However it would Gal Erlichman heading to break as the chip leader after eliminating Soi Nguyen with against Nguyen's . That chip lead amounted to roughly 118,000 and saw him sitting very comfortable as players were now able to enjoy a break full of bad beat stories, missed bets and close calls.
As the remaining players enjoy their 20 minutes away from the table, check out this video Sarah Grant recorded about all the highlights from week five.
As the rest of the field departed the Amazon Room for the recent break, we noticed Paul "X-22" Magriel agonizing over a difficult decsion, his face contorting into the animated expressions that are his trademark.
The flop read and 2,100 was up for grabs in the middle. Bill Mullins had checked to Magriel, and he bet his signature amount of 2,200.
Mullins sprung his trap, however, and raised to 6,200. The action back on him, Magriel tanked for more than three minutes while the room emptied out, but ultimately he released his hand.
"Ace-king of diamond?," he asked Mullins, who graciously tabled the for top two pair in response.
Two recent hands involving actor Kevin Pollak demonstrated the fickle nature of poker, as he went from flopping the nuts to folding the winner in short order.
First, Pollak took a flop of against two opponents, checking and then raising to 3,300 when one of them bet 1,200. This folded the player in between, and the bettor flatted to see the turn come .
Pollak led out for 4,000 on fourth street, his opponent flatted once again, and the river came . After both players tapped the table, Pollak rolled over the for a flopped nut flush.
On the very next deal, Pollak held the button and took a flop of against two opponents. After both checked to him, Pollak fired out a bet of 1,000. The big blind player folded, but the cutoff came along to see the turn come . Both players opted to check, and on the river Pollak's opponent made a suspiciously small bet of 750.
"Why so much?," asked Pollak, employing his trademark sense of humor.
"I have exactly what you think I have," was the opponent's response.
"I think you have sh-t," Pollak shot back, obviously not buying the player's shoe of strength.
Eventually, Pollak became a believer though, and his was folded face up. With the post-oak bluff successfully executed, the player gladly revealed his for pure air.
The dinner bell has rang with the remaining Day 1a players all heading on a 90-minute break.
The previous level began with players such as PokerNews' own Chad Holloway chipping up before Tony Dunst put pressure on Sam Barnhart. However it would be on the feature table that we would see the hand of the century according to Ronnie Bardah when Dominik Nitsche hit running queens to stay alive against Tatiana Barausova.
Six-time WSOP bracelet winner T.J. Cloutier would be one of the victims for the level while high-stakes player Olivier Busquet climbed the leaderboard following a series of hands; one in which he picked off a bluff with second pair.
As the final few hands began to play out, Johnny Steven would see his stack reach the upper echelon of counts as he ended the level with 100,100, but it would be Gal Erlichman continuing his dominance up top as he ended the level as chip leader with 122,000.
With play not resuming until roughly 8:25 p.m. local time, enjoy this video of Eli Elezra's winner interview after he claimed his second bracelet last night.
Mike Matusow's Lips Are Sealed Here on Day 1A of the Main Event
We passed by Mike "The Mouth" Matusow's table and noticed the normally animated and excitable player silently playing a pot.
The action, or inaction in this case, occurred when Matusow opened for 750 from late position, receiving two calls from the hijack and the big blind.
The flop fell and both Matusow and the big blind checked to the cutoff, who fired out a bet of 800. Matusow quickly folded without saying a word, and he dipped below the starting stack.
As the runner-up of the 2008 Main Event, Ivan Demidov is no stranger to the WSOP spotlight, but today it is his girlfriend who has taken center stage.
Lika Gerasimova is seated one table over from Demidov, and the pair of Russian pros have been diligently checking on each other's progress throughout the night. Every so often, Gerasimova stands to peer over at her significant other's chip stack, but lately all of the attention has focused on Gerasimova's rapidly expanding chip castle.
Gerasimova has quietly climbed in the chip counts, earning pot after pot with precision applications of preflop aggression. She currently holds about 145,000 in her stack, which puts her at the top of the counts midway through the first day of play.
With a flop of already fanned across the felt, pro Matt Glantz led out for a bet of 1,800, only to see his opponent reraise all in for his last 10,500.
Holding the for top pair, Glantz made the call, and his opponent revealed the for two overcards.
Turn:
River:
Both fourth and fifth streets brought paint to the board, but the running jacks kept Glantz in front, and he notched an elimination to bolster his chip stack as the first day of the Main Event marches towards its conclusion.
With the flop showing , World Series of Poker mainstay Mike "The Mouth" Matusow led out for a bet of 1,500, and his opponent flatted in position.
On the turn, Matusow fired a second barrel for 3,000, and once again his opponent smooth called.
The completed the board on the river, and Matusow emptied the chamber, firing a third barrel for 5,000. When his opponent looked him up, "The Mouth" spoke with his cards, tabling the for a flopped set. Despite the draw heavy board, the other player could not produce a straight nor a flush, and Matusow's set earned him a substantial pot.
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.
![[user80015]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
. That chip lead amounted to roughly 118,000 and saw him sitting very comfortable as players were now able to enjoy a break full of bad beat stories, missed bets and close calls.
and 2,100 was up for grabs in the middle. Bill Mullins had checked to Magriel, and he bet his signature amount of 2,200.
for top two pair in response.
against two opponents, checking and then raising to 3,300 when one of them bet 1,200. This folded the player in between, and the bettor flatted to see the turn come 
.
. After both players tapped the table, Pollak rolled over the 
for a flopped nut flush.
against two opponents. After both checked to him, Pollak fired out a bet of 1,000. The big blind player folded, but the cutoff came along to see the turn come 
. Both players opted to check, and on the 
for pure air.
and both Matusow and the big blind checked to the cutoff, who fired out a bet of 800. Matusow quickly folded without saying a word, and he dipped below the starting stack.
for top pair, Glantz made the call, and his opponent revealed the 
, World Series of Poker mainstay Mike "The Mouth" Matusow led out for a bet of 1,500, and his opponent flatted in position.
turn, Matusow fired a second barrel for 3,000, and once again his opponent smooth called.
