The first $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event of the 2012 World Series of Poker was won by Brent Hanks and attracted 2,101 players. Hanks won over $500,000, but the winner here is going to get even more money.
We're just over halfway through the second level of the day and the field size is already larger than Event 2's was. The tournament board reads that 2,130 players have currently registered and that number will only be growing with another two and a half levels of late registration.
Check out today's PokerNews Podcast feature Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier. Mercier talks about his bets with Phil Ivey, entering the Big One for One Drop, the Miami Heat, and more.
With around 900 chips already in the pot on a board, an opponent checked to 2011 World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner Sean Getzwiller. Getzwiller bet 450 and his opponent check-raised to 1,025. After a little bit of thought, Getzwiller reraised all in for 3,150 total. His opponent called.
Getzwiller turned over the nuts with the for a Broadway straight. His opponent had outs holding the for top set. The river didn't pair the board when the fell and Getzwiller earned the double up.
PokerNews blogger Josh Cahlik is in the field today on his day off from reporting and has built his stack up over 14,000 in chips. Cahlik won a nice pot with pocket queens and then another one with a king-high flush.
On the hand where Cahlik held the queens, he raised preflop and found two calls. Both players then checked to him on the flop and Cahlik bet 500. The first player folded, but the second one called.
The turn was the and Cahlik's opponent led for 1,050. Cahlik called. The river then completed the board with the and the player fired 2,850 into Cahlik. Not one to back down, Cahlik stood tough and made the call.
"You're good," said the player before Cahlik tabled the to win the pot. His opponent mucked.
On another hand, Cahlik flopped a diamond flush with the in his hand. The flop came down and Cahlik's opponent open-shoved into him with pocket nines. Cahlik scooped that pot and moved to over 14,000 in chips.
On the board, an opponent fired 1,600 into Brendon Rubie. Rubie put in a raise to 4,100 and his opponent tank-called with the . Rubie had the player pipped with the and won the pot.
Last year we highlighted Rubie in our 2011 WSOP Rookie Roundup series and you can find out more about him by reading that article.
Rubie also joined us at PokerNews for a Seat Open with him. You can check out those videos below.