$50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament notes
- Prior to the start of the tournament, John D'Agostino and Jen Harman posed for a picture, prompting D'Agostino to say "That's the first time I've ever been in a picture and been taller than the other person."
- The tournament venue is set up perfectly for spectators. Players are seated at 20 tables in two rows of 10, meaning every table is close enough to the rail that spectators can be within a few feet of any player in the field.
- Strangely enough, four players that made last year's final table in this event were seated at the same table at the start of play today. It will be much tougher for Phil Ivey, T.J. Cloutier, Dewey Tomko and David Singer to repeat their final table performance, considering they will likely be competing against each other for most of the day.
- One player in the field tried to convince Phil Ivey to make a $3,500 last longer bet. Phil wasn't impressed. "This is a $50,000 tournament. If you're going to make a bet, make it a real amount."
- Phil Hellmuth arrived about 45 minutes into play, and he wasn't the only one who missed the touranment's opening hand. There were plenty of vacant seats 20 minutes into the tournament as many pros opted to arrive late. "Everyone that's got an empty seat is hoping it's Phil's," Mike Matusow announced.
- Matusow was quite pleased when John "The Razor" Phan sat down at his table with a foot-long hot dog. He made a $10,000 last longer bet with Phan soon after he sat down.
- When Todd Brunson arrived, he found that he was seated at the same table as his father, Doyle Brunson. Tournament director Jack Effel quickly moved Todd to a new table, explaining that when family members are seated at the same table at the beginning of a tournament, they can be moved. If they end up at the same table later in the tournament, however, they won't be moved.
- Instead of the $10 off dinner coupon that players in all other tournaments get for playing WSOP events, the players in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event will be treated to a banquet tonight. "It will probably be the most illustrious meal ever eaten in poker," said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the WSOP, before the tournament began.
- This year's field of 148 players is slightly higher than last year's 143. The first place prize of $2.3 million also beat last year's number, as Chip Reese won $1.7 million for taking first in 2006.
$50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament notes
is republished from CasinoCityTimes.com.