For the first two hours of this tournament, things seemed almost... serene inside the Amazon Room. Just a low hum of nervous voices, the clattering of chips, and the occasional cry of "Seat open!" With approximately 1250 players starting their Main Event today, the 230-table room wasn't even filled to capacity.
Then... they let the spectators in.
The main aisles that divide the room into four quadrants are now completely clogged with railbirds. Wives sweating their husbands, friends taking snapshots of their homegame buddies who won seats, mothers and fathers sweating their sons and daughters. And believe it or not, security hasn't even let everyone in yet. There is still a line about 300 deep outside the door.
After just three hours of play, we believe we've found the current chip leader. Nestor Martinez is currently sitting on a stack of 93,500. Players in the Main Event started with just 20,000 in chips, so Martinez is up almost five times the starting stack.
On a flop of and with 12K in the pot, Morgan Machina fired out 9,500. His opponent went into the tank for a few minutes before he folded Q-Q face up. Machina flipped over A-A as he scooped the pot. Machina increased his stack to 41,000.
Marco Traniello
Marco Traniello's Main Event came to an early end this year, as his pocket kings were cracked by when his opponent rivered a club flush.
Traniello had another strong World Series this year, a trend for him since his strong tournament poker debut at the 2005 WSOP. (Traniello had seven cashes and a final table that year.)
At this year's Series, Traniello reached three final tables, adding over $190,000 to his career WSOP earnings. His Series was highlighted by a fifth-place finish in Event #50 ($10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha).
Hilbert Shirey
On a board of , Hilbert Shirey moved all in. A player in Seat 1 insta-called with . Shirey flipped over for an open-ended straight draw. The river was the and Shirey made his straight and the player in Seat 1 was eliminated.
Tony Cousineau was in a hand with one opponent. Cousineau had and the board came . Cousineau took the pot with his set of fours and his opponent mucked his cards. After the hand, Cousineau had 24,000.
After limping into a pot with 6-9 offsuit David Lerner called a 1,200 raise from a player in late position. The 8-7-10 flop was a rather a good one for Lerner, as it gave him a straight. The money all went in the middle after a five came on the turn and Lerner's opponent turned over pocket Kings and was drawing dead.
As Lerner stood up and celebrated his big win Ian Woodley congratulated Lerner for his "donkey" play. And Lerner replied by chanting, "Donkey donkey donkey!" over and over again. Lerner now has 37,000.
Nestor Martinez, who we just reported as our emerging chip leader, just lost more than half of his stack to an opponent.
Board:
With the pot already at 20,000, Nestor Martinez found himself calling an all-in by Brock Parker on the turn. Parker had moved all-in for over 35,000. Martinez showed while Parker showed . Parker's set against Martinez's two-pair held up on the river and Parker is now at 90,500.
With the board showing on the turn, Josh Arieh bets, his opponent raises, and Arieh moves all in. His opponent calls with -- top pair and a flush draw. Arieh shows 6-6, and he has the lead with a set.
The river card? The . Arieh's great hand is reduced to nothing as his opponent rivers the flush. Josh Arieh is eliminated from the main event.
and with 12K in the pot, Morgan Machina fired out 9,500. His opponent went into the tank for a few minutes before he folded Q-Q face up. Machina flipped over A-A as he scooped the pot. Machina increased his stack to 41,000.
when his opponent rivered a club flush.
, Hilbert Shirey moved all in. A player in Seat 1 insta-called with 
for an open-ended straight draw. The river was the 
and Shirey made his straight and the player in Seat 1 was eliminated.
and the board came 
. Cousineau took the pot with his set of fours and his opponent mucked his cards. After the hand, Cousineau had 24,000.
while Parker showed 
. Parker's set against Martinez's two-pair held up on the river and Parker is now at 90,500.
on the turn, Josh Arieh bets, his opponent raises, and Arieh moves all in. His opponent calls with 
-- top pair and a flush draw. Arieh shows 6-6, and he has the lead with a set. 
