Event 15 - $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Day 1 | 2009 World Series of Poker

06-06-2009 06:34 UTC-12

Day 1 Almost Ready to Start

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Dealers are setting up their tables for the 333 players already registered for the start of Event 15, the $5,000 No-Limit Hold 'em tournament.

Last year, Scott Seiver was the last man standing in the 731-person field, taking home $755,891 and his first gold bracelet. We expect today's field to grow before the end of registration.

Stay with us for all the action from today's event.

06-06-2009 07:01 UTC-12

Shuffle Up and Deal

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Cards are in the air as the first level of play gets underway. Players are starting the day with 15,000 chips and blinds of 25/50.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

06-06-2009 07:17 UTC-12

Players are Trickling In

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There are a lot of half-full tables in the early going as players continue to trickle into today's event. Some notable names we've spotted so far include,

John Juanda
Humberto Brenes
Ted Lawson
Jeremiah Smith
Steve Brecher
David "The Dragon" Pham
Alexander Kostritsyn
Bill Chen
Captain Tom Franklin
Marco Traniello
Paul Wolfe

06-06-2009 07:21 UTC-12

Juanda Loosens Up

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In what may be a new tournament record, John Juanda called for a massage therapist within the first 30 seconds of today's action.

06-06-2009 07:33 UTC-12

More Players Arriving

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The room is slowly filling up, with more recognizable players taking their seats. Some recent arrivals include:

Andy Black
Justin Bonomo
Adam Levy
Matt Graham
Jerry Yang
T.J. Cloutier
Scott Montgomery

06-06-2009 07:45 UTC-12

Vanessa Rousso Wins an Early Pot

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Vanessa Rousso limped into a pot from middle position and got raised to 225 by the player on her left. Action folded back around to Rousso, who made the call.

Rousso check-called her opponent's bet of 650 on a flop of {7-Spades}

and both players checked the {3-Hearts}

on the turn. When Rousso led out for 2,500 at the {10-Hearts}

on the river, her opponent quickly mucked his hand.

06-06-2009 07:53 UTC-12

Bell Edler Gets a Present from His Table

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Bill Edler was the last player to claim his seat at his table and walked in to find that his playing companions had all piled their official WSOP photo redemption slips on his seat.

Edler, ever the gentleman, said "Thanks for these," as he neatly folded them and slipped them into his pocket.

06-06-2009 07:58 UTC-12

Interesting Tablemates

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There are a few interesting tables shaping up as the field fills in. Some of the people playing together so far include Gavin Smith and Vanessa Rousso, Jerry Yang and Steve Brecher, and John Juanda and Scotty Nguyen.

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0