Event 21 - $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1 | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-11-2008 03:02 UTC-7

Noon Freezeout in the Desert

[user33020]

James 'mig.com' Mackey claimed this event in 2007

Join us at noon on Wednesday for an event sure to draw a powerful, high-profile field. It's Event #21, $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em, and it should generate one of the largest prize purses in the early part of this year's WSOP.

In 2007, James"mig.com" Mackey topped 639 other entrants to take down the $730,740 first-place prize. Mackey is expected to be on hand to defend his title in the event.

Tags: James Mackey

06-11-2008 12:01 UTC-7

Shuffle Up and Deal

[user37786]

We're starting at 12pm sharp today. The players have taken their seats, Tournament Director Jack Effel has announced the rules and regulations, and we've heard the call of "Shuffle Up and Deal".

06-11-2008 12:25 UTC-7

Tilly Builds Early

[user38971]

Jennifer Tilly called to see a flop along with a player under the gun and both the blinds. The flop fell {A-Diamonds}

and the under-the-gun player led out for 250. Tilly called and both the blinds folded. The turn brought the {A-Spades}

and the player under the gun fired 500 into the pot, and Tilly raised to 1,500. Her opponent called and the river brought the {7-Diamonds}

. Her opponent checked and Tilly led out for another 1,500, which her opponent called. He turned over A-Q for three of a kind while Tilly showed {A-Hearts}

for the boat. Earning chips early, Tilly's already up to 15,000.

Tags: Jennifer Tilly

06-11-2008 12:28 UTC-7

Walking through the Field

[user37786]

Layne Flack and Terrence Chan are sitting next to each other at Table #8, and Minh Ly and Erik Seidel are both seated at Table #39. Dutch Boyd and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier are both at Table #16, and Liz Lieu and Andy Black are both at Table #44.

Tags: Dutch Boyd Erik Seidel Layne Flack Minh Ly Terrance Chan

06-11-2008 12:29 UTC-7

Lieu Folds Top Pair

[user38971]

On a board of {A-Spades}

Liz Lieu led out for 450 after Mark Newhouse checked his option from the small blind. Newhouse check-raised to 1,100 and Lieu bumped it to 3,000. Newhouse moved all in for around 6,000 and Lieu folded.

"That was interesting," said Andy Black after the hand.

"That was a good bluff," Lieu told Newhouse. "Made me fold a pair of aces."

Tags: Liz Lieu Mark Newhouse

06-11-2008 12:30 UTC-7

Tough Table

[user37786]

In a $5,000 event you'd expect the field to be loaded with big names and that some of those big names would congregate at certain tables. One of those tables is #19, where Allen Cunningham, Lee Watkinson and T.J. Cloutier are battling it out.

Tags: Allen Cunningham Lee Watkinson T.J. Cloutier

06-11-2008 12:36 UTC-7

Other Big Names

[user37786]

Antonio Esfandiari is playing today, as are Shane "Shaniac" Schleger and Jimmy "Gobboboy" Fricke. Ryan Daut and Sorel Mizzi are seated at the same table, as are Alex Jacob and Rolf Slotboom. Also in the field today are Phil Laak, Scott Freeman, Jonathan Little, and Roy Winston.

06-11-2008 12:40 UTC-7

Blind Action for Smith

[user38971]

From the button, Gavin Smith announced as the hand started "I have the button, so I'll have to blind raise," to which Jeff Madsen, seated in middle position, fired 1,200 into the pot first. Another player called Madsen's raise and Gavin bumped it up to 4,200. Both Madsen and the other player folded to Gavin, who turned over pocket kings.

"You really screwed up my action when I say I'm gonna blind raise and have pocket kings," Gavin told Madsen.

"I'm gonna screw up your action all day," Madsen joked.

Tags: Gavin Smith Jeff Madsen

06-11-2008 12:41 UTC-7

Rules are Rules

[user37786]

Several players arrived late to their tables, including Nenad Medic, Eric Froehlich, and Vanessa Rousso. Another late arrival was Johnny Chan, who took his seat next to Amit Makhija and was settling in when the dealer barked, "I need to see your I.D., please." The poster of Chan on the back wall of the Amazon Room is not a legal form of identification.

Tags: Johnny Chan

06-11-2008 12:43 UTC-7

Bad Way to Start

[user38971]

Thomas Wahlroos arrived a little late this afternoon and believed he had caught a player bluffing on the river. Wahlroos told us he knew the player was bluffing and called his river raise with A-7. Wahlroos was right that his opponent didn't have a pair, but did have A-Q to take the pot down with a better kicker.

"Bad way to start," Wahlroos told us. "Called off a bluff with the worst hand."

Tags: Thomas Wahlroos