Dario Sammartino was on the button, facing a bet of 300 from the big blind on a flop. Sammartino called and the dealer placed the onto the turn, a card that completed a myriad of draws.
The big blind, in the midst of a shoulder massage, bet 1,000 and Sammartino sat staring at the board and his opponent for 30-40 seconds before sending his cards into the muck.
We caught the action on the flop when the flop showed with five players involved. Both blinds checked to Debbie Espe, winner of a Rio Deepstack event just two weeks ago, who bet 1,300 from the hijack.
Jason Mercier, who was next to act from the cutoff, raised it up to 4,100 getting the other three players to quickly fold. The action was back on Espe who called quickly.
The turn was the and Espe checked to Mercier who bet 6,300. Espe called almost immediately and the river brought the . Espe immediately grabbed some chips and tossed out a hefty bet worth 11,000.
Mercier went into the tank. About four minutes went by and Mercier showed some signs of frustration before he ultimately tossed in the call.
Espe tabled for a rivered flush and she raked in this huge pot. Mercier shook his heads and is down to 13,500 chips in the first level of the day.
Pete Linton is a professional poker player from the United Kingdom known for his aggression and willingness to play a lot of pots. He got his opportunity just now when he was involved in a three-way pot and it was checked to him in position.
The board read and Linton fired out a 3,000 bet getting two callers. The river was the and there was no more action. One player turned over for two pair and Linton and the other player mucked.
David Chiu led for 525 from the small bind on a flop and was quickly called by a gentleman in middle position. Chiu led again on the flop, setting the price to play at 750. After 20 second or so, the cost to continue increased to 1,650 because Chiu's opponent raised. Chiu called and the dealer placed the onto the river.
Chiu checked and his opponent checked behind. Chiu flashed the and then mucked when he was shown .
At the opposite end of the room, Kevin Allen is sat ready to go to battle. Allen is one of the most popular pros on the British poker circuit, but he'll be hoping to make himself unpopular with his new table mates today.
The World Series of Poker Main Event is a spectacle for poker fans, amateurs and professional players. Every year new faces stand out from the crowd of thousands, but many will go home dreaming next year might be their lucky one.
In an event this size there are always player who're amidst their first experience in a big event, and we just spotted one.
"Do I need to call?" a player asked after another had put in a raise to 400.
"No sir, you don't need to," the dealer said.
The player in question smiled, looked back down at his cards and pushed them carefully towards the dealer.
This player, and many others, will without a doubt have an amazing experience in this event and we'll wait and see if they can make a deep run.
2013 Poker Player's Championship winner Matthew Ashton recently took a seat in today's Main Event flight, and facing a limp from the button, he bumped it up to 450 from the big blind.
The button player called as the dealer spread a flop with Ashton checking to his opponent who bet out 700. Ashton released his hand but remained above starting stack after winning several early pots to only be down to 31,450.
There are several tables leftover from the recent $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop in both the Purple and Orange sections.
In the Purple sections we currently find 2007 WSOP Europe Champion Annette Obrestad sitting on one table while 2012 Big One for One Drop Champion Antonio Esfandiari on the other.
There are currently a few gaps on both tables, so there may be a time soon where a few more notables take the empty seats so that it can rival the feature table that is located at the main stage that includes Ryan Riess, Greg Merson and Bill Perkins.
British pro Jack Ellwood has taken his seat over at table 366 where he is seated two to the left of Jason Mercier so we expect some decent sized pots to be created between those too.
Elsewhere in the orange section is a man who is no stranger to WSOP Main Event success. Representing Ukraine is Anton Makiievskyi who in 2011 managed to navigate his way through the vast majority of the 6,865 field of the Main Event before falling in eighth place for a $1,010,015.
flop. Sammartino called and the dealer placed the 
onto the turn, a card that completed a myriad of draws.
with five players involved. Both blinds checked to Debbie Espe, winner of a Rio Deepstack event just two weeks ago, who bet 1,300 from the hijack.
and Espe checked to Mercier who bet 6,300. Espe called almost immediately and the river brought the 
. Espe immediately grabbed some chips and tossed out a hefty bet worth 11,000.
for a rivered flush and she raked in this huge pot. Mercier shook his heads and is down to 13,500 chips in the first level of the day.
and Linton fired out a 3,000 bet getting two callers. The river was the 
for two pair and Linton and the other player mucked.
flop, setting the price to play at 750. After 20 second or so, the cost to continue increased to 1,650 because Chiu's opponent raised. Chiu called and the dealer placed the 
onto the river.
and then mucked when he was shown 
