runners. In the end, 1615 players registered.
This year there is an 8.5% decline on Day 1a, but with Day 1b tomorrow and registration open until the cards are in the air on Day 2, this field will no doubt cross the four-figure mark, generating another massive prize pool for the WSOPC.
Aaron Steury, a 2011 WSOP bracelet winner who finished second in this event last year, was faced with an 18,000-chip, all-in bet moments ago. He tanked for the better of two minutes, then re-shoved, having a third player in the hand well covered.
The third player folded, and the hands were opened:
Steury:
Opponent:
The flop gave Steury a leading pair of queens, but his opponent could make Broadway with any , or a better pair with any . The turn and river bricked , respectively however, and Steury took down the pot.
"I wish I folded," Steury admitted after the hand.
The fortunate knockout has Steury up to around 75,000 chips.
When we reached his table, Richard Decowski was all in holding two jacks, and his opponent, who was at risk, tabled two queens.
There was a jack on the flop, sending Decowski's opponent flying out of his chair, but a queen spiked on the turn. The river bricked, and Decowski lost the six-figure pot, dropping his stack down to around 20,000 chips.
After action was checked to Joseph Elpayaa on the flop, he fired 2,400. His opponent called, and the dealer dealt the on the turn. The first player checked, and Elpayaa bet 5,100. His opponent check-raised to 10,800 with 12,900 behind. Elpayaa moved all in, and his opponent called after letting out a bit of a sigh. He held the for trips and was up against Elpayaa's .
Elpayaa was drawing dead, and the completed the board on the river. He sent over the chips he owed to his opponent and dropped back to 13,000 in chips.
After an early-position limp, PokerNews'Chad Holloway raised all in for his last 5,000 in chips. Play folded back to the limper, and he made the call with the . Holloway was at risk holding .
No help came on the flop, turn or river for Holloway as the board ran out ace high and gave his opponent the win. According to Holloway, he can be found in the poker room playing some $5/10 Pot-Limit Omaha cash games.
flop gave Steury a leading pair of queens, but his opponent could make Broadway with any 
, or a better pair with any 
. The turn and river bricked 
, 
respectively however, and Steury took down the pot.
on the turn. The first player checked, and Elpayaa bet 5,100. His opponent check-raised to 10,800 with 12,900 behind. Elpayaa moved all in, and his opponent called after letting out a bit of a sigh. He held the 
for trips and was up against Elpayaa's 
.
completed the board on the river. He sent over the chips he owed to his opponent and dropped back to 13,000 in chips.
. Holloway was at risk holding 
.
