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PokerStars Team Pro: Sweden William Thorson has endured a bumpy start to this year's WSOP Main Event. He currently has 18,000 after folding to a short stack's all-in. There was circa 5,000 in the middle when I arrived, and his opponent had made her move from the small blind for 7,975. After much thought, Thorson (button), made the fold.
There was about 5,000 in the pot on a board reading 
and three players in the hand. The small blind checked and Jason Mercier bet 2,750. The player on the button quickly folded and so did the small blind. Mercier's bet was strong enough to take down the pot and he increased his stack to around 38,000.
Level: 2
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0
Chants of “Ivey! Ivey! Ivey!” still echo in the minds of poker players and fans alike. Last year’s magical run by Phil Ivey captured the eyes and ears of everyone associated with the poker industry, and his quest at a repeat performance started here on Day 1d of the 2010 Main Event.
Ivey has been splashing around early on, and is in the black with 45,700 chips.
There are a few players off to a quick including Brent Baldrey (65,000), Steve "MrSmokey1" Billirakis (57,000) and David Benyamine (48,200). Sure it is early in the tournament, but fast starts aren’t always bad omens. Just ask 2009 Main Event Champion and 2009 Day 1c chip leader Joe Cada.
Speaking of former champs.
Doyle Brunson, Robert Varkonyi, Joe Hachem and Chris Ferguson are in the field today. No former champion has made the final table since “Action” Dan Harrington did so in 2004, and there hasn’t been a repeat winner since Johnny Chan went back-to-back in 1987 and 1988.
The Grand Dame of Poker has graced us with her presence today. Wendeen Eolis, the first woman to ever cash in the Main Event, is sitting in the Red Section of the Amazon Room. There are plenty of other lovely ladies in the field today including Vanessa Rousso, Shannon Elizabeth and Kara Scott.
Level 1 is in the books, and we’re now on a brief, 20-minute break. Maybe Emmitt Smith can take the time to work on his “Shuffle up and deal.”
There's always one table that breaks for the 20-minute period later than the others, and on this occasion it was Kara Scott's as the camera crew swamped the table like white on rice.
It was a player in early position who lit the opening spark, raising it up to 250 preflop. Scott made it 700 a few seats down and received two callers: the small blind and the initial raiser.
The flop rolled out 
, and after both players checked, Scott led for 1,700. The small blind folded, but the preflop raiser was less hospitable and opted to bump it up to 5,025. Scott made the call.
A 
turn triggered more action, early position leading for 5,525 and putting the decision on Scott. Again, the British starlet just flat called, leaving herself 27,000 behind.
As the 
river was dealt, the rest of the section began dispersing for the break, and as a result we attracted a few extra spectators looking for some "Hey, look, mom. I'm on TV" camera time (yes, shamefully, that included me).
With onlookers salivating over the size of the pot, the preflop raiser fired again, this time to the tune of 20,000. With little hesitation, Scott moved all in, and although it was only 7,000 more, her opponent stalled before commenting with a sigh, "You're not value-raising aces." After a long dwell, he somehow found the fold allowing Scott to scoop up what was a mammoth pot for Level 1.
The only bad news? Us curious cats never got to see any hole cards. Bah.
Six players committed 300 preflop - including Phil Ivey from the cutoff - to see a 
flop fall.
The preflop raiser fired out 700 and was called in one spot before Ivey made it 2,800 to go. The button and blinds passed, as did the original raiser, before the player caught in the middle made the call for the additional 2,100.
The turn of the was checked through to see the 
land on the river and Ivey faced with a bet of 3,600 in which he quickly called.
Shown his opponent's 
, Ivey tabled his 
to collect the pot and move to 45,700 in chips.
"Nice hand Phil!" stated Mel Humphries from the rail before his wife - and fellow avid Ivey supporter - Pat began her famous, "Ivey, Ivey, Ivey!" chant.
We found PokerStars Team Pro Vanessa Rousso betting out 7,000 from the small blind position on the turn of an 
board. Her opponent in the cutoff thought about it for some time before eventually making the call.
They saw a 
river and Rousso tanked up for some minutes as the rest of the room headed out on break around her. Eventually she checked and once her opponent had checked behind she tabled 
for ace-high. Her opponent turned over a humble 
for a pair of eights, and it was good enough to win the hefty pot.
Rousso dropped back to 33,000 after that.
We recently saw Ben Fineman check to Amanda Musumeci on a flop reading 
. Musumeci bet 1,075 into the flop and Fineman came along for the ride.
The turn was the and Fineman check-called again, this time for 2,250.
When the came on the river Fineman checked to Musumeci who bet 7,000. Fineman tanked before deciding to make the call.
Musumeci showed 
and Fimeman mucked. The win put Musumeci up to 47,000.
All five community cards had been dealt -- 
. A sizable heap of chips -- about 20,000 worth -- rested beside them.
Bill Edler's opponent checked, Edler bet 7,500, and his opponent called. Edler's foe showed 
for the flopped set, and Edler mucked.
Edler is down to 15,000 as we near the end of Level 1.
We got to Joe Hachem's table to see him make a late-position bet of about 200 into a flop of . He was called by his opponent who was sitting in the cutoff. After the betting, there was about 950 in the pot.
The turn was the and Hachem made another bet, this time for 250. He was called and both players checked the 
on the river.
Hachem didn't have much confidence in his voice when he said he had a ten, turning up . However, it was good enough to take down the pot.
