Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Dia 1 Iniciado
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
Dias: 1
Event Info
Resultado Final
Event Info
Informações sobre o nível
2014 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$500
Entradas
876
Nível
23
Blinds
20,000 / 40,000
Ante
5,000
Intervalo
Duração do intervalo: min.
The 2014 World Series of Poker Starts Here
Welcome to the 2014 World Series of Poker here at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
For another year, PokerNews Live Reporting team will bring you up-to-the-minute updates as the WSOP enters its 45th year with comprehensive coverage of all 65 gold bracelet events over the next 50 consecutive days.
The first event on the schedule is the $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em, which will get underway at 12 p.m. local time. Last year, this event attracted 898 entries, with the winner, PokerNews' own Chad Holloway, taking home an $84,915 payday and the coveted gold bracelet. Out of the 90 players who cashed, only five were not from the U.S., including three Canadians, one Italian and one Brit.
This is a two-day event with the players receiving a 3,000-chip starting stack with blinds starting at 25/50. Day 1 will play 11 levels of 60 minutes each, and there will be a 20-minute break at the end of every second level and a 90-minute dinner break after the end of Level 6.
The money bubble is likely to burst at some point today. When play finishes for the night, the remaining players will bag up their chips and return tomorrow at 1 p.m. to play down to the first bracelet winner at this year’s WSOP.
We caught up with the defending champion ahead of the start of play to get his thoughts on his victory and the tournament to come.
What did it mean to you winning the WSOP bracelet last year?
Winning the bracelet meant the world to me. I love the history of the game, so to be a part of it as a player is priceless. The last year has been fantastic, and if I can’t win it again, I’m glad that someone else will get to experience the same joy and excitement that comes with winning the first event.
How are you feeling ahead of your title defense?
I’m excited to play and attempt a title defense, but I know the odds are not in my favor. The field is going to be huge, and with an accelerated structure, I’m going to need some luck. I’ll just do my best and see what the cards bring.
Do you think the other players will be gunning for you, and if so do you plan to adjust your strategy?
I doubt it, unless it’s Ty Stewart, as he and I have a last-longer bet. Whichever one of us falls first has to buy the other breakfast at Hash House A-Go-Go, and I know from experience that when Ty is ordering, the appetizers come fast and furious. That’s not a bill I want to foot, so my first strategy is to outlast him.
Any tips for players trying to bag their first bracelet this year?
The Casino Employees Event is a lot of fun, but the structure doesn’t afford you the opportunity to coast for too long. Within the first 20 minutes last year, I had lost two-thirds of my stack. Fortunately, I managed some doubles and put myself right back into contention. My best advice is to pay attention to the structure and shift gears accordingly.
And with that, it's almost time for the event to begin. The atmosphere is electric for the start of the 2014 WSOP, and the cards will be in the air for the first event in just a little bit, so stay tuned!
The First Event Starts with a Bang of $1 Bills
The stage has been set for the 45th edition of the World Series Of Poker. After the introduction by Ty Stewart, he asked the most important question: "Do you guys like money?" Then cannons blasted out $1 bills throughout the entire tournament area while "Get Money" from Junior Mafia blasted through the speakers. We are about to kick off here!
Nível: 1
Blinds: 25/50
Ante: 0
Cards in the Air
Nível 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
With the free money tucked in their wallets the players are now down to the serious business of trying to win a lot more. Players grabbed various amounts of the dollars that showered down on them, including one Andre Labonte who grabbed $36.
There are current 756 players registered with late registration open until level 5.
Before the tournament began some rules were clarified including the rule that you must be at the table when the last player receives a complete hand. If you are not your hand is dead.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
3,000 | 3,000 |
First Seat Open After Eight Minutes
Nível 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
It didn't take long for the first seat to open up. After only eight minutes we heard the announcement from a dealer that someone had already been knocked out.
So far, the action is only in the Brasilia room and we have 769 entries for the moment. Registration will be open until the start of Level 5 and the action will most likely be fast and furious.
Will We Top Last Year?
Nível 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
The numbers are slowly but surely climbing and we are up to almost 800 players now. In 2013, the Casino Employees Event attracted a field of 898 and it doesn't seem too far out of reach to get even more entries than that this year.
Among those seated we have WPT blogger Lee Davy and Shannon "The Cannon" Vezina, plus a plethora of dealers that we will see soon enough again during the next events here at the Rio.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,000 | 3,000 |
|
3,000 | 3,000 |
Defending Champ All In Early
Nível 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
Chad Holloway raised to 100 from under the gun, with another early position player calling as did Shaun Harris in the small blind. The flop came down 
rainbow and Harris checked. Holloway continued with a bet of 125, the third player called, then Harris raised to 325. Holloway made the call, their opponent folded, and they were heads up to the turn.
The turn was the 
putting two spades on the board. Harris now led for 375 and Holloway raised to 925. Harris called. The 
fell on the river and Holloway announced "all in" for 1,625. Harris thought for a minute before eventually folding.
PokerNews' own Holloway gets it in early and chips up nicely.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
4,600 | 50 |
Aggressive Play by Tullis
Nível 1
: 25/50, 0 ante
We arrived at Table 24 to see seat 1, Cameron Tullis, four-bet the player to his left to 550. After some deep thought seat 2 called.
They saw a flop of 
. Tullis bet out 600 and after a few minutes his opponent made the call.
The turn card was the 
and Tullis announced he was all in and slid his stack forward. His opponent took a good while to make his decision and in the end he flicked his cards away. Pot to Tullis.
On the next hand, Tullis flicked in some calling chips from early position. No raise and four players saw a flop of 
. Tullis called a bet of 125 as did one other player, then the three of them checked the 
turn.
The river was the 
and when the big blind bet 425, Tullis checked his cards and raised him to 1,100. The button folded and while the big blind shook his head, he too released his cards.
Two in a row for Tullis who sure looks like he has brought his aggressive game today.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
5,000 | 5,000 |