The 1,297 players that came out for day 1a of the main event were a diverse bunch. Veteran players, internet pros, celebrities, and amateurs galore -- everybody began the day with the same dream: winning the biggest poker tournament of the year. Of course, by the end of the day, half of those dreams would be shattered. Though only 657 players can claim to have survived day 1a, Brandon Adams can claim much more. Adams owned the day, amassing a stack of nearly 200,000 before its conclusion. Adams and all of the other day 1a survivors will get a much needed four days of rest before coming back for their second day of play.

Day 1b will be begin at noon tomorrow. Keep your browsers right here at cardplayer.com for updates as the action happens!

Blinds/Antes: 200-400, 50 ante

Day 1A Players Remaining: 657 of 1,297

Chip Counts:
Mark Garner - 205,000
Brandon Adams - 200,000
Kellen Hunter - 154,000
Patrick Fortin - 145,000
Stefan Mattsson - 139,000
Todd Rebello - 125,000
Bryan Colin - 119,000
Thang "Kido" Pham - 115,000
Craig Marquis – 80,000
Nick Schulman – 73,000
Barry Shulman - 53,000

Eliminations:
Luca Pagano
Erica Schoenberg
Berry Johnston
Steve Sung
Jon Little
Mekhi Pfifer

Big Hands and Storylines:

Stan Le’s Set Comes at a Marvelous Time

As the final level of the day was concluding, Stan Le managed to flop his first set of the day. On a flop of 954, Stan Le got all-in with 44 against two opponents. It was good news for Le as his opponents were holding 76 and K9. Though Le had to fade a number of outs, he was a 55% favorite to win the hand. The turn was the J and the river was the 4, giving Le quad fours and a stack of nearly 80,000.

Nick “The Takeover” Schulman Lives Up to His Name

On a board of 732, an early position player made a bet of 1,900 and the next player to act made it 4,000 to go.  Nick Schulman took his time before reraising an additional 11,000.  The original bettor folded, and the original raiser went into the tank.  After deliberating, he moved all in for slightly more than Schulman’s bet.  Schulman beat his opponent into the pot and eagerly flipped over 33 for a set of treys.  “Oh my God,” Schulman responded after seeing his opponent turn over 54.  Schulman had nine clubs and three sixes to dodge in order to have his set hold up, but the 2 on the turn paired the board giving Schulman a full house.  With that card, his opponent’s outs were reduced to the lone 6 for a seven-high straight flush.  The 4 on the river was a miss, and Schulman eliminated another opponent.  He finished the hand with over 65,000 in chips.

Barry Shulman Puts His Opponent to the Test

On a board of 8642, Barry Shulman faced a bet from his opponent and raised enough to put his opponent all in.  The player folded and Shulman dragged the pot, boosting his stack to 73,000.
 

Adams's table can't wait for day to end

Brandon Adams, who has around 200,000 chips and is among the chip leaders if not the chip leader, has dominated his table so thoroughly they are comparing the day to the movie Groundhog Day and an episode from The Twilight Zone. In two consecutive hands he made preflop reraises against the same player. The first time he won the hand preflop and the second time he took down the pot with a continuation bet on an A-6-5 flop.

Craig Marquis Clicks It Back Against Mekhi Phifer

Craig Marquis raised it pre-flop from late position and got a single caller in Mekhi Phifer. The flop came J107 and Marquis led into Phifer for 2,200. The ER star raised small, making it 3,100 more. Marquis clicked it back, making it an additional 3,100 for Phifer, who called the bet. The turn was the 9 and Marquis checked. Phifer bet 6,000 and Marquis called. The river was the 5 and Marquis checked again. Phifer continued his aggression and made a bet of 8,000. Marquis called with confidence and showed 1010, which was good enough to take down the 50k pot.

The hand takes Marquis up to 88,000 and drops Phifer to 15,000 only a half hour before the end of day 1a.

Vince Van Patten Pushes All In Against Jared Okun

On a board of 6653, a player moved all in for 10,050 and Jared Okun made the call. The remaining contestant of the pot, Vince Van Patten, verified the amount of the bet with the dealer and made the call. The river brought the Q, and Okun made a bet of 17,000 into the side pot. Van Patten took off his sunglasses, counted out the 17,000 from his remaining stack and sat pensively. After a few moments of deliberation, Van Patten dramatically announced that he was all in for an additional 23,000. The media arrived in a frenzy, with cameras pointed at all involved players. Okun eventually released his hand, and the side pot was pushed to Van Patten. The dealer asked both Van Patten and his all in opponent to show hands for the main pot, and Van Patten turned over 65 for a flopped full house. His opponent flipped over a higher full house with QQ, prompting an outburst from Van Patten at his opponent’s lucky river card. After taking some time to stack his chips, Van Patten was left with around 41,000 after the hand.

John Hennigan Folds Under Pressure

Johnny “World” Hennigan raised to 1,200 from the hijack seat and faced calls from the players in both the cut-off and the small blind. When the action got to the player in the big blind, he paused to contemplate his situation before reraising an additional 4,600. Hennigan folded, as did the other players. Hennigan was left with around 27,000 after the hand

It's a Shorr Thing

Shannon Shorr made a gutsy play with a bit of a shortstack, and it had pay off. In the small blind, Shorr saw two other limpers join the pot for 400. He called and the big blind checked, and the flop came Q85. Shorr and two others checked before the final player, in seat 5, put out a bet of 1700. Shorr called, the others folded, and play was heads-up. The turn brought the K, and after Shorr checked, seat 6 bet 3,500. Shorr, who began the hand with just 21,000 in chips, again made the call. The river brought the 3 to bring a flush into play, and both players checked. Shorr showed 98, and that was enough to take down the pot.

Blinds/Antes: 200-400, 25 ante

Players remaining: 711 of 1,297

Eliminations:
Jack Haley

Big Hands and Storylines:

Mark Garner Amassing a Big Stack

Mark Garner raised to 1,600 in late position and action folded around to Ted Lawson in the blinds. Lawson raised to 4,000 and Garner made the call. Lawson bet 8,000 on the Q62 flop and Garner made a cautious call. The flop – 4 – put four clubs on the board. Lawson checked over to Garner who wasted little time in betting 16,000. Lawson went into the tank, waiting five minutes before folding his AA face up. Garner, in a sporting gesture, showed his A9. Lawson’s reaction to the hand: “You are so lucky! Jesus!”

Lawson is down to 50,000 on the hand and Garner, lucky or not, now has an impressive 148,000.

Krazy Eyez Killa

Brandon Adams and an opponent got all in on a J9910 board. Adams showed Q9 while his opponent needed a jack to claim the pot outright with his QJ. The river was the 10 and Adams made a full house.  This pot gave him another addition to his massive stack. Adams is one of the day 1a chip leaders with 152,000.

(Gobb)O! The Humanity!

Jimmy “Gobboboy” Fricke went to a flop heads-up in position. On a flop of K95, Fricke bet 3,000 after being checked to. The 10 slowed down the action, as both players checked. The river was the 3 and Fricke’s opponent immediately looked to his stack before betting 7,500. “Ace-jack of spades?” asked Fricke. He shuffled his chips a bit before looking his opponent up. He was not too happy to see 99. “You re-raise the flop, you get it all,” piped Fricke, “Every cent.” After the hand, Fricke was down to 21,000.

Gray twins can't stay apart

After a player in early position player raised to 1,100, Craig Gray reraised to 3,300 from the button. The blinds and the raiser folded, and Gray took down the pot. He now has 26,000 chips. Meanwhile, his brother Jason Gray was moved from the orange section to the blue, and is now seated at the table right behind Craig. He currently has about 28,000 chips.

Maya Antonius drops some chip to four-flush

On a board of Q6329, Maya Antonius checked and then her opponent checked behind. Her opponent flipped over pocket jacks with the J and took the pot of roughly 6,000. After the hand Antonius had roughly 35,000 chips.

Blinds: 150-300, 25 ante

Chip Counts:
Patrick Fortin - 135,000
Mark Garner - 111,000
Thang "Kido" Pham - 110,000
Brandon Adams - 110,000
Darrell Dicken - 100,000
Jeremiah Smith - 100,000
Bryan Sapp - 99,000
Dustin Dirksen - 95,000
Barry Shulman - 55,000
Shannon Shorr - 15,500

Eliminations:

John Cernuto
Joe Sebok
Josh Arieh
Kevin Saul
Eric Liu
J.J. Liu
Roland de Wolfe
Brad May

Big Hands and Storylines:

Barry Greenstein Can’t Get Any Respect

Barry Greenstein raised from under the gun and received calls by both the player on the button and the player in the small blind. When it was the big blind’s turn to act, he reraised to a total of 3,800. Greenstein folded, as did the button. The small blind deliberated for a moment before folding pocket tens face up. Greenstein continued to struggle throughout the level with a chip stack smaller than his original 20,000.

John Cernuto Falls Victim to an Ace on the River

John Cernuto made his final stand and got it all in with pocket kings against his opponent’s AK. The board was initially favorable for Cernuto, but the A on the river overtook his kings and sent him home.

Matt Brooks Eliminates Matt Lagarde

Matt Brooks limped under the gun and action folded to Matt “mlagoo” Lagarde who raised to 1,000. The small blind made the call and action was back on Brooks. Brooks very quickly made it 5,000. Lagarde moved the rest of his chips – about 11,000 total – into the pot. The small blind folded and Brooks called:

Lagarde: KK
Brooks: AA

The flop came 643 and Lagarde rose from his chair. The turn was the 3, and by the time the dealer flipped the Q, Lagarde was already half way out of the Amazon Room. Matt Brooks is now up to 33,000.

Been eliminates one with set of aces

A player moved all in and Aaron Been called with pocket aces. His opponent flipped over pocket jacks and was in need of help. Winning the pot became much more unlikely after the flop, which brought an jack but also an ace. He didn't catch his one outer on the turn or river and was eliminated from the tournament. After the hand Been was up to 30,000 chips.

Kevin Saul knocks player out, gets breathing room

After getting crippled a player moved all in from under the gun for just 450. Six players called, including Kevin Sail on the button. The flop came J75 and it was checked around to Saul. He bet 1,200 and everyone folded. He flipped over 76 and the player all in turned over K-Q. The turn wand river were 7A and Saul was up to 13,000 chips after the hand. But he was eliminated soon afterward when he ran K-J into K-Q.

Blinds: 150-300, 25 ante

Eliminations:

Juha Helppi
Mike Sowers

Big Hands and Storylines:

Vince Van Patten Squeezes a Value Bet on the River

A player in early position made it 900 to go, and Vince Van Patten made the call from the cut-off. After Van Patten had a chance to put on his sunglasses, the flop came down KK10. The other player checked, and Van Patten made a bet of 1,500. His opponent called and the J peeled off on the turn. Both players checked, and the 6 fell on the river. Again the early position player checked, and Van Patten fired a bet of 3,000. After his opponent called, Van Patten turned over AJ. Van Patten’s opponent mucked his cards.

Ray Romano Shows Too Much

The player in the hijack seat (one to the right of the cut-off) raised to a total of 900, and Ray Romano called as the player next to act. All other players folded, and the dealer put down a flop of 864. The hijack seat bet 1,400, and Romano raised to 6,000 total. His opponent folded, and Romano turned over 88 for top set. “I show too much,” Romano remarked as he dragged the pot. His opponent told him that he folded pocket queens to Romano’s raise.

Chau Giang Eliminates Opponent and Adds to Stack

On a flop of 986, Chau Giang faced an all in bet of 17,200 from his opponent. After deliberating for several moments, Giang finally made a decision based on the size of the pot. “There’s just too much money out there. I call,” Giang said and turned over 77. Giang’s opponent revealed Q10 for two overcards and a two-way inside straight draw. The 5 on the turn completed Giang’s straight, and the meaningless 10 on the river only improved Giang’s straight. Giang finished the hand with over 75,000 in chips.

Mike Sowers Eliminated

Mike “sowerss” Sowers raised to 800 in early position and was called by the two players to his left. Action was then on Jonathan Little in the cutoff who raised to 3,400. Action folded around to Sowers who moved all-in for about 22,000. The two callers folded and Little called. Sowers showed KQ and Little had AA. The board ran out J8228 and Sowers, who had Little covered, was crippled.

Only a few hands later Sowers would get his remaining 1,175 chips in with A4 against an opponent’s QQ. The board ran out 852K8 and Sowers’ day came to an abrupt close.

Shulman's knocks out player

Following a J-10-x flop, a player short on chips moved all in and Barry Shulman called. Shulman held K-Q for a straight draw with over cards, and his opponent held just K-9. An ace came on the river to give Shulman a straight and the pot. After the hand Shulman was up to 54,000 chips.

Hennigan gets back to starting stack with flush

With the board 9542 John Hennigan bet 5,300 from the big blind and was called by a player in middle position. The river was the 7 and both players checked. Hennigan flipped over J8 for a flush and took down the pot. Hennigan was up to 22,000 chips after the hand.

Toto caught, forced to fold

Three players saw a A96 flop and a player bet out 600. Toto Leonidas raised to 1,800, and then a player in the big blind raised to 5,300. The initial bettor folded and Leonidas laughed and laid down his hand as well.

Two Bullets and a Dagger

On a K94 flop, Richard Roop bet 2,400 into two opponents. Dario Alioto called and the third player folded. The 5 came on the turn and the small blind again bet, 3,200 this time. Alioto made a quick call and the pair saw the river. The river was the J and Roop quickly bet 10,000. Alioto made the call and Roop showed Q10 for a gutshot straight. Roop’s aggression, firing two bullets with only a gutshot straight draw, paid off, and he now has 45,000. Alioto is back down to his starting stack size.

 

The players are back in the seats and the tournament has resumed. There are two levels left today. Blinds for level 4 are 150-300 with a 25 ante.

Note: Players took a ninety-minute dinner break and will return at roughly 8:45 pm to begin Level 3 with increased blinds of 150-300 with a 25 ante.

Blinds/Antes: 150-300

Chip Counts:
Christopher Kero: 118,700
Patrick Fortin: 110,000
David Rheem: 98,000
Max Greenwood: 90,000
Nate eaton: 90,000
Kido Pham: 86,000
Svetlana Gromenkova: 86,000
Yan Chen: 84,000
Barry Shulman: 27,500
Shannon Shorr: 26,700

Eliminations: Young Phan, Ralph Perry, Gavin Smith, Eric Froehlich, Phil Galfond, Chad Brown

Big Hands:

Jack Haley With the Double-Double

On a flop of KQ2, former NBA ball player Jack Haley got it all in with top pair (AK) against the player in seat 3's middle pair (Q3). The turn was the K, giving haley the check mark, his opponent was drawing dead on the river (7). After the hand, Haley doubled up to just over 8,000 in chips.

The Ups and Downs of Paul Wasicka

On a board of A524, the player in seat 1 bet 1,000 and Wasicka made the call. Another player in the hand mucked his cards the the two players were heads up heading to the river. It came down with the 9 and seat 1 bet 2,000. Wasicka called again and seat 1 asked, "you got a straight?" Wasicka nodded and turned over 33 for the wheel and he scooped a pot to get his stack back over 20,000.

A few hands later, the player in seat 6 raised to 1,050. Wasicka made the call from the big blind and the flop came 932. Wasicka checked and seat 6 bet 1,325. Wasicka made the call and the turn was the 4. Both players checked and they did the same when the J came on the river. Wasicka showed 77 and his opponent showed 98 for top pair and the pot. Wasicka was at 15,000 after the hand.

Galfond Out

Phil Galfond moved all in for his last couple of thousand against the player in seat 8 preflop. Galfond showed 88 while his opponent showed 1010. The board ran out 946K2 and Galfond's main event was done.

Turner Busts One

The player in seat 8 raised to 800 from middle position and Jon "PearlJammer" Turner made the call from the button. The flop rolled out Q98 and seat 8 led out with 1,150. Turner raised an additional 2,100 and seat 8 pushed all in. Turner called instantly and showed J10 while seat 8 showed AQ. The turn was the 3 and the river was the 3. Turner eliminated seat 8 and was around 50,000.

Morgan Involved in Two Big Hands

Jordan Morgan raised to 1,800 preflop and both seat 2 and seat 7 made the call. The flop came 963 and Morgan fired 3,500. Seat 2 folded but seat 7 stuck around, making the call. The turn was the 9 and both players checked. The river brought the 9 and Morgan fired 9,750. Seat 7 went into the tank for almost five minutes. He finally called and Morgan tabled JJ. Seat 7 mucked and Morgan took the huge pot.

A few hands later, the board read 976K, seat 1 and seat 4 both moved all in before the action even got to Morgan. Morgan made the call, having both men covered. Seat 1 showed 66 for a set. Seat 2 showed Q10 for a made flush along with a gutshot straight flush draw. Morgan turned over 87 for a lower flush, as well as a straight flush draw. The river brought the J, giving seat 4 his straight flush, not that he needed it. Seat 1 was eliminated and Morgan was around 60,000.

Anna Wroblewski Doubles Up, Eliminates Lenny Cortelino

On a flop of Q43, Lenny Cortellino checked to Anna Wroblewski who bet 6,100. Cortellino raised (check-raised) to 12,100 and Wroblewski moved all in. Cortellino insta-called and turned over QQ for top set while Wroblewski showed AA for the overpair and the nut flush draw. Wroblewski had Cortellino slightly covered. The turn was the 9, giving Wroblewski her flush and reducing Coretllino to pairing the board to stay alive. The river was the 2, no pair and Cortellino hit the rail. After the hand, Wroblewski nearly doubled up to just over 60,000 in chips.

Shulman Keeps Rolling

Action folded around to the button who raised to 900. Barry Shulman made the call from the small blind and the flop came A43 and Shulman checked. The player on the button fired a continuation bet of 1,500 and Shulman made the call. The turn was the 2 and Shulman led out for 2,000. The button looked confused and mucked his hand. Shulman flashed an ace and took the pot.

 

Blinds/Antes: 150-300

Chip Leaders:

Jonah Rogers: 86,200
Yan Chen: 85,000
Blair Hinkle: 75,000
David Rheem: 75,000
Nate Eaton: 72,000
Eric Sfez: 71,000
Jeremiah Smith: 67,400
Max Greenwood: 66,775
Barry Shulman: 35,700
Shannon Shorr: 26,700

Eliminations: Dan Harrington, Jason Alexander, Roy Winston, Matt Stout, Lyle Berman, Katja Thater, Jan Von Halle, Raymond Rahme, Taylor Caby

Big Hands:

No Soup For You! Jason Alexander Eiminated

On a board of 9435, the player in seat 3 moved all in for 5,900 and Jason Alexander made the call. Bryan Colin came over the op and moved all in behind him. Colin had both seat 3 and Alexander covered. Alexander thought for a minute before making the crying call as he committed the rest o his chips into a three-way all in pot with one card to come. Alexander turned over AA for the overpair while Colin showed A2 for the wheel. Alexander saw the bad news and said, "Oh you mother!" Seat 3 threw his hand into the muck before the river  card (3) was even dealt. Both seat 3 and Alexander were eliminated this hand as Colin raked a monster pot, bringing his chip count to 88,000.

Sebok Takes a Hit

Joe Sebok raised to 900 and the player in seat 8 made the call from the big blind. The flop came Q85 and seat 8 checked to Sebok. He fired 1,100 and seat 8 min-raised to 2,200. Sebok made the call and the turn was the 6. Both players checked and the K came on the river. Seat 8 led out with 3,000 and Sebok quickly mucked. His stack was around 26,000.

Winston Gone

On a flop of J87, Roy Winston checked and his opponent bet 2,300. John Cernuto was also in the hand and he called from the button. Winston was next to act, and act he did. He pushed in for his remaining 10,000 and his opponent made the call. Cernuto mucked his hand and Winston showed J10 for top pair and a gutshot straight draw. His opponent turned over AJ for top pair and top kicker. The turn was the 3, taking some outs away from Winston. He needed a 10 or a 9 that was not a heart to stay alive. The river was the 5 and Winston was eliminated.

Kido Pham Adds to his Stack

On a board reading J433, the player in seat 5 checked to Kido Pham. As Pham thought about what to do, his opponent tried to convince him to see a free card. Pham showed his gentle side, agreeing to check. The river was the A and seat 5 checked again. Pham had enough softness, grabbing a big stack of yellow "1,000" chips and moving them toward the middle. Before they got there, seat 5 mucked and Pham took in the pot. His stack was around 60,000.

J on the River No Good for J.J.

Before the flop, J.J. Liu opened for a raise only to have the player in seat 3 move all-in behind her. J.J. made the call, showing 77 against her opponent's monster hand, J8. The board ran out AQ22....J, giving her opponent the double up to around 14,000 in chips. Welcome to the Main Event.

Bossman Bullies Table

Barry Shulman opened with a raise to 800, and was called by only one player on the button. On a flop K85, Shulman led out again for 1,500, muscling his lone opponent out of the pot. Shulman's stack increased to 34,000 after the hand.

Note: Players are now on a 20 minute break and will return at 5:10 pm to Level 3 with increased blinds of 150-300.

Blinds/Antes: 100-200

Chip Leaders:
Yan Chen: 81,000
Nate Eaton: 80,000
David Rheem: 72,000
Jonah Rogers: 64,500
Kido Pham: 64,000
Ryan Jones: 62,800
Robert Whalen: 61,000
Barry Shulman: 32,500
Roy Winston: 28,000
Shannon Shorr: 20,700

Eliminations: Freddy Deeb, Maureen Feduniak, Vanessa Selbst, Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, Eli Elezra, Luis Velador,

Big Hands:

Cat Fight at Table 38

Erica Schoenberg raised to 525 from early position. The player in the big blind made the call. The flop was 1074 and Schoenberg bet 700. The big blind made the call. The turn was the K and Schoenberg bet another 1,500. The big blind called and the river was the 8. Once again, the big blind checked to Schoenberg who bet again, this time 2,500. The big blind says "make it 5,000" as she throws in an orange chip. Schoenberg, along with the rest of the table, didn't hear the raise and assumed it was a call. Schoenberg showed K10 for top two pair. The woman in the big blind turned her hand over, thinking Schoenberg had called and turned over 65 for a straight.

After realizing that Schoenberg never completed the raise, the big blind started to get vocal, all but demanding the dealer make Schoenberg call the raise. The floor was called over and sort of dismissed the whole thing because there were mixed signals. Half the table acknoledging they heard the raise and the other half admitting that they did not hear the raise. The floor dismissed the whole fiasco, considering that both hands were already exposed and that Schoenberg would not call with a losing hand.

Brown Cracks Aces, Doubles Up

Chad Brown raised to 500 preflop and the player in the big blind repopped to 2,200. Brown made the call and the flop came down J62. The big blind bet 4,500 and Brown made the call. The turn brought the 2 and the big blind moved all in. Brown snap called and turned over JJ for a full house on the turn. The big blind showed AA for two pair and needed to hit one of the remaining aces to knock Brown out. The river was the K, however, and Brown doubled to about 40,000 in chips.

Barry Shulman Rakes In a Pot

On a flop of K98, Barry Shulman bet 500 and the player in the small blind raised to 1,500 and Shulman called. The turn was the 7 and both players checked. The river was the J and the small blind bet 1,000. Shulman raised to 3,200 and the small blind angrily mucked his cards, exposing the 8 face up. Shulman raked the pot and his stack was around 33,000.

Don't Lie to Arieh

Josh Arieh raised to 700 before the flop and had one opponent make the call. The flop came down K1010 and both players checked. The turn was the 6 and Arieh checked again. His opponent bet 1,100 and Arieh made the call. The river brought the 10 and Arieh checked again. His opponent bet out another 1,500 and Arieh stuck around. His opponent showed Q9 for a busted straight draw while Arieh turned over a couple of ladies, QQ. Arieh scooped up the pot and was around 18,000 after the hand.

Allyn Jaffrey Shulman is Eliminated

On a board that read 8846, Shulman moved all in for about 6,000. Her opponent made the call and turned over 108 for a flopped set. Shulman was apparently drawing dead as she threw her hand in the muck before the J fell on the river.

Elezra Turned Away

Eli Elezra called a preflop raise to 600 by one opponent. Both players saw a flop of K410. Elezra called his opponent's bet of 1,000 and the turn brought the J. Elezra's opponent moved all in for about 8,000 and Elezra called all in for about 4,000. Elezra showed KQ for top pair, but his opponent improved to two pair on the turn as he showed KJ. The river was the 6 and Elezra was out.