2014 World Series of Poker

Day 1 of Event #18: $10,000 Seven Card Razz Championship has come to a conclusion with Thomas Butzhammer leading the field.

Not only was today the biggest buy-in Razz tournament in WSOP history, but not since 2003 have we seen one over the $5,000 buy-in mark. More amazingly is that today marked the first time since 1977 that more than two Razz tournaments have been run in the same series.

Players from near and far took to the felt as a better-than-expected 112 players formed a $1,052,800 prizepool that ensured $294,792 and a WSOP gold bracelet was reserved for the victor. As the likes of Michael and Robert Mizrachi, Billy Baxter, Todd Brunson, Chris Tryba, Calvin Anderson, Josh Arieh, Shawn Buchanan, John Hennigan and Phil Ivey all hit the rail, approximately 74 players would survive with Thomas Butzhammer bagging an impressive 141,300 in chips.

Snapping on his heels include Todd Dakake (136,400) while Brian Hastings (92,700), Eric Rodawig (81,700), Dan Shak (73,100) and Wade Townsend (72,200) are also amongst the chip leaders. Matt Glantz (69,400), Daniel Negreanu (66,100), Brandon Shack-Harris (70,900), Ted Forrest (30,300) and Doyle Brunson (27,500) are just a few of those that have survived into Day 2.

Play is set to resume at 2:00 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday afternoon with the PokerNews Live Reporting Team providing extensive coverage live from the Amazon Room as we look to play down to the money-paying top 16 and then to the final table.

The Tournament Director has announced that there will be three more hands for the evening.

A short-stacked Phil Ivey found himself all in against Scott Seiver.

Ivey started with and ended up making a full house as Seiver made a ten-low to send the nine-time WSOP bracelet to the rail just a few hands shy of making Day 2.

Nearly the entire table saw fourth street for the minimum, but it would be Mercier betting out 1,000 only to have David Oppenheim raise. Wade Townsend then three-bet and Mercier four-bet with Oppenheim calling as Townsend made it 5,000 as Mercier and Oppenheim called.

Oppenheim took the lead on fifth before moving all in for his last 400 on sixth as both Townsend and Mercier called and then checked seventh.

Mercier: (X-X) / / (X)
Oppenheim: (X-X) / / (X)
Townsend: (X-X) / / (X)

Townsend tabled his for a jack-low, but it would be Mercier's bettering that.

However it would be Oppenheim's / that would see him scoop the monster main pot to triple through to 25,000.

"It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt."

That line has been heard time and time again. Over at Table 364 in the corner of the Orange Section in the Amazon Room, Bill Chen and his table mates have been having quite a good time. The beers are flowing and the fun is being had, but recent happenings weren't so much joyful for Stephen Chidwick.

Chen: (X-X) / / (X)
Chidwick: (X-X) / / (X)
Wade Townsend: (X-X) / — fold

Picking up the action on fourth street, Chidwick had the best hand showing and bet. Both his opponents called, and then Chen picked up the best hand showing on fifth street. He bet, Chidwick raised, Townsend folded, and Chen called.

On sixth street, Chen led with a bet, and Chidwick called. Then on seventh, both players checked.

Chen showed for an eight-seven-four low. Chidwick turned up for an eight-seven-six low and lost the pot.

Phil Ivey and Barry Greenstein have long been good friends, but everyone knows there are no friends at the poker table.

Ivey: (X-X) / / (X)
Greenstein: (X-X) / / (X)

Picking up the action on fifth street, Ivey bet, and Greenstein called. The sanction was reversed on sixth street with Greenstein betting and Ivey calling. Then on seventh street, Greenstein bet, and Ivey called.

Greenstein showed for a seven-six low, and Ivey mucked.

Jeremy Ausmus has recently been eliminated by the hands of George Danzer.