WSOP Main Event: Travel sickness

A table of contrasts in the blue section, where Team PokerStars Pros Barry Greenstein and Luca Pagano are enjoying a day sitting opposite each other courtesy of the random seat draw.

One way of looking at Barry Greenstein's tournament record is to say he's done so well stateside that he has no reason to venture beyond home soil to Europe to add further winnings. Nearly $7 million in winnings, three WSOP bracelets, three WPT titles among a host of others, the man has earned the right to pick and choose. A less favourable way to spin that same resume would be to say Greenstein doesn't travel well - kind of like the Detroit Lions - and has yet to break the European curse that has kept his Euro accounts on empty for some time.

Then there's Luca Pagano, whose record in Europe is impeccable. The Italian has eleven EPT cashes, amounting to nearly one million in prize money having come close to an EPT title on four final tables. But as far as the World Series is concerned Pagano has just three cashes, hard earned scars from a relentless campaign to transfer European form stateside. Kind of like David Beckham.

For Pagano at least it's time to put that aside. The opening level has been kind, or at least not cruel. Pagano, his hair shorter than when we last saw him, sits with 36,000 while former EPt winner Andreas Hoivold, hair all over the place like the last time we saw him, has 32K. There's more danger in the form of Jorn Walthaus who reached the final in Deauville earlier this year. There are easier tables.

Walthaus has started well, currently on 41,000. Greenstein has tangled in the odd nasty pots. Ready to throw the book (his book) at his next vanquisher, his twitter gave a concise account of the first level, noting how he'd bluffed his way down to 11K.

But Greenstein's remains a threat to rally back. He pilfered a few thousand from Walthaus and then did the same to Pagano. Then the Italian lost a few more to South Dakotan PokerStars qualifier Shane Steinhour.

It's one of the tough ones. They'll be fireworks before the day is out.

*****

JOE GIRON PHOTO HOUR

*****

OPTIMISM OF THE HOUR

"I'm never drawing dead. You could have the nut flush and it could come three-three." -- Greg Raymer folds his pocket threes face up after his opponent, a pre-flop raiser, leads out on a [6h][ah][2h] board.

* * * * *

CALL OF THE HOUR

Grant Levy, in the big blind, called a pre-flop raise of 600. Two players saw the flop of [10s][kd][2h] and Levy check-called a small bet. The turn was [6c] and again Levy called a bet of 1,700. The river was the [4h] and this time Levy led out for 2,350 but was reraised to 8,000. "Did he flop a set?" pondered the Australian, before almost insta-calling. "Good call," said his opponent. Levy flipped [ad][ks], which was good. He now has more than 50,000.

*****

ELIMINATION OF THE HOUR

Chris Moneymaker was just seen marching towards the door, his cell phone to his ear being pursued by a television crew. Tens against aces came the news, with Moneymaker down to his last 7K. The aces called and the camera crew arrived.

*****

STATISTIC OF THE HOUR

Number of Swine Flu masks in Day 1B: 1

*****

VIDEO BLOG OF THE HOUR

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How you feel in Las Vegas

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Steven Tabb, PokerStars qualifier

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Day 1B of 2009 WSOP Main Event About to Get
Underway

While the Amazon Room fills up with more hopeful poker players, lets review a little of what happened yesterday for Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP Main Event.When all was said and done, 1,116 players ponied up their $10,000 buy-ins to play in poker's biggest event. That number is down about 150 from last year, ...

Read The Full Article:
http://beat.bodoglife.com/poker/day-1b-of-2009-wsop-main-event-about-to-get-under
way-69052.html

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WSOP Main Event: Three from Down Under up here

The journey to anywhere from Australia is not to be taken lightly. Australia, folks, is far away, and if you're going to leave, you had better really want to and make sure you're well prepared. It's a 927-hour flight home to pick up your toothbrush.

Sometimes, though, it's well worth the trouble it takes to make that journey, as a man named Joe Hachem will attest. The Team PokerStars Pro flew to Las Vegas in 2005 with the instructions, "Don't come home until you're World Champion!" ringing in his ears. He duly obliged, winning the final World Series Main Event to be played at Binion's Horseshoe, pocketing $5m and launching a poker boom Down Under.

Here at the Rio today are three players benefiting from the Hachem effect. Grant Levy is a newly minted Team PokerStars Australia Pro, while Michael Soranson and Peter Longmore are PokerStars qualifiers in the big dance for a relative pittance, having won online satellites.

"I can't lose," said an expectant Soranson in the anxious moments before the start of play. "Everything's a bonus from here."

Michael Soranson

Having taken up poker about three years ago, playing in online freerolls to build a balance sufficient to move up the ladder of games, Soranson is now able to describe himself as a poker professional. This is his first trip to poker's spiritual home and he's enjoying it immensely so far, describing visits to Caesars and the Wynn as "sightseeing".

His travel companion on this trip is his mother, but his fiance Nicole is following his progress through the time-zones back in in Brisbane. A decent pay-day here should set up a great wedding when Soranson returns.

Longmore had to make a tough decision to come to the World Series all the way from Melbourne. The father of a two-year-old had a hard time leaving his kid for the long haul to Las Vegas. The one-time full-time pro now just plays when he can and finally made the decision to cross the Pacific. This Longmore's second main event.

The first time, "I got crushed," he said. But even if that's the case again -- and we hope and expect it not to be -- Longmore has very little to lose. This year he is in for $36, having won his package in a $36 double shootout qualifier.

Levy's might be a similarly new name to many readers, but really it shouldn't be. The 30-year-old from Penrith, near Sydney, has been causing significant ripples for some time now, none more so than in December 2007, when he became the first Australian to become a poker millionaire on home soil when he took down the APPT event in Sydney.

Grant Levy

Levy has been on a tear since then, notching up decent scores in numerous tournaments across the southern hemisphere. He took his seat in the red section this afternoon eager to make his first splash in this neck of the woods.

* * * * *

CREATIVE PROMOTION OF THE HOUR

Team PokerStars Pro Vicky Coren has affixed a large PokerStars sticker to her designer sunglasses. When asked if she thought the sticky backing might ruin the lenses, she shrugged. "The alternative was to wear a hat, and I draw the line," she said. "If it ruins the sunglasses, nevermind."

* * * * *

SEMAPHORE OF THE HOUR

Right hand to logo on shirt, right arm then extended in direction of corresponding lounge. Repeat three to four times until they nod three or four times.

(Used when signalling a friend on the rail as to where they should wait for you at the break.)

* * * * *

JOE GIRON'S PHOTO HOUR

One dealer's shameless attempts to grab some TV time

* * * * *

VIDEO OF THE HOUR

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WSOP Main Event: Cannibalism

Chris Moneymaker pulled out the only empty seat at Table 3 as he lamented his draw.

"What a beat," he said.

In the two seat sat Russian Team PokerStars Pro Alex Kravchenko. Two seats around the table was 2004 WSOP champion Greg Raymer.

"Just kidding," Moneymaker said, and walked away to his real chair two tables away.

"That would have been a good feature table," Raymer said. "Chris, Alex, me, and six guys who can kick our ass."

While it might have made for some good television, it would've been sort of tough for the Team PokerStars Pros. As it is, the potential for Team Pro cannibalism is already high. Kravchenko, a stern-faced, scarily silent Russian, is one of the most feared players from his part of the world. Raymer, of course, holds a championship bracelet. He also placed third in the $40,000 buy-in WSOP event this year.

Raymer, who jokingly claimed the tournament chip lead on the first hand of the tournament, was already worried about his chances.

"I lost my chip lead and now I can find a hand," he said 15 minutes into the first level.

You could throw a Nerf ball and hit another Team Pro table. Barry Greenstein, fresh off a successful seven-cash 2009 WSOP is settled in at the same felt as Italian Team Pro Luca Pagano.

Unlike the successful Dream Team Poker series that has started up in Vegas, the players here don't get points if their teammate goes deep. Raymer has no incentive so soft-play Kravchenko. Greenstein won't give Pagano any breaks. If there is a meal to be had, the men are going to eat.

Cannibalism isn't a nice concept, but poker isn't a nice game.

So, bon appetit.

* * * * *

QUOTE OF THE HOUR

"I was kinda hoping to get on TV." -- PokerStars qualifier Bryan Kerr finds himself on the ESPN feature table, two seats down from Mike Matusow.

HAND OF THE HOUR

"All in call on table 77!" This was about 20 minutes into level one, and for the moment we'll leave aside the questions of how this is even possible with stacks of 30,000, blinds of 50-100 and the action all occurring pre-flop. But the net result was a statistically improbable Angelo versus Angelo showdown.

It was the PokerStars qualifier Angelo Ricci versus his namesake Angelo Miele -- Ricci had aces ("What else could he have!?!" questioned a few table-mates), while Miele tabled [qh][qc]. There was no outdraw and Ricci doubled up. Miele, on the other hand, was left to pose for a television interview, shake some hands and wander away in an endearingly philosophical mood. "That's the way this game goes," he said. "Next year will be next year."

Ricci is our early chip leader.

TWEET OF THE HOUR

"Dismal start to the Main Event. Started with 30k. Down to 21k. The three best players at my table have over 35k." --@barrygreenstein

CHOPS OF THE HOUR

Yesterday we mentioned how the early stages are a waiting game. Well, we might have been wrong. And frankly if you paid the ten grand to sit here you can play any way you want. That seems to be the plan of Wayne Shidler, a PokerStars qualifier from Mesquite, Texas who just tangled in two sizable pots. The first on a [kd][6c][6d][js][ah] board, with Shidler showing [as][5h] to his opponent's [ac][qh]. Then, getting back in the saddle in the next hand with equal measure, splitting a pot worth 17,000 with pocket sevens against [qc][tc] on a board of [8h][6s][10d][7d][9d], the Texan raising all the way.

Joe Giron Photo Hour

Christopher Reyes set up mini-cam to record a Facebook video blog of his day in the WSOP

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WSOP Main Event: Same as it ever was

I want to say that it's all new, that each year there's a new main event mould ready to fill by a refreshed cast. But then, who'd really want it to be any different? Sure, the four opening day ones might, from the outside at least, seem a bit repetitive, but to the purists who know, it's just fuelling the great blaze of glory to come later.

As little as seven years ago hundreds of players rather than thousands created a different kind of theatre to what we see now though, downtown in Binion's, where a more private and exclusive celebration, little known beyond the Las Vegas city limits, chiselled out a new world champion. Then Moneymaker came along and well, made money. Now we're all Moneymakers (No, I'm Moneymaker), and the fires get stoked some more.

That may have changed poker's face but its heart is the same as it ever was. It's not about the money but the bracelet and the prestige that comes with it. Not much else has changed. There's the same tension, the same adrenaline, the same guff about it not being about the money and the same fried cheese. There's also that odd dash of anticipation for what could be a life changing tournament for you and pretty much anyone who knows you. If it doesn't you're a lock to be back here next year to try again.

That tenet goes for the few hundred players ousted yesterday, stripped of any bracelet hopes, one within ten minutes, others within ten minutes of the end. Today's flight won't care about that. Because if there's something else that hasn't changed it's that everyone who plays wants to win and thinks they can. Only a fool would say any different.

Welcome back to day one. It's as great as it was last year.

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WSOP Main Event: Day 1A Chip Counts

At the close of Day 1A, 821 of the starting 1,116 players remained. Canada's Eric Cloutier has the chip lead with 150,750. PokerStars' top player is qualifier Joe Luht from the United States. He holds 108,125 going into Day 2.

You can find Day 1B coverage by clicking on our World Series of Poker coverage page. Check out all of our video coverage on PokerStars.tv.

A complete list of PokerStars players who survived Day 1A is below.

NameCountryPokerStars statusChips Joe Luht United States Cash qualifier 108,125 Michael Pickett United States Cash qualifier 101,200 Daniel Makowsky Switzerland Cash qualifier 100,200 Jason Alexander United States Friend of PokerStars 89,575 Lex Veldhuis Holland Team PokerStars Pro 84,000 Elia Ahmadian United States  Cash qualifier 81,425 Sean Nolan United States DBI 81,175 John Phillips United States Cash qualifier 80,950 Carl Olson United States Cash qualifier 80,825 Jean Houle United States Cash qualifier 78,525 Jason Kruty United States Cash qualifier 77,875 Jeff Williams United States Cash qualifier 77,550 Mark Landgraf United States  Cash qualifier 76,750 Sandra Naujoks Germany Team PokerStars Germany 76,725 Wade Graham Canada Cash qualifier 75,100 Michael Graydon Ireland Cash qualifier 75,025 Ramzi Jelassi Sweden  Cash qualifier 66,525 Christian Jeppsson Sweden Cash qualifier 65,475 Tim Ulrich Germany Cash qualifier 64,550 Robert Connolly United States Cash qualifier 64,050 Joseph Ellis United States Cash qualifier 63,575 Michael Tureniec Sweden Cash qualifier 59,250 Bjorn Brandes Germany  Cash qualifier 59,225 Ferit Gabriellson Sweden  Cash qualifier 58,375 Niclas Elfstedt Sweden Cash qualifier 58,100 Martin Moral Canada Cash qualifier 57,850 Marc Gork Germany Cash qualifier 57,750 Jakob Karlsson Sweden Cash qualifier 57,175 Paul Westley United Kingdom Cash qualifier 57,000 Matt Affleck United States Cash qualifier 56,600 Tho C Dang United States Cash qualifier 52,325 Ray Rahme South Africa Team PokerStars Pro 52,125 Robert Allen United States Cash qualifier 51,275 Frank Calo United States Cash qualifier 50,175 Norman Gautron Canada Cash qualifier 50,100 Mihai Mares United States  Cash qualifier 49,425 Jason Herbert United Kingdom  Cash qualifier 49,100 Nathaniel Nelson-Heath United States Cash qualifier 48,875 John Larochelle United States  Cash qualifier 48,300 Patrick Fortin Canada  Cash qualifier 47,975 David Novosel United States  Cash qualifier 47,675 Anthony Spinella United States  Cash qualifier 47,200 Daniel Zink Germany FPP qualifier 45,775 Armenak Kizirian Canada  Cash qualifier 45,725 Jeffrey Anderson United States  Cash qualifier 44,625 Bronislav Berezovsky United States DBI 43,500 Grayson Ramage United States  Cash qualifier 43,225 Guy Thomas United States DBI 42,550 Jay Kinkade Australia Cash qualifier 41,625 Sorel Mizzi Canada Cash qualifier 41,375 Jason Mercier USA Team PokerStars Pro 41,125 Jason Doherty USA USA 39,825 Peter Christensen United States Cash qualifier 39,350 Jason Tremblay Canada DBI 38,400 Lennart Konst Netherlands Cash qualifier 37,225 Joel Ranieri France  Cash qualifier 36,765 Jason Grad Canada DBI 36,300 Katja Thater Germany Team PokerStars Pro 36,025 Jose De Orteyza Venezuela Sponsored 34,675 Pavel Blatny Czech Republic  Cash qualifier 34,400 Matthias De Meulder Belgium Cash qualifier 32,850 Brent Wheeler United States Cash qualifier 32,700 Michael Von Plato United States Cash qualifier 32,375 Adam Shuman United States Cash qualifier 32,200 Chris Dombrowski United States  Cash qualifier 31,925 Jerry Wong United States Cash qualifier 31,625 Filip Nechansky Czech Republic  Cash qualifier 31,425 Guang Pu Lu Canada DBI 31,125 Stephane Bisson Canada  Cash qualifier 30,950 Anthony Gonzalez USA DBI 30,175 Anders Vind Denmark Cash qualifier 29,150 Christian Bowerman United States Cash qualifier 28,925 Chris Odle United States Cash qualifier 28,425 Jason Gray United States Cash qualifier 27,775 Derric Haynie United States FPP qualifier 26,650 Vadim Shlez United States Cash qualifier 26,125 Bryan Sapp United States Cash qualifier 25,875 Vijayan Nagarajan Malaysia Cash qualifier 25,575 John Duthie United Kingdom Team PokerStars Pro 25,050 Sutton Zolner United States DBI 24,325 Thomas Richter Germany DBI 24,000 Tom McLaughlin USA DBI 23,975 Kelly Corbin United States Cash qualifier 23,975 Peter Kremenliev United States  Cash qualifier 23,500 Lance Neumeyer United States Cash qualifier 23,425 Jonathan Lewis United States DBI 22,975 Stefan Petrov United States Cash qualifier 22,975 David Windisch Germany Cash qualifier 22,900 Johannes Strassmann Germany Team PokerStars Germany 22,625 Luca Giovannone Italy Cash qualifier 22,375 Adrian Gavile United States Cash qualifier 22,325 Jordy Mcmurter Canada DBI 22,275 Henry Strasser Canada Cash qualifier 21,925 Tony Gargano United States Cash qualifier 21,000 john Dolan United States Cash qualifier 20,875 Ryan Welch United States Cash qualifier 20,750 Ricardo Palacios United States DBI 20,700 Brian Pinkus United States  Cash qualifier 20,600 Shane Pacheco United States Cash qualifier 20,575 Kevin Recchia United States  Cash qualifier 19,925 John Hartery Canada DBI 18,575 Scott Veitzer United States  Cash qualifier 18,475 John Alt United States Cash qualifier 17,675 Andrew Brokos United States  Cash qualifier 16,350 Eric Dongstra Netherlands FPP qualifier 16,275 Lanny Pedersen Canada Cash qualifier 16,100 Russell Young United States Cash qualifier 14,925 Scott Smith Australia Cash qualifier 14,575 Lance Harris United States  Cash qualifier 14,375 Steve Morra United States Cash qualifier 13,650 Mark Southwood United Kingdom Cash qualifier 7,725 Vlad Cioban United States  Cash qualifier 7,150

Read The Full Article:
http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/wsop/2009/wsop-main-event-day-1a-chip-counts-047019
.html

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poker-tournament-tip-plan-ahead

Plan ahead for online poker tournaments! Poker Tournament strategy tips and lessons

Quick Poker Tip: Plan Ahead for Poker Tournaments

I like to play online poker tournaments at PokerStars.

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2009 WSOP Video Blog: David Williams Loves Jay-Z

Bodog Poker pro David Williams took some time while hanging out at the Bodog Social last night to update RawVegas.tv on his 2009 WSOP Main Event plans. Basically, they revolve around the fact that Jay-Z is playing on the nights of July 3 and 4 over at the Palms, so he will be playing Day ...

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http://beat.bodoglife.com/poker/2009-wsop-video-blog-david-williams-loves-jay-z-9
2570.html

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