By the time we arrived at Mike Matusow's table there was a 
flop out on the felt and Matusow was in the small blind position against one opponent in the cutoff. Matusow checked here and then called the bet of 1,250 from his opponent. Both players proceeded to check down the 
turn and the 
river and it was on to showdown.
Matusow: 
Opponent: 
"See I'm not tight, I just never get dealt anything," quipped Matusow as he raked in the pot.
Andrew Nguyen limped in from under the gun, as did the player in the hijack. Greg "FBT" Mueller, who's been riding a shortish stack for the last couple levels, moved all in for 8,275, and it got back around to Nguyen. He made the call, and the hijack got out of the way.
Mueller: 
Nguyen: 
Mueller was in a world of hurt going to the flop, and it only got worse when it came down 
. The 
on the turn gave Mueller a glimmer of hope, as a jack would give him a winning straight, but the river came the 
. Mueller stood up, grabbed his things, smiled at the ESPN cameras, and said "Main event frustrations." He wished everyone at the table good luck, and headed to the rail.
The World Series of Poker Main Event has attracted its fair share of superstar athletes in recent years.
Boxing great and former light-heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver took to the poker felt in 2007 and 2009. Mixed martial artist and former UFC great Chuck Liddell played in 2008. Paralympic athlete and gold medalist Marlon Shirley played in 2009. NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith gave it a go in 2010. Legendary Major League Baseball pitcher Orel Hershiser took part in the Main Event festivites from 2008-2010. NBA All-Star Paul Pierce took a shot in last year's Main Event and is rumored to do it again this year.
In the field today is National Hockey League goaltender Roberto Luongo. One of the NHL's premeir goaltenders, Luongo is no stranger to playing on a big stage. He was the starting goalie for the Gold-Medal-winning Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics and is the 17th winningest goalie in NHL history. This isn't Luongo's first time at the WSOP, having played in the NHL charity shootout in 2009. However, it is his first time playing in the Main Event.
An avid poker fan, Luongo is sponsored by an online poker site in Canada. He is having a solid Day 1a so far, sitting on a stack of about 70,000.
We arrived at Ray Romano's table on the turn of a 
board in a blind versus blind situation, with Eric Gigon the player in the small blind. Gigon led for 700 here and Romano made the call from the big blind. Gigon again bet on the 
river, flicking out another 700. Romano opted to call and the two players turned their hands over.
Romano:  |
Gigon:  |
Gigon's pair of fours were enough to send Romano's cards into the muck and the chips into Gigon's stack, with Romano needing to pick up some chips soon.
Down to about 7,000, Erica Schoenberg just found a much needed triple up with .
She faced off against two opponents, one of which isolated the pot after a 
flop with 
. Schoenberg survived the turn and river to take down the pot.
A player in early position moved all in for around 5,500 and Ankush Mandavia called from the button. The rest of the table folded and cards were tabled.
Mandavia: 
Opponent: 
The board came 
giving Mandavia's opponent a straight. This fact was seemingly lost on Mandavia's opponent as he was already getting up to leave, not noticing his good fortune. A friendly neighbor pointed out the straight and the man sat down just in time to be pushed his double up.
The young online pro took a hit, but still possess around 40,000 in chips, plenty to mount a comeback.
Ivan Demidov and Ilan Boujenah have just lost a small pot each on their respective tables. This is how those hands went down.
board, with Boujenah facing the all in of a short-stacked opponent. There was around 9,000 already in the pot and the player was all in for 6,400. Boujenah tanked and eventually called. He then mucked his 
when his opponent turned over 
. flop. Demidov led for 900 here and his opponent called. Demidov then led for 2,100 on the 
turn and his opponent tank-called. The river would see Demidov check and his opponent check behind. Demidov then mucked his cards when his opponent tabled 
.
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