On a flop reading , Ken Ji was in the small blind and check-called his opponent's shove from the hijack, with Ji having him covered.
Ji tabled while his opponent tabled . Ji was behind, but the dealer put out the on the turn and he pulled way ahead. His opponent stood up from the table before the hit the river, and then he headed for the door.
Ji stacked up his chips while another player at the table asked, "How did you call off there? He was the tightest player at the table." Ji just smiled.
Tournament director and 2016 World Series of Poker November Niner Kenny Hallaert has taken his seat and is already off to a quick start.
The player from under the gun limped in, then a player in early position raised to 250. Hallaert defended his big blind, and the under-the-gun player called as well.
The flop came and all three players checked to the turn, which was the . Hallaert led out for 400, and the player under the gun folded. The early-position player took a look over at Hallaert's bet and decided to call.
The river was the . Hallaert thought for a moment and led out for 700 this time. His opponent dramatically lifted his cards up, rapped the tabled and said, "Nice hand" as he released his cards into the muck.
Jake Didonato has wasted no time building a chip stack in his quest for his first WSOP bracelet. Didonato got all his chips in the middle on the flop of , holding . His opponent held two overs and a flush draw but was drawing dead when the hit the turn. Didonato busted his fellow counterpart and had a brief discussion after the hand saying, "There's not much you can do there."
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The Casino Employees Event not only includes dealers and other casino staff, but the live reporters responsible for these exact updates also have a chance to join in on the action.
Molly Mossey, hailing from Minnesota, has hopped in the field and looks to make a run at the first gold bracelet of 2017. Mossey is a well-known fixture on the World Series of Poker Circuit live reporting team, and has also been playing poker for many years herself.
While Mossey has several WSOP Circuit cashes, she has yet to make the money in the actual series and looks to top her best career cash of $32,310 after finishing in third place in the 2012 $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in the Mid-States Poker Tour in Iowa.
One of the most interesting parts of the World Series of Poker has always been the wide variety of nationalities represented in the field.
Today a pack of dealers hailing from Canada have traveled together and entered the event. Here is a look at some of the Canucks who have entered early on:
The 48th annual World Series of Poker is officially underway!
Tournament Director Jack Effel has announced, "Shuffle up and deal" and play has begun. Cards are officially in the air in this opening event, featuring casino employees from around the world.
, Ken Ji was in the small blind and check-called his opponent's shove from the hijack, with Ji having him covered. 
while his opponent tabled 
. Ji was behind, but the dealer put out the 
on the turn and he pulled way ahead. His opponent stood up from the table before the 
hit the river, and then he headed for the door. 
and all three players checked to the turn, which was the 
. Hallaert led out for 400, and the player under the gun folded. The early-position player took a look over at Hallaert's bet and decided to call. 
. Hallaert thought for a moment and led out for 700 this time. His opponent dramatically lifted his cards up, rapped the tabled and said, "Nice hand" as he released his cards into the muck.
, holding 
. His opponent held two overs and a flush draw but was drawing dead when the 
hit the turn. Didonato busted his fellow counterpart and had a brief discussion after the hand saying, "There's not much you can do there."
, Jeff Slack led out from early position for 1,500. His opponent on the button called. 
and this time Slack checked. His opponent bet 1,700 and Slack called. 
and both players checked. Slack tabled 
.
