Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Day 1 Started
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
2021 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$175,980
Entries
419
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
419
Players Left
50
The 2021 WSOP Kicks Off Today With Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
It is once again time for poker players and poker enthusiasts to rejoice following a prolonged wait. The 52nd annual World Series of Poker returns to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino today with 88 live bracelet events on the schedule.
As in previous years, the 2021 WSOP kicks off with the Casino Employees Event, and all of the players in this event today will have a chance at winning WSOP gold bracelet; this special tournament features a buy-in of $500. In the most recent edition back in 2019, the tournament attracted 685 entrants who generated a $297,975 prize pool. On the third day of play, Aria poker dealer Nicholas Haynes defeated Isaac Hanson in heads-up play to win a WSOP gold bracelet and the $62,345 top prize.
The structure is similar to the most recent iteration of this tournament. Players will start with 25,000 in chips and will play for two days, with 40-minute blind levels starting at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante.
The action is slated to get underway at 11 a.m. PST. Each player will be given the option of one re-entry during the late registration period of nine levels. During the first day, there will be a 20-minute break after every three levels and a 75-minute dinner break after level 9. A total of 17 levels are scheduled for Day 1, and a winner will be crowned on Day 2.
Previous Casino Employees Event Winners
| Year | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Dave Alizadeth | $21,800 |
| 2001 | Travis Jonas | $40,200 |
| 2002 | David Warga | $47,300 |
| 2003 | David Lukaszewski | $35,800 |
| 2004 | Carl Nessel | $40,000 |
| 2005 | Anthony Nguyen | $83,390 |
| 2006 | Chris Gros | $127,496 |
| 2007 | Frederick Narciso | $104,701 |
| 2008 | Jonathan Kotula | $87,929 |
| 2009 | Andrew Cohen | $83,833 |
| 2010 | Hoai Pham | $71,424 |
| 2011 | Sean Drake | $82,292 |
| 2012 | Chiab "Chip" Saechao | $70,859 |
| 2013 | Chad Holloway | $84,915 |
| 2014 | Roland Reparejo | $82,835 |
| 2015 | Brandon Barnette | $75,704 |
| 2016 | C.J. Sand | $71,157 |
| 2017 | Bryan Hollis | $68,817 |
| 2018 | Jordan Hufty | $61,909 |
| 2019 | Nicholas Haynes | $62,345 |
Shuffle Up and Deal!
Jack Effel has instructed the dealers to shuffle up and deal, the cards are now in the air, and the 2021 WSOP is officially underway!
Level: 1
Blinds: 100/100
Ante: 100
PokerNews' Mike Patrick Takes an Early Pot
Level 1
: 100/100, 100 ante
After a player in early position limped in for 100, Mike Patrick, a member of the PokerNews team, raised to 400 and was called by the big blind and the limper.
The flop came 
and the big blind and original limper checked to Patrick, who took the pot with a bet of 600.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,900 | |
|
||
Behanic Rivers Flush
Level 1
: 100/100, 100 ante
With a board reading 
and a pot of 800, a player in the small blind bet 500 and was raised to 1,000 by Stephanie Behanic in the big blind. The small blind called and showed 
which was no good against the 
flush of Behanic.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
26,400 |
Morris Moves All-In During Level 1
Level 1
: 100/100, 100 ante
On a board reading 
and with 11,000 in the pot, Jason Blodgett bet 6,500 from early position before Kyle Morris moved the rest of his chips in from the cutoff for approximately 20,000.
Blodgett tanked for several minutes before eventually calling. Both players tabled 
for two pair and split the pot after the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
25,100
25,100
|
25,100 |
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
McLoughlin Takes a Pot
Level 1
: 100/100, 100 ante
With a board reading 
and a pot of 1,200, Community Director at DraftKings Steven McLoughlin check-called a river bet of 1,000 and took the pot holding 
against his opponent's 
.
McLoughlin is no stranger to the WSOP, and was also present for the previous running of this tournament back in 2019.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
26,600 |
Stevens Turns a Straight Flush
Level 1
: 100/100, 100 ante
Tricia Stevens made a straight flush here early on Day 1 and was kind enough to relay the action.
Holding 
, Stevens flopped an open-ended draw on a board of 
and completed the straight flush on the 
turn. She didn't get much action on the hand and is back up to around starting stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
25,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 200