WSOP 2008 Main Event, End of Day 1A Results and Report

No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $ 10,000
Number of Entries: TBD
Total Net Prize Pool: TBD
July 3 – November 10, 2008

Tournament Notes from Day 1A

This year’s World Series of Poker Main Event started on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 12:15 pm.

The official “first day” was split into four flights spread over four consecutive days. Due to the large size of the field, in recent years it has become necessary to play the Day One sessions in four groups, divided as Days 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, and 1-D.

The number of players registered for Day 1-A was 1,297. Note: This number has little bearing on the actual total number who will play in the Main Event, since registration remains open until Sunday, after the completion of two levels of play.

The traditional “Shuffle Up and Deal” announcement was made by none other than “Mr. Las Vegas” himself, Wayne Newton. The entertainment icon approached the center of the expansive tournament room dressed in a black tuxedo. He was flanked by several showgirls from the Ballys’ nightly production of “Jubilee.” Newton welcomed all the players, spoke with great affection for his love of Las Vegas, and then introduced the University of Nevada-Las Vegas marching band which entered the tournament arena blasting away “Viva Las Vegas.”

In his introductory remarks WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack paid tribute to the WSOP staff, and specifically to Tournament Director Jack Effel, who was properly credited for his role in overseeing one of the largest poker events in history. Pollack also thanked all the players who had come to play in the WSOP from all over the world.

Jack Effel has been the WSOP Tournament Director since 2006. He has worked on the WSOP since 2005. He handles WSOP duties year around and also works at the Rio in Las Vegas. He is the eighth WSOP Tournament Director in the 39-year history of the tournament.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the WSOP has been played at the Rio in Las Vegas. From 1970 through 2004, the WSOP was played at Binion’s Horseshoe in Downtown Las Vegas.

The tournament began in the area confined to the Amazon Ballroom. The number of tables (155) was enough to accommodate all the players registered on Day One.

The first elimination of this year’s Main Event took place about five minutes into play. Barry Clancy, from Fort Worth, Texas was dealt pocket aces. The other player was dealt pocket jacks. After an inconsequential flop of 6-3-2, the player with the pocket jacks re-raised all-in. Clancy called with the pocket aces. The turn was a blank. The river was – a jack. The WSOP had officially dealt out its first bad beat of the year.

The first royal flush of the 2008 WSOP was dealt at approximately 3:15 on Day 1-A, about three hours into play.

ESPN designated two “feature” tables. The table on the main stage included 1998 world champion Scotty Nguyen, who won the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. world championship just days earlier. The secondary feature table was located off to the side and included two well-known players, Bill Gazes and Ciaran O’Leary.

Registered players were given energy drinks and bottled water made by All In, and seat cushions provided by Everest Poker.

Former WSOP champions who played on Day One included Bobby “the Owl” Baldwin (1978), Berry Johnston (1986), Dan Harrington (1995), and Scotty Nguyen. Baldwin, Johnston, and Harrington were eliminated. Nguyen survived the first day.

At least three married couples played in the same room on Day 1-A. They were Jan Von Halle and Katja Thater (Hamburg, Germany), Barry and Allyn Shulman (Las Vegas, NV), and Bob and Maureen Feduniak (Las Vegas, NV).

Michel Leibgorin, from southern France played on this day. He is legally blind. Leibgorin played with the aid of special lenses which allows him to see his cards. Leibgorin has already cashed two times at this year’s WSOP.

Actor Jason Alexander played on this day. However, he was eliminated in the middle of the day.

The only major celebrity to survive Day One was actor Ray Romano. This was the second straight year the popular performer has played in the WSOP Main Event. “You bond with people at your table,” Romano answered when asked what he likes about playing poker. Romano also revealed that he re-read Doyle Brunson’s classic Super/System the night before he played.

The End of Day 1-A chip leader is Mark Garner, with 194,900 chips.

Other notable players who made the cut include Brandon Adams, Mark Vos, Chau Giang, Hasan Habib, Blair Hinkle, Bill Baxter, and Ted Lawson.

All Day Ones play the exact same length of time. Play ended after five levels. Each level is two hours long. Day 1-A concluded at 1:25 am.

Day 1-A survivors will be off for the next four days. They will resume play on Day 2-A which begins Tuesday, July 8th. Play commences at 12 noon.

It’s official. Tournament pro and gold bracelet winner Erick Lindgren is the 2008 WSOP “Player of the Year.”

Remaining Plyaer from Day 1A