On Saturday, the third of four starting days of the 2008 World Series of Poker kicked off from the Rio in Las Vegas. After 2,300 players combined entered during the first two days of play, Saturday figured to see an enormous field. Several prominent online stars and a slew of brand name poker players could be spotted in the Amazon Room as well as adjacent playing areas. However, the official WSOP coverage notes that Saturday’s field seemed to be more amateur-heavy than during Day 1A and Day 1B. Let’s check into the Amazon Room and see who we can spot during the biggest poker tournament on the face of the Earth.
Andy Griggs, a country singer, got things started the right way by playing “It’s All About the Money.” For the 1,000 people in attendance to start the day, the next 12 hours would really be about the pursuit of millions of dollars and the title of WSOP Champion. One of the more memorable characters that played on Saturday was Dmitri Nobles. He held the chip lead for a good portion of the 2006 WSOP Main Event until Jamie Gold took over and cruised to victory. He finished in 76th place, taking home $65,973 for his efforts in 2006. He failed to cash last year or in 2008.
Elsewhere in the field is Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, winner of the 2008 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. In the tournament’s first year as a European Poker Tour event, Grospellier defeated Hafiz Khan heads up, winning one million dollars. David “The Dragon” Pham was also at the final table of the 2008 PokerStars event. If he can accumulate chips early, Grospellier will be someone to look out for on Wednesday when Day 2B begins.
Bracelet winner Huck Seed was sent packing early on Day 1C. On a board of 3-7-7-Q with two spades and two clubs, Seed pushed with 9-7, but was dominated by Chris Miranda’s A-7. His first bracelet came when he won a $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha tournament during the 1994 WSOP. He won the Main Event in 1996 and his most recent bracelet came from winning a $1,500 Limit Razz tournament during the 2000 WSOP. He finished seventh in the $50K HORSE event this year for $284,160.
Others who played included World Poker Tour Host Mike Sexton, who can be found competing in just about every one of the WPT events. On the WSOP Circuit, he won a bracelet in a $1,500 Limit 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo tournament during the 1989 WSOP, cashing for $104,400. He made the final table of the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold’em Championship this year, finishing fourth and banking $248,160.
Hustler Magazine founder Larry Flynt is in the field today, as are Steve Paul-Ambrose, Daniel Alaei, and Team Bodog member Justin Bonomo (or ZeeJustin). You can also play paparazzi on Evelyn Ng, FTOPS IV Main Event winner Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi, and even Jeff Lisandro.
In case you’re wondering who’s winning the Main Event so far, the Day 1A field was led by Mark Garner, who finished play with nealy 180,000 chips. Ben Samoff emerged victorious on Day 1B, winding up with 194,900 chips. The survivors from Day 1A and Day 1B will converge on the Amazon Room for Day 2A on Tuesday. Those leftover from Day 1C and Day 1D will meet back on Wednesday for Day 2B.