Event 55 - $2,500 Limit Deuce to Seven Triple Draw Day 1 | 2009 World Series of Poker

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

06-29-2009 13:14 UTC-12

Nothing Easy at 193

[user66118]

Table 193 is filling up, and they're finally playing poker. Realizing one of the drawbacks of joining late, Gioi Luong and Sam Grizzle have some formidable company over there now. They are five-handed, and the other three seats are occupied by Nam Le, Robert Williamson III, and C.K. Hua.

We can't wait to see who'll fill that final chair.

06-29-2009 13:13 UTC-12

Chino and Gavin Tangling

[user66118]

We pick up the action on the second draw at the Table of Fun. Gavin Smith drew one, and he was heads up against Chino Rheem who stood pat. Smith checked and called a bet from Rheem.

On the final draw, Rheem elected to take a card while Smith was the one who stood pat. Gavin led out this time, and Rheem flat-called. "Number two," Chino said, and he proved it by tabling 7-6-4-3-2. Smith flashed his eight low and mucked, and Rheem let on that he had caught his four on the final draw.

Tags: Chino Rheem Gavin Smith

06-29-2009 13:05 UTC-12

Opening More Tables

[user66118]

Dennis Phillips and John Phan have both taken a seat at Table 201, and they're waiting for another two players before they get going. The same is true at the adjacent Table 193 where Gioi Luong and Sam Grizzle are awaiting players before they can start playing.

The clock shows 225 players now registered.

06-29-2009 13:03 UTC-12

Chen Loses a Small Battle

[user66118]

In a battle of the blinds, Bill Chen completed from the small, and his opponent tapped the table for a free draw from the big. Chen took three and the big blind took four cards, after which Chen made a bet and was called.

Each player drew one card on the second draw, with Chen check-calling a bet this time. He would need to draw one more while his opponent stood pat. On the final betting round, both men checked. Chen showed a J-7 low, but it was no good against the big blind's ninety-six.

Tags: Bill Chen

06-29-2009 13:00 UTC-12

Still Coming

[user66118]

Casey "bigdogpckt5s" Jarzabek was in his seat to start the day, but we missed him on the first trip past his table. Apart from that, we have another few tables starting to play on the far side of the room. Over there we have Daniel Alaei and Max Pescatori sitting with Steve Wong. We also spotted Eli Elezra, Kelly Kim, Rob Hollink, Alex Jacob, and Victor Ramdin filing in late.

Frank Kassela has joined us too, just about an hour after bubbling out one spot short of the money in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. Better luck here, Frank.

06-29-2009 12:50 UTC-12

Rheem Goes Farthest, Mucks

[user66118]

We found four-way action over on Table 192 already. It started when Gavin Smith raised under the gun and the player to his left called from middle position. Chino Rheem and the big blind came along as well. Each player drew two cards except for the middle-position player who drew just one. The big blind and Smith checked, the middle-position player bet, and all three opponents called.

Rheem and the big blind drew two cards again, while Smith and the bettor each pulled one, and the action was check-checked around the table.

Each player took one card on the final draw. The middle-position player bet again, and this time only Chino Rheem made the call.

The bettor showed 8-6-4-3-2, and Rheem sent his cards back to the muck.

06-29-2009 12:43 UTC-12

A Few More

[user66118]

We've pipped over 200 players registered already, and the number is still creeping upwards. The field has now expanded over into the Red/Magenta section of the Brasilia, and we've spotted another gaggle of familiar faces:

Jon "Pearljammer" Turner
Ken Aldridge
John Monnette
Bryan Devonshire
Andre Akkari
Gavin Griffin
Richard Brodie
Yan Chen
Billy Baxter (sitting with Matt Hawrilenko)
Michael Binger
Fabrice Soulier
Mike Schneider
Dario Alioto

06-29-2009 12:38 UTC-12

More Names

[user66118]

There's a huge contingent of notable pros here already, and every time we look up, another handful have taken their seats. Here's a partial list of those within eyeshot:

Brett Richey
Yueqi Zhu
Shannon Elizabeth
Steve Sung (sitting with Terrence Chan)
Amnon Filippi
Jimmy Fricke (sitting with Tracey Nguyen)
Bill Chen
Mike Sexton
VaShon "Julian Verse" Watkins
Peter Hedlund
David Sklansky

06-29-2009 12:33 UTC-12

Familiar Faces

[user66118]

So far, the notable names are pretty well dispersed throughout the field. Among others, Terrance Chan, Allen Kessler, Thor Hansen, Steve Zolotow, Robert Mizrachi, Nikolay Evdakov, and David Singer all have their own tables full of unfamiliar faces.

That's not the case over on Table 196. Seat 1 holds Erick Lindgren, Gavin Smith occupies Seat 3, and Chino Rheem is in Seat 5. That one is the clear front runner for most dangerous (and entertaining) table so far.