On the Friday edition of the PokerNews Podcast, the crew breaks down the latest news from the World Series of Poker, including David Diaz being banned from Caesars properties, Martin Finger winning his first gold bracelet, Matthew Ashton approaching another final table, and an update from the Ivey and the Misfits fantasy team. They then talk with Jay Rosenkrantz about the premiere of Bet Raise Fold: The Story of Online Poker.
Some more photos from the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
37,000
18,000
|
18,000 |
|
||
|
36,000
13,500
|
13,500 |
|
||
|
|
22,000 | |
|
|
15,500
2,000
|
2,000 |
|
13,200 | |
|
13,200
10,200
|
10,200 |
|
||
|
7,200
1,400
|
1,400 |
|
|
||
After discovering the gigantic stack of Young Ji in the Brasilia Room's Bronze section, we stuck around to catch the animated player take down yet another pot while bullying his unsuspecting foes into submission. While we know that Ji is quite the sharp, especially after watching him make a deep run in Event #22 ($1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha), where he finished in 11th place, the seniors at his table have no idea who they are dealing with. Although he may appear to be somewhat of an outcast among the staid seniors, what with his brash persona and constant table talk, there is no reason for his tablemates to believe that he is an accomplished tournament player.
We watched Ji combine his superior skills with sheer aggression to pad his chip lead here in the Seniors Championship, as he opened for 1,400 from early position. The action folded around to the big blind, who squeezed his cards slowly before capping them and tossing in a call.
On the 
flop, the big blind player tried his best to appear casual, nodding his head along with the tune playing from his headphones, but his check was all Ji needed to pounce on the pot. A bet of 2,300 was enough to force the fold, and Ji added another wing to his rapidly expanding chip castle.
Having made a deep run in the high-skill game of Pot-Limit Omaha only yesterday, Ji has parlayed a little run good into a huge chip advantage over a relatively soft field, and this may spell trouble for the surviving seniors here as the first day of play continues.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
72,000
9,000
|
9,000 |
|
|
||
Both Mel Judah and The Duke of Fremont are our latest casualties.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
From the Twitter feed of Susie Isaacs:
I struggled with a short stack for almost 10 hrs. A record for me. Just won a decent pot with Js. Now I have an average stack.Follow @Luv2raise
I pushed with A-10 suited on the button. Call by both small and big blinds. A-K & Aces! I did not get a miracle. :-((( OutFollow @Luv2raise
The players are leaving for their last break of the evening as the tournament staff race off the green chips. We will be back in 20 minutes to play our final two levels. See you soon.
Level: 10
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 100
Just two more levels and play will conclude for the evening. Cards are back in the air.
One of the most respected figures in the game of poker, T.J. Cloutier has been a mainstay here at the World Series of Poker for decades, taking home an impressive six gold bracelets and scoring over $4 million in earnings here at the WSOP. With an astounding four top-5 finishes in the Main Event, including a runner-up finish to Chris Ferguson in 2000 on a brutal river suckout when his 
was bested by Jesus and his 
a final board of 
, Cloutier may have been a few unlucky cards away from becoming the most decorated player in WSOP history.
Today, Cloutier has managed to tiptoe through the minefield known as Day 1 to emerge with a healthy stack of 21,000 entering the last break of the night.
We saw the living legend drag a decent pot his way after busting yet another player, and after the chips were added to his stack, Cloutier was gracious enough to provide his tablemates with a primer in tournament poker strategy.
"You don't want to be raisin' with those junky hands, king-queen, king-jack, king-ten, not in early position anyway, you're just askin' for trouble," Cloutier explained, referring to the hand tabled by the player he had just busted.
Bob Doty was an apt pupil, relishing this opportunity to play with, and learn from, one of the game's all-time greats.
"That's exactly what I had there, king-queen, and I folded because I didn't want to flop second best," said Doty, confirming Cloutier's read on the hand. "Would you have raised in my position there T.J.?"
"Actually, yeah I would, you were what, in the hijack?" responded Cloutier. "That's one of the first things we teach students at our poker boot camps, is the power of position when it comes to certain hands."
With his table listening eagerly to the lesson, Cloutier ended his discourse in typical fashion for a lifelong poker player who is always looking for an edge.
"You made the right play this time though, you get in that pot there with king-queen, you're just gonna double me up son," he said to Doty, reinforcing his table image and reminding the other players to stay out of his way. "I only had the ace-queen."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
21,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
|
||
