We voyaged back to the poker room to check on everyone. Okay, we're under no delusions, either. We pretty much went over there just to see how Phil Ivey is doing. The news from the frontline is that he's... doing rather well, not surprisingly. Ivey was stacking another pot as we approached the table, and Martin Kabrhel's next-door seat was recently vacated. We understand, however, that the two events were unrelated. Kabrhel was eliminated by a different opponent who rivered a four-flush against him.
Ivey, on the other hand, was the beneficiary of yet another small pot at the expense of the player in Seat 1, and he has worked his stack to about 19,000 here in the early stages of the second level. Not a bad start for you if happen to have a piece of Ivey's bracelet bets.
Erik Cajelais kicked off the action with a raise to 150. He was called by Praz Bansi on the button and Phil Laak in the small blind. The flop came down and Laak checked. Cajelais also checked before Bansi fired 350. Laak flung in a raise to 1,550 and that knocked Cajelais out of the way. Bansi thought for a bit while Laak went into some antics and then made the call.
The turn card brought the and both Laak and Bansi checked. The river completed the board with the and Laak checked again. Bansi fired 3,150 and Laak made the call, claiming that Bansi knew how to get the maximum.
Bansi showed down the for the nut flush and moved up to 17,500 in chips. Laak mucked his way down to 4,925.
The rail is almost as star-studded as the tables themselves. But they're not here to watch the magic of the bloggers, rather waiting patiently as alternates. Ben Roberts has already been waiting for over an hour.
Also spotted on the rail - squirming like three-legged ferrets and itching to get involved - are Neil Channing, Ian Frazer, Priyan de Mel and Justin Smith.
Meanwhile across-the-Pond superstars Allen Cunningham, Men Nguyen and Erik Seidel have now taken their seats.
The Empire have encountered some organizational difficulties today in terms of getting players seated and there have been several announcements on the microphone from Jack Effel directing people to their seats and assuring the players that everything will be sorted soon.
One man who isn't happy, however, is the Devilfish. I only caught the very end of his complaint, but it appeared as though he was grumbling that someone in front of the queue had been seated before him.
A middle-aged gentleman raised to 150 under the gun, and Phil Ivey (in matching jeans and jean jacket) defended his big blind to see a heads-up flop.
It came , and Ivey check-called a continuation bet of 200. On the turn, Ivey once again checked it over, and his opponent slid out 425 chips in a clumsy, technicolor mess. Ivey responded with a check-raise to 1,500 straight, and his opponent quickly called. The river drew a leading bet of 3,000 from Mr. Ivey, and the other player again wasted no time calling, splashing in the chips and cueing the showdown.
Ivey had it, there's a shocker. He tabled for the trip fives, and his opponent slapped his cards into the muck to leave himself less than 2,000 chips. Ivey, on the other hand, has started this day off well. He's one of the big stacks thus far, having pushed his count up to about 15,500.
Jennifer Tilly opened to 150 from UTG before Barry Greenstein reraised to 500 next to her. Then the cut-off cold 4-bet to 1,250 passing the action around to WSOP finalist John Racener (Michael Abecassis on the button was sitting out, as was the small blind) who gave it a couple of minutes to stare at everyone on the table before moving all-in.
Tilly and Greenstein folded quicker than origami experts but the cut-off took a little longer before folding face up.
The next hand saw Greenstein open to 150 before Racener 3-bet from the small blind to 500. This time Jennifer Tilly came in with a 4-bet to 1,500 and pushed the other two of the hand, someone is going to leave this table with a lot of chips, the way this is carrying on.
Praz Bansi has grown his stack to 12,000 chips and it's thanks in most part to this last pot.
Bansi fired 1,100 on the board of and his opponent made the call. The river completed the board with the . Bansi played with his chips and then fired out 2,350. His opponent quickly called, to which Bansi tabled a diamond flush with the . His opponent couldn't beat that and mucked his hand.
An opponent bet 800 into Sorel Mizzi on the board of . Mizzi thought for a bit and then tossed in a yellow T1,000 chip to make the call. The river came the and the first player checked. Mizzi went into the tank, debating whether or not to put more chips into the pot. He eventually tapped the table behind and mucked his cards when he saw his opponent table the . Mizzi dropped to 3,925.
button in Safari
and Laak checked. Cajelais also checked before Bansi fired 350. Laak flung in a raise to 1,550 and that knocked Cajelais out of the way. Bansi thought for a bit while Laak went into some antics and then made the call.
and both Laak and Bansi checked. The river completed the board with the 
and Laak checked again. Bansi fired 3,150 and Laak made the call, claiming that Bansi knew how to get the maximum.
for the nut flush and moved up to 17,500 in chips. Laak mucked his way down to 4,925.
, and Ivey check-called a continuation bet of 200. On the 
turn, Ivey once again checked it over, and his opponent slid out 425 chips in a clumsy, technicolor mess. Ivey responded with a check-raise to 1,500 straight, and his opponent quickly called. The 
river drew a leading bet of 3,000 from Mr. Ivey, and the other player again wasted no time calling, splashing in the chips and cueing the showdown.
for the trip fives, and his opponent slapped his cards into the muck to leave himself less than 2,000 chips. Ivey, on the other hand, has started this day off well. He's one of the big stacks thus far, having pushed his count up to about 15,500.
face up.
. Bansi played with his chips and then fired out 2,350. His opponent quickly called, to which Bansi tabled a diamond flush with the 
. His opponent couldn't beat that and mucked his hand.
. Mizzi thought for a bit and then tossed in a yellow T1,000 chip to make the call. The river came the 
and the first player checked. Mizzi went into the tank, debating whether or not to put more chips into the pot. He eventually tapped the table behind and mucked his cards when he saw his opponent table the 
. Mizzi dropped to 3,925.
