With about 2,000 in the pot on a board reading , Alan Spotts checked from the big blind.
Nick Petrangelo bet 1,600 from under the gun and the player on the button called. Spotts tanked for about a minute and moved all in for about 5,300. Petrangelo moved all in over top, and the button called for his remaining 4,200.
Spotts was at risk with for a set of fours, but was well ahead. The button tabled for a flush draw, and Petrangelo showed .
The river was the and Spotts filled up to eliminate the player on the button and leave Petrangelo with just 1,500 in chips.
We got to the table to see Darren Elias being short and in the big blind. Action folded to Elias who proceeded to go all in for 1,125 in total. The player in the big blind called.
Darren Elias:
Opponent:
The board ran out — no help for Elias, and he has been eliminated from this tournament.
On a board reading with about 2,550 in the middle, Henry Fewster checked from middle position. The player in the cutoff bet 1,500 and the player on the button called. Fewster had 4,325 behind and moved all in. The cutoff then moved all in over top and the button folded.
Fewster was at risk and holding the best hand with , while his opponent held .
The river was the and Fewster was able to hold on to keep his seat.
There are sure to be many interesting battles throughout the day, given that only one person can move on to Day 2 from each table. Shaun Deeb and Matt Salsberg are seated together, and will definitely make for some memorable hand histories.
Here is a look at some of the other players who have jumped in:
Tracking a tournament would definitely not be as fun if there were no defending champion in the field.
Safiya Umerova took this event down last year, besting a field of 1,050 entries for a total prize pool worth $1,417,500. First place awarded her with $264,046 after she defeated Niall Farrell in an epic heads-up battle. She climbed her way back from being down 4-to-1 in chips and took the whole thing down.
Umerova is back today and has already chipped up. She has her game-face on, so keep following along to see if she can be the second back-to-back title winner!
Niall Farrell is one of the many familiar faces in the field to have taken an early seat in the Shootout this morning.
In last year's event, Farrell went heads-up with eventual winner, Safiya Umerova, and came close but finished as the runner-up. Look for him to try and get the job done today in a quest finally to clinch his first WSOP bracelet.
Other notables in the field include Jason Koon, Loni Harwood, Joe McKeehen, Natasha Mercier and Mike Leah, just to name a few!
button in Safari
, Alan Spotts checked from the big blind.
for a set of fours, but was well ahead. The button tabled 
for a flush draw, and Petrangelo showed 
. 
and Spotts filled up to eliminate the player on the button and leave Petrangelo with just 1,500 in chips.
— no help for Elias, and he has been eliminated from this tournament.
with about 2,550 in the middle, Henry Fewster checked from middle position. The player in the cutoff bet 1,500 and the player on the button called. Fewster had 4,325 behind and moved all in. The cutoff then moved all in over top and the button folded.
.
and Fewster was able to hold on to keep his seat.
