Gordon Vayo opened for 23,000 from the cutoff only to have Heinz Kamutzki three-bet to 65,000 from the small blind. Vayo responded by four-betting to 135,000 and then snap-called when Kamutzki moved all in for 435,000.
Kamutzki:
Vayo:
"Queen ball," Kamutzki pleaded. He began the day as chip leader and suddenly found himself in danger of busting in 14th place. The flop provided no queen, but Kamutzki was saved when the turn put two pair on the board, meaning the two were currently chopping. The river didn't change a thing, and the pot was chopped and Kamutzki's time in the tournament continues.
Artem Metalidi checked from his seat in the small blind on a flop reading , putting the action onto Pratyush Buddiga who was seated under the gun. Buddiga, a former spelling bee champion, bet 60,000 and Metalidi paused for around 30 seconds before check-raising all-in for 309,000.
Buddiga looked rocked for a brief moment before composing himself again. After a short while debating what the best action to take was, Buddiga settled on a call to put Metalidi at risk of elimination.
Buddiga:
Metalidi:
Buddiga held the advantage with his top pair, but was soon behind when the turn gave Metalidi the nut straight. The completed the board, Metalidi doubled to 625,000 and Buddiga plummeted down the chip counts.
Heinz Kamutzki opened for 20,000 from the cutoff and was met by a three-bet to 54,000 from Gordon Vayo on the button. The blind both folded and Kamutzki announced that he was all in, which elicited a quick call from Vayo.
Kamutzki:
Vayo:
Kamutzki was dominated by Vayo, who was all in for 325,000 total. The board ran out and Vayo's kings and sevens with an ace kicker secured him the double.
Tony Ruberto began the day as the short stack, and all signs pointed to him getting it in sooner than later. That just happened when he got his last 80,000 all in preflop holding and was up against the of Artem Metalidi. Ruberto managed to find a queen on the turn to double.
Alen Bilic is the day's first casualty, busting at the hands of John Andress.
Andress opened to 20,000 and quickly called when Bilic three-bet all-in from one seat over for 105,000 in total.
Bilic:
Andress:
Andress had Bilic dominated and his stayed ahead on the flop. The turn was the and it was followed onto the green WSOP-branded felt by the . With that, Bilic busted and we are down to 14 in Event #15.
Phil Hellmuth raised to 29,000 from the cutoff seat and Vladimir Geshkenbein called from the big blind.
The dealer spread the flop and both players tapped the table and checked. Geshkenbein led out for 35,000 on the turn and Hellmuth quickly called. Geshkenbein then checked the river and called when Hellmuth made it 30,000 to see a showdown.
"Flush," said Hellmuth as he rolled over .
Hellmuth is being very active in these early stages.
Phil Hellmuth raised to 28,000 under the gun and Gabriel Andrade called him from the cutoff. Hellmuth then check-called a bet of 20,000 on the flop before both players checked the turn.
When the completed the board on the river, Hellmuth double checked his cards. "Diamond check, hold on," he said. The "Poker Brat" then bet 62,000. Andrade wasted little time in calling with the , but his flush was no good as Hellmuth held the nuts with the .
Andrade seemed irritated that Hellmuth called 20,000 on the flop and began to voice his frustrations. Hellmuth jabbed back, and it looks like we can expect some verbal jousting from these two here in the early goings.
Thirteen-time WSOP champion Phil Hellmuth raised to 20,000 from under the gun and his only customer was Zachary Korik in the big blind. A flop reading was checked by both players and Korik checked again when the fell on the river.
Hellmuth took up the role of aggressor and bet 24,000. Korik folded and Hellmuth won the pot.
Zachary Korik has got off to a great start and has doubled through Phil Hellmuth on the very first hand of play.
Mark Darner opened to 20,000 only to see Korik three-bet all-in for 221,000. Hellmuth instantly announced "call" and the remaining players ducked out of the way.
Hellmuth:
Korik:
it was one of tournament poker's many coinflip scenarios and one that Hellmuth would lose. The flop was safe as it gets for pocket sevens, and the turn kept them ahead. The river completed the board and Korik's double up.
Vladimir Geshkenbein needled Hellmuth by saying: "Oh Phil! What are you doing? Putting your money in with ace-high."
Hellmuth responded by saying he lost every flip he played on Day 2 but was still among the chip leaders.