Former Main Event champ Joe Hachem hasn't been here long, but he's already well above the starting stack.
In a recent PLO pot, he check-called 9,000 on the turn against Brian Rast on a board of , and the river prompted him to bet out 11,500. Rast quickly folded, and he's down significantly from his peak at over 250,000.
David Bach won this tournament back in 2009, and he's looking to become the second player to win the title twice. Bach got off to a good start here on Day 1 thanks to a hand with rolled-up kings, which he talks about here.
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Luis Velador raised under the gun, David Chiu three-bet, and Justin "BoostedJ" Smith called from the button. Velador made it four bets, and both opponents called. Velador stood pat while both opponents drew two, and both players drawing called Velador's bet. Chiu again drew two, while Smith had improved to a one-card draw. This time, only Smith called Velador's bet, and both players stood pat and checked.
Velador announced a nine-eight, and Smith showed to take the pot.
Matthew Ashton raised, Abe Mosseri three-bet and Paul Volpe called from the button. James Obst called from the small blind, Phil Galfond called from the big and Ashton called the raise as well. The flop came down and the action was checked all the way to Volpe who bet. Obst called, Galfond folded, Ashton called and Mosseri folded as well.
On the turn the popped up and Obst and Ashton check-called Volpe's bet. The river was the and Obst lead out, Ashton called and Volpe shrugged, but called as well.
Obst showed and chopped against Volpe's , as Ashton mucked his cards.
Action folded to Dan Heimiller on the button and he cut out a raise. Jonathan Duhamel made it three bets from the big blind and Heimiller called. Duhamel opted for one new card while Heimiller took three. Duhamel instantly fired out a bet and Heimiller tossed out a raise. Duhamel called to see the second draw.
For the second draw, Duhmael once again took one and Heimiller reduced his drawn cards to one as well. Duhmael tapped the table and Heimiller fired out a bet. Duhamel called and both players pulled one card on the final draw. Duhamel check-called one final bet and Heimiller showed . Duhamel mucked his cards and Heimiller pulled in the pot.
Heimiller is now up to about 240,000 in chips while Duhamel has dropped to 148,000.