The 2002 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Robert Varkonyi is currently seated in the orange section of the Amazon Room. We found him limp from under the gun plus one and have one other player follow suit. The small blind completed and the big blind checked his option.
The four players saw and the blinds checked to Varkonyi who bet 400. The fourth player folded and the small blind called. The big blind also flung away his hand and the two were heads up to the turn. They both checked the and did so again on the river.
"I have a pair of eights," said Varkonyi, showing .
Varkonyi's opponent showed for eights with a higher kicker and the pot was pushed to the opposite side of the table from Varkonyi.
We have a handful of former main event champions in the field today, and we just rounded up their counts to let you guys know how they are doing. Three who are doing well so far, Peter Eastgate, Dan Harrington, and Carlos Mortensen, are sequestered from the rest of the field over in the Blue Section as the three "featured" tables.
A player raised from middle position and got two callers, the button and Mikhail Shalamov in the big blind. The flop came and when checked to the original raiser continued for 1,100, and only Shalamov stuck around.
The turn was the . Shalamov checked quickly, then after a lengthy pause his opponent checked as well. The river brought the . Shalamov rechecked his cards, then tossed out a bet of 1,500. His opponent waited about a half-minute, then raised to 3,300, and Shalamov instantly folded, conceding the hand.
We caught up to see three player including Everett Carlton looking at a flop of .
All three checked their option and the turn paired the board with the . The first player led out for 1,000 and the second folded. Carlton opted to raise to 3,000 from the cutoff and his opponent called.
The river was the and both players checked.
"Two pair," said Carlton's opponent showing .
"Me too," said Carlton, who tabled for a better two pair. Carlton is currently sitting on one of the bigger stacks in the room with about 76,000 in chips.
A player in early position opened for 1,000 and was called by another player directly behind him. Action then folded around to Yevgeniy Timoshenko, who, deliberate as always, took his time and three-bet to 2,500. The original raiser quickly folded and so did the caller after some thought.
Timoshenko still hasn't really received any momentum today - he is still sitting a bit below the starting stack with 27,500.
Scott Abrams is one of many people to have an impressive showing at this year's World Series of Poker. Snagging three cashes, including a final table appearance in Event 7: $1,500 Seven Card Stud and a 10th place finish in Event 18: $2,500 Seven Card Razz. None of his cashes have come from no limit hold'em though. Will this year's Main Event bring him that score?
The table folded over to Scott Abrams on the button and he raised it up to 800. The small blind then three-bet to 2,400 prompting a four-bet from Abrams. The small blind then five-bet all in and Abrams called. As is the custom here both player's cards were turned over before the board was exposed.
Abrams:
Small Blind:
The board came and with that Abrams delivered the knock-out blow and basically doubled up as both players were almost even in chips, with Abrams holding a slight advantage.
The doors have closed and all the late comers for Day 1b have been counted. A total of 2,114 came to play Day 1b, making the total 3,180 thus far.
Referring to that overall total of 3,180 (adding Days 1a and 1b), WSOP is saying "at least that many more players [are] expected" for Day 1c.
In other words, it sounds as though this year's overall turnout for the Main Event may be rivaling that of last year when 6,865 played. We'll see for sure tomorrow after adding up the last of the three Day 1 flights.
and the blinds checked to Varkonyi who bet 400. The fourth player folded and the small blind called. The big blind also flung away his hand and the two were heads up to the turn. They both checked the 
and did so again on the 
river.
.
for eights with a higher kicker and the pot was pushed to the opposite side of the table from Varkonyi.
and when checked to the original raiser continued for 1,100, and only Shalamov stuck around.
. Shalamov checked quickly, then after a lengthy pause his opponent checked as well. The river brought the 
. Shalamov rechecked his cards, then tossed out a bet of 1,500. His opponent waited about a half-minute, then raised to 3,300, and Shalamov instantly folded, conceding the hand.
.
. The first player led out for 1,000 and the second folded. Carlton opted to raise to 3,000 from the cutoff and his opponent called.
and both players checked.
.
for a better two pair. Carlton is currently sitting on one of the bigger stacks in the room with about 76,000 in chips.
and with that Abrams delivered the knock-out blow and basically doubled up as both players were almost even in chips, with Abrams holding a slight advantage.