39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event Day 1d | 2008 World Series of Poker

07-06-2008 11:30 UTC-8

The Champ Is Here!

Today's field includes none other than the 2007 WSOP Main Event winner and defending champion Jerry Yang.

Last year Jerry overcame 6,357 other players to take down the biggest prize in poker and $8.25 million in cash.

Jerry hasn't let fame and fortune go to his head, maintaining his humility as he carried the honor of poker's world champion for the past 12 months.

Jerry is back today to try and do it all over again this year, but it won't be easy, as the cameras swarm his table with all eyes centered on him.

Tags: Jerry Yang

07-06-2008 11:34 UTC-8

Notables in Brasilia

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Donnie Peters

Amir Vahedi (event #29) looking to do well on day 1d, cigar and all

The Brasilia room is packed full today. Some of the notable names in the field are:

Ryan Young
Tim Vance
Lou Esposito
Sully Erna
Eskimo Clark
Jose Canseco
Amir Vahedi
Phil Gordon
Erik Cajelais
David Williams
Hevad Khan

There are still a bunch of empty seats that should be filled in soon enough. Some of the big pros tend to arrive late to the event. We'll keep you posted as to when they show up.

07-06-2008 11:36 UTC-8

Out in the Boonies

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Here's a small list of players who have begun the day in the Poker Room and/or Buzio's Seafood Restaurant.

Paul Magriel
Ian Johns
Allen Le
Steve Billirakis
'Hollywood' Dave Stann
Leif Force
David Oppenheim
Robert Williamson III

07-06-2008 11:37 UTC-8

"It's Time For the Main Event of the Evening!"

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Everyone had to sweat the desert heat on their way in to the Rio today, but there are a couple of "Icemen" here today who hope to put the freeze on their fellow opponents.

Immediately after he found his seat, we spotted Teddy "The Iceman" Monroe, but he may have some competition that is more fierce than he was prepared for.

Over in the ESPN Featured Table area, another man of the cold, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell of UFC fame is looking to put his table in a headlock.

We're not sure who would win in a cage fight between the two Icemen, but we know who would announce it. Just a couple tables over from Teddy sits "the veteran voice of the octagon," Bruce Buffer, the main ring announcer of UFC. In the words of Buffer, "We are liiiiiiiive" here in the Amazon Room and are keenly interested in how these three players in particular will fare.

07-06-2008 11:38 UTC-8

Who's in the Blue Section?

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Seated right in front of our media table, at Blue #1, is none other than Howard Lederer. Other notables we've spotted in Blue include Steve Dannenmann, Jeff Shulman, Maria Ho, John "the Razor" Phan, Allen Cunningham, and Men "the Master" Nguyen. It's early yet -- we expect that the section will fill out a bit more in the next hour or two.

07-06-2008 11:40 UTC-8

2001 Main Event Champion Carlos Mortensen

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Another superstar and world champion in today's field is the 2001 WSOP Main Event champion, Carlos Mortensen.

With two WSOP bracelets, 14 WSOP cashes, two WPT titles, and over $8.5 million in tournament earnings, Carlos is one of the most respected and experienced players in today's field.

Tags: Carlos Mortensen

07-06-2008 11:41 UTC-8

Poker Vs. Tennis

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There appear to be tennis fans in the room today, and plenty of them are being distracted by the Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal fifth set taking place today.

This marks the third time that Federer and Nadal will do battle at Wimbledon, and history appears to be in the making. So much so, that Gus Hansen had been more focused on the game than his own game, turning in his seat to face the televisions before ultimately deciding to leave his table and focus his attention solely on the game.

He's walked back to his table occasionally, just to check on things, but he is certainly more interested in tennis right now than poker.

07-06-2008 11:41 UTC-8

Self-Policing

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Patrick Bruel just had a bit of misfortune fall his way. Holding pocket tens, he got another shorter-stacked player to put all of his chips in the middle after a 10-5-5 flop. His opponent had pocket jacks.

Alas, a jack fell on the turn, and Bruel has quickly fallen down to 6,000.

When the other player yelled out "There is a God!" after winning, someone from a nearby table cried "Excessive celebrating!" Seems most players are aware of the so-called "Hevad Khan" rule.

Tags: Patrick Bruel

07-06-2008 11:44 UTC-8

Mortensen Off To Strong Start

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We caught the action on the turn on a board of {A-Spades}

with an under-the-gun player leading out with a bet of 800. Carlos Mortensen then raised to 2,500 and his opponent made the call.

The river was the {10-Hearts}

and it was checked to Mortensen, who fired out 5,000 with his opponent making the call.

Mortensen tabled {9-Clubs}

for a set of nines as his opponent cringed and showed {A-Diamonds}

for two pair. Mortensen is off to a great start and is up to 29,000 chips.

Tags: Carlos Mortensen

07-06-2008 11:44 UTC-8

We Mean NO Excessive Celebration

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Today's start of day 1d was a great example of Harrah's new policy against excessive celebration. After "shuffle up and deal" was announced, a gentleman over on Table 3 stood up in his chair and clashed a set of cymbals that he brought with him. Before he could even get down from the chair, three floormen and one floorwoman were at his chair. The gentleman was issued a warning and was told that if he brought them out again, he would be penalized.

Excessive celebration will not be tolerated this year.