Play began at noon in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event.  If one were to judge the field based on the number of pros sitting at tables as play began, it would appear relatively lacking in pros. Of course, by the end of the first level, numerous tardy pros had strolled in to assume their seats. With the late influx of pros, a number of stacked tables emerged.

Table 7-
2. Bill Gazes
3. Phil Gordon
7. Isabelle Mercier
10. Chip Jett

Table 27 -
1. Steve Dannenmann
2. Lee Watkinson
5. Johnny Chan
6. Barney Boatman
8. Melissa Hayden

Table 45 -
2. Men Nguyen
3. Jamie Gold
7. Roland De Wolfe
10. Layne Flack

And there are many other tables with two or three notable pros.

Off to an early start, Elia Ahmadian was able to build his stack to over $9,000 in the first level. The player in seat 10 made it $175 to go and there were three callers, including Ahmadian. The flop came AJ5 and the player in the small blind checked. Seat 10 pumped out $600 and Ahmadian, the player on the button and the player in the small blind called. The turn was the A and the small blind checked. Seat 10 check as well and Ahmadian bet out $800. The button folded and so did the small blind. The player in seat 10 made the call and the river was the 4. Seat 10 checked and Ahmadian bet out $2,200 with a quick little smile. The player in seat 10 went into the tank and eventually folded. Ahmadian now sits as the chip leader at his table.