On a board with 4,025 in the middle David Benyamine decided to bet 2,050. The French pro was in the big blind against a player on his left and another in late position. The under the gun player called, the other folded bringing us heads-up to the river.
The river was the , Benyamine counted out a 4,800 bet, and took down the pot without showdown.
November Nine finalist Matt Giannetti started the day off with a loss. The board read when we walked in on a hand between Giannetti and the Frenchman Pascal Leyo. There was 1,200 in the pot and Giannetti bet 1,100 into Leyo who decided to raise to 3,050. Giannetti tanked for a while and called giving is heads up river action.
The river was the and Giannetti checked quickly to his opponent who also decided not to put any extra money into the pot. The American pro instantly mucked his cards before seeing Leyo turn over . We couldn't spot the suit of the deuce Leyo was holding since the dealer mucked the cards right away, but it was either a spade or a club.
With todays structure early losses aren't life threatening and Giannetti will not have to worry just yet.
Two players limped before Marcello Marigliano raised to 200 and four players called. The flop was and everybody checked. The turn was the and it was the Devilfish that came out betting with a stab of 500 from the small blind. Tom Dwan was in the big blind and he raised to 2,050 and everybody folded.
Right next to the Dwan/Devilfish/Mercier table is another whose who of famous poker players.
Table
Seat
Name
1
Sami Kelopuro
3
Daniel Negreanu
4
Barry Greenstein
5
Ben Lamb
6
Jani Sointula
7
Erich Kollman
9
Ramzi Jelassi
On a flop of two players checked to Daniel Negreanu who bet 150 and the small blind called. The turn was the and once again the small blind check-called, Negreanu's bet was 375. The river was the and the small blind checked for the third time and Negreanu bet 1,050 and the small blind called.
How is this for a table. Seat 4: Dave "Devilfish" Ulliot, Seat 5: Tom Dwan and Seat 7: Jason Mercier.
The Devilfish limped in early position and was joined by four more players. Five of them saw a flop of and The Devilfish bet 1,000 and he received just one-caller, Marcello Marigliano seated on the button.
Turn:
The Devilfish bet 2,700 and Marigliano raised to 10,700 and the fish had something to think about. After a few minutes Marigliano asked the Devilfish if he wanted to know what he had.
"You are French, you could have f*&xing anything!" Said the Devilfish.
"I am not French. You don't know me. I am a little bit crazy," Marigliano replied.
The Devilfish folded his hand, and showed the nut broadway straight, which prompted some debate around the table. The Devilfish later told us that he did not have the flush draws to bakc up his hand.
The hallways are crowded and among the players trying to find their table we've already spotted Tom Dwan, Andrew Robl, Dan Shak, 2010 WSOP-E Main Event winner James Bord and many many more. This tournament is going to be jam packed with great players!
The World Series of Poker website lists this event as a Triple Chance, but WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel just announced that because of the French law the tournament is just a regular freeze out. Players who want to unregister because of this can do so before they get dealt their first hand.
The tournament will be played in Majestic 2, which is the secondary room of the hotel. This means your bloggers will have a bit more walking to do throughout the day, but since we're in top shape that shouldn't be an issue! Let's play some PLO!