The runner-up in the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event, Jay Farber, has just been spotted in the orange section of the Amazon Room. Farber's enjoying a massage, as he more than anyone at his table knows how much of a marathon this tournament is.
Farber took home $5,174,357 after losing heads-up to Ryan Riess last year, and improving on that score will be immensely hard for the extravagant poker player.
Tom Middleton threw out a bet of 2,000 on the turn of a board reading and got one caller. It was checked to him on the river card and Middleton announced, “Three thousand five hundred.” throwing out a T5000 chip.
His opponent took a moment, looked back at his cards and mucked. Middleton scooped a welcome pot to begin rebuilding his stack.
Seeing players all-in at this early stage of the tournament is something of a rarity, but we caught one a few moments ago that has resulted in Kent Wuethrich climb to 55,300 chips.
The board read and Wuethrich was all-in for 27,500 chips, and his opponent covered him by around 9,600. Wuethrich turned over and his opponent . The turn was followed by the river and Wuethrich was catapulted towards the top of the chip counts.
Chris Moneymaker has just sat down here in Brasilia room and was warmly greeted by the players at his table, immediately keen to hear stories of his win in 2003. One player confirmed that if he won the guaranteed $10,000,000 he would definitely quit his job.
Moneymaker played the first hand he was dealt, raising to 225 and getting one caller. The flop was and both players checked, as they would on the turn . The river was the and when Moneymaker checked his opponent bet 800.
“I guess my two pair is no good.” Moneymaker said mucking his cards and telling his opponent he knew by the bet size he had an . He would have paid 700 he told him.
Ryan Riess takes center stage at the feature table
The first break of Day 1a of the Main Event is upon us with players heading on a 20-minute break.
The first level of the day saw a mix of amateurs, seasoned veterans and tournament grinders take their seat here on Day 1a. Following speeches from Jack Effel and Ty Stewart, Joe Hachem put the cards in the air to honor the years that the WSOP has been at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Early on, several tables would be halted as the dealer began action with an insufficient number of players. For Eric Spencer, he would turn a straight against his opponent to chip up early before his table was paused for close to 15 minutes before breaking.
2013 and 2012 Champions Ryan Riess and Greg Merson would be seated on the feature alongside Bill Perkins, while the likes of Annette Obrestad and Antonio Esfandiari would be seated on the secondary feature tables. A plethora of notables would also take their seat in this flight with the likes of Jason Mercier, Nam Le, Phil Laak, Matthew Ashton, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Tony Dunst, Billy Baxter, Mike Sexton and two-time Champion Johnny Chan just the tip of the iceberg.
Many first-timers would also take a seat in their first Main Event with "All American" Dave Swanson being one of those. Swanson - most noted for his healthy and nutritious meals that are delivered to players - stated he was living his dreams right now, and with an ounce of luck, that may turn into a new title ... 2014 WSOP Champion.
Once play closed for the level however, it would be Kent Wuethrich ending as the level chip leader after being on the positive side of a set-over-set confrontation to take an impressive 55,000 with him on break.
Heather Sue Mercer raised to 400 in middle position, and the action folded to a player in the big blind, who defended. The flop fell , both players checked, and the turn was the .
Mercer called a bet of 500, the completed the board, and the player in the big blind lazily tossed out a single yellow T1,000 chip. Mercer considered the bet for 30 seconds or so, then folded.
![[user252447]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and got one caller. It was checked to him on the river card 
and Middleton announced, “Three thousand five hundred.” throwing out a T5000 chip.
and Wuethrich was all-in for 27,500 chips, and his opponent covered him by around 9,600. Wuethrich turned over 
and his opponent 
turn was followed by the 
river and Wuethrich was catapulted towards the top of the chip counts.
and both players checked, as they would on the turn 
. He would have paid 700 he told him.
, both players checked, and the turn was the 
.
completed the board, and the player in the big blind lazily tossed out a single yellow T1,000 chip. Mercer considered the bet for 30 seconds or so, then folded.
.