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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From the hijack seat, Chamath Palihapitiya opened with a raise to 275. Marc-Etienne McLaughlin reraised from the cutoff seat to 900, and then action folded to Bryce Yockey in the big blind. Yockey called, and then Palihapitiya called as well.
With three-way action to the flop, the dealer fanned out the . Yockey and Palihapitiya checked to McLaughlin, and he bet 1,500. Yockey check-raised to 3,500, and Palihapitiya folded. McLaughlin went into the tank for a minute or two, and then called to see the turn.
The turn card was the , and Yockey was first to act. He led with a bet of 6,000, and this sent McLaughlin back into the tank. Eventually, McLaughlin folded, and Yockey won the pot.
Does Mike Sexton hear his own commentary in his head when he is playing a pot?
The flop was and three players, including Sexton in the small blind, checked it. The turn card was the , the blinds checked it and the remaining player bet 750. Sexton raised it to 2,000 and took down the pot.
We couldn't see Sexton’s lips move but we hope he finished his internal monologue with, “And gets it through. What a play by Sexton there.”
Mike Matusow limped from middle position as the small blind completed. With the action on Nick DiVella in the big blind, he raised to 350 and only Matusow called as the flop landed and DiVella checked.
Matusow bet out 550 and DiVella check-called as the landed on the turn and DiVella checked a second time. Matusow instantly tossed in 1,500 and DiVella paused momentarily before splashing out a raise to 5,500.
Taking only a few moments himself, Matusow called as the completed the board and DiVella bet out 12,900.
Matusow then went into the tank for several minutes before stating, "I flopped top two pair on this thing."
Another five minutes went by before Matusow stated, "I don't know what to f***ing do!"
Matusow then lifted his hand up so that people behind him could see if they wanted to peek. Eventually Matusow slammed his hand onto the muck pile and conceded the pot to DiVella as he slipped to 23,050. DiVella on the other hand scooped the pot to move to over 41,000 in chips.
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.
and then mucked when he was shown 
.
![[user252447]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
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 
and Espe checked to Mercier who bet 6,300. Espe called almost immediately and the river brought the 
flop. Sammartino called and the dealer placed the 
onto the turn, a card that completed a myriad of draws.
. Yockey and Palihapitiya checked to McLaughlin, and he bet 1,500. Yockey check-raised to 3,500, and Palihapitiya folded. McLaughlin went into the tank for a minute or two, and then called to see the turn.
and three players, including Sexton in the small blind, checked it. The turn card was the 
, the blinds checked it and the remaining player bet 750. Sexton raised it to 2,000 and took down the pot.
and DiVella checked.
landed on the turn and DiVella checked a second time. Matusow instantly tossed in 1,500 and DiVella paused momentarily before splashing out a raise to 5,500.
