With the 44th annual World Series of Poker less than 100 days away, a preview of what’s to come this summer could be found at the Caesars Palace WSOP Circuit Main Event as a mix of the world’s top pros, hopeful amateurs and the Circuit’s toughest grinders played it out Saturday in the second of two starting flights.
Bracelet champions such as Scotty Nguyen, Andy Bloch and Carlos Mortensen decorated the stacked field of players and were joined by established Circuit pros such as Kurt Jewell, Ari Engel and Jeff Fielder.
148 players will return at 1:00 PM Sunday for Day two. 81 players will make the money with the first place finisher coming away with $223,197, the WSOP Circuit Gold Ring and a seat to the WSOP National Championship in May.
Salvatore DiCarlo finished the day strong, ending it as the Flight B chip leader with 421,700 in chips. Bracelet champion, Ryan Welch leads the remaining players from both starting flights with 424,900 in chips.
This year’s Main Event was one for the record books here at Caesars Palace as a total of 744 players registered in the $1,675 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Event, an increase of more than 12% over last year’s total of 662.
Live updates of all the day two action can be found right here on WSOP.com.
The final nine players will return on Monday at 1:00 PM to play down to a winner. Coverage of the Main Event Final Table, compete with hole cards will be streamed on a 30-minute delay on ESPN3.
Bernard Lee will be joined by special guest host, Katrina Jett as they bring you the action near-live from the Poker Room at Caesars Palace.
A link to the ESPN3 stream can be found here: http://www.wsop.com/2012/circuit/live-video/