2009 World Series of Poker

The $1,000 Senior's Event proved more popular than tournament organizers expected, with 2,707 players anteing up for a chance at a WSOP bracelet.

Unlike most other massive fields at this year's WSOP, play in this event was slow and steady rather than fast and furious. Most players tried to limp into as many pots as possible, hoping to connect on a cheap flop. Three betting preflop was practically unseen.

Despite the slow pace, more than 2,300 players found themselves heading to the rail before the end of the day. Some notable players who won't be returning tomorrow include Amarillo Slim Preston, Eddy Scharf, Michael Craig, Humberto Brenes, and former senator and current PPA chairman, Al D'Amato.

A few name players, including Berry Johnston, Barbara Enright and Minneapolis Jim Meehan will be among the 402 returning seniors when play resumes at 2PM.

When an opponent moved all in for 10,000, Chuck Simon had the big stack at the table and made the call.

Simon showed 9-9 against his opponent's ace-6 off suit, and solidified his lead on a flop of jack-9-4. A 6 on the turn changed nothing, and the case 9 on the river sealed the deal and gave Simon the end of day chip lead with 77,000.

When a player in early position raised to 3,000, Gary Berbiglia reraised all in for 7,400. He got the call and the hands were opened.

Berbiglia:
Opponent:

A board of didn't provide any type of sweat, and Berbiglia got a well-timed double up to 15,000.

With just a few hands left in the night's play, short stacks are taking their last shots at doubling up.

In one recent hand, the player on the button pushed for his last 6,800 and got called by a limper in early position.

The limper showed while the button showed . A board of provided no help, and the short stack ended a very long day.

Play is winding down and the seniors will complete seven more hands before bagging and tagging their chips for the night.

Rick Gaydosik pushed his last 3,500 into the pot and got one caller.

Gaydosik:
Opponent:

Gaydosik fell behind on a flop of , but quickly regained the lead when he spiked the on the turn. When the river failed to bring another ace, Gaydosik kept his dream alive with a stack of 7,400.

It's not as if this was a wildly aggressive field at the outset, but the last few minutes of play in today's Seniors event have been very tight.

Short stacks are trying their best not to push without anything resembling live cards while the bigger stacks are sitting tight, trying to avoid giving any unnecessary double ups. With that in mind, most pots are being won with just simple preflop raises from anywhere in position against the blinds.

George Kozel is playing his first WSOP event and, if he keeps running like this, he'll be back for more.

Kozel told us he was down to his last 8,000 when he pushed all in with after two clubs landed on the flop. He got two calls, both by players with over-pairs, and scooped the pot after hitting his flush on the river.

That hand bumped his stack to 24,000 and set up his next double up when, two hands later, he got all in pre with kings vs. his opponent's queens. When the kings held, Kozel racked up more chips, taking his stack to a solid 54,000.

Charlie Brown raised to 2,500 and was reraised to 7,000 from the button. Brown shoved, the button called, and the hands were shown.

Brown:
Button:

Unlike his comic book counterpart, Brown didn't take the worst of the hand as the door card on a flop of gave him a set. He turned the house with the on the turn and then faded his opponent's remaining three outs to take the pot and double up his stack.