On our latest pass through the room we were surprised to see two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Andy Frankenberger in the field. "It's a nice two-hour drive and it's nice weather outside," the New Yorker told us when asked what inspired him to make the trek.
Also seated at the late registration tables is the gorgeous Jamie Kerstetter, who was recently featured in PokerNews' popular Online Chat series, and the Massey Brothers—Ralph and Aaron. The former brother place second in Event $1,125 No-Limit Hold'em for $29,993 earlier in this series, while the latter won his second ring in Event #8 $560 Six-Handed NLHE for $24,857.
They keep opening more tables here at Foxwoods as players continue to arrive. The overall head count already has exceeded 300 for this first Day 1 flight as we approach the end of the second 40-minute level.
They'll be playing through nine levels for this Day 1a flight, with Day 1b and another big wave of players coming later at 5 p.m.
They keep opening more tables here at Foxwoods as players continue to arrive. The overall head count already has exceeded 300 for this first Day 1 flight as we approach the end of the second 40-minute level.
They'll be playing through nine levels for Day 1a, with Day 1b and another big wave of players coming later at 5 p.m.
Following a 4x raise to 400 from under the gun, it folded back around to Mike Frazin in the small blind who checked his cards then called the raise. The big blind folded, and the two remaining players saw the flop come .
Both checked, then after the turn Frazin fired 600 and his opponent called. The river then brought the and a bet of 1,100 from Frazin. This time his opponent raised him to 3,200, and after just a brief pause Frazin called.
The UTG player flipped over his hand — . "Aces up," said the dealer, and all looked back across the table as Frazin tabled his hand. "Set of fives," was the call, as Frazin had to take the chips.
Every casino has a laundry list of regular players, but few are as long as that of Foxwoods. After all, what would you expect from the East Coast's largest poker room. Needless to say, many of the locals are taking their shot at WSOP glory here today. Here are just a few we spotted scattered about the room:
Pete Campo of Waterford, Connecticut is no stranger to poker. He has amassed $373,545 in career tournament earnings, which includes a 20th-place finish in the 2013 Foxwoods Poker Classic $2,325 Main Event last month for $4,806. Among Campo’s other notable accomplishments are a 292nd-place finish in the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event for $24,365; a victory in a $500 no-limit hold’em event at the 2009 WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City for $41,080; and 3rd in the 2010 Mega Stack Challenge XVI $1,500 NLHE here at Foxwoods for $22,795.
Another Foxwoods regular in today’s field is Bobby Corcione, who you may recall went deep in the 2012 WSOP Main Event—he ultimately finished in 21st place for $294,601. While that was by far the biggest score of his career and accounts for more than half his $496,593 in career earnings, he also has a few victories on his résumé including in the 2011 Foxwoods Poker Classic $200 NLHE for $6,000; Mega Stack Challenge XX $600 NLHE back in May of 2011 for $26,887; and in a $500 NLHE Event in the 2011 Fall Showdown in Uncasville. Corcione hails from Bellingham, Massachusetts.
Last and certainly least (as far as tournament earnings are concerned) is Ronnie Pease of Glastonbury, Connecticut. He has $169,077 in career earnings with the vast majority of that coming in 2011 when he finished runner-up to Phillip Reed here at Mashantucket in the Foxwoods Poker Classic $2,325 Main Event for $108,295. That event attracted 284 runners and created a prize pool of $640,490.
Ross Santos — a familiar face here at Foxwoods — was just involved in a minor skirmish with Victor Ramdin, sitting to Santos's left. Following a flop of , Ramdin check-called a bet from Santos, then both checked down the turn and river. Santos then showed and Ramdin tossed his cards dealerward.
Santos is looking to add yet another Foxwoods cash to the long list of scores he's compiled here over the last few years.
While Santos has no victories yet on his resume he's made numerous final tables in various Foxwoods events plus a few more at nearby Mohegan Sun. His biggest score to date was a $46,937 cash for finishing seventh in the Foxwoods Mega Stack Challenge XIII in 2009.
We saw another family pot unfold over on Table 5 just now, with several limpers including the small blind. Allen Kessler, sporting his Ivey Poker patch as a relatively new member of the team, checked his cards in the big blind and tapped the felt, meaning five players saw the flop come .
All checked, then the turn brought the . The small blind checked, Kessler fired 250, and a couple of players behind him stuck around. The river brought the and a quick bet of 450 by Kessler.
This time just one opponent called, and Kessler turned over for the straight. His opponent mucked, and Kessler scooped the pot as he begins his quest for a third WSOP Circuit ring.
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turn Frazin fired 600 and his opponent called. The river then brought the 
and a bet of 1,100 from Frazin. This time his opponent raised him to 3,200, and after just a brief pause Frazin called.
to take the chips.
turn and 
river. Santos then showed 
and Ramdin tossed his cards dealerward.
.
and a quick bet of 450 by Kessler.
for the straight. His opponent mucked, and Kessler scooped the pot as he begins his quest for a third WSOP Circuit ring.
