More players, pros and excitement on Day 1B
There buzz surrounding the World Series of Poker went up a notch on Day 1B of the Main Event.
Between more players -- 1,545 players bought into Day 1B with another 1,606 expected for tomorrow – and the appearance of several well-known pros, the Amazon room was electric.
Day 1A saw 1,287 players at the felt.
Strategy was the most commonly cited reason for players choosing to start their Main Event on Day 1B. Since there are two Day Ones left, players who survive Saturday will have a couple days of rest before playing their second day.
"I don't want to play on consecutive days until I have too," said 61-year-old Dan Harrington, the 1995 World Champion.
John Juanda also needed the days off Day 1B provides.
"I played in the Deuce-to-Seven Thursday (Event #54) so I wanted to wait a day before playing," Juanda said. "I can also get a couple days rest if I make it to Day Two."
WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack believes the multiple Day 1 starting dates allows players to choose their optimum tournament conditions.
"It's a combination of strategy and choice," Pollack said. "It's a matter of very personal choice. That's one of the main reasons the WSOP offers multiple start dates.
Day 1B kicked off at 12:09 p.m., seven minutes earlier than Day 1A. The scheduled start times were noon. Rio regular performers Penn and Teller were on hand to tell players to "shuffle up and deal."
The Amazon room saw significantly more pros on Day 1B. Former World Champions Harrington, Joe Hachem, Tom McEvoy and Scotty Nguyen began their events Saturday. Hachem and Nguyen are playing at the ESPN featured tables.
Also playing are Howard Lederer, Annie Duke, Kathy Liebert, Paul Wasicka, Robert Mizrachi, Patrik Antonius, Tony G, Bill Chen, Sam Farha and David Williams.
Montel Williams is the top celebrity in today's field. Norm MacDonald of Saturday Night Live fame is also playing.
All of them are chasing Day 1Aa chip leader Tinten Olivier. The relative unknown from Paris amassed $270,000 chips on Friday, $70,000 more than second place John Dutchak from Tampa, Fla.
Barry Greenstein was the only superstar to finish in the top 100 of Day 1A. He has $93,000 chips.
Former World Champions Bobby Baldwin and Huck Seed survived Day 1A, but both have short stacks. Actor Brad Garrett leads the celebrity parade with $70,000 chips. Tobey McGuire also made Day Two.
