FOXWOODS MAIN EVENT DRAWS 578 PLAYERS ON DAY ONE
As the newest stop on the World Series of Poker Circuit, the Foxwoods Circuit Series has already been a resounding success.  With large turnouts and big prize pools, the East Coast poker community was clearly embracing this new location.

Saturday marked the start of the $1,675 buy-in Circuit Main Event.  With two starting flights at 11am and 5pm, no one was quite sure what the turnout would be like.  The response, however, was amazing as the event generated 578 entries.

Flight A drew the larger crowd with 350 players.  It was a mix of Circuit regulars and Foxwoods grinders that took their seats to try and win the ring and a seat to the WSOP National Championship presented by Southern Comfort 100 Proof.

After 12 levels of play, the field had been whittled down to just 123.  Eric Rando emerged as the chip leader with 143,100.  A number of top name professionals ended the flight with big chip stacks, including Luke Vrabel (116,200), Nancy Birnbaum (109,500), Kevin Saul (103,300), Andy Frankenberger (94,000), Greg Raymer (89,500), Allen Kessler (72,300) and Kyle Bowker (70,000).

For those who did not advance, Flight B kicked off at 5pm.  This round saw 228 players take their shot.  The room got a bit chaotic during the end of the Michigan-Syracuse Final Four game.  But once the Wolverines advanced, things got back to normal.

Among those that were eliminated were Foxwoods Casino Champion frontrunner Aaron Massey, Kathy Liebert, Kurt Jewell, Micah Raskin, Roland Israelashvili, Victor Ramdin, Jamie Kerstetter,  Ralph Massey, Ronnie Pease and Chris Tryba.

Two very notable players, Will Failla and Ronnie Bardah, opted to skip the first flight and join Flight B to take their first shot.  Failla was knocked out relatively early in play while Bardah almost made it through to the end of the night.  On the final hand of play for the day, a short-stacked Bardah moved all-in with A-10 and was called by A-Q.  He could not improve and was sent to the rail as every bagged their chips.

Once those chips were counted, it was Aryeh Cohen who came out on top.  Not only did he lead the 73 players remaining in the Flight B field, but he will lead all players into Day 2 with 180,000 in chips.

The 196 players will return tomorrow at noon to begin Day 2 of the Foxwoods Circuit Main Event.  Once registration closes, we will have the final numbers and payouts available.

Be sure to follow the official Circuit Blog here as well as the live updates here.