Event 9 - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em / Six-Handed Day 1 | 2008 World Series of Poker

06-05-2008 02:49 UTC-7

Greetings From Las Vegas!

[user33020]

It's a new day in Las Vegas, one designed for the short-handed specialists. Beginning at noon today is Event #9, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em / Six-Handed, a three-day event where aggressive play often reaps the greatest rewards. The 2007 edition of this event drew 1,427 events and was won by Jason Warner, who collected $481,698 for his win.

Check back throughout the day for the latest updates from the PokerNews Live Reporting team.

06-05-2008 11:47 UTC-7

The Doors Open

[user75032]

With strains of Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" floating through the room, the doors to the Amazon Room open and players begin to take their seats for today's event. As has been the case with several other events already this year, there are not enough tables in the Blue and Orange sections of the Amazon Room to accomodate the size of the field. The Tropical Room across the hallway is being used as an overflow room, as is the area outside of Buzio's seafood restaurant down the hall and the Rio poker room (a solid 10-minute walk from the Amazon Room).

06-05-2008 12:02 UTC-7

Play To Begin Soon

[user40108]

Most players are seated and the constant drone made by hundreds of players shuffling chips has already begun. The music is still playing on the P.A. system, a nice new touch to this year's World Series of Poker. The punctual players have been rocking to such artists as Steppenwolf, Nelly, Las Vegas' own Panic! at the Disco, and the aforementioned Wild Cherry among others. Play should begin momentarily, stay with us.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

06-05-2008 12:05 UTC-7

Shuffle Up and Deal!

[user40108]

The cards are in the air.

06-05-2008 12:07 UTC-7

Capped Event

[user75032]

Tournament Director Jack Effel just informed the room that registration is closed and that the tournament is sold out. That would explain why so much overflow space is in use -- that, and the fact that every table is being played six-handed.

Tags: Jack Effel

06-05-2008 12:12 UTC-7

Familiar Faces

[user75032]

As is to be expected for a no-limit hold'em event (and one in which aggression is rewarded even more than normal), there are plenty of "name" players in today's field. In the first five minutes of play, we've already spottted: Jon Friedberg; Antonio "the Magician" Esfandiari; the runner-up in Event #2, James Akenhead; new bracelet winner Erick Lindgren; John Juanda; Vanessa Selbst; Roy Winston; Andy Black; Justin Bonomo; Jamie Gold; Alexander Kostritsyn; Ted Lawson; Men Nguyen; the Italian Pirate, Max Pescatori; Joe Sebok; Barry Shulman; Jennifer Tilly; and David Williams.

Tags: Erick Lindgren

06-05-2008 12:14 UTC-7

More Notables

[user40108]

What no-limit event would be complete without Hoyt Corkins, Bill Edler, Steve Wong, Ryan Young, Jordan Morgan, Andy Black, Alex Jacob, Huck Seed, or Nam Le?

06-05-2008 12:15 UTC-7

Esfandiari Eliminated

[user75032]

No magic tricks for the Magician today. Antonio Esfandiari ran his {A-?}

into someone else's aces and did not improve. His last 25 chips went in on the next hand, holding {Q-Hearts}

. His opponent held {A-Diamonds}

. Neither player improved on a board of {10-Clubs}

. Esfandiari is out.

Tags: Antonio Esfandiari

06-05-2008 12:29 UTC-7

"Oops...I'm Over There"

[user40108]

It was about five minutes into the tournament when young gun Alex Jacob wandered into the tournament area and sat down in the Amazon Room. Jacob pulled up a chair at table blue #1 - seat#1 and play continued as normal. About ten minutes later, another gentleman strolled in, looked around curiously for his seat, then strolled up behind Jacob and said "I think you're in my seat." He showed Jacob his registration card and Jacob double checked his own. "Oops...I'm over there," said an embarrassed Jacob, pointing to adjacent table #6. A floor was called to resolve the issue. The floorman asked, "Did you play a hand?" Jacob responded, "I stole the blinds once." The floorman had Jacob pick up his chips and head for his assigned seat. The rightful owner of table #1 - seat #1 sat down, and play continued.

Tags: Alex Jacob