Home / Poker News September 2009 / WSOPE Day 1A – star studded field off to a fast start
WSOPE Day 1A – star studded field off to a fast start
Posted by: James Carter. - Sat, 2009-09-19 16:51
A field of 295 players bellied up to the tables of the Empire Casino in London on a typically gloomy London autumn day, but the atmosphere inside the gambling establishment was radically different. The passing of the time was barely noticeable there, as players like Phil Hellmuth, Dave Ulliott, Barry Greenstein, John Duthie and Roland De Wolfe were eager to swing into action as soon as possible. Despite the illustrious starting field, the £1,000 buy-in made it possible for loads of less known and probably materially less endowed players to join the action too.
Before the kick-off, WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack had a short speech in which he highlighted the WSOPE’s recent achievements and set the goals for the near future. Jack Effel was the one who called the start of the action though, and the 295 players were at each other’s throat at a moment’s notice.
The 3,000 chip starting stacks were bound to create some intense early action, but what ensued in the crowded Empire Casino was a carnage surpassing even the most optimistic expectations.
There was no shortage in big names heading to the rail, and Phil Hellmuth appeared to lead this exodus. The Ultimate Bet pro looked eager to double up early or to just get out of the way and he didn’t even wait for the second level to shove all his chips in. His open ended straight draw was way behind his opponent’s pocket Ks though and he never managed to catch up. He was soon followed to the rail by a suite of similarly illustrious names: John Duthie, the Devifish, Erik Seidel, Neil Channing and Barry Greenstein. Willie Tann fell victim to the early attrition too.
The chips that these guys dropped ended up in front of players like Richard Kellett. Kellett had a great Day1A, picking up pots left and right and dealing Neil Channing the final blow. That move gave the young British pro a huge boost which propelled him to the top of the provisional chip leader board instantly. He hovered about the top all day, and knocked out another big-stack, Cristiano Blanco to conserve his position.
JP Kelly was another local player having a great time on Day 1A. He too kept adding to his stack throughout the day and eventually finished as the Day1A chip leader. Kelly already has a piece of WSOP jewelry, secured this summer in the $1,500 NL Holdem event of the Series.
The break-neck pace imposed immediately after the kick-off didn’t ease all day. The field was soon down to 40, with only 8 and a half levels completed. To keep things interesting for Day 2, the organizers decided to call it the day, as it was obvious these guys would’ve gladly played down to the final table if it had been left up to them.
Raymond Rahme and Roland De Wolfe survived Day 1A. Michael Abecasis and Anthony Roux will also return to the Empire Casino for Day 2.
Given the reasonably sized buy-in, Day 1B is expected to yield at least as large a field as Day 1A.
