[user38449]
Unless you work in a Casino or have the cash to afford a $40,000 buy-in poker tournament, you've likely been enjoying the 2009 World Series of Poker from the sidelines. That will change this afternoon when Event 3 kicks off at 12:00 noon local time, giving the Average Joe (or Jody) a chance to get in on the action.
The event is a $1,500 buy-in Omaha 8-or-better tournament, expected to attract an assortment of rounders from all over the globe. Last year's inaugural Omaha 8-or-better event drew 832 entrants and was won by Thang Luu of Las Veags, NV ($243,342).
Stay tuned for all the nut lows and chopped pots, but try not to get quartered! The cards will be in the air shortly.
donpeters
The majority of the players have already settled in their seats. The action is going to begin in just a few short minutes and as of right now, there are over 700 players registered. Surely, that number will grow.
Each player begins the tournament with a increase in chips from the previous year, with 4,500. The plan is to play through 10 levels today before bagging everything up.
donpeters
Amongst the entrants in today's field are Bob Lauria, Scott Clements, Roy Winston, and Eric Froelich. Right now, the count stands at 819 players total.
donpeters
Jeff Madsen
More and more players are filing into the room and here's a hefty list of them.
Marcel Luske
Brett Richey
Steve Wong
Men "The Master" Nguyen
Mel Judah
Mickey Appleman Jeff Madsen
Allie Prescott
Farzad Rouhani
Bryan Devonshire Erick Lindgren
Fabrice Soulier
Alex Gomes
Tony Cousineau
Bill Edler
Jason Newberger
Jan von Halle
Mike "The Mouth" Matusow
John Juanda
Sandra Naujoks Tom Schneider
Lindgren, Schneider, and Madsen represent the past three winners of the WSOP Player of the Year Award.
[user108095]
Part of today's tourney is being played over in the Brasilia Room. Some of the name players sitting across the hall include Dutch Boyd, Chino Rheem, Kristy Gazes, Daniel Negreanu, Lee Watkinson, Matt Savage, Ted Lawson, and Layne Flack.
donpeters
Tom Schneider
The field has grown to 884 players at the current time, surpassing last year's amount. Here are some more big names that have trickled in.
Tom Schneider
Chad Brown
John Phan
Jonathan Little
Jordan Rich
Will "The Thrill" Failla
Esther "E-Tay" Taylor
Jean-Robert Bellande
donpeters
You might remember Justin Phillips from last year's WSOP Main Event for a couple of reasons. For one, he was loud and boisterous while wearing a wife beater all tournament long, almost yelling whenever he spoke. He also got extremely excited when actor and amateur player Ray Romano was seated at his table. Or maybe you remember him for besting quads aces with his royal flush in the Main Event.
Whatever it is, Phillips is back here at the World Series, as loud and talkative as ever. He's sporting a black wife beater this year and is seated with former Aussie Millions Champion Alexander Kostritsyn. Phillips has seemed to take a liking to Kostritsyn, chatting it up with him the most thus far.
Asked what he thinks of today's event, Phillips said he's more of a PLO player than a Limit player, but he figures today's event is a good chance at a bracelet.
We're glad to see he's still as confident as ever.
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