Eight levels ago we started with a large field of 346 players who ponied up a lazy ten large for their place in this star-studded Pot-Limit Omaha field. The triple chance format gave players an opportunity to gamble it up in the early stages without fear of going broke, and as such, the eliminations were few and far between in the early goings.
After dinner everyone was on an even playing field and we were able to get a feel for who was ascending and who was just pretending.
Men Nguyen, Noah Boeken, Greg Raymer and Vanessa Selbst were some who rose to the top early, before late surges from James Akenhead (181,100), Dimitry Stelmak (226,000), Felix Gubitz (178,600), Mikhail Smirnov (169,800), Eli Elezra (101,500) and Australian Tony Paino (240,000) saw them top the charts towards the end of the day. There will also be some rumblings amongst the poker fraternity as young guns Tom Dwan and Annette Obrestad collected some late offerings to bag up over 100,000 chips to be in contention entering day two tomorrow.
We'll have somewhere around 170 players returning tomorrow with a massive task ahead of us to get anywhere near a final table tomorrow. Join us tomorrow from 3pm to see how it all goes down!
On the final hand of the night, as all the other tables were busily bagging up their chips, Phil Hellmuth was in the middle of a big pot, doing what he does best.
The board read as we approached the table to see Hellmuth facing a bet of 13,500 from his opponent. As a few moments of thought and cutting down chips, Hellmuth gave his famous "raise it up".
He added just 14,000 to the bet, in what was almost a min-raise.
"I only have 15,000 behind in case you were wondering," commented Hellmuth as his opponent gave a wry grin.
He eventually folded and the table egged on Hellmuth to show the bluff since it was the last hand of the night. He obliged.
Hellmuth opened for just a pair of sevens!
"You think I've got no heart? I do this for a living baby!" giggled Hellmuth as he'll bag up over 75,000 in just two levels of play.
Tom Dwan checked an flop to his only opponent, who potted for 4,300. Dwan called, then checked again after the turn. The other player bet 12,800 this time, and Dwan flatted a second street. No more checking after the on the river. Dwan bet out 26,400, getting a tank-fold from his opponent. Dwan scooped that one to move up to 165,000.
Tony Paino just stacked both Frank Kassela and Joao Barbosa in one giant hand, making him the new chip leader with only a few minutes left in the night. He's up to 240,000.
Six players limped in to see a flop of and the blinds checked it to an early position player who fired 3,000. Four folds before Vanessa Selbst made the call in the big blind.
The turn was the and Selbt check-called for 6,000 before both players checked the river.
Selbt tabled for a flopped straight that rivered a flush to win the pot. She's at 92,000.
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as we approached the table to see Hellmuth facing a bet of 13,500 from his opponent. As a few moments of thought and cutting down chips, Hellmuth gave his famous "raise it up".
for just a pair of sevens!
turn. The other player bet 12,800 this time, and Dwan flatted a second street. No more checking after the 
on the river. Dwan bet out 26,400, getting a tank-fold from his opponent. Dwan scooped that one to move up to 165,000.
and the blinds checked it to an early position player who fired 3,000. Four folds before Vanessa Selbst made the call in the big blind.
and Selbt check-called for 6,000 before both players checked the 
for a flopped straight that rivered a flush to win the pot. She's at 92,000.