Day 1b of the 2010 World Series of Poker main event is in the books. A total of 1,489 entrants turned out for the second of the four starting days.
Combined with Monday’s total, the first two starting days have a field size of 2,614. For comparison, 1,989 players had registered through the first two days in the 2009 main event.
The increase doesn’t necessarily indicate an overall growth in the event. The WSOP staff has been opening and closing registration for day 1d in an effort to keep the starting days balanced. Last year day 1d sold out and created controversy when a number of players weren’t able to participate.
Among the 1,489 players on Tuesday were a number of established pros. Notables who survived the day include Josh Brikis, James Dempsey, Kido Pham, Florian Langmann, Valdemar Kwaysser, Chris Bell, Gavin Griffin, Ludovic Lacay, Barbara Enright, Johnny Lodden, Matt Affleck, Brandon Cantu, Roland de Wolfe, Gavin Smith, Jon Turner and Vladimir Shchemelev. Bracelet-winner Phil Galfond is near the top of the leader board with about 150,000.
Cash-game specialist Phil Laak is also alive and doing well after his first day of the 2010 main event. Laak, who recently set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous poker session, said trying to wade through the main event field is way tougher than playing 115 hours of poker without sleep.
The no-limit hold’em championship is Laak’s sixth WSOP event this summer, and even though he doesn’t concentrate on tournaments, the main event is always on his schedule.
“I don’t really think in terms of value when I come to the main event,” said Laak, who ended the day with an above average stack. “Although, It is probably the best value during the [tournament] year. I think it would be hard for any poker player that loves poker to miss the event that has the most entrants and the biggest prize money, in the history of all poker events.”
However, starting the day with 300 big blinds wasn’t enough for some players.
Jamie Gold, the 2006 main-event champion, was unable to survive on Tuesday. Gold was all in preflop for his last 2,950 chips versus Yan Hua. Gold tabled the A
Q
and was behind the K K of Hua. The board ran out 8 6
4 6 3 and the WSOP drought continued for the bracelet holder.
Poker pro Brandon Adams witnessed one of the worst river cards on day 1b. Adams held the A A against the K
K of Paulo Rink. Rink was all in when the flop came A K 3 to give both players a set. Rink was dead to the case king. The turn 3 was safe for Adams. However, the K on the river devastated Adams and doubled Rink to 63,000. Adams was down 3,900 after the hand and busted later in the day.
Other notable eliminations from the day include Robert Williamson, Brett Jungblut, Justin Bonomo, John D’Agostino, Benjamin Spindler, Jennifer Tilly, Bertrand Grospellier, Liv Boeree, Mark Seif, Dan Shak,Joe Sebok, Ivan Demidov, and Erick Lindgren.
Stay tuned to Card Player tomorrow for more updates from poker’s most prestigious tournament!
