Photo Caption: “Captain” Tom Franklin, a two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner and former United States Marine Corps and Vietnam War veteran, acknowledges veterans in the big crowd on Memorial Day, just prior to the start of the first open event at this year’s WSOP. DAY 3: TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2012
Writer's Note: "The Daily Shuffle" will be posted exclusively at WSOP.com just prior to the start of the day's events. Post time will be at about 11 am (Las Vegas time). Players and fans may look to this page as a daily clearinghouse for important news and information about tournaments and other events happening at the Rio. When applicable, "The Daily Shuffle" will also provide a brief overview of the highlights from the previous day.
DAILY HEADLINES Chiab Saechao Wins First WSOP Gold Bracelet of the Year -- Becomes the 2012 Casino Employees Champion (Event #1)
First Open Gold Bracelet Event Attracts 2,101 Players -- Winner to Receive $517,725 (Event #2)
WSOP Remembers Veterans on Memorial Day WANNA’ BET? Imagine this – betting on the outcome of a WSOP final table. Now, it’s possible. For the first time, virtually all WSOP gold bracelet event final tables will have odds posted. The opening line is expected to come out each morning, a few hours prior to the start of the final playing session. Odds are based on chip counts entering the final table, as well as calculated chances of the player winning. Bettors may wager up to $1,000 on the outcome of any final table. Wagering is accepted at any Caesars Entertainment property in Las Vegas. Moreover, for the first time – a special wagering station has been set up close to the tournament area. The “WSOP sportsbook” is located in what’s called the Rotunda, immediately outside the front entrance to Pavilion. The “WSOP sportsbook” accepts not only WSOP wagers, but bets on sporting events, as well. Note: Horseracing action will not be accepted at this location. THE WSOP TODAY9:00 AM – As will be the case on most WSOP mornings, a $75 buy-in TURBO MEGA-SATELLITE is the first tournament of the day.12:00 NOON – EVENT #3 is a $3,000 buy-in HEADS-UP NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM / POT-LIMIT OMAHA MIX. Registration is expected to be open for the first four levels of play (plus two 20-minute breaks). This means registration will close at approximately 4:40 pm.Playing action is expected to be concentrated primarily inside the Brasilia Room -- which is one of three large tournament rooms used at this year's WSOP. The two other tournament rooms are Pavilion (used primarily for cash games, satellites, and Deep-Stack tournaments) and Amazon (used primarily for 5 pm starts and all re-starts). Most noon-start events will begin inside Brasilia. Note that if Brasilia is not large enough to accommodate the entire starting field, tournament play is also assigned to Pavilion -- sections Black and White.Event #3 is listed as a three-day event. Day One will play from noon until about 2 am. There will be a 90-minute dinner break -- expected to take place between 6:40 and 8:10. Event #3 surviving players will bag up at the conclusion of 11 playing levels and return to play on Wednesday for Day Two. That session will begin at 1 pm.Event #3 updates can be followed at WSOP.com. Coverage includes almost-live chip counts as well as written updates supplied from the tournament floor by our friends at PokerNews.com.
The official Structure Sheet for Event #3 can be viewed HERE. Event #3 will be capped at 512 entrants. This is due to the Heads-Up format, which requires a properly-divisible field size. The event could sell out, so players are encouraged to register early not only for this tournament, but all of the most popular events, as well.IMPORTANT TOURNAMENT RULE FOR EVENT #3: If any player does not show up for his/her match, following a five-minute grace time, the missing player’s blind will we sacrificed at the rate of one blind per minute.Event #2, the $1,500 buy-in NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT continues with the play of Day Two. Starting time is 1 pm, inside Amazon. Dinner break is expected to be about 7:40 pm, and will last one hour. 2:00 PM – The first daily DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT begins. The entry fee is $235. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 4:20 pm. 3:00 PM – The second DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT begins. The entry fee is $185. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 5:20 pm.4:00 PM – The first MEGA-SATELLITE begins. The entry fee is $330. This tournament awards seats into the WSOP MAIN EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP. 5:00 PM -- Event #4 is a $1,500 buy-in SEVEN-CARD STUD HIGH-LOW SPLIT tournament. Registration will be open for the first four levels of play (plus two 20-minute breaks). This means registration will close at approximately 9:40 pm. Playing action is expected to be concentrated primarily inside Amazon.Event #4 is listed as a three-day event. Day One will play from 5 pm until an estimated conclusion time of 2:10 am. There will be a 30-minute dinner break -- expected to take place between 9:20 pm and 9:50 pm. Event #4 surviving players will bag up at the conclusion of 8 playing levels and return to play on Wednesday for Day Two. That session will begin at 2 pm.Event #4 updates can be followed at WSOP.com.
The official Structure Sheet for Event #4 can be viewed HERE.8:00 PM – The second MEGA-SATELLITE begins. The entry fee is $550. This tournament awards seats into the WSOP MAIN EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP.10:00 PM -- The third and final DEEP STACK NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT begins at 10 pm. The entry fee is $135. Registration is open for four (30 minute) levels, plus one break – which means until about 12:20 am.3:00 AM – All WSOP gold bracelet tournaments end for the night.WHAT ELSE About 20 tournament seat assignment cards for Event #3 have an error. On these cards, the starting time is incorrectly listed as “5:00 PM,” instead of the correction time which is 12:00 NOON. Please note the actual correct starting time of Event #3.Single-table satellites are being held 24/7 inside the Pavilion. All satellite winners receive $500 buy-in tournament chips. WSOP cashier advises that safety deposit boxes are filling up fast. Players are encouraged to come to the WSOP Main Cage soon if they are interested in obtaining a secure box for cash, chips, and valuables.THE WSOP YESTERDAY Monday was Memorial Day. Prior to the start of the noon event, veterans were recognized in a brief service held inside Brasilia. The national anthem was also played to commemorate the national holiday.Performing the official "Shuffle Up and Deal" honors alongside WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel was poker player “Captain” Tom Franklin, a two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner and former United States Marine Corps and Vietnam War veteran. He acknowledged veterans just prior to the start of the first open event at this year’s WSOP, by asking them to stand and be recognized. The crowd gave the vets a nice ovation.Chiab Saechao won Event #1, the $500 buy-in CASINO EMPLOYEES CHAMPIONSHIP. He is a 35-year-old blackjack dealer from Visalia, CA, which is located in California's Central Valley. Saechao collected $70,859 in prize money. The runner up was Patricia Baker, a poker dealer from Key West, FL.Event #2, the $1,500 buy-in NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT began with 2,101 players. After Day One, only 240 players remain. The Day One chip leader is Sadan Turker, who was born in London, U.K. He finished second in a $1,000 buy-in NLHE event played last year.
Phil Hellmuth remains very much alive in Event #2 and is on the verge of adding more distance between himself and the rest of the poker world atop his perch as the all-time WSOP cashes leader.
Event #2 prize pool totals $2,836,350. The top 216 finishers will finish in-the-money. The winner receives $517,725 and a WSOP gold bracelet.
CASH GAMES continued to increase in both size and variety. There are now 82 poker tables dedicated to cash games inside Pavilion, plus an additional 14 poker tables dedicated to cash games inside the Rio (Main Casino). Right now, the most popular game spread is $1-3 No-Limit Hold'em. However, games of virtually all limits will be held in the coming days and weeks ahead. ……………….. * Please note that all listed times are estimates and subject to change