2013 World Series of Poker

Event #44: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info

2013 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Sandeep Pulusani
Winning Hand
a3
Prize
$592,684
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,000
Entries
1,072
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Coffin Queen

Level 4 : 100/200, 0 ante
Eric Froehlich Put His Opponent in the Coffin When the Turn Brought a Queen
Eric Froehlich Put His Opponent in the Coffin When the Turn Brought a Queen

We caught Eric "E-Fro" Froehlich flipping up his {A-Diamonds}{Q-Diamonds} after calling a short-stacked opponent's all in of around 1,850. The vulnerable opponent turned over a dominated {A-Clubs}{8-Diamonds}, and he was left to look for eights or straights to down "E-Fro" and his bigger ace.

The flop fell {a-Spades}{6-Clubs}{3-Clubs} to solidify Froehlich's position, and when the {Q-Spades} dropped on the turn his opponent knuckled the felt in defeat. The {7-Clubs} made things official on the river, and the pot was pushed to Froehlich, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner, as well as the top-ranked Magic the Gathering player in the world.

Player Chips Progress
Eric Froehlich us
Eric Froehlich
18,500
11,650
11,650
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Eric Froehlich

Alakazam

Level 3 : 75/150, 0 ante
Antonio Esfandiari Here on Day 1
Antonio Esfandiari Here on Day 1

After a player opened to 350, Antonio Esfandiari three-bet to 825, and a player in the big blind elected to squeeze with a four-bet to 2,100.

This power move folded the original bettor, but "The Magician" simply heaped a pile of chips on top of his initial raise, making it about 4,350 to play.

The big blind player couldn't stand the heat, and his fold sent a fairly large pot to Esfandiari.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Tilly's former seat was unoccupied, meaning she has been eliminated from the tournament early on the first day of play.

Player Chips Progress
Antonio Esfandiari us
Antonio Esfandiari
14,500
4,000
4,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Jennifer Tilly us
Jennifer Tilly
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Antonio EsfandiariJennifer Tilly

Young Bucked

Level 3 : 75/150, 0 ante
Justin Young
Justin Young

Still sporting the glorious mustache that has garnered praise from poker fans and fellow pros alike, Justin Young check-called a bet of 650 with the flop reading {8-Hearts}{j-Spades}{6-Clubs}.

After the dealer turned the {8-Clubs}, both players opted to check, and the {3-Clubs} completed the board on the river.

Young checked a third time, and he quickly called when his opponent bet 1,625. Young's hand went into the muck, however, when he saw the {K-Clubs}{J-Clubs} tabled for a runner-runner flush.

Player Chips Progress
Justin Young us
Justin Young
6,350
-2,650
-2,650

Tags: Justin Young

Aaron Massey Ain't Scared of No Scare Card

Level 3 : 75/150, 0 ante
Aaron Massey (Seen Here in Earlier WSOP Competition)
Aaron Massey (Seen Here in Earlier WSOP Competition)

We saw Aaron Massey proudly sporting his "Big Cock Poker" patch (obviously referencing the regal male rooster), making a preflop raise to 325 from under the gun.

He was called in one spot, and when the flop fell {5-Hearts}{8-Hearts}{a-Spades}, Massey check-called a bet of 350. Both players tapped the table on the {2-Spades} turn, and again when the {7-Diamonds} completed the board on the river.

Massey rolled over {K-Clubs}{K-Hearts} and his pair was good enough for the win.

"That's the second time today I've had kings on an ace-high flop," said Massey while he dragged the pot. "I had queens too, and the flop came ace-king high."

Obviously the presence of a scare card does not bother the experienced tournament grinder, and he won this pot in a spot where many amateurs might allow themselves to be pushed off.

Player Chips Progress
Aaron Massey us
Aaron Massey
9,550
550
550

Tags: Aaron Massey

River of Tears

Level 2 : 50/100, 0 ante
Eric Froehlich Did Not Like the Bad River Here on Day 1
Eric Froehlich Did Not Like the Bad River Here on Day 1

After opening to 275 from early position, Eric Froehlich watched Barry Greenstein call from the button, as well as the player in the big blind.

On the {10-Spades}{6-Spades}{k-Hearts} flop, the big blind player checked to Froehlich, who bet c-bet for 500, and Greenstein got out of the way. The big blind smooth called, and the turn came {q-Hearts}. Another check prompted "E-Fro" to fire a second barrel, this time for 1,200, and again his opponent flatted.

When the {9-Diamonds} completed the board on the river, the big blind paused a moment before leading out for 1,500, and Froehlich flung his cards into the muck in frustration.

Player Chips Progress
Eric Froehlich us
Eric Froehlich
6,850
-2,150
-2,150
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Barry GreensteinEric Froehlich

From the Dinner Table to the Poker Table

Level 2 : 50/100, 0 ante
Antonio Esfandiari is talking and taking chips early on Day 1
Antonio Esfandiari is talking and taking chips early on Day 1

We noticed Antonio Esfandiari's stack pushed to the middle for an all-in reraise, and none other than Jennifer Tilly contemplating whether or not to call. Tilly had raised and made it 1,000 to play from the button, but "The Magician" moved all in over the top for around 8,500 more.

Tilly is the longtime girlfriend of poker pro Phil Laak, who just happens to be one of Esfandiari's good friends and partner in crime on the poker scene, and the personal relationship was not lost on either player during the hand.

"I know I have the best hand here," said Tilly, while a throng of onlookers peered in on the action from along the rail. "But you just seem so casual over there."

"If you call, I show you the nuts," answered Esfandiari. "And if you fold, I show you the bluff."

While Tilly squirmed in her seat and calculated the variables in play, Esfandiari did his best to throw her off with a bit of verbal jousting.

"You can't call with, like, sixes here," he needled, "You'll just bust out, you'll catch s*** from you're boyfriend, it'll be a bad day... it's just not worth it."

"I know I have you beat at the moment," countered Tilly. "But you seem way to casual to be bluffing."

Sensing that Tilly was ready to relent, Esfandiari resorted to a move that has worked on women since time immemorial.

"Come on Jen," he said "We had dinner together last night. We shared wine... you don't want to call."

With that, Tilly's cards were reluctantly mucked, and Esfandiari kindly showed the {A-Hearts}{Q-Hearts} to assuage Tilly's doubts. Or perhaps, to reinforce them.

"I knew I should've called!" she said, lending thought that she laid down a pocket pair.

Player Chips Progress
Antonio Esfandiari us
Antonio Esfandiari
10,500
1,500
1,500
WSOP 3X Winner
Jennifer Tilly us
Jennifer Tilly
7,100
7,100
7,100
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Antonio EsfandiariJennifer TillyPhil Laak

Chew on This

Level 2 : 50/100, 0 ante
Andrew Lichtenberger Here on Day 1
Andrew Lichtenberger Here on Day 1

Starting the day with 9,000 in their stacks, the pros here today will have plenty of play during the first few levels, and Andrew "luckychewy" Lichtenberger just mixed it up in an early pot.

We saw Lichtenberger open for 150 from under the gun, with the button and the big blind calling to see a flop of {7-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds}.

The big blind player led out for 300 on the wet board, and Licthenberger tried to claim an early pot with a reraise to 825. This move folded the button player, but the big blind flatted and the {4-Diamonds} arrived on the turn.

When his opponent fired away for 1,300 on fourth street, Lichtenberger was a believer, and his hand went sailing into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Andrew Lichtenberger us
Andrew Lichtenberger
7,850
-1,150
-1,150
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Andrew Lichtenberger

Day 1 of Event #44: ($3,000 No-Limit Hold'em) Has Arrived!

One of These Bad Boys is Waiting to be Won Here at Event #44: ($3,000 No-Limit Hold'em), and it All Starts on Day 1
One of These Bad Boys is Waiting to be Won Here at Event #44: ($3,000 No-Limit Hold'em), and it All Starts on Day 1

Last summer a field of 1,394 runners took their seats here at the Rio, generating a $3,805,620 prize pool in the process, to compete in the World Series of Poker's $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em tournament. After four days of action-packed play, Greg Ostrander defeated Jackie Glazer in a thrilling heads-up duel, and today we expect no different, with hundreds of amateurs taking their shot against the game's elite for the chance to win that coveted gold bracelet.

Carrying a slightly steeper buy-in than the WSOP's now ubiquitous $1,000 & $1,500 events, the field today is expected to be jam packed with professionals. With time running out to make that bracelet score every pro dreams about, we expect to see high caliber play from the opening deal through to bag-and-tag at the end of the night.

Barry Greenstein, Vanessa Selbst, Randy Lew, David Williams, Jonathan Duhamel, Dwyte Pilgrim, Bertrand Grospellier, Melanie Weisner, Olivier Busquet, and Erick Lindgren were just some of the notable names to show up last year, so keep it here throughout the day to find out which pros are playing this summer's $3,000 NLH event.

Take a look at the PokerNews Daily Update video to get ready for today's exciting poker action, and then keep it here throughout the day, as we bring you continuous coverage of Event #44: ($3,000 No-Limit Hold'em) live from the 2013 WSOP.

Tags: Barry GreensteinDavid WilliamsDwyte PilgrimErick LindgrenGreg OstranderJonathan DuhamelMelanie WeisnerOlivier BusquetRandy LewVanessa Selbst