Level: 4
Blinds: 150/300
Ante: 25
2013 World Series of Poker
Event #62: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Day: 1a
Dinner Bell Rings; Erlichman Leading, Busquet Climbing
![[user80015]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
The dinner bell has rang with the remaining Day 1a players all heading on a 90-minute break.
The previous level began with players such as PokerNews' own Chad Holloway chipping up before Tony Dunst put pressure on Sam Barnhart. However it would be on the feature table that we would see the hand of the century according to Ronnie Bardah when Dominik Nitsche hit running queens to stay alive against Tatiana Barausova.
Six-time WSOP bracelet winner T.J. Cloutier would be one of the victims for the level while high-stakes player Olivier Busquet climbed the leaderboard following a series of hands; one in which he picked off a bluff with second pair.
As the final few hands began to play out, Johnny Steven would see his stack reach the upper echelon of counts as he ended the level with 100,100, but it would be Gal Erlichman continuing his dominance up top as he ended the level as chip leader with 122,000.
With play not resuming until roughly 8:25 p.m. local time, enjoy this video of Eli Elezra's winner interview after he claimed his second bracelet last night.
Some of the Day 1a Field
The Hollywood Hills (And Valleys)
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
Two recent hands involving actor Kevin Pollak demonstrated the fickle nature of poker, as he went from flopping the nuts to folding the winner in short order.
First, Pollak took a flop of 
against two opponents, checking and then raising to 3,300 when one of them bet 1,200. This folded the player in between, and the bettor flatted to see the turn come 
.
Pollak led out for 4,000 on fourth street, his opponent flatted once again, and the river came 
. After both players tapped the table, Pollak rolled over the 
for a flopped nut flush.
On the very next deal, Pollak held the button and took a flop of 
against two opponents. After both checked to him, Pollak fired out a bet of 1,000. The big blind player folded, but the cutoff came along to see the turn come 
. Both players opted to check, and on the river Pollak's opponent made a suspiciously small bet of 750.
"Why so much?," asked Pollak, employing his trademark sense of humor.
"I have exactly what you think I have," was the opponent's response.
"I think you have sh-t," Pollak shot back, obviously not buying the player's shoe of strength.
Eventually, Pollak became a believer though, and his 
was folded face up. With the post-oak bluff successfully executed, the player gladly revealed his 
for pure air.
Steven Safely Over 100k
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
With the board reading 
, one player bet out roughly a pot-sized bet of 2,200. Johnny Steven made the call as Bjorn Li folded.
Steven's opponent tabled his 
while Steven flashed a and folded.
Steven however - who chipped up nicely over the previous two levels - is still sitting with a healthy 104,400 and will be flirting with the chip lead as the dinner bell rings.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
104,400 | 10,400 |
Pollak Acting Up
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
Kevin Pollak limped from late position, and action folded around to the big blind, a British player who turned to Pollak and said, “You just love playing pots against me, don’t you?” Pollak went into full-blown entertainer mode, and using his best British accept, started talking about, “My mum’s dad, born and raised in Leeds....” The dealer spread 
on the flop amidst chuckles from the table. The blind checked to Pollak, who won with a bet, and continued his impersonation as he stacked his new chips. Players who lose hands to him might never hand more fun giving chips away.
DiVella Done
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
Las Vegas high stakes cash game grinder Nick DiVella has just been eliminated from the tournament.
DiVella - who took 72nd in last year's Main Event for $106,056 - had one cash this WSOP in Event 6, but according to his Twitter account (@NickDiVella), he'll have to wait till 2014 to add to his list of WSOP cashes.
Pair & flush draw is no good vs Josh Ariehs overs & flush draw. It would have been less painful to just light 10k on fire. Out of the MainFollow @NickDiVella
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Rast Climbing up the Leaderboard
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
We arrived at the table on the turn to see Brian Rast in a heads up pot with the board reading 
. It was checked to Rast, who bet 5,000 into a pot that already had about 7,000 in it. His opponent tanked for a full four minutes before folding. Rast took the pot and is now up to 75,000 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
75,000 | 5,000 |
Busquet Continues to Pressure
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
On a 
flop and roughly 1,950 in the middle, one opponent had 2,200 bet out in front of him while Busquet had a 16,000-chip check-raise in front of him.
Busquet's opponent went deep into the tank pondering if he should call off his final 7,300, and after several minutes he folded his face-up as Busquet was pushed the pot to move to 71,800 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
71,800 | 9,500 |
Winzeler Chipping Back Up
Level 3
: 150/300, 0 ante
On a board of 
Hans Winzeler was greeted with a bet of 2,000 and a fold before action returned to him on the button.
Winzeler made the call as the 
landed on the turn and both he and his opponent checked.
Winzeler's opponent tabled his 
but it would be Winzeler's 
that would see him scoop the pot with his superior kicker as his stack climbed to 18,600 after being less than half that following his brutal one-outer to Kenny Tran earlier in the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
18,600 | 5,500 |