There were 301 runners today for Event #33: $2,500 Seven-Card Razz and at the end of the day only 131 were left standing. Play started slow and steady, as most limit tournament are, and it wasn't until the middle of level three that there was a noticeable bustout. That first bustout was of bracelet winner Vincent Van Der Fluit. Van Der Fluit had been short for most of the day and had been heard talking about not being able to make a hand. Within 30 minutes, Van Der Fluit's chair was empty and the dealer was calling "Seat Open!"
Showing up late to make his title defense was Phil Hellmuth. He came in at the beginning of level five, but never got much going for himself. He finished out the day with only 2,800 chips. That was better than many other notables who were nowhere to be found at the end of the night. Some of the big names to not make it through day one were David "Bakes" Baker, Phil Ivey, Bill Chen, Abe Mosseri, Chad Brown, Cyndy Violette, Erik Seidel, Antonio Esfandiari, and John Juanda.
PokerNews' own Mickey "123md" Doft was in the field today. He got off to a shaky start but managed to make a comeback near the middle of the day. Toward the end of the night he got into several confrontations with David Bach and Justin Bonomo, and he ended up on the losing end. Doft was eliminated toward the very end of the night. Some of Doft's chips went to Bach who ended the day as the apparent chip leader.
Tomorrow the remaining 131 players will return at 2 p.m. local time to continue on their way to World Series of Poker glory by winning a bracelet. PokerNews.com will be around all day with plenty of updates so make sure to stay tuned.
After one player was forced to bring in with the , David Bach completed with a . He was called by a player with an before a player with a raised. Bach called as did the other player.
On fourth street Bach was dealt an and he bet it when it was checked to him. The preflop caller was dealt a and the preflop reraiser was dealt a .
Fifth street came and Bach was dealt a . The preflop caller was dealt a and the preflop reraiser was dealt an . The reraiser opened with a bet. Bach made it two bets. The preflop caller called again, and the reraiser called all in for his last 700 chips.
Sixth street came a for Bach, an for the caller, and a for the all in. Bach and the caller checked.
Seventh street was dealt face down and Bach bet, which caused the preflop caller to fold.
"I had aces up," the preflop caller told Bach.
"Eight," Back said showing . "I thought the ace might've paired you."
The player who was all in mucked his hand angrily, throwing it down on the table as he packed his things and got up. Bach just quietly scooped the pot.
It was in this same event last year that Phil Hellmuth captured his first non-hold'em World Series of Poker bracelet. It only took him five levels to arrive but Hellmuth is finally in the building to defend his title.
Vincent Van Der Fluit was recently removed from the field. We didn't catch the bracelet winner's bustout hand, but we do know that he was one of the first to exit from the room. When we passed by his former table all we saw was his open seat with a seat card.
Many of the players are paying much more attention to tonight NBA finals game rather than the actual poker being played. Cory Zeidman, while more famously known for getting a straight flush against Jennifer Harman or for winning a bracelet in last year's Event 4: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or-Better, is one of those emotionally invested in tonight's basketball game.
We came over to Zeidman and Chad Brown's table to the sound of Zeidman yelling to the floor.
"I want this guy to get a one round whammy penalty," Zeidman explained to the dealer and the table. "He put a whammy on the heat. Will the floor get mad if I call him over here?" Zeidman asked the dealer.
"Probably not," the dealer explained.
Eventually the floor came over and Zeidman explained, jokingly, that he wanted the man to his right to get a "one round whammy penalty," for putting bad juju on his team. The floor just brushed it off and told the man to the Zeidman's right something to the effect of good job.
"Obviously he's just another hater," Zeidman said. "Of course he's gonna give you the 'atta boy and a pat on the back."
While all the shenanigans were taking place, Zeidman completed a bet with the showing and was able to take down a pot on third street.
"I don't even have money on tonight's game," Zeidman explained. "I'm just rooting as a ran. Remember when you were a kid and you used to root as a fan?"
Bill Chen is on the uptick here in Event #33. We just saw him take a relatively big pot here in level three, putting him close to the two-times starting stack mark.
With a board of / Chen bet into his opponent who called him with /.
Both players checked on the face down seventh street.
"Nine, eight, six, three, ace," Chen said announcing his hand showing the under.
His opponent showed for the losing jack low and Chen scooped the pot.
Meanwhile at the table Ben Yu and Shannon Shorr are having a good time probing Chen about his college life and high school years.
"I believe that you haven't done a keg stand before, but I don't buy that you don't know what one is," Yu said to Chen.
"I was on the badminton team," Chen explained.
We'll keep you updated on anymore interesting tidbits and hands from one of the more lively tables in the room.
This tournament area is packed with famous players: Main Event winners, multiple-bracelet winners, internet wizards, and more. But the most famous face in the room tonight doesn't belong to any of them. It belongs to James Woods. The Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor is known for his work in Ghosts of Mississippi, The Virgin Suicides, Nixon, and of course, the classic Vegas crime drama Casino. He's also voiced guest appearances on Family Guy and The Simpsons.
Woods is no stranger to poker. He has appeared on numerous televised poker tournaments and he already has a cash at this year's WSOP. He's off to a good start as he tries for his second, and was up to 8,500 in chips.
PokerNews will keep you updated as Woods tries to add a golden bracelet to the golden globe in his trophy case.
One of PokerNews' own Mickey "123md" Doft is in the field today, but he's not providing tournament coverage this time.
Doft is going to be using a different set of skills in an attempt to make his first World Series of Poker Cash. While Doft is known as being a chip counter extraordinaire, he also has a secret set of hidden skills that lie in his razz prowess.
We'll keep an eye on Doft throughout the day and update on his progress.
We first ran across singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer, and music journalist Steve Albini playing in Event #26: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Championship. Albini has made a reappearance here today in Event #33: $2,500 Seven-Card Razz to take a second shot at razz gold.
While Albini's name may not be as familiar as some musical artists, he's worked with groups such as Nirvana, Cheap Trick, the Pixies, and The Stooges as a record producer.
Albini already has two WSOP cashes to his name. The first being in 2010 in a $1,500 seven card stud event and the second being a 12th place finish just days ago in Event #26. Albini is looking to improve upon his $40,694 cash with a strong showing here today.
We'll keep tabs on Albini's progress throughout the day and make sure to note if he can make another hit here today in Event #33.
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up while David Bach was holding a 
and both players were heading for fourth street.
. Doft bet and Bach called.
and Bach another 
. Doft bet again and Bach called.
for a nine-five low. Bach scooped the pot and Doft fell to just about starting stack.
, David Bach completed with a 
raised. Bach called as did the other player.
. The preflop caller was dealt a 
and the preflop reraiser was dealt an 
. The reraiser opened with a bet. Bach made it two bets. The preflop caller called again, and the reraiser called all in for his last 700 chips.
showing and was able to take down a pot on third street.
Chen bet into his opponent who called him with 
.
under.
