Zimba Blog:
Setting the tone for Day 1A was the surprise inclusion of Doyle Brunson who had recently tweeted his frustration with poker and life while indicating he would not play the Main Event. Not only did he play, but he was roundly applauded on his introduction and ceremonial offering of the "shuffle up and deal" call to start play. He was featured at the TV "mothership" table along with Mickey Appleman.
While we had little clue of it deep in the Amazon room, it rained today in Las Vegas. Could that have been what kept away more players from playing Day 1A. After two levels, players on Day 1A are confirmed at 897. According to fellow media guy Frank Op de Woerd, over the last three years, Day 1A has averaged 17% of the eventual field which would put the 2011 Main Event on course for between 5,300 and 5,400 players compared to last year's 7,319. Tournament officials indicated that satellites were quite busy and that total confirmed registrations were already above 3,400. They were optimistic that the eventual numbers could surge well above the 5,400 mark.
John Wray of The Micros was a popular person on Day 1A as he was handing out The Micros shirts to select media and Main Event players.
A couple interesting tables of note with Greg Raymer holding court at a table that included David "themaven" Chicotsky (who busted early overplaying A,K top pair top kicker against bottom two pair), Tom Schneider, David Chicotsky, Olivier Busquet and noted twitter humorist @pokergrump. Another table included comedian Jason Alexander who was faring well battling the likes of Huck Seed, CardPlayer owner Barry Shulman, $50k 5th place finisher Matt Glantz, and some new CardRunners patched pro/player.
Speaking of CardRunners, pro Brian Hastings started off terribly watching his stack dwindle from 30,000 to 11,000, but he has rallied in the current level and finds himself finally above his starting stack at 36,500.
Some other notables who played today included Johnny Chan, Brett Richey, Eugene Todd, Faraz Jaka, Rob Hollink, Ludovic Lacay, Eli Elezra, Jordan Rich, Josh Arieh, Jeff Williams, Lex Veldhuis, Johnny Lodden, Scott Montgomery, Bill Chen, Matt Affleck, Isaac Haxton, Ari Engel, Jude Ainsworth, and Mclean Karr who bust quite early in a K's vs. A's confrontation. His girlfriend, Micros star Tatjana Pasalic, was still in and a popular draw at her all male table. Also Jerry Yang, who was promoting his new book "The Shadow," busted in level three. Sadly, Doyle Brunson has just busted out at the end of level three in what might be his last hoorah at the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Some things I noticed about Day 1A:
I may run by the twoplustwo party at the Wynn to meet a couple people, then return for the late night run to day 1A.
Setting the tone for Day 1A was the surprise inclusion of Doyle Brunson who had recently tweeted his frustration with poker and life while indicating he would not play the Main Event. Not only did he play, but he was roundly applauded on his introduction and ceremonial offering of the "shuffle up and deal" call to start play. He was featured at the TV "mothership" table along with Mickey Appleman.
While we had little clue of it deep in the Amazon room, it rained today in Las Vegas. Could that have been what kept away more players from playing Day 1A. After two levels, players on Day 1A are confirmed at 897. According to fellow media guy Frank Op de Woerd, over the last three years, Day 1A has averaged 17% of the eventual field which would put the 2011 Main Event on course for between 5,300 and 5,400 players compared to last year's 7,319. Tournament officials indicated that satellites were quite busy and that total confirmed registrations were already above 3,400. They were optimistic that the eventual numbers could surge well above the 5,400 mark.
John Wray of The Micros was a popular person on Day 1A as he was handing out The Micros shirts to select media and Main Event players.
A couple interesting tables of note with Greg Raymer holding court at a table that included David "themaven" Chicotsky (who busted early overplaying A,K top pair top kicker against bottom two pair), Tom Schneider, David Chicotsky, Olivier Busquet and noted twitter humorist @pokergrump. Another table included comedian Jason Alexander who was faring well battling the likes of Huck Seed, CardPlayer owner Barry Shulman, $50k 5th place finisher Matt Glantz, and some new CardRunners patched pro/player.
Speaking of CardRunners, pro Brian Hastings started off terribly watching his stack dwindle from 30,000 to 11,000, but he has rallied in the current level and finds himself finally above his starting stack at 36,500.
Some other notables who played today included Johnny Chan, Brett Richey, Eugene Todd, Faraz Jaka, Rob Hollink, Ludovic Lacay, Eli Elezra, Jordan Rich, Josh Arieh, Jeff Williams, Lex Veldhuis, Johnny Lodden, Scott Montgomery, Bill Chen, Matt Affleck, Isaac Haxton, Ari Engel, Jude Ainsworth, and Mclean Karr who bust quite early in a K's vs. A's confrontation. His girlfriend, Micros star Tatjana Pasalic, was still in and a popular draw at her all male table. Also Jerry Yang, who was promoting his new book "The Shadow," busted in level three. Sadly, Doyle Brunson has just busted out at the end of level three in what might be his last hoorah at the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Some things I noticed about Day 1A:
- The ESPN "mothership" dominates the Amazon room, making it feel much smaller and creating two U shaped wings that feel private in comparison to previous years.
- Fewer showy hats being worn by players, one blowup orange crown was noticed though.
- Fewer costumes to draw attention, save one velvet red rob and matching red top hat.
- Fewer people in the hallways, although having fewer commercial booths may have contributed to that feeling.
- Salads are still the killer go to item in the Poker Kitchen, although they are $12, not $10, this year. Late addition Sen of Japan sushi may make a run for the title, as well.
I may run by the twoplustwo party at the Wynn to meet a couple people, then return for the late night run to day 1A.
First Zimba Blog: I Want That Feeling, One Time!
Second Zimba Blog: Sunday Poker Diatribe
Third Zimba Blog: Thoughts and Experiences with Cheating in Poker
Fourth Zimba Blog: The Myth of Money Won in Poker
Fifth Zimba Blog: Poker Super Powers - The Cloak of Invincibility
Sixth Zimba Blog: The Good News About The Portuguese Prodigy
Seventh Zimba Blog: Finding Your Place In Poker
Eighth Zimba Blog: Poker Empathy
Ninth Zimba Blog: Poker - A Global Game
Tenth Zimba Blog: 10 Things I Learned From My First Week Not Playing Poker
Eleventh Zimba Blog: The Blame Game
Twelfth Zimba Blog: Commentary On FSG 218 Pros List
Thirteenth Zimba Blog: Poker News or Perspective?
Fourteenth Zimba Blog: WSOP Memories Redux
Fifteenth Zimba Blog: WSOP Memories Redux, pt. 2
Sixteenth Zimba Blog: Grandfathered In
Seventeenth Zimba Blog: Full Tilt Poker and the $60 Million Cost of Business
Eighteenth Zimba Blog: WSOP Bracelet - What is it worth anyways?
Nineteenth Zimba Blog: Down the Rabbit Hole
Twentieth Zimba Blog: Full Tilt Poker Misplayed Their Hand
Twenty-first Zimba Blog: U.S. Poker: 180 Days and Degrees
Twenty-second Zimba Blog: Women's Event: Life EV Trumps Poker EV
Twenty-third Zimba Blog: Zimba WSOP Blog: The Calm Before The Storm
