WPT Championship -- Day 1A

The times, they are a changin'. With the U.S. economy struggling, the $25,000 WPT Five-Star World Poker Classic mustered a disappointing 126 for its first starting day. The attendance is expected to dramatically increase for day 1B, but it's clear that last year's total of 545 will not be reached. There have been many speculations as to the reason for the decline, but some players pointed towards the European Poker Tour San Remo event that is running simultaneously, which drew an impressive 578 players for its day 1A.

Still, the smallish field did not disappoint as far as action was concerned. Despite starting with quadruple stacks of 100,000 and 90-minute levels, some players just couldn't help but find themselves all in early on. Continue reading to see how the Card Player live updates team chronicled the action:

Andy Bloch Nearly Doubles Up With Straight Flush

Andy Bloch (pictured right) and his opponent saw a flop of 6 4 4, and Bloch bet 300. His opponent raised to 800, and Bloch called. The turn was the 2, and the unknown bet 1,500. Bloch called, and the river was the 5.

Bloch's opponent then bet 10,000, and Bloch raised to 30,000. The player then raised to 80,000, and Bloch moved all in. The player folded, leaving himself with 17,000.

Bloch showed 3 2 for a straight flush and chipped up to 185,000 in chips.


Phil Hellmuth Arrives at 4 p.m.... Leaves at 4:15 p.m.

Recent World Poker Tour runner-up Amnon Filippi (pictured left) and Phil Hellmuth got involved in a huge pot just after Hellmuth arrived. Both players were in for 10,000 preflop, with Hellmuth pushing the action. They checked a flop of 9 9 2, and Filippi bet 8,500 when the 6 hit the turn. Hellmuth raised to 30,000, and Filippi made the call. The river was the K, and Filippi moved all in. Hellmuth eventually mucked, claiming he had pocket aces, and insinuated that Filippi rivered a full house with pocket kings. Filippi mockingly admitted to the pocket kings but failed to show his cards.

A few hands later, both players were at it again. This time they were in for 3,000 each, and the flop came 10 6 3. Filippi checked, and Hellmuth bet 5,000, which was called. Filippi check-called another 10,000 on the 2 turn, and the river was the Q. Hellmuth bet 22,000, and Filippi moved all in.

Hellmuth (pictured right) tanked and eventually called all in for his last 30,000 with 10-3 for a flopped two pair. Filippi showed pocket queens for a rivered set, and Hellmuth was eliminated from the tournament. That pot boosted Filippi's stack to 210,000.


Kevin Saul Eliminated by Rhynie Campbell

Kevin Saul moved all in for 37,025 on a flop of J 10 9, and Rhynie Campbell called him down. Saul showed 10 9 for bottom two pair, but Campbell was well ahead with 9 9 for bottom set. The turn and river bricked, and Saul was eliminated from the tournament. The pot was big enough to give Campbell a stack of 140,000.


Vadim Trincher Defeats John Phan with Set Over Set

John Phan bet 18,000 on a board of 10 8 3 K J, and Vadim Trincher (pictured left) raised to 43,000. Phan called him down and flipped up 8 8. Trincher prevailed when he turned up K K for a better set and took down the pot to grow his stack to 300,000 for the chip lead. Phan was knocked down to 20,000 after the hand.


Day 1A Comes to an End

The first day of the WPT Championship came to an end with 105 players remaining. Here is a look at the top five chip counts.

1. Vadim Trincher -- 309,725
2. Johnny Chan -- 291,675
3. Burt Boutin -- 281,000
4. Shaun Deeb -- 269,900
5. Brian Powell -- 254,075

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