There are a couple of rather tough table draws here in the tournament area at Harrah's New Orleans. The first, and probably toughest, is Table 59. It is currently home to three-time WSOP Circuit Ring winner Ray Henson (which includes a win in Event #3 $365 Pot-Limit Omaha here in NOLA); two-time ring winner Blake Barousse; WSOP bracelet winner David "ODB" Baker; and WSOP Circuit Foxwoods Main Event fifth-place finisher Ben Reason, who recently did an interview with PokerNews.
The other notable table in the room is Table 37, which houses two-time ring winner Michael "Carwash" Schneider, who won his first ring right here in NOLA last year; Maurice Hawkins, fresh off a third-place finish in Event #7 $365 No-Limit Hold'em; ring winner Cord Garcia, who is good friends with the aforementioned Reason; and the amiable Allen "Chainsaw" Kessler.
Needless to say, these are two tables to keep an eye on.
Attention players and fans, if you frequent the PokerNews Live Reporting blog, then you've probably noticed a new tab here at the World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's New Orleans. If you haven't yet, or you're new to our live coverage, then let us be the first to introduce you to the Player Updates tab powered by the PokerNews My Stack app.
You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.
Be forewarned, however, any abuse of the app will result in account suspension or termination.
We look forward to your updates here in New Orleans, and going forward into the 2013 WSOP in Las Vegas!
With a board reading , WSOP Circuit Foxwoods champ Kevin "BeL0WaB0Ve" Saul checked from early position and opened the door for his opponent on the button to bet 3,125. Saul responded with an all-in check-raise, which put the pressure on the button, who had about 12,000 behind.
The button tanked for several minutes before Saul chimed, "Just so you know, I'm going to give you a one-minute clock warning. So you have one minute before I call a clock."
About a minute passed before another player at the table actually called the clock. Tournament Director Dennis Jones made his way over and promptly informed the button that he had a minute and ten seconds to act, the latter of which would be counted down. The button literally waited until the very last second before tossing in a chip for a call.
"Full house," Saul said and tabled the . It was good as the button simply mucked and exited the tournament area.
Two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Josh Arieh led out for 900 on a flop of . One opponent raised to 2,000, a second opponent folded, and Arieh re-raised, making it 3,600. The player tank-called.
The turn was the , both gentlemen checked, and the completed the board. Arieh flicked forward 6,000, and his opponent mulled the decision over for a few seconds before mucking.
Joseph McKeehen, winner of Event #1 $365 NLHE. Photo courtesy of WSOP.
The final stop of the 2012/2013 World Series of Poker Circuit kicked off in New Orleans on Thursday, May 9, 2013. The city has been the last stop on the schedule every season dating back to 2005, and it’s no surprise to see pros and amateurs turn out in full force to chase last-minute points toward the National Championship. That was evidenced in Event #1 $365 No-Limit Hold’em, which drew 367 players and created a prize pool of $110,100.
The event attracted some big names including two-time gold bracelet winner and gold ring winner Howard “Tahoe” Andrew, who cashed for the 18th time on the WSOP Circuit. Others who cashed in the event were Bossier City Casino Champion Quan Nguyen, two-time gold ring winner Tripp Kirk and gold ring winners Josh Pender and Joshua Evans.
Another ring winner in the event was 21-year-old poker pro Joseph McKeehen, of North Wales, Pennsylvania. You may recall McKeehen as the Caesars Atlantic City Main Event champion from back in March, a victory that earned him his first ring, $174,000 in prize money and a seat into the National Championship. On Friday, May 10, McKeehen won his second gold ring this season.
McKeehen, who recently graduated from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, made it to the final table as the chip leader and never looked back. One by one his opponents fell until he was heads up again Randall Lefere of Houston, Texas. In what would be the final hand, the players got the chips in on the turn and both had a pair of aces. Lefere had the better kicked, but McKeehen got lucky and caught two pair on the river to clinch victory in less than three hours.
McKeehen claimed his second ring of the season and $24,219 in prize money.
WSOP Circuit Harrah’s New Orleans Ring Event #1 No-Limit Hold’em
We didn't catch the action, but Paul Sokoloff just took a huge hit.
When we arrived the dealer was busy taking approximately 17,000 from Sokoloff's stack to pay his opponent. Sokoloff appeared to have called a hefty bet on the river holding on a board. Unfortunately for him, his opponent tabled the nuts with the .
There are a handful of World Series of Poker bracelet winners in the field today on Day 1a of the WSOP-C Harrah's New Orleans Main Event, but few are as accomplished as Louisiana's own David "ODB" Baker.
It took Baker nearly a decade, but in 2012 he finally captured his first bracelet, taking down Event 37: $2,500 Eight-Game Mix. It's fitting that Baker earned his first bracelet in a mixed games event - including eight-game, he has cashed in eight different variants of poker at the WSOP.
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, 
. It was good as the button simply mucked and exited the tournament area.
. One opponent raised to 2,000, a second opponent folded, and Arieh re-raised, making it 3,600. The player tank-called.
, both gentlemen checked, and the 
completed the board. Arieh flicked forward 6,000, and his opponent mulled the decision over for a few seconds before mucking.
.
