WSOPE Main Event Day 1a draws to an end
Sunday, 27 September 2009
A star-studded field of 154 players rocked up to play some cards on day 1a of the WSOPE Main Event – and after an action packed day the field was just over halved.
Highlights of the day were aplenty. Doyle Brunson performed the traditional ‘shuffle up and deal’ honours, a most fitting gesture considering he was there when the WSOP started 40 years ago.
Jeffrey Lisandro was presented with the Player of the Year award for his record-equalling triple bracelet win earlier this year at the WSOP. His prize was free entrance into the 2010,2011,2012 WSOP Main Events. Finnish player Jani Vilmunen, winner of the £5,000 Omaha Event #3 that concluded the day before, also got involved in the party and collected his gold bracelet in an official ceremony.
However, overshadowing all the previously mentioned had to be the usual nonsense entrance by Phill Hellmuth. He arrived in a horse-drawn chariot dressed as a Roman centurion - much to the confusion of the Leicester Square demographic.
Brian Powell leads the field after Day 1a with 194,000 followed closely by Jason Mercier and Sami ‘LarsLuzak’ Kelopuro.
Notable players who survived day 1a included – James Akenhead, Chris Bjorin, Chad Brown, Doyle Brunson, Todd Brunson, Brandon Cantu, Tony Cousineau, Eric Friberg, Phil Hellmuth, John Kabbaj, Alex Kravchenko, Liz Lieu, Mike Matusow, Jason Mercier, Scott Montgomery, Men “the Master” Nguyen, Nick Schulmann, Barry Shulman, Erik Seidel, Phil Tom, and Marco Traniello.
Notable players who did not survive day 1a included – Patrik Antonius, Tom Dwan, Jeff Madsen, Hoyt Corkins, Dario Alioto, Max Pescatori, Robert Mizrachi, Roland de Wolfe, Vanessa Rousso, David Pham, Huck Seed, Barny Boatman, Phil Ivey, Dario Minieri, and Andy Bloch.