Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier is one of the best tournament players in the world, but even the great Frenchman sometimes struggles to overcome the variance of tournament poker.
We noticed Grospellier's seat was open and asked what had happened. Grospellier had raised with over the top of a raise and a couple of callers, then the chips went flying into the middle on an flop, only for Grospellier's opponent to show . No helped arrived for Grospellier on the turn or river and he busted out before the dinner break.
With the board reading and roughly 4,800 in the middle, the small blind bet out 2,500 and Joe DeGeorge instantly called as the landed on the turn.
The small blind continued selling his story by moving all-in for his last 7,800. DeGeorge contemplated for a few moments before folding his to concede the pot to the small blind.
For DeGeorge, however, he still sits with a very impressive 115,125 - good for the current chip lead.
Players pack the Amazon Room for Day 1b of the Main Event
We've reached the second break of the day on Day 1b of the Main Event, and among our leaders is Dutchman Jorn Walthaus.
Walthaus, who opted not to play on Day 1a as did many of his countrymen because they were too busy watching their country's football team escape a nail bitter against Costa Rica in the 2014 FIFA World Cup is sitting on 71,400 chips and eyeing yet another deep run in the Main Event. Last year, he finished 26th for $285,408, while fellow Dutchman Michiel Brummelhuis became the first player from Holland to reach the Main Event final table, ultimately finishing seventh for $1,225,356.
Also among the chip leaders is Slovenia's own Dejan Pustoslemšek, who currently has around 70,000.
During Level 2 we spotted NASCAR driver Jason White in the field. White, driver of the No. 24 Toyota car in the Nationwide Series, is evidently friends with 2013 runner-up Jay Farber, who tweeted that he is constantly texting White for updates.
Among the players to bust in Level 2 were Vladimir Geshkenbein, Kevn Saul, and David "Doc" Sands. Geshkenbein ran into the of an opponent, and the Russian hit the rail.
The players are now on a 20-minute break. Until then, enjoy this video with Sarah Grant and Triana Iglesias:
Famed Hollywood director Nick Cassavetes' plays in today's Main Event and for now, things are going really well.
We just watched Cassavetes limp in from the small blind and the big blind checked. The flop brought out and Cassavetes tossed in 200. The big blind raised to 500 and the action was back on the man who directed "The Notebook" and "Entourage", among others.
"You raise?" Cassavetes said while putting on an Italian accent.
"You raise?" he asked again before tossing in a three-bet to 1,600.
The big blind called and on the turn, both players checked. On the river, Cassavetes tossed out 2,250 and his opponent quickly folded.
We've arrived at the first break on Day 1b of the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event, and there have already been several eliminations.
The first came at the hands of Derrik Smith, who six-bet shoved over Mark Hodos with pocket . Hodos had , and the aces held up.
Huck Seed was faced with an all-in bet from Yang Bian on a board of , and Seed, thinking they were chopping, called with the nuts; . Seed, winner of the 1996 Main Event, thought he was getting freerolled by , but Bian was drawing dead with for just top pair.
Seed is among our chip leaders with around double the starting stack.
Dan Shak took his leave after being crippled with against the of an opponent. He was later eliminated with pocket jacks against .
The players are on break for 20 minutes - smoke 'em if you got 'em!
In the meantime, learn some poker lingo with Mark "Chirp" Herm:
Earlier this level 1996 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Huck Seed scored an early elimination to bring his stack up to 60,000. What we failed to notice at that time was he was sitting to the direct right of 1995 WSOP Main Event champ Dan Harrington. We decided to spend a few hands with the wily veterans to see if they mixed it up.
In the first hand, Seed raised to 200 from early position and then called when the player in the cutoff three-bet to 700. Both players then checked the flop before Seed checked the turn. The cutoff bet 900 and Seed folded.
Two hands later, the hijack opened for 300 and then called when Seed three-bet to 800 from the big blind. Seed then check-called a bet of 1,025 on the flop before both players checked the turn. When the completed the board on the river, Seed led out for 1,800 and the hijack tossed in a call. Seed rolled over the , and it was good as the hijack sent his cards to the muck.
Not long after, Seed opened for 200 from the cutoff only to have Harrington three-bet to 750 from the button. The blinds both folded and Seed did the same. "I wish you hadn't raised," Harrington told Seed. "I think he was going to reraise my button raise." Harrington then looked over at one of the young guns in the blinds and smiled.
Dan Shak has just been eliminated while we're still in the first level of the day. The players at his former table helped us reconstruct the hand and the information was as following.
On the fourth hand of play Shak ended up putting Alfie Adam all in for his tournament life after a big raising war. Adam called his chips off holding pocket aces and Shak held ace-king off suit. The board brought a king for Shak but that was not enough for the knockout.
After this hand Shak was left with 800 chips and while he doubled up once he was quickly knocked out with two jacks versus .
Ray Romano and his son, who is also playing in the Main Event
The second starting day of the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event is now officially underway! Tournament director Jack Effel welcomed the huge crowd that showed up for Day 1b and walked everyone through the rules in play here during the WSOP Main Event.
In total five two-hour levels will be played with a 20-minute break after the completing of each level. After the third level there will be a 90-minute dinner break.
WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart took over the mic from Effel and introduced none other than Emmy award winner Ray Romano. This year Romano plays in his eighth Main Event coming off of his best run last year, when he busted out on Day 3.
"This year is special for me because I brought my son who just turned 21," Romano said. "Like a good father I brought him to Vegas," he continued as the crowd laughed.
"I've got a last longer bet with him, so if anyone knocks him out I'll buy you a drink," Romano said before he spoke the most famous words in poker.
Day 1b is now officially underway, so stay tuned for lots of poker action!
[user101598]
Everyone is chasing Day 1a leader Martin Jacobson - for now
Good afternoon, and welcome back to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for the 2014 World Series of Poker!
Today marks Day 1b of the Main Event, which boasts a $10 million guaranteed first-place prize this year. Day 1a kicked off on Saturday with a lackluster flight of 771 players, and the end-of-day leader was Martin Jacobson. The Swede bagged up 200,100 chips after a very successful 5th and final level of the evening, and will be joined on Day 2a by former Main Event champions Ryan Riess (2013), Greg Merson (2012), Chris Moneymaker (2003), Johnny Chan (1987, 1988), and Tom McEvoy (1983).
We expect to see to see more former champions and even more players today during the second flight. In 2013 the increase from Day 1a to Day 1b was 206%, and with a smaller first flight this year (172 players fewer), that increase may be even larger.
Here are some key stats from 2013:
Last year the Main Event saw 6,352 players from 83 nations compete in the Main Event, which created a prize pool of $59,714,169. The tournament was eventually won by Ryan Riess of East Lansing, Michigan, who earned $8,361,570 for his victory. Here are some other interesting facts from last year's Main Event:
Average Age in 2013: 38.1
Oldest Player in 2013: William Wachter - Carmel, New York (Age 92)
Youngest Player in 2013: Rayan Chamas - Dollard, Quebec, Canada (21 years, 8 days)
Male Participation in 2013: 6,054 (95.3%)
Female Participation in 2013: 298 (4.7%)
The number that we will all have our eyes on this year is of course 6,352 - can the total of entrants be topped now that the WSOP offers real-money online poker in two states?
Day 1b action is set to kick off at high noon, and the players will grind it out for five two-hour levels with a 90-minute dinner break after Level 3. As always, be sure to keep your browser pointed to PokerNews.com for unmatched live reporting of this event, all the way until the November Nine!
over the top of a raise and a couple of callers, then the chips went flying into the middle on an 
flop, only for Grospellier's opponent to show 
![[user80015]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
and roughly 4,800 in the middle, the small blind bet out 2,500 and Joe DeGeorge instantly called as the 
landed on the turn.
to concede the pot to the small blind.
and Cassavetes tossed in 200. The big blind raised to 500 and the action was back on the man who directed "The Notebook" and "Entourage", among others.
turn, both players checked. On the 
river, Cassavetes tossed out 2,250 and his opponent quickly folded.
, and Seed, thinking they were chopping, called with the nuts; 
. Seed, winner of the 1996 Main Event, thought he was getting freerolled by 
, but Bian was drawing dead with 
for just top pair.
flop before Seed checked the 
turn. The cutoff bet 900 and Seed folded.
flop before both players checked the 
completed the board on the river, Seed led out for 1,800 and the hijack tossed in a call. Seed rolled over the 
, and it was good as the hijack sent his cards to the muck.
