Another overwhelmingly large group of poker players gathered in the Rio this afternoon to kick off our second standard format $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Event of the 2011 World Series of Poker. There were 2,500 registrants and after 10 levels of play, we are down to just 349.
As usual, we had no shortage of poker talent on Day 1. Liv Boeree, Galen Hall, Michael Mizrachi, Justin Young, Tony Dunst, Jonathan Duhamel, Freddy Deeb, Phil Laak, and Eric Baldwin were just some of the players that entered the event unable to see action on Day 2. Even Bruce Buffer, the well-known UFC announcer, held a chip lead for the first few hours before slowly losing it to his opponents throughout the course of the day.
Not all of our notable pro's fell through though. Among those left are Amnon Filippi, Drazen Ilich, Andy Frakenberger, Matt Affleck, David Pham, and Peter Feldman. All of them have plenty of experience battling their way through "moving day" and the action should be furious as they try to set themselves up for glory on Day 3.
However, all of them will be chasing our front-runner, Rick Romine. About halfway through the day, whispers of an enormous stack were being heard throughout the room. When our highest notable player in our chip counts had just 40,000, Romine had already crossed the 100,000 mark... easily. And he didn't stop there. Hand after hand he continued his rush and ended the day with a whopping 176,100 in chips. For most people, Day 2 is will be stressful as the money bubble comes and goes and people start playing for the cash. But with Romine's amazing Day 1, the first few hours will be all about maintaining his stack.
Due to the Seniors Event starting tomorrow at noon, the tournament directors have decided to restart this tournament tomorrow at 4 p.m. local time, an hour and a half later than normal. But of course it won't stop the PokerNews crew from covering all of the action from start to finish so be sure to come back tomorrow to see who emerges as the players to beat on the final day.
Joe Sebok put out a bet of 7,200 on a after a few moments of contemplation his opponent called. Sebok immediately mucked, and his opponent showed for aces over kings. Sebok's opponent then started clapping in excitement exclaiming "That felt good!". The table was quite confused as to the no raise at the end, but Sebok's opponent apparently really thought Sebok could of had .
A player from middle position raised to 1,800 and Drazen Ilich called. The flop ran out and both players checked the flop. The fell on the turn and the player in middle position led out for 3,200. Ilich called.
The river brought the . Both players checked and Ilich's opponent turned over . Ilich folded his hand into the muck.
James English just came over to tell us about how he became one of our chip leaders.
First to act preflop, he raised to 2,400 with and received calls from a player in late position and the big blind. The flop was and English led out for 4,400. The player in position called while the player in the blinds got out of the way.
The turn was a and English slowed down with a check. His opponent bet 13,000 and he called. The river was a . English, who checked the river, was forced to tank "enough to make the entire table hate him," after his opponent moved all in. Eventually, he made the call and his opponent had just Ace-high.
Tommy Vedes got his last 17,500 in preflop with against his opponents . The board ran out and Vedes was able to double up to 37,000 as we near the end of Day 1.
We found Ty Reiman calling a bet of 4,700 from the big blind on a board. On the turn the big blind bet out again, this time 10,700. Reiman then went into tank mode and spent a good 3 minutes in silence contemplating his options, eventually he declared all in, a bet that would put the big blind in for around 35,000.
It was here that the big blind took his time to decide what it was he was going to do. It was no easy decision as his tournament life hung in the balance. Eventually after almost five minutes the player decided to fold.
Reiman the good sport he is allowed his opponent to see one card. His opponent then flipped one of Reiman's cards over and revealed the .
We caught action after a flop of between Tommy Felice and an opponent. The player under the gun checked and Felice bet 7,000. His opponent made the call.
The hit on the turn. The player under the gun checked and Felice moved all in for over 14,000. His opponent tanked for a bit before throwing his cards in the muck. Felice shoved the cards in his direction and said he could look at them. He flipped up .
![[user122394]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
after a few moments of contemplation his opponent called. Sebok immediately mucked, and his opponent showed 
for aces over kings. Sebok's opponent then started clapping in excitement exclaiming "That felt good!". The table was quite confused as to the no raise at the end, but Sebok's opponent apparently really thought Sebok could of had 
and both players checked the flop. The 
fell on the turn and the player in middle position led out for 3,200. Ilich called.
. Both players checked and Ilich's opponent turned over 
. Ilich folded his hand into the muck.
and English led out for 4,400. The player in position called while the player in the blinds got out of the way.
and English slowed down with a check. His opponent bet 13,000 and he called. The river was a 
against his opponents 
. The board ran out 
and Vedes was able to double up to 37,000 as we near the end of Day 1.
board. On the 
turn the big blind bet out again, this time 10,700. Reiman then went into tank mode and spent a good 3 minutes in silence contemplating his options, eventually he declared all in, a bet that would put the big blind in for around 35,000.
between Tommy Felice and an opponent. The player under the gun checked and Felice bet 7,000. His opponent made the call.