Tony Ruberto leads a 66-player field filled with big names as we prepare to begin Day 2 of Event #28: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship here at the 2014 World Series of Poker. Ruberto's 203,300 is good for a wide lead over second-place John Juanda. The popular pro and five-time bracelet winner hit a straight on the river and got paid off by Dan Shak in a key pot late last night to vault up the counts.
Speaking of popular pros, plenty of standout names charge or limp into Day 2, depending on the state of their stacks. Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari (144,300), Chino Rheem (122,700), Amit Makhija (107,200), Phil Galfond (97,400), Mike "The Mouth" Matusow (94,000), and JC Tran (88,800) were among the healthier stacks making it through. Erik Seidel (68,000), Jason Mercier (51,100), and Phil Ivey (24,500) dragged below-average stacks into the day, though the format of the tournament will ensure they still have plenty of play.
We'll be restarting here at Level 11 (800/1,600) and playing 10 more levels. Because of the way pot-limit hold'em works, antes will never be in play. Each level will be 60 minutes, and players will receive a dinner break at the conclusion of Level 16. Cards will be in the air at 2 p.m. local time, so don't miss any of the action right here on PokerNews.
Phil Ivey's downfall began with an early position limp from Anthony Zinno. Ivey called from the small blind and the big blind checked his option. The flop came and Ivey threw one 5,000 chip on the felt, betting 2,500. Both opponents called and all three checked the turn.
Ivey checked the river, but when the big blind bet 7,000 and Zinno folded, Ivey made a slow and deliberate call. The big blind showed and Ivey mucked.
The very next hand, he shoved in his final 11,800 facing a Zinno open and Antonio Esfandiari call. Zinno called and after Esfandiari disappeared, the cards were revealed.
Amit Makhija got two-outed by Mike Watson for the main pot.
Di "Urindanger" Dang opened for a raise in late position and saw Mike Watson pot it from the small blind. Amit Makhija shoved from the big, and Dang pushed forward his stack.
Makhija:
Dang:
Watson:
Makhija had to like the flop, but the turn gave Watson a set and left Dang drawing live only for the side pot. The river meant Watson had scored a triple-up, while Makhija won a smaller side pot.
Antonio Esfandiari is running better in the tournament than he is in side bets.
Sorel Mizzi just sauntered into the tournament area and engaged Antonio Esfandiari in a "flip for $5,000." Esfandiari anointed neighbor Amit Makhija to do the honors, picking out two hundos from a stack of bills. Each player was given one of the bills, and the two slowly peeked down at the serial numbers one by one, turning it into a poker hand. Esfandiari began swearing halfway through the sweat, and sure enough, he pulled out some casino chips and shipped them to an ecstatic Mizzi. Mizzi turned down Esfandiari's offer for double or nothing.
Phil Galfond bet 11,700 from the big blind against Byron Kaverman on the button on a flop. Kaverman sat motionless for a bit before dropping 25,400 into the middle. Galfond pushed all in, and Kaverman made the call.
Kaverman:
Galfond:
Galfond was in command with aces, but the turn gave Kaverman a few additional outs. The dealer burned and turned a river, and Kaverman's boat sank Galfond.
The PokerNews Podcast crew covers several huge stories, including the PokerStars sale, Mike Matusow's penalty, and the decline of pot-limit hold'em. They are then joined by defending Main Event champion Ryan Riess to talk about his banner, his recent run bad, and much more.
We found Mike Matusow facing a raise to 15,000 from Erik Seidel before the flop. Matusow made it 45,000, and Seidel came back with a min-reraise to 75,000. Matusow thought for awhile, asking the dealer to pull in the raise before deciding to roll with the five-bet to 115,000. Seidel pushed forward the rack still containing his chips after moving into his new seat, and a heated Matusow was beside himself as he flipped , saying he knew he should have folded. Sure enough, Seidel tabled , which held up on the board.
"I knew I should folded," Matusow said. "I knew I should have folded."
We've just lost Mike Matusow after he ran into pocket aces again, not too long after doubling up Erik Seidel in a huge pot where he had kings.
On Matusow's last hand he raised to 5,000 and Alexander Venovski three-bet to 12,700. Matusow gave it some thought before moving all in and Venovski snap-called.
"Aces again?" Matusow cried, as Venovski nodded.
Venovski showed and Matusow shook his head as he turned over .
"I almost folded," Matusow said.
The board ran out and Matusow was knocked out.
"Would you have folded?" Matusow asked Seidel who shook his head.
"You had 22 big blinds with ace-king," Venovski said to console his opponent, and Matusow left the room.
and Ivey threw one 5,000 chip on the felt, betting 2,500. Both opponents called and all three checked the 
turn.
river, but when the big blind bet 7,000 and Zinno folded, Ivey made a slow and deliberate call. The big blind showed 
and Ivey mucked.
run out.
flop, but the 
turn gave Watson a set and left Dang drawing live only for the side pot. The 
against Mercier's 
flop. Mercier found no jack on the 
turn or 
river and hit the rail.
turn gave Kaverman a few additional outs. The dealer burned and turned a 
and Matusow was knocked out.
