WSOP Day 31 recap: Day 1 of the TOC, pros turnout for $1k event

I’m not sure if the poker gods were smiling at the TOC yesterday, but it’s a certainty that the gods of uncomfortable and irony would be making an appearance -sitting Annie Duke and Daniel Negreanu next to each other. Duke and Negreanu have a long history with one another; a history that has bubbled over on numerous occasions including recently with their opposing views on the Ladies-Only tournament.

Other action at the 2010 World Series of Poker has slowed down a bit as the WSOP winds down for the year, and with just four other tournaments in action, and two of them concluding -although as of writing I’m looking at two heads-up battles.

Tournament of Champions

I’m going a bit out of order by starting my roundup with the TOC, but since the event doesn’t have a number it seems like an ok move. It was quick day with the players participating for just 4-hours -they’ll be back today

As I mentioned earlier there was a lot of uncomfortable moments at the featured table with Annie Duke in Seat #7 and Daniel Negreanu in Seat #8. This is probably the quietest I’ve seen Daniel at a poker table in quite some time.

Only 5 players were eliminated on Day 1 of the tournament including a very quick exit from John Juanda followed by Sam Farha, Greg Raymer, Barry Shulman, and Phil Ivey.

Event #45: $1,500 No Limit Holdem

A long heads-up battle is brewing in the $1,500 NLHE tournament between Jesse Rockowitz and Raymond Coburn with both players pretty even in chips at the moment: 7.4 million for Rockowitz, and 6.6 million for Coburn.

Event #46: $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha 8 or better

Two players are still sitting at the Rio poker tables this morning and are basically dead even chips: Chris Bell and Dan Shak. The two Poker Pros are both looking for their first WSOP bracelet after surviving a murderer’s row of players throughout the tournament including a final table that included Dave Ulliot, Erik Seidel, Rob Hollink and Perry Green.

Also of note was Allen Kessler picking up his 7^th cash at the 2010 WSOP, and Dan Heimiller picking up cash #6! Both players are in the thick of the Player of the Year hunt despite not winning an event.

Event #47: $1,000 No Limit Holdem

A total of 3,128 players entered the tournament over the two starting days, but unlike the other $1k NLHE tournaments there are a number of big names filling the top of the leader-board: Olivier Bousquet, Jeff Madsen, Chris Moneymaker, Mickey Appleman, David Levi, David Sklansky, Terrence Chan, Lyle Berman, CK Hua, Justin Smith and Faraz Jaka all in the top 20.

Play will resume today with the remaining 476 coming back to bust the money bubble.

 Event #48: $2,500 8-Game Mix

21 players will come back to the Rio today to declare a champion in the $2,500 mixed tournament including a number of top poker players, such as John D’Agostino, Todd Brunson, Bill Chen, Dario Minieri, Alexander Kravchenko, Jared Jaffe, Steve Sung, Scott Seiver, Kirk Morrison, and Matt Vengrin.

 Results courtesy of WSOP.com