WSOP Lake Tahoe Main Event Day 1 | 2007 WSOP Circuit Event - Lake Tahoe

11-17-2007 00:27 UTC-4

By the Numbers

[user38449]

Nearing the end of the fifth level of play, there are 59 players remaining across seven tables. The average chip stack is 24,067.

11-17-2007 00:24 UTC-4

We walked up to J.C. Tran's table as he was contemplating calling an opponent's 10,000+ all-in bet. "Did you anticipate my reraise?" he asked, as he considered his decision.

After some time, Tran made the call and turned over {A-Diamonds}

; his opponent tabled pocket kings.

The board filled out {7-Spades}

and the kings held up, leaving Tran with a still-respectable 40,000 (approx.) in chips.

Tags: J.C. Tran

11-17-2007 00:10 UTC-4

Banducci Rolling

[user38449]

Players like Michael Banducci often fly under the radar in major poker tournaments, until their growing chip stacks force you to take notice.

Banducci is another player who experienced significant success during the 2007 WSOP, cashing four times in no-limit hold'em events. His best finish was a fifth-place score in a $2,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em tournament, where he took home $105,884 in prize money.

Currently, Banducci is sitting with just under 60,000 in chips and is one of the tournament's chip leaders.

Tags: Michael Banducci

11-17-2007 00:03 UTC-4

Ken Churchill Wins a Monster

[user38449]

Ken Churchill has been relatively quiet since the early rounds, but recently found a reason to get excited again after his pocket aces held up against an opponent's pocket kings in a preflop all-in confrontation.

Ken told us that the preflop action was fast and furious, as a third player in the hand told the table he folded pocket queens amidst all of the raising and reraising.

After the hand, Ken stacked up approximately 47,000 in chips.

Tags: Ken Churchill

11-16-2007 23:58 UTC-4

Binger Sends One Home

[user38449]

An opponent in middle position open-shoved for 1,800 and Michael Binger made the call from the big blind, tabling pocket sixes; his opponent showed A-9 offsuit.

The door card was a six, giving Binger a set, but the other two flop cards came A-9, meaning Binger would have to sweat four outs twice. The turn and river blanked out and Binger added a few more chips to his stack.

Binger is coming off of a phenomenal 2007 WSOP, during which he cashed a Series-best eight times (tied with Chad Brown for the top spot).

Tags: Michael Binger

11-16-2007 23:44 UTC-4

Clements Doubles . . . Again!

[user38449]

For the second time since play recommenced from dinner, Scott Clements has doubled up -- this time courtesy of Kathy Liebert.

On a board of A-J-7, Liebert held top and bottom pair, while Clements was sitting on a set of sevens. Scott led out with a 1,300 bet on the flop and Liebert raised, making it 5,300 to go. Scott then moved all in for a couple thousand more and Liebert called. The board blanked out and Clements stacked up just under 20,000 in chips with the win -- effectively coming back from the brink of elimination to a now nearly-average-sized chip stack.

Tags: Kathy Liebert Scott Clements

11-16-2007 23:37 UTC-4

Tom Schneider Eliminated

[user38449]

There will be no back-to-back WSOPC final tables for Tom Schneider this time around.

According to J.C. Tran, Schneider was eliminated just before the dinner break after he ran his A-6 into the A-Q of an opponent.

11-16-2007 23:32 UTC-4

Even Jesus Can't Win 'em All

[user38449]

On a board showing {J-Spades}

, first action was passed to Chris "Jesus" Ferguson who made it 2,500 to go; his opponent made the call.

The river brought the {Q-Diamonds}

and again the action was checked to Chris, who didn't appear to fancy the river card, prompting him to check behind. His opponent tabled {Q-Clubs}

for a rivered two pair and Chris took one last peek at his cards before tossing them face-down into the middle.

Despite the loss, Chris maintains an above-average chip stack and is currently sitting with 21,000.

Tags: Chris Ferguson

11-16-2007 23:24 UTC-4

Clements Doubles After Dinner

[user38449]

On the very first hand of play following the dinner break, Scott Clements managed to double his tournament net worth and now has 9,100 in chips.

Clements' opponent made it 1,200 to go from under the gun and Scott made the call from the small blind. The flop came {10-Clubs}

and Scott checked the first action to his opponent, who quickly waved his arm through the air, motioning that he was putting Scott all in.

Clements tabled the {8-Clubs}