David Williams, Chip Leader after Day 1 in Event #39
Day 1 of Event #39, the $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em/Omaha tournament, is in the books and it was highlighted by yet another large field. While last year only 482 players entered, this year 606 forked over the money to test their PLH and PLO skills against the best in the world. Some of the talented players who were unable to make it further included Andy Black, Daniel Negreanu, Tom Dwan, Eric Seidel, Galen Hall, Michael Mizrachi, Matt Affleck, Liv Boeree and Phil Laak. 2011 WSOP bracelet winners Jason Somerville and Sam Stein couldn’t make it out of Day 1 either, nor could current 2011 Player of the Year leader Phil Hellmuth.
So far, David Williams and Scott Clements have proven their skills true and have been able to break away from the pack. It seemed like Williams started the day with triple or quadruple the starting stack as he has been among the leaders for virtually the entire day. His momentum never wavered and he finished with 136,700 chips. Clements came on a little bit later but just as strong to finish with 108,700.
Williams and Clements aren’t the only ones still vying for that chance at glory though. Among the approximately 130 players left are previous 2011 WSOP final table participants Adam Junglen, Bill Chen, and Humberto Brenes. But the two players putting the most pressure on Williams and Clements are Ashkan Razavi with 115,800 and Mitch Schock with 121,600. Schock is fresh off his 12th Place finish in Event #34 and will hope to stay in contention tomorrow for back to back cashes.
Speaking of cashing, 63 players will get paid and with just over double that still left, there will be plenty of time for players to set themselves up for the money bubble. Make sure you stay tuned tomorrow to catch all the action when we resume coverage at 3 p.m. local time!
Davidi Kitai has just knocked Vitaly Lunkin, the chips went flying in on a flop, Lunkin's against Kitai's , the turn was the and the on the river made two sets for the Belgian to scoop the pot.
Sam Trickett has been eliminated, he was all in preflop in a four way pot alongside another short stack with the two bigger stacks checking down the board, Trickett showed but lost out when one the other players flipped for a flush
David Williams and Scott Clements have been going back and forth for the chip lead most of the last two levels. Well, David Williams has just taken it back.
From the cutoff, Williams raised to 1,200. The big blind defended and they saw the flop heads up. The player first to act check-called Williams bet of 2,000. The turn brought another check from the opponent out of position and Williams quickly motioned to see another card. The river was the and once again, the player out of position checked. Williams fired 5,000 and his opponent thought for awhile before making the call.
Williams tabled for trips which were good enough to win the pot and chip himself up to 130,000.
Tom Dwan made a brief appearance and might have lasted even shorter than Daniel Negreanu. Down to 2,425, he raised to 1,025 in early position and Eli Elezra called as did the player in the small blind. The flop was and the player first to act fired out a bet. Dwan got his last chips in and Elezra got out of the way.
Dwan:
Opponent:
The turn was the , the river was the and just like that he was gone.
Several players had limped before Phil Hellmuth potted in the small blind, only two players called, including Adam Junglen.
The flop was and Hellmuth pushed all in for 6,450, the second player moved all in as well and Junglen looked uncomfortable before he sighed and called.
Hellmuth: for aces
Player 2: for bottom two pair
Junglen: for top two pair
The turn was the and Hellmuth declared, "That's me," but the river was the case five - the and Junglen scooped to eliminate both players. Hellmuth left muttering to himself while Junglen's face broke into a slight smile - a mixture of embarrassment and amusement.
![[user122394]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop, Lunkin's 
against Kitai's 
, the turn was the 
and the 
on the river made two sets for the Belgian to scoop the pot.
board, Trickett showed 
but lost out when one the other players flipped 
for a flush
flop heads up. The player first to act check-called Williams bet of 2,000. The turn brought another check from the opponent out of position and Williams quickly motioned to see another card. The river was the 
and once again, the player out of position checked. Williams fired 5,000 and his opponent thought for awhile before making the call.
and the player first to act fired out a bet. Dwan got his last chips in and Elezra got out of the way.
and just like that he was gone.
for top two pair
and Hellmuth declared, "That's me," but the river was the case five - the