2012 WSOP Main Event Opening Rounds Recap – 6598 Take to Field With Deeb, Selbst, and Boeree Looming
The 2012 WSOP Main Event is officially underway. Starting on Saturday a total of 6,598 players took to the tables over three starting days to create a Main Event prize pool totaling just over $62 Million. By the time the champion is crowned in October, the first place winner will receive $8.5 Million for first place.
The three day 1 starting fields brought out all the pros you come to expect at the WSOP Main Event. Phil Hellmuth made an uncustomary Day 1a appearance but failed to get anything going and eventually busted well before the end of the day. Other players that failed to get through Day 1a were Kathy Liebert, Matt Glantz, as well as 1993 WSOP Main Event Champ Jim Bechtel and 2005 WSOP Champ Joe Hachem.
Day 1b was highlighted by Vanessa Selbst finishing the day 2nd in chips with 168,350 and Daniel Negranu, Maria Ho, and Shaun Deeb all finishing in the top 20. Of course players such as Tom Dwan, Greg Raymer, Chip Jett, Joe Sebok, and Todd Brunson all failed to advance.
The last day 1 starter saw former Main Event Champ Joe Cada advance as well as Sorel Mizzi, Josh Arieh, Viktor “Isildur1″ Blom, and Phil Ivey. 2010 Main Event Champion Jonathan Duhamel failed to make it through to Day 2 as well as Chino Rheem, Jimmy Ficke, and Humberto Brenes. Thor Hansen entered Day 1c to the applause of many. Hansen is currently battling what may be terminal cancer and his play on Day 1c was inspiring. Unfortunately, Hansen was unable to advance and was eliminated on Day 1c.
Day 2 was split up into two days with fields from 1a and 1b playing on the first day and the 1c field playing on the second. Shaun Deeb finished 3rd in chips after Day 2a with 460,900 with other players such as Maria Ho, Bernard Lee, Gavin Smith, and Eric Baldwin all advancing. Day 2b saw Michael Hack finish as top dog in chips with 457,000 with Burt Boutin, Jake Cody, Sam Holden, and Joseph Cheong all in strong contention.
The fields finally combined on Thursday for Day 3 and former champions Robert Varkonyi and Jerry Yang have been eliminated as of the dinner break. Jason Somerville and Shaun Deeb are both in contention with over 500k in chips each and both Liv Boeree and Vanessa Selbst are still very healthy in chips and looking to become the last woman standing.
Four more days of poker remain before we know who the “October Nine” are for the 2012 WSOP Main Event. Will a big name pro make the final table or will a woman break through for the first time since 1995. Come back and find out as we continue to recap the 2012 WSOP Main Event.
