2011 World Series of Poker

Event #55: $50,000 Poker Player's Championship
Day: 1
Event Info

2011 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kq
Prize
$1,720,328
Event Info
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$6,144,000
Entries
128
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
30,000

April Fools

Level 2

A few minutes ago on Twitter, Tom Koral tweeted, "Hate to break it to all my fans but I just busted the 50k horse, I 7 bet all in in the nl round vs @AllenKessler with 4's he had aces, gg." Well, we can confirm that this is not true and that Mr. Koral seems to be having a bit of an April Fools joke from back home in Chicago.

Tags: Tom Koral

Lester Wins a Big One

Level 2

No-Limit Hold'em

From the hijack, Marco Johnson raised to 1,100, Jason Lester called to his left and Arturo Diaz three-bet to 4,100 from the button. Both Johnson and Lester called to see the {6-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}{5-Hearts} flop. Johnson and Lester checked to Diaz who bet 8,200. Johnson called and Lester sat back in his chair to think. After a little while he decided to raise to 16,500. Diaz called and Johnson folded.

The turn was the {3-Clubs} and Lester bet 22,500. Diaz thought for a bit before making the call. The river was the {a-Hearts} and Lester bet again, this time 37,000. Diaz counted out the chips, played with them in his hand for a minute or two but eventually opted to fold.

Lester jumps up to 200,000 with that hand, while Diaz falls to 112,000.

Tags: Arturo DiazJason LesterMarco Johnson

Packed Rail

Level 2
Rail birds
Rail birds

With this tournament having such a large buy-in at $50,000 and bringing out the best of the best in the game, the fans are out in full force to get in on the action. Lining the rail on two sides of the Purple Section in the Amazon Room, the crowd stands two to three heads deep. Many are taking pictures and trying to sneak quick glimpses of their favorite players. On break, lots of fans ask for autographs or for their favorite pros to pose in a photo with them. The pros are always kind enough to give a little bit of their time to the fans and interact with them, even during such an important poker tournament.

Two of the most packed areas are where Tom Dwan and Doyle Brunson are sitting. Both are on separate tables against the rail, with Dwan's table being right in the corner where it can gather two sides of railbirds. Watching poker isn't always fun, but when you're railing the icons of the game, it can make anyone's trip to Las Vegas for the WSOP worth while.

Negreanu Folds to Bach

Level 2
Daniel Negreanu gives up on this one
Daniel Negreanu gives up on this one

2-7 Triple Draw

From early position, 2009 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. champion David Bach raised. Team PokerStars Pro and four-time World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu made the call from the big blind. Negreanu drew three and Bach drew one. Negreanu then checked, Bach bet and Negreanu called.

On the second draw, Negreanu took two and Bach stood pat. Negreanu checked and Bach fired a bet. Negreanu couldn't make the call and tossed his hand into the muck.

Tags: David BachDaniel Negreanu

Seiver Smokes Smirnov

No-Limit Hold'em

We caught up with the action on the turn of a {10-Spades}{7-Spades}{5-Hearts}{Q-Spades} board where Scott Seiver bet 5,500 and Mikhail Smirnov called. On the {2-Clubs} river, Seiver laid out a bet of 15,000 and Smirnov deliberated before he made the call. Seiver turned over {A-Spades}{8-Spades} for the nut flush and Smirnov mucked his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Scott Seiver us
Scott Seiver
WSOP 4X Winner
154,000 4,000
Mikhail Smirnov ru
Mikhail Smirnov
104,500

Tags: Scott SeiverMikhail Smirnov

Mizrachi Drops

Level 1

Pot-Limit Omaha

Just before the break...

We picked up the action on a {10-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{4-Hearts} flop that Michael Mizrachi, Justin Smith, and John Monnette all checked. The {8-Hearts} hit the turn and Mizrachi's bet of 3,000 forced Smith to fold. Monnette, though, popped it to 13,300. Mizrachi mulled it over for about a minute before calling, seeing the {K-Diamonds} land on the river.

Mizrachi checked and Monnette bet 24,700, sending the defending champion into the tank for about two minutes into the break before folding.

Mizrachi is down to 112,600, while Monnette is up to about 158,000.

Tags: John MonnetteMichael Mizrachi

Level: 2

Blinds: 0/0

Ante: 0