You may not know the name Frank Op de Woerd when you first see it, but you probably know who I'm talking about when I say "Webjoker". Frank has been a live reporter at the WSOP for years now, and just this year starting working for the Pokernews.com site. He is originally from the Netherlands, where he is one of the most highly respected and admired members of the poker media world. There he runs a very popular poker forum that has many loyal followers. How loyal are they? Well, they put up his buy-in for this event.
Without him knowing, the members decided to pool their money together, and give him an entry to a $1,000 buy-in event. Well the donations were so popular that they easily raised enough money to put him in a $1,500 event, which is how he got his seat in this tournament today. His followers will be happy to know that Frank is off to a fantastic start today, as he is already up to over 14,000 so far! We will be sure to keep tabs on his progress as the day moves forward.
Poker tournaments often see their fair share of controversy. Players are sometimes accused of angle-shooting, or worse, outright cheating. Occasionally a situation arises which falls into a grey area within the rules, and players have widely varying opinions about the tournament staff’s decision. Today, though, the most controversial figure in the room is known for sparking debate away from the tables.
James Taylor is a noted climate-change commentator. He is a senior fellow at the Heartland Institute, which, according to its mission statement, aims to “discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.” Taylor is also the managing editor of Heartland’s publication Environment and Climate News.
As with many people and organizations involved in this field, neither Taylor nor Heartland are free from accusations of bias, and Taylor’s commentary is part of a lively and ongoing debate involving both the scientific community and public policy.
Update: The seat formerly occupied by Taylor now sits empty. It appears he has busted out of the tournament.
Before the break, we watch one of the most famous faces in poker, ESPN host Kara Scott, as she played her big blind. One player called from late position, the small blind called, and then Scott checked her option. The flop fell , and all three players checked. The turn was the , and Scott bet out for 175 after the small blind checked. One opponent called, and the small blind folded. Scott led out for 425 on the river, and got a call. She showed , and her opponent mucked. Scott is now up to 6,200 from the starting stack of 4,500.
We just had perfect timing walking over to the Amazon room, as we walked right into the middle of a huge pot involving Jennifer Tilly, Marc-Andre Ladouceur, and another opponent. There was about 1,000 in the middle, and the flop read when we arrived. It was checked to the unknown opponent, who fired out 675. Ladouceur made the call, only to see Tilly check raise to 1,500. The opponent then moved all in for her last 5,000, and while Ladouceur got out of the way, TIlly snap called.
Tilly:
Opponent:
Tilly was fortunate enough to flop a set against her opponent's overpair, and her hand held through the turn, and the river. After that hand, Tilly has already amassed a stack of 15,000.
, and all three players checked. The turn was the 
, and Scott bet out for 175 after the small blind checked. One opponent called, and the small blind folded. Scott led out for 425 on the 
river, and got a call. She showed 
, and her opponent mucked. Scott is now up to 6,200 from the starting stack of 4,500.
when we arrived. It was checked to the unknown opponent, who fired out 675. Ladouceur made the call, only to see Tilly check raise to 1,500. The opponent then moved all in for her last 5,000, and while Ladouceur got out of the way, TIlly snap called.
turn, and the 
river. After that hand, Tilly has already amassed a stack of 15,000.
