Event #43: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em

Event #43: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em drew a massive field of 1,248 entries creating a prize pool of over $2,000,000. The players filled the BRASILIA room and there was no shortage of action. After 10 levels of Day 1 play it's Ashwin Sarin leading the way with 166,200 and Stephen Foutty is right on his heels with 156,300.

David Peters vaulted to the top of the chip counts in the mid stages of play holding pocket kings and he never looked back. Peters bagged one of the best stacks in the room with 140,500 and will return to Day 2 fifth in chips as he looks for his second WSOP bracelet.

The eliminations were fast and furious and some of the players to fall by the wayside include Phil Helmuth, Alex Foxen, Joe McKeehen, Barry Greenstein and Michael Gagliano just to name a few.

There are 297 players that will return to the AMAZON room on Friday, June 22 at 12 P.M. local time to resume Day 2 play. PokerNews will be back on the floor to cover this event wire-to-wire.

Scott Vener just found himself in a great position. With an open a late position open and a button three-bet, he moved all in for 16,000. After the initial raiser moved aside, there was a call from the button and the cards were turned over.

Scott Vener:   
Opponent:   

The runout held firm for the kings and Vener got the double, as players headed into the last 15 minutes of the day.

Scott Vener

39,000

39,000

With under half an hour left of play for Day 1, here are some updated chip counts for you.

Shankar Pillai	86,000	25,750
Maurice Hawkins	65,500	-4,500
Yuliyan Kolev	50,000	-23,000
Justin Bonomo	43,000	11,000
Chris Ferguson	41,500	-3,500
Humberto Brenes	36,500	1,500
Kristen Bicknell	31,000	6,000

There are 351 runners left now, with players hitting the rail in close succession.

Heidi May	0	-15,500
Simon Deadman	0	-12,500
Alex Foxen	0	-17,000
Barry Greenstein	0	-14,350
Florian Duta	0	-12,875
Arsenii Karmatakii	0	-12,500
Joe Elpayaa	0	-12,000
Michael Gagliano	0	-10,000

In a hand that played out across all the streets, it was Alexander Lakhov who kicked off the betting with an open to 2,100. Only Stephen Foutty decided he wanted to get involved, calling behind.

The flop came a dry     and Lakhov continued for 2,400. The turn was a   and this time Lakhov opted to check. Foutty made it 6,000 and Lakhov came along.

Finally, the   completed the river. Lakhov checked again and Foutty thought for a minute before setting the price at 19,700. It was an instant call from Lakhov but he mucked when he saw the Foutty's rivered trips with   .

Stephen Foutty	115,000	115,000
Alexander Lakhov	25,500	2,675

It began with a min-raise to 1,600 by Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson in middle position. It folded round to the button, who moved all in. After everyone else moved aside, Ferguson asked for a count, then called 18,900 total.

Chris Ferguson   
Opponent   

It was a classic flip as the pair headed into the flop. The     board was good for the jacks and Ferguson needed an ace or a king to win the hand.

The turn was an  , which gave Ferguson the lead and the   river locked up the pot.

The under the gun player moved all in for 9,200 and it folded to Harlon Schmedeke in the big blind. Schmedeke called and they turned over the hands.

Harlon Schmedeke:   
Under the Gun:   

The dealer spread the     flop and it was no help to Schmedeke. The turn was the   and Schhmedeke picked up a flush draw to go along with his over cards. The   hit the river and Schmedeke paired his king on the river to take the pot and eliminate his opponent.

The Event #43: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em have returned from break and the cards are back in the air. Tournament registration is now closed and there are 1,248 total entries creating a final prize pool of more than $2,800,000.