British pro Sebastian Saffari has crashed out of the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event during Day 1a and plans to head back to the UK to continue his grind online.
In his Tweet, Saffari mentions that he's had a successful summer, which it has. Saffari cashed five times, including finishing second in the 10-Game Mix event.
With the board reading by the turn, Eric Froehlich called a bet of 3,600 made by a player in the big blind.
When the completed the board on the river, his opponent paused for a minute before tapping the table in silence. Froehlich stared his man down for a bit, before checking behind, but he angrily flicked his cards into the muck when he saw the player roll over for a rivered pair of aces.
We noticed an especially large stack in the Amazon Room's orange section, and discovered none other than Italian pro Sergio Castelluccio in possession of more than 120,000.
As this Day 1a of the Main Event comes to a close, Castelluccio should be considered among the more dangerous players in contention, as his huge stack gives him a decided advantage over opponents who are unlikely to outplay him after the flop. We will be sure to let you know if Castelluccio notches any more eliminations as the last two levels of the day wind down.
"I'm back to even!" was the cry from across the room. When our heads popped up from our computer screens, we saw Chamath Palihapitiya standing tall from Seat 1 of Table 419 in the Purple Section screaming for all to hear that he was now back to even. Palihapitiya is well known for having a great time in the poker events he plays, and the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event is much the same. With his arms spread wide after proclaiming getting back to 30,000 in chips, Palihapitiya received a warm round of applause from the room.
Larry Wright raised to 850 from middle position, and only the big blind called. Both players checked the flop, and then the dealer turned the . The big blind checked, and Wright bet 1,250. His opponent quickly folded, and Wright pulled in the pot.
Wright has been steadily building his stack throughout the day, and now sits with 127,000 in chips.
Former World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Cada is up to 21,300 chips after doubling up moments ago.
There were two limps, one in middle position and on on the button, before Cada completed his small blind. Tatiana Barausova checked her option in the big blind, meaning it was four-handed to the flop. The action checked to the button and he led for 4,000. Only Cada called.
The turn was the and Cada checked, the button bet 5,000 and then called when Cada moved all in for an additional 3,000 or so chips.
Cada showed but his opponent mucked before we could see what he had, his cards hitting the muck as the dealer placed the onto the river.
The remaining players are heading on their final 20-minute break for the day!
The penultimate level of the day started with 2011 WSOP Champion Pius Heinz hitting the rail when his turned trips was rivered by his opponent's Broadway straight. However the major story of the level would be new players surging up the leader board.
Abdulaziz Almashal, Javier Etayo, Kyle Burnside and Jason Manger all found themselves trending upwards while it would be the more notable Lika Gerasimova - partner of 2008 WSOP Main Event final tablist both here and in Europe Ivan Demidov - who would snatch the chip lead at one point as all the players who have flirted with the chip lead sat as following at break:
However it would the highly funny Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame that would be one of the players hitting the rail after failing to improve with his against an opponent's . Paul Magriel, Sam Barnhart and David Steicke also found themselves on the rail.
While players are stretching their legs and getting a late snack to power through the final level, head over to our videos page or watch this video with Kristy Arnett and Brian Rast.
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by the turn, Eric Froehlich called a bet of 3,600 made by a player in the big blind.
completed the board on the river, his opponent paused for a minute before tapping the table in silence. Froehlich stared his man down for a bit, before checking behind, but he angrily flicked his cards into the muck when he saw the player roll over 
for a rivered pair of aces.
flop, and then the dealer turned the 
. The big blind checked, and Wright bet 1,250. His opponent quickly folded, and Wright pulled in the pot.
flop. The action checked to the button and he led for 4,000. Only Cada called.
but his opponent mucked before we could see what he had, his cards hitting the muck as the dealer placed the 
onto the river.
