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It's nearly showtime for a special event in the 2009 World Series of Poker lineup, the "Champions Invitational" made-for TV event. Ceremonies involving the previous winners will delay the start of play for a short while, with either 19 or 20 previous winners expected to take part. 2004 ME champion Greg Raymer sits nearby with a healthy stack at the $40,000 "40th Anniversary" final table, though play in that will be paused for the opening ceremony here.
Today's entrants will play in perhaps the WSOP's most ceremonious event ever, witha beautiful cherry-red, vintage Corvette Stingray, and the inaugural Binion Cup -- honoring the WSOP's longtime home -- awaiting the winner. Seat assignments soon!
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Three tables will be in use at the start of play, collapsing down to two after the first two eliminations occur. The Champions Invitational will use ESPN's secondary feature table, and two special "Day 2" tables nearby -- tagged Amazon Green 146 and 147.
Today's seat assignments:
ESPN Secondary Feature Table (Table 143):
(Seat 1) Jerry Yang
(Seat 3) Phil Hellmuth
(Seat 4) Berry Johnston
(Seat 5) Doyle Brunson
(Seat 7) Peter Eastgate
(Seat 8) Tom McEvoy
(Seat 9) Jim Bechtel
Table 146:
(Seat 1) Huck Seed
(Seat 3) Amarillo Slim Preston
(Seat 4) Joe Hachem
(Seat 5) Brad Daugherty
(Seat 6) Chris Moneymaker
(Seat 8) Scotty Nguyen
(Seat 9) Chris "Jesus" Ferguson
Table 147:
(Seat 1) Jamie Gold
(Seat 3) Carlos Mortensen
(Seat 4) Dan Harrington
(Seat 5) Johnny Chan
(Seat 7) Greg Raymer
(Seat 8) Robert Varkonyi
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Defending ME champion Peter Eastgate missed the formal opening ceremonies, including a photo/video shoot featuring a champions' lineup unheard of in poker history. The erstwhile Eastgate showed up just in time for a last-second introduction as the players drift to their seats.
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Tournament of Champions
The extended photo op before play included 19 of the 20 players taking part (missing the tardy Peter Eastgate), who were joined by several Harrah's and WSOP executives for the occasion.
Said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack about the moment: "I still have a chill running through my spine. In four years of the WSOP, this is the greatest moment I've ever seen. The group here truly represents the Mt. Rushmore of poker."
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Almost before the players had settled into their seats, 2006 champion Jamie Gold was the first to exit the Champions Invitational. TD Bill Bruce looked on as Jamie caught pocket jacks to Carlos Mortensen's pocket kings, and by the time the 9-high board was complete, 9,000 of each player's chips were in the middle.
Gold busted out soon after (but still in the first orbit), when his flush draw failed to fill.
Chris Moneymaker was carded from Table 146 to 147 to balance the tables, though the next knockout will take the event down to two tables.
[user33020]
Other than the early Gold/Mortensen collision, most of today's returning champions seem to content to enjoy the moment. The ESPN crews are busy and the railbirds have surprisingly good access to the stars, with the secondary feature area -- a new set this year, built as a squared-off mini amphitheater with a row of reserved seats ringing the inside for friends, family and poker dignitaries.
As a result, the action itself has been slow. Huck Seed and Joe Hachem have chipped up to about 12,000 each at Table 146, with 1991 Brad Daugherty the likely victim, down to about 6,200.
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