WSOP: $10,000 World Championship PLHE Day 1

The World Series of Poker pulled out the big guns to kick off 46 days of action in Las Vegas. The $10,000 World Championship pot-limit hold’em event was first on the agenda, and many professional players were present in the field of 352 players. Among those professionals was the defending champion Allen Cunningham, but it was not in the cards for him to repeat his gold bracelet performance from last year.

Action began shortly after noon, but not before the UNLV Running Rebels’ marching band stormed into Amazon Room and played a rendition of “Viva Las Vegas.” This was followed by welcome announcements from WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, and Tournament Director Jack Effel. Doyle Brunson then announced, “Shuffle up and deal,” and the largest poker spectacle of the year officially began.

Although the field was smaller than the usual $1,500 no-limit hold’em event that has kicked things off on day one the last couple of years, the field more than made up for its smaller size with some of the most recognized and respected players in the game. Among those pros were some of the most decorated players in WSOP history, including Brunson (10 bracelets), Erik Seidel (8 bracelets), T.J. Cloutier (6 bracelets), and Phil Ivey (5 bracelets). Also in the mix were Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein, and a horde of other professionals.

Two Hollywood starlets turned poker players were the first to leave the room as Shannon Elizabeth and Jennifer Tilly made early exits on day 1. They were followed to the rail by 280 other players during the course of the day, and the field has 70 remaining before the start of day 2.

On a more positive note than all the eliminations that took place, heading into the dinner break multiple players had crossed the 100,000 mark, and among them were Eli Elezra, Vivek Rajkumar, Lyle Berman, and David Benyamine. Berman was involved in one the most interesting hands during late action when he tangled in a pot with his son, Lyle:

The board read KQ3, Bradley check-raised pot and then shipped the rest of his stack in when Lyle re-raised him. Brad held A10 for a flush draw, and a gutshot straight draw, while Lyle flipped over pocket threes for bottom set. The turn and river brought 2 and the 8, and the father had eliminated his son.

Elezra continued to play well throughout the final stages of day 1, and he jumped into the chip lead during two crucial pots near the end of play. The first of these pivotal hands came when he raised to open a pot, and Ray Coburn came over the top for 12,500, only to have Elezra make it 40,000 to play. Coburn eventually committed all of his 57,000 into the pot and flipped over pocket queens, while Elezra showed kings. The flop came AK10 and gave Elezra a set. Coburn was left drawing to a gutshot straight, but he failed to hit it when the 6 and 2 fell on the final two streets. Elezra had eliminated Coburn and he then became the clear chip leader after making quad deuces to bust Eugene Katchalov during the last level. Elezra was the only player sitting with over 300,000 in chips when play ended for the night.

The final 70 players will return today at 2 p.m. to play down to a final table of nine, which will take place on Sunday, June 1. The final player left standing at that final table will be awarded the first gold bracelet of the summer.

Here are the top ten chip counts:

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