2009 World Series of Poker

Event 31 - $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
Day: 1
123
Event Info

2009 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Prize
$247,033
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Entries
770
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0

Mixed Games Bonanza

[user75032]
[user75032]
It's mixed games day at the Rio Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Event 31, $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. kicks off today at 5pm. Ever since the WSOP introduced the prestigious $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament in 2006, mixed games have gained renewed popularity as one of the toughest tests of a poker player's mettle.

We're told by tournament staff that, although this tournament is slated to kick off in the Brasilia Room, they anticipate having some overflow back into the Amazon Room (using tables that have already been broken in Event 30, $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha). That means we could be seeing a sizable field for a type of poker that just a few years ago seemed destined for the junk bin.

This could also be a tune-up for some of the high rollers who are expected to buy into the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. in a little more than a week. We'll let you know who's here when play kicks off at 5pm local time. See you then!

Level: 1

Blinds: 0/0

Ante: 0

First Sweep

[user75032]
[user75032]
It's an impressive turnout today for this $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event. We're in three quadrants of the Brasilia Room with spillover into the Miranda Room. Here's a sampling (but not exhaustive list) of who we've spotted so far:

Doug Lee
Bryan Micon
Bryan Devonshire
Maria Ho
Tom Schneider
Gavin Griffin
Shirley Rosario
Nikolay Evdakov
Nick Frangos
Marcel Luske
Ylon Schwartz
Mike Sexton
Shawn Sheikhan
Tom McEvoy
Vanessa Rousso
Mel Judah
Berry Johnston
Mimi Tran
Barbara Enright

And Mike Matusow just showed up to take the 8-seat at Table 245, a table at which Allen Kessler and Justin Bonomo are already seated. Matusow is now bellowing (and we do mean bellowing) for a floor to Table 245. Developing...

We'd Take Her Seat Too

[user75032]
[user75032]
"This idiot sat at the wrong table," Mike Matusow told the floor supervisor who finally appeared at Table 245. Matusow pointed at Allen Kessler in the 5-seat. Shannon Elizabeth had produced an entry ticket which, sure enough, read Table 245, Seat 5. Kessler was supposed to be at Table 241, Seat 5, one table away.

Kessler seemed more than happy to change tables to his correct table, as "Miami" John Cernuto, Justin Bonomo and Matusow were all on his left, making Table 245 one of the tougher draws in the room. The supervisor ruled that Kessler should stay and Elizabeth should move tables.

"That's not the rule," protested Matusow. A second floor was summoned who gave the proper ruling -- that Kessler should relocate to his correct table and allow Elizabeth to take her assigned seat. Given the stiffness of the competition at Table 245, this didn't thrill Elizabeth.

"I might as well just withdraw now," she joked.

Tags: Allen KesslerMike MatusowShannon Elizabeth

Brushing Up on the Basics

[user75032]
[user75032]
It's safe to say that, with hold'em the king of poker these days, many of the dealers assembled for the World Series of Poker have spent little time dealing any other game, especially stud variants. That may explain this recent announcement from the floor.

"Dealers, listen up. Dealer School 101. In the stud games, you start the deal to the 1-seat, not to the left of the button. Thank you."

The other basic point that the dealers must remember this afternoon is to change the game every eight hands.

More Arrivals

[user75032]
[user75032]
The stacks for the 4-seat and the 8-seat started in the well at each table. These players have recently joined the party and taken one of those seats at various tables:

Greg Raymer
Daniel Negreanu
Chau Giang
Bill Edler
Greg Pappas
Jean Robert Bellande
Jason Newitt
Markus Golston
Archie Karas
David Bach
Ivan Demidov
Katja Thater
Perry Friedman
David Pham

We'd also be remiss not to point out two of PokerNews' own are in the field: photographer Felipe Pacheco and the .com site editor-in-chief, Haley Hintze.

Level: 2

Blinds: 0/0

Ante: 0

The 700 Club

[user75032]
[user75032]
There's still an hour left in late registration, and already the number of entrants for this event has exceeded 700. The current tally is 706; tournament staff gave me their predictions (prior to Level 1) of about 800 runners total. We probably won't get there but 750 is a real possibility.

Sartorial Notes

[user75032]
[user75032]
The temperature in the Brasilia Room and Amazon Room fluctuates from day to day. Today's it is quite cold in the Brasilia Room -- no surprise to see many people wearing long sleeves.

Scattered amongst all of those hoodies, fleeces and long-sleeved shirts are some more colorful outfits. We spotted a black "kidrobot" sweatshirt festooned with large pink, blue and yellow pills; a player wearing green hat that reads "The Shamrock Kid" and a white necktie replete with various playing cards; and of course Marcel Luske with his trademark upside-down sunglasses.

Perhaps the most interesting outfit belongs to an older gentleman in the back left corner of Brasilia. He's wearing a straw hat with a pair of black fuzzy dice attached to the brim and a green and yellow alligator (dragon?) perched on top. About a half dozen papier-mache roses are stuffed into each of his shirt pockets and into a backpack he has on the floor behind his seat.

Photos forthcoming.
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