The first day of Event #23: THE MARATHON - $2,620 No-Limit Hold’em is over. The new event attracted 1,646 entries, but registration is still open until the start of play Tuesday at noon. This event offered a starting stack of 26,200 chips and 100-minute levels. The day ended with 806 players who will return for Day 2, together with any players who decide to register late.
The Day 1 chip leader is Igor Yaroshevskyy (292,600), but there are other big stacks in the running, including Rigoberto Rodriguez (280,600), Maurice Hawkins (263,000) and Bill Germanis (214,300).
Other notables in the field are Dietrich Fast (170,400), Matt Stout (98,000), Thomas Muehloecker (78,500), Bruno Politano (58,300) and Charlie Carrel (43,700).
Day 2 starts at noon. The total prize pool will be announced after play has started, so be sure to keep your eyes on PokerNews to find out what the winner will take home.
With about 14,000 in the pot and the board reading a player in early position led out for 4,000. Maurice Hawkins called in the hijack seat. The river was the and the player that led on the turn, checked. Hawkins quickly fired out a bet of 6,000 sending his opponent into the tank. After taking his time to assess, he elected to fold and showed Hawkins pocket jacks. Hawkins said, "Nice fold, I had you," reassuring his opponent. Hawkins has been in complete control as a player at his table was overheard saying, "This is his table, we just fight for the hands he doesn't want to play." Seems like a good image to have.
Ankush Mandavia had gotten it all in preflop with against an opponent's pocket threes. The board ran out , and Mandavia won with his straight.
The very next hand, the player under the gun raised to 1,500. A player in early position called, as did Mandavia on the button and Kyle Hartree in the big blind.
The flop was , and Hartree checked. The under-the-gun player bet 2,500 and was called by the opponent in early position and Mandavia, as Hartree folded out of the way.
The turn was the , and the bettor moved all in for 25,600. The player in early position tanked for almost five minutes before folding. Mandavia let out a bit of a smile, and after about a minute said, "This is about the worst hand I could have in this spot." He then announced, "Fold," and showed a pair of jacks. His opponent didn't turn over his cards and raked in the pot.
With about 14,000 in the pot and the board reading , Chris Moorman was in the cutoff against an opponent in the big blind. His opponent led the river for 6,000 and Moorman raised all in for 17,625. His opponent tanked for a couple of minutes before he called. Moorman tabled for a straight and his opponent showed for two pairs.
Carlos Mortensen is the 2001 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion and 2-time bracelet winner. Over $12 million in live recorded tournament earnings and one of the most recognisable poker names in the world. "The Metador" is on the hunt for his third ring today.
April Facey from Port Moody British Columbia Canada is our early chip leader after getting paid off with a full house versus a player with a flush and hitting a couple of sets in other hands. She has three WSOP cashes to her name and is in search of her first WSOP bracelet.
TJ Cloutier is a six-time WSOP bracelet winner and in 2006 he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. He has five top five finishes in the WSOP Main Event and $4.5 million in WSOP recorded earnings. Cloutier is the author of multiple books and is highly regarded as one of the best to ever play the game.
Cloutier has succeeded throughout the years in the "marathon grind" that is the poker lifestyle. There is no event more fitting for him to be playing in today as he goes for bracelet number seven.
The 2017 World Series of Poker introduces a new event today. Event #23: THE MARATHON - $2,620 No-Limit Hold'em is next up featuring a 26,200-chip starting stack — a nod to the 26.2-mile course of a marathon — with long 100-minute blind levels and five days of play.
Play starts at 11 a.m. today, with late registration lasting until the start of Day 2 tomorrow (at 12 noon). There will be a 15-minute break after every level and a 90-minute dinner break at the end of Level 4.
With the extended 100-minute levels of play, players will get full value for their money. This is expected to be a long, grueling grind that only the toughest will survive.
PokerNews has activated the My Stack App for this event, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting blog using your iPhone or Android phone.
You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.
Click here to download the My Stack app for iPhone, or click here to download the My Stack app for Android.
Stay tuned throughout the day for all the live updates from "THE MARATHON" here at PokerNews.
a player in early position led out for 4,000. Maurice Hawkins called in the hijack seat. The river was the 
and the player that led on the turn, checked. Hawkins quickly fired out a bet of 6,000 sending his opponent into the tank. After taking his time to assess, he elected to fold and showed Hawkins pocket jacks. Hawkins said, "Nice fold, I had you," reassuring his opponent. Hawkins has been in complete control as a player at his table was overheard saying, "This is his table, we just fight for the hands he doesn't want to play." Seems like a good image to have.
against an opponent's pocket threes. The board ran out 
, and Mandavia won with his straight. 
, and Hartree checked. The under-the-gun player bet 2,500 and was called by the opponent in early position and Mandavia, as Hartree folded out of the way.
for a straight and his opponent showed 
for two pairs.
