Event #10A/B: No-Limit Hold'em Main Event

The first day of the Main Event of the World Series of Poker Circuit at Foxwoods is in the books, and the chip leader is Alias Mourtadh, from Yonkers, NY. Mourtadh’s 207,200 in chips is well ahead of second place, Mike Pasquale, who finished the day with 161,400. The tournament attracted 507 entries across two starting flights, and there are unofficially 164 players returning for Day 2.

The big buzz in the room, though, wasn’t the big stacks. It was caused by the appearance of November Niner William Pappaconstantinou, better known as Billy Pappas (pictured above). Pappas is a professional foosball player, and is preparing for the final table of the WSOP Main Event in a few months. He entered Flight B on the Foxwoods event, playing wearing his trademark green Yoshi hat. He built his stack for most of the day before a downswing near the end of the night, and he finished with 25,800 in chips.

One of the flight A competitors knows exactly what Pappas is experiencing as he readies himself for the big stage of the November Nine. Michael Esposito made the November Nine two years ago, eventually bowing out in 7th place. He entered Flight A of the Foxwoods event, and ended the day with 118,500.

A few other players who have seen success at the WSOP entered the tournament as well. Ted Driscoll finished in 2nd place in the Little One for One Drop Event at the World Series this summer, and Ryan Eriquezzo won the 2012 National Championship. Both players are in the field here at Foxwoods, and both will return for Day 2.

The Foxwoods Main Event shone a spotlight on the Casino Champion race. James Watt, who won the first event at this Circuit stop and finished 5th in another, currently sits atop the leaderboard with 75 points. He survived to Day 2, and is looking to add to his point total. Randal Sklar is in 3rd in the Casino Champion race right now with 65 points. He entered both flights today, but was unable to advance. If he wants to catch Watt, he’ll have to do it in one of the two remaining ring events here at Foxwoods. Bassinioni Hammouda also has a chance to catch Watt. Hammouda won a ring in the $1,125 No-Limit Hold’em tournament last week, and he returns for Day 2 with

Day 2 begins on Sunday at noon. Registration is still open until the start of play on Day 2, and official prize pool information will be available at that time.

Full end-of-day chip counts will be available shortly.

Georgette K recently joined the 6-figure club. She won a big three-way all-in hand. According to the table she held    on a     flop, and got all in against A-A and A-3. The turn was  , and the river the  . Her nut straight held up, and she now has 105,000 in chips.

There's already almost 50,000 in the pot on the flop, and the board reads    . Taylor Hart checks from the small blind position, and Ted Driscoll bets 16,500 from big blind. Hart the check-raises all in. Driscoll asks for an exact count, and it turns out the raise is for 14,000 more. He calls and tables   , and he's behind Hart's   . The turn is the  , and the river is the  , giving Hart the nut flush and the pot.

Taylor Hart - 107,000
Ted Driscoll - 66,000

As the last few levels of the night wind down, a few players have crossed the 6-figure threshold. Shahrokh Reza is near the top of the list with 144,400.

Derrick Perry and Frank Cieri get all their chips in the middle preflop. Perry turns over   , and Cieri tables   . The board runs out      . Perry wins the pot with his set of eights, and Cieri heads to the rail.

Derrick Perry - 45,500
Frank Cieri - Eliminated

Action folds around to the small blind, who calls. Then Ryan Eriquezzo raises to 1,500 from the big blind. The small blind pushes all in, and Eriquezzo calls.

Eriquezzo:   
Small Blind:   

The flop comes    , and Eriquezzo keeps the lead with his Ace-10. The turn is the  , giving both players straight draws, and the river is the  , a complete brick. The dealer pushes Eriquezzo the pot, and his opponent heads to the rail.

Ryan Eriquezzo - 23,500

An early-position player lijmps, as does the cutoff and button. Allen Kessler calls from the small blind, and the big blind checks his option.

The flop is    , and all five players check. The dealer then turns the  , and Kessler leads out for 1,000. Only the button calls, and the players see the river heads up. They both check when the   hits the felt, and Kessler tables    for top two pair. The button mucks, and Kessler takes the pot.

Allen Kessler - 40,500

Randal Sklar recently re-entered after busting out of flight A earlier today, but unfortunately has already hit the rail.

According to Sklar, on his third hand after re-entering, he held QQ against AA.