There's always one table that breaks for the 20-minute period later than the others, and on this occasion it was Kara Scott's as the camera crew swamped the table like white on rice.
It was a player in early position who lit the opening spark, raising it up to 250 preflop. Scott made it 700 a few seats down and received two callers: the small blind and the initial raiser.
The flop rolled out , and after both players checked, Scott led for 1,700. The small blind folded, but the preflop raiser was less hospitable and opted to bump it up to 5,025. Scott made the call.
A turn triggered more action, early position leading for 5,525 and putting the decision on Scott. Again, the British starlet just flat called, leaving herself 27,000 behind.
As the river was dealt, the rest of the section began dispersing for the break, and as a result we attracted a few extra spectators looking for some "Hey, look, mom. I'm on TV" camera time (yes, shamefully, that included me).
With onlookers salivating over the size of the pot, the preflop raiser fired again, this time to the tune of 20,000. With little hesitation, Scott moved all in, and although it was only 7,000 more, her opponent stalled before commenting with a sigh, "You're not value-raising aces." After a long dwell, he somehow found the fold allowing Scott to scoop up what was a mammoth pot for Level 1.
The only bad news? Us curious cats never got to see any hole cards. Bah.
Chants of “Ivey! Ivey! Ivey!” still echo in the minds of poker players and fans alike. Last year’s magical run by Phil Ivey captured the eyes and ears of everyone associated with the poker industry, and his quest at a repeat performance started here on Day 1d of the 2010 Main Event.
Ivey has been splashing around early on, and is in the black with 45,700 chips.
There are a few players off to a quick including Brent Baldrey (65,000), Steve "MrSmokey1" Billirakis (57,000) and David Benyamine (48,200). Sure it is early in the tournament, but fast starts aren’t always bad omens. Just ask 2009 Main Event Champion and 2009 Day 1c chip leader Joe Cada.
Speaking of former champs.
Doyle Brunson, Robert Varkonyi, Joe Hachem and Chris Ferguson are in the field today. No former champion has made the final table since “Action” Dan Harrington did so in 2004, and there hasn’t been a repeat winner since Johnny Chan went back-to-back in 1987 and 1988.
The Grand Dame of Poker has graced us with her presence today. Wendeen Eolis, the first woman to ever cash in the Main Event, is sitting in the Red Section of the Amazon Room. There are plenty of other lovely ladies in the field today including Vanessa Rousso, Shannon Elizabeth and Kara Scott.
Level 1 is in the books, and we’re now on a brief, 20-minute break. Maybe Emmitt Smith can take the time to work on his “Shuffle up and deal.”
There was about 5,000 in the pot on a board reading and three players in the hand. The small blind checked and Jason Mercier bet 2,750. The player on the button quickly folded and so did the small blind. Mercier's bet was strong enough to take down the pot and he increased his stack to around 38,000.
PokerStars Team Pro: Sweden William Thorson has endured a bumpy start to this year's WSOP Main Event. He currently has 18,000 after folding to a short stack's all-in. There was circa 5,000 in the middle when I arrived, and his opponent had made her move from the small blind for 7,975. After much thought, Thorson (button), made the fold.
Jeff Lisandro limped in from middle position and was followed by a limp on the button as both the blinds completed and checked respectively.
The big blind fired out 500 on the flop with only Lisandro making the call as the came on the turn and Lisandro was again faced with a 500-chip bet.
Lisandro however raised it up to 1,200 and the big blind made the call before donking out for 1,200 when the river landed the . Lisandro made the call, but mucked at the sight of the big blind's .
"Thanks for that. I needed it!" stated the big blind as he raked in the pot, while Lisandro just sipped at his coffee as he slipped to 32,300 in chips.
Action folded around the table to the player seated in the hijack seat and he raised to 525. The cutoff seat then reraised to 1,500. After the button folded, it was Phil Ivey's turn from the small blind. He stared at the cutoff for a second and then four-bet to 4,500. The hijack folded and then the cutoff seat followed suit. Ivey's now up to 53,000 chips.
, and after both players checked, Scott led for 1,700. The small blind folded, but the preflop raiser was less hospitable and opted to bump it up to 5,025. Scott made the call.
turn triggered more action, early position leading for 5,525 and putting the decision on Scott. Again, the British starlet just flat called, leaving herself 27,000 behind.
river was dealt, the rest of the section began dispersing for the break, and as a result we attracted a few extra spectators looking for some "Hey, look, mom. I'm on TV" camera time (yes, shamefully, that included me).
and three players in the hand. The small blind checked and Jason Mercier bet 2,750. The player on the button quickly folded and so did the small blind. Mercier's bet was strong enough to take down the pot and he increased his stack to around 38,000.
flop with only Lisandro making the call as the 
came on the turn and Lisandro was again faced with a 500-chip bet.
. Lisandro made the call, but mucked at the sight of the big blind's 
.
flop. When the 
and action was checked to Bari, who bet 2,250. The player in the big blind called, and all other players folded.
and the big blind mucked, sending Bari to 50,500 chips.
, John Tabatabai moved all in for 18,400.
forcing Tabatabai to muck and report to the rail.
