Marcel Luske is the first player to bust out of today's £2,500 HORSE event. Luske started out with () against Gus Hansen's (x-x) . Luske ended up with two pair, Aces and Fives, and lost to Gus Hansen's Queen-high diamond flush.
For many of the dealers here it is the first time they have ever dealt HORSE; in fact it's the first time many have even dealt limit games in general. They are doing a fantastic job in what must be baptism of fire for them.
Inevitably the floor managers are getting called over quite a lot and a lot of rulings are being requested. Bear in mind that not only is this new to the staff, but of course we have slightly different ways of doing things here in the UK than in the States, too.
They are doing a great job, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a bit of controversy round the corner.
Barry Greenstein and Joe Sebok are both yet to show up for the event, as is Andrew Fitzgerald. The entries have been paid and the chips are on the table, but as yet they are no-shows.
When you are a high-profile poker player you can pretty much get what you want from the casino staff. You want a drink, you get a drink. You want a table at the coolest club in town, they hook you up.
A rather unusual example of this I have just witnessed. For some strange reason David Williams was spotted getting electrical tape wrapped around his wrists.
He must have ripped his sleeve or something, but a burly security guard has just been applying several layers of tape to his wrists.
I bet if I wanted my wrists taped I wouldn't get as speedy a service.
There are a group of attractive young massage therapists wandering the main tournament area. Phil Hellmuth called one over complaining of jetlag and saying he needed a massage. Some other players at the table thought it was a great idea and they hired the whole team of masseuses. Phil Hellmuth, Jeff Madsen, Brandon Adams and Tony G are all currently being massaged. Jen Harman was a split second too late, and will have to wait until they are free.