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The numbers have been tallied and triple-checked, and the staff has told us that 244 runners have played Event #1 of the WSOPE this year, 37 of them entering as alternates after play began. The entries have created a prize pool worth £610,000, and that's not too shabby. We'll have the prize pool for you as soon as it's calculated, but it looks like the winner of this opening event will take home well over £150,000 for their investment.
Dave Ulliot is less like his "Devilfish" moniker today and more like a spitting camel. He was all-in on a 
with against 
.
"But!" we hear you cry, dear reader, "How can he lose from there?"
A queen and a ten quickly followed and a very grumpy Devilfish was made to ead to the rail.
Phil Hellmuth raised to 450 before his opponent three-bet to 1,400. Action folded back around to Hellmuth, he made the call and would be playing out of position from here on out.
The flop came down 
and Hellmuth checked. His opponent fired a bet of 1,200 and quickly, Hellmuth said, "2,800," and fired out a raise. His opponent thought for a bit and then decided to make the call.
The turn card brought the 
and completed a possible flush draw. Hellmuth tapped the table and passed the action to his opponent. The player fired 2,500 and Hellmuth made a quick call.
The river completed the board with the 
and Hellmuth checked to his opponent again. That player fired 4,500 after some thought. Hellmuth went into the for very long time. The bet was worth a good chunk of his remaining stack and would be a big blow if he were to call and lose. Hellmuth decided to make the call in the end and right he was. His opponent announced, "You got it," when Hellmuth called and showed just jack high with the 
. Hellmuth revealed the 
for two pair and scooped the pot.
"You're writing that down right, the whole thing?" asked Hellmuth.
"Yep, I got it all," responded our reporter.
"Awesome! I check-raised the flop, too! All I could really beat was a float," finished Hellmuth, who now has 29,000 in chips.
Scott Montgomery raised it up preflop and found a caller in Tai Tran who defended from the blind. Tran then check-called every street of a 
board including a river push for 4,000 before showing 
. Montgomery mucked his cards and headed for the bar.
We've got the first four levels in the books, and the players have been sent off for a 20-minute break. When they return, they'll play two more levels before taking a 90-minute dinner break.
We'll be right back!
Level: 5
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 25
In the course of the last few minutes, we've lost both Sorel Mizzi and Mike Matusow from our field. Good games, gents.
Down to just 2,175 chips, 2007's WSOPE Main Event champion Annette Obrestad moved all in before the flop holding 
. An opponent called her down with 
, and the race was on.
The board frowned on Annette, though, running out 
. King-high is no good against trip fives, and Obrestad's day is done. Perhaps she'll be playing the £200 mega satellite tomorrow? All right, nevermind, we'll probably see her on Thursday for Event #2 instead.
Despite her exit, Annette told our own Gloria Balding that she's happy with her performance, particularly because she outlasted her boyfriend in their last-longer bet. It's anyone's guess what the terms of the bet were.
After the cutoff seat moved all in for 2,600, Rudy Blondeau made the call from the button. The two blinds folded and the hands were revealed. Blondeau held the 
up against his opponent's 
.
The board ran out 
and Blondeau earned the elimination to move up to 19,000.
Phil Laak, complete with red mohawk and Union Jack cast, is up to 27,500 after eliminating a short stack. He called 2,700 on the turn of 
board with 
before evading a drawtastic 
on the river.
