Kasra Khodayarkhani has gotten off to a nice start here on Day 1a of the World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's New Orleans Main Event, and currently sits with over 70,000 chips. The Plano, Texas native has cashed six times on the circuit in 2013 alone, with his deepest run coming in the Choctaw Main Event.
Khodayarkhani finished 15th, earning $20,332, and now has a total of $75,000 in career tournament earnings.
Level: 11
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 100
2012 World Series of Poker bracelet winner Nick Jivkov opened to 1,600 in middle position, Aaron Massey three-bet to 3,900 near the button, and the action folded back to the Chicagoan, who called.
The dealer fanned 
, Jivkov checked, and Massey tossed out 3,600. Jivkov tank-called.
The turn was the 
, both players checked, and the 
completed the board. The two knuckled again. Jivkov showed 
for a pair of jacks, and Massey mucked his hand.
Last year Andrew Nguyen did quite well here at Harrah's New Orleans when he finished runner-up to Justin Truesdell in this very tournament. Despite not claiming victory, Nguyen did lock up a $160,000 payday courtesy of a heads-up deal.
Nguyen is looking to repeat his success and has been going strong all day, that is until he ran into Jonathan Tamayo. The two are seated side by side over at Table 40 and recently clashed in a blind-versus-blind battle. It happened when action folded around to Tamayo in the small blind and he moved all in for 15,900. Nguyen squeezed out his cards and then made a quick call.
Nguyen: 
Tamayo: 
Nguyen got it in with the best hand, but he wouldn't come out with it as the board ran out 
. Tamayo tripped up and doubled on the hand.
Shane Smith moved all in for 11,500 on a flop of 
. An opponent on his direct left raised, putting out a stack of yellow T1,000 chips, and Pedro Rios called all in for 24,500 on his direct left.
Smith: 
Opponent: 
Rios: 
Smith's set held as the turn and river came 
, 
respectively, and he tripled up to around 40,000 chips. Rios won the side pot, and now sits with around 26,000 chips.
Zal Irani had an opponent all in and at risk preflop holding 
. His opponent was dominated holding 
, but was saved when the river brought the man with the ax (
).
Irani, who would've been over 70,000 chips, dropped down to 40,000, while his opponent doubled to around 30,000.
Level: 10
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 100
Level 9 is in the books and that means it's time for the one-hour dinner break during which time the tournament staff will be racing off the green T25 chips. We expect many of the players will head out to the snack stand for some dirty rice or jambalaya, or of course there is always the world famous Mother's just down the street. Whatever the case, be back here in 60 minutes.
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