2017 World Series of Poker

After 10 60-minute levels on Day 1 of Event #11: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed, a relatively unknown player leads 89 survivors from a 364-strong field.

Troy Evans, a name not listed on either the WSOP player database or that of the The Hendon Mob database, claimed the chip lead on Day 1 after bagging a stack of 76,200. Evans slid under the radar for the majority of the day until a late surge pushed him overtop of Justin Bonomo (70,900) and defending champion Lawrence Berg (68,000).

As is expected with a dealer’s choice event, mixed-game specialists emerge, chomping at the bit to get a taste of poker’s more hidden variants and the gold hardware that comes along with taming them. Some notables still in the hunt include Marco Johnson (61,300), Kyle Bowker (55,400), Jeff Madsen (49,600),Jon Turner (46,000), and the first-ever WSOP dealer’s choice event winner, 2014 champ Robert Mizrachi (41,500).

The day began with such promise for all who entered but the dream ends very quickly for the vast majority of the field. The 2016 WSOP Player of the Year, Jason Mercier, was a late entrant and was able to run up a bit of a stack before fizzling out and eventually becoming a Day 1 casualty. Joining Mercier on the rail were Shaun Deeb, Phil Galfond, Benny Glaser, Kevin MacPhee, Todd Brunson, Michael Gathy, Barry Greenstein, Brandon Shack-Harris, Mike Leah, and Michael Mizrachi.

Just 55 of the 89 hopefuls remaining will leave with a slice of the $491,400 prize pool. A min-cash will award players $2,253 but all focus will be directed towards the $119,399 first place prize. Day 2 action gets underway at 2 p.m. on Tuesday with another 10 60-minute levels on the schedule.

Big O

Catching the action on the flop of , one player was all in for 17,925 holding while Chip Jett was all in for 18,175 holding .

Craig Chait called the all in holding and had both players at risk.

The turn of the put Jett squarely into the lead, and when the river landed the , Jett would scoop the triple up while one player hit the rail and Chait dropped to 36,100 to end the night.

The tournament director has just announced that there will be three more hands remaining in the day.

No-Limit Hold'em

Phil Galfond opened to 1,200 and Jeff Madsen three-bet the small blind to 3,250. The big blind cold-called and Galfond called also.

The flop fell and Madsen continued for 4,175 with the big blind folding.

Galfond went into the tank for several minutes before eventually moving all in for roughly 16,400 as Madsen quickly called for his 19,475 chip stack.

Galfond:
Madsen:

The turn and river landed the and and Galfond was eliminated as Madsen climbed to over 45,000 in chips.

Pot-Limit Omaha

Mike Wattel limped in from under the gun, as did the player next to act. With the action on Dylan Linde on the button, he raised pot to 2,750.

John Racener cold-called in the big blind, as Wattel and the other limper called also.

The flop fell and the action was checked to Linde who moved all in for his last 9,200.

Three quick folds and Linde was pushed the pot sending back to over 20,000 in chips.

A-5 Triple Draw

We missed the action but arrived at the table to see all of Shaun Deeb's chips cut-down in front of him and Deeb saying "you're drawing dead!" as he laid out for a wheel and scooped the pot after his opponent had called the all-in and mucked.

Badeucey

Justin Young opened from under the gun to 2,000 and both Jon Turner and the big blind called.

Each player drew two cards and Smith continued for 1,000 before Turner raised to 2,000 in the cutoff. The big blind folded and Young called and drew two again as Turner stood pat.

Young checked and Turner bet 2,000. Young folded and dropped to 21,000 while Turner climbed to 29,500 in chips.