[user38971]
After just three hours of play, we believe we've found the current chip leader. Nestor Martinez is currently sitting on a stack of 93,500. Players in the Main Event started with just 20,000 in chips, so Martinez is up almost five times the starting stack.
[user25067]
For the first two hours of this tournament, things seemed almost... serene inside the Amazon Room. Just a low hum of nervous voices, the clattering of chips, and the occasional cry of "Seat open!" With approximately 1250 players starting their Main Event today, the 230-table room wasn't even filled to capacity.
Then... they let the spectators in.
The main aisles that divide the room into four quadrants are now completely clogged with railbirds. Wives sweating their husbands, friends taking snapshots of their homegame buddies who won seats, mothers and fathers sweating their sons and daughters. And believe it or not, security hasn't even let everyone in yet. There is still a line about 300 deep outside the door.
[user38971]
Eugene Todd
Eugene Todd made it 650 to go from under the gun and a late-position player called.
Flop:
Todd led out for 1,100 on the flop and was raised by his opponent to 3,000 total. Todd made the call and both players checked the on the turn. The fell on the river and Todd called a 3,000 bet from his opponent. His opponent showed for the nut flush and Todd mucked.
[user38420]
Ray Romano caught a pair of jacks and hooked one player. He must have had the right bait because he turned his pair into a full boat. Nice fishing!
[user24788]
Vinny Vinh
Vinny Vinh was supposed to be playing on Day 1a. His real name is Quoc Vinh and he was assigned to Table 40, Seat 9. He did not show up on time and his stack started to get blinded off. His friends indicated that Vinh was in the hospital and unable to play. They tried to get him a refund. Jack Effel was called in and made the decision to remove Vinh's stack. He will be able to get a refund or play on another day if he decides to.
[user38420]
Five players limped in and Will Durkee pushed all-in from the big blind for his last 550. The player under-the-gun raised to 2,000 and the other players folded. Durkee showed against . The board came and then the river. The gave Durkee's opponent a pair and Durkee headed for the door.
[user38971]
Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter, winner of five gold bracelets in deuce-to-seven (7 total bracelets overall) and known for staking World Champion Stu Ungar in the 1980, 1981, and 1997 main events, is in attendance and doing well. Baxter is currently sitting with 29,000 in chips.
[user26127]
Jeff Madsen stopped by to chat on first break of his day 1 of the Main Event to explain why he is dressed as a court jester and talk about staying focused today despite the costume shenanigans.
[user38420]
After a flop of , Will Durkee bet 1,000 from early position, middle-position player called, a late-position player raised it up 4,000, Durkee pushed all-in for 10,000 more and the late-position player called. Durkee showed and was out front with two pair. His opponent turned over . The board came and Durkee was crippled. His opponent took the pot with a higher two pair and Durkee was down to 700.
![[user25067]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
on the turn. The 
fell on the river and Todd called a 3,000 bet from his opponent. His opponent showed 
for the nut flush and Todd mucked.
. The board came 
and then the river. The 
gave Durkee's opponent a pair and Durkee headed for the door.
, Will Durkee bet 1,000 from early position, middle-position player called, a late-position player raised it up 4,000, Durkee pushed all-in for 10,000 more and the late-position player called. Durkee showed 
and was out front with two pair. His opponent turned over 
and Durkee was crippled. His opponent took the pot with a higher two pair and Durkee was down to 700.
