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We saw that Joe Sebok and Antonio Esfandiari were sitting together, but we were blind to the rest of that table draw. A second check sees those two men joined by David Steicke, Ylon Schwartz, and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier.
There are plenty of tables full of unknowns in our field, but Table 11 is not one of them.
Terrence Chan has arrived and as is his routine has brought some reading material to help pass the time during these early levels.
It appears today's title is The Fighter's Mind: Inside the Mental Game by Sam Sheridan. Sounds more than a little appropriate for the challenges that await him here today.
Chan is wearing a Vancouver Canucks jersey today, which together with the book makes us want to quote a favorite line from Slap Shot: "You nailed him coach... right in his MIND!"
Limit
Under the gun, Antonio Esfandiari raised and David Steicke called. Ylon Schwartz three-bet it in position, and both opponents called the extra bet.
The flop came down 
, and Schwartz bet when they checked to him. Esfandiari and Steicke called, and the 
turned on fourth street. Schwartz bet again, Esfandiari folded, and Steicke called.
That put them heads up to the 
river, and the action went check-check. Schwartz tabled 
, and Steicke couldn't beat it. Things are going well early for Schwartz; he's up to 11,800 as he stacks that pot.
Level: 2
Blinds: /
Ante:
After one hour of play, the big board is showing we have 435 players registered thus far. Still another our left for players to grab their seats, so we'll see if the field size approaches and/or exceeds the 527 who entered this event last year.
No-Limit
Alex Borteh was down to 3,025 by the early part of the second level today, and found himself committing the last of his stack with 
versus an opponent's 
.
The flop was 
, and Borteh's eights were still good. The 
came on the turn. Still okay for Borteh. Then the river came the 
, improving Borteh to a set and securing him the pot.
He's at 6,200 now.
No-Limit
Praz Bansi opened the pot with a button raise to 250, and both blinds called, including Jeff Sarwer in the small.
The flop rolled out 
, and the blinds let Bansi continue out with 550 chips. Sarwer called, and the big blind ducked out to let them go heads up the rest of the way. Sarwer check-called another 1,625 on the turn. The river 
completed the board, and both men checked to see a showdown.
Sarwer turned up 
, and his top pair earned him the pot.
On the next hand, an early-position player raised to 250, the cutoff called, and Jeff Sarwer did so as well from the button. The big blind reraised to 1,000 straight, and only Sarwer called.
Sarwer called a continuation bet of 1,500 on a flop. When the 
hit fourth street, Sarwer led out with a bet of 2,700, and his opponent kicked his cards back to the dealer.
After those two pots, Sarwer is up to 13,700 and enjoying a strong start to his tournament.
No-Limit
Action began with Team PokerStars Pro Alexandre Gomes raising to 250 from the hijack seat. Both blinds came along to see a coordinated flop of 
. The blinds both checked, and Gomes checked as well.
The turn brought another club -- the 
. This time the small blind bet 500, the BB called, and Gomes made the call.
The river came the 
. It checked to Gomes who bet 1,525, and only the big blind called. Gomes flipped over 
for the flush, and is now up to 11,200.
No-Limit
A player opened for 300, and a short-stacked David Williams pushed all in for 2,400. His opponent called, showing 
to Williams' 
.
The flop brought an ace -- 
-- and Williams was in front. The turn was the 
and the river the , and Williams doubles to 5,100.
Limit
A player in middle position raised, and Barny Boatman -- head bopping up and down as he listened to the music playing through his noise-canceling headphones -- three-bet from the button. It folded back around the Boatman's who put out chips. "Call?" asked Boatman, freeing an ear, and indeed it was.
The flop came 
and Boatman's opponent checked. The Englishman, back to enjoying the tunes, promptly tossed out 200, and after some thought his opponent shrugged and let it go.
Boatman is sitting on about 6,100 now.
