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THE WSOP DAILY SHUFFLE: THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Brent Hanks Wins Gold; Mike Sexton Double Cashes; Annette Obrestad Among Final Eight in Heads-Up; Antonio Esfandiari Leads PLHE.

May 31 2012 04:34 PM EST

THE WSOP DAILY SHUFFLE: THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Photo Caption: Poker Hall of Fame member Mike Sexton did something extraordinary on Wednesday, by cashing in two events at the same time. Sexton made it to the round of 16 players in the Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em / Pot-Limit Mix, while also managing to cash in the Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split event -- which were both played on the same two days.
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WSOP DAY 5: THURSDAY, MAY 31, 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.
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DAILY HEADLINES

Brent Hanks Wins His First Open Event Gold Bracelet and $517,725

Vanessa Selbst Takes Fourth in Event #2 -- Female Near Misses in Gold Bracelet Events Continues

Mike Sexton Cashes in Two Events Played Simultaneously

Heads-Up Mix Down to Final Eight – 2007 WSOP Europe Champ Annette Obrestad Among the Finalists

Xuan Liu Leads Star-Packed Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split Event Entering Final Day

$1,500 Buy-In Pot-Limit Hold’em Underway -- Antonio Esfandiari Leads Day One

“Mixed-Max” Set for WSOP Debut on Thursday
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DOES SIZE MATTER?

Many WSOP attendees this year have commented about the tournament not seeming quite as “busy” as years past. No doubt, the look and feel of previous years consisted of quite simply too many people bunched inside jam-packed tournament rooms.

But this year, the Rio has added 92 more poker tables to the WSOP facility, which now creates a gargantuan 470-table complex (500 tables are actually available for use, when factoring in tables located inside the Rio Poker Room – which will be used for massively overflow events). This means the 2012 WSOP is the largest live venue in poker history.

Tournament action takes place in three large rooms – Pavilion, Brasilia, and Amazon.

Moreover, ESPN’s main stage has returned from a spectacular debut at last year’s WSOP. Final table action is now more spectator friendly than ever before.

The bottom line is that while the WSOP may not have the combustible energy of the past, which was created by inadequate space, this year, basic comforts for poker player have never been more obvious.

WHAT THE #&@&$@#! DOES “MIXED-MAX” MEAN?

“MIXED-MAX” is making its WSOP debut today, following a highly-successful inaugural showing at 2011 WSOP Europe, held in Cannes, France. This new tournament format is also known as NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM (SPLIT FORMAT). Day One is played 9-handed. Day Two is played 6-handed -- and ends when 32 players have been reached. Day Three begins the heads-up bracket sessions -- to be played at 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm (winners advancing to the next round). Day Four includes the last four players, with two heads-up matches. Next, the two survivors play down to a winner. Hence, the No-Limit Hold’em tournament includes a full-table session, a 6-handed session, and multiple heads-up sessions (for the winners).

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Vanessa Selbst was the best player at the table."

-- Brent Hanks (moments after winning his first WSOP gold bracelet, in Event #2)

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THE WSOP TODAY

9:00 AM
As will be the case on most WSOP mornings, a $75 buy-in TURBO MEGA-SATELLITE is the first tournament of the day.

NOON
EVENT #6 is a $5,000 buy-in MIXED-MAX NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT that lasts four days. 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. Action will take place inside Brasilia.

Event #6 is listed as a four-day event. Day One will play from noon until about 12:45 am. There will be a 90-minute dinner break -- expected to take place between 6:40 and 8:10.

Event #6 surviving players will bag up at the conclusion of 10 playing levels and return to play on Friday for Day Two. That session will begin at 1 pm.

Event #6 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 #6 can be viewed HERE.

1:00 PM

Event #3, the $3,000 buy-in HEADS-UP NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM/POT-LIMIT OMAHA MIX continues with the play of Day Three, including the final table. There are 8 survivors entering the last day. Three flights will take place. The eight will play to 4. Then, 4 will play to 2. Then, 2 will play to a winner. All action will take place inside Amazon.

Event #5, the $1,500 buy-in POT-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament continues with the play of Day Two. There are 71 survivors who will return today. All action will take place inside Amazon. Dinner break is expected to take place around 7:40 and will last one hour.

2:00 PM

Event #4, the $1,500 buy-in SEVEN-CARD STUD HIGH-LOW SPLIT tournament continues with the play of Day Three, including the final table. There are 23 survivors who will return today. Action will take place inside Amazon.

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.

2:20 PM

The official WSOP gold bracelet ceremony takes place inside Brasilia, on the main stage. Brent Hanks will be the first player to hear the Star Spangled Banner affixed to his accomplishment. Media and players may take photos and video of the ceremony – which includes a gold bracelet presentation, the playing of the national anthem of the winner’s country, and optional remarks from the latest champion. The ceremony takes place at the end of the first break of the noon tournament.

4:00 PM

The first MEGA-SATELLITE begins. The entry fee is $330.

5:00 PM

Event #7 is a $1,500 buy-in SEVEN-CARD STUD tournament that lasts three days. 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 9:40 pm. Action will take place inside Amazon.

Event #7 is listed as a three-day event. Day One will play from 5 pm until about 2:30 am. There will be a 30-minute dinner break -- expected to take place between 9:20 and 9:50.

Event #7 surviving players will bag up at the conclusion of 8 playing levels and return to play on Friday for Day Two. That session will begin at 2 pm.

Event #7 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 #7 can be viewed HERE.

6:00 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 8:20 am.

8:00 PM

The second MEGA-SATELLITE of the day begins. The entry fee is $550.

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.

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WHAT ELSE

CASH GAMES are starting to seriously rock. 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.

Single-table satellites are being held 24/7 inside the Pavilion. All satellite winners receive $500 buy-in tournament chips.
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THE WSOP YESTERDAY

Brent Hanks, from Las Vegas, won Event #2, , the $1,500 buy-in NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament. Hanks, a 29-year-old professional poker player, collected a whopping $517,725 in prize money. He was also presented with his first WSOP gold bracelet. Prior to playing for a living, Hanks was a fifth-grade school teacher. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University.

With this victory, Hanks has accumulated nearly $1 million in career winnings in WSOP events alone. This was his 12th time to cash at the WSOP, a remarkable feat given his young age. In fact, all of Hanks' WSOP earnings have been achieved since 2008.

Among those who made deep runs in Event #2 were former gold bracelet winners Andrew Badecker (3rd), Vanessa Selbst (4th) and J.P. Kelly (8th).

In a bit of irony, Vanessa Selbst had a chance to end what is now a record-matching drought for female poker players. She came close to becoming the first female gold bracelet champion in an open event since 2008, when -- of all people -- Selbst herself won the $1,500 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha championship. With yet another stag winner for Event #2, the longest void gap has now been matched in WSOP history. The longest streak had been 221 straight events, between 1982 and 1996 -- which will now be surpassed.

Also of special note was Phil Hellmuth's 61st-place finish in Event #2. He continues to add stature and distance to his legacy, with what amounts to the 86th WSOP cash of his career -- by far, the all-time leader.

On Day Two, in Event #3, the $3,000 buy-in HEADS-UP NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM / POT-LIMIT OMAHA MIX, played from 64 down to 8 survivors. Perhaps the most notable name in the bunch is Annette Obrestad, who will forever be lionized at the youngest WSOP gold bracelet winner in history. She won the debut of the main event championship at WSOP Europe, in 2007. All eight remaining players can be viewed HERE.

On Day Two, in Event #4, the $1,500 buy-in SEVEN-CARD STUD HIGH-LOW SPLIT tournament, played from 210 down to 23 survivors. Xuan Liu, from Canada, leads the pack. Remaining players can be viewed HERE.

Event #5, the $1,500 buy-in POT-LIMIT HOLD’EM tournament, started yesterday and played from 639 down to 210 survivors. Antonio "the Magician" leads all players. Remaining players can be viewed HERE.

The Event #5 prize pool totals $862,650. The top 72 finishers will finish in-the-money. The winner receives $189,818 and a WSOP gold bracelet.
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* Please note that all listed times are estimates and subject to change

-- Nolan Dalla

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