There is not a much better way to start a poker tournament than to get some of your buy-in back. And the 2014 World Series of Poker sure as hell started in style yesterday. Prior to the traditional first tournament, the $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em Event, WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart made a short introduction, concluding with, “Do you guys like money?”
At that, air cannons around the poker room blasted out $10,000 in one dollar bills which floated into the eager hands of the 756 players who had taken their seats. Those are tips that will not be finding their way to a toke box.
One registration for the tournament closed, another 120 players had registered, bringing the total filed to 876. The prize pool grew to $394,200 with $82,835 going to the winner. A total of 90 players will cash in the first event.
The chip leader entering Wednesday’s Day 2 is California poker dealer Corey Emery with 164,900 chips. Emery does have experience at the World Series of Poker, having previously cashed three times. In both 2010 and 2011, he made the money in the $10,000 Main Event. His run in 2010 was particularly impressive, as he finished 33rd for over a quarter-million dollars. That cash makes up the bulk of his total lifetime live tournament earnings, which are $284,623, according to TheHendonMob.com.
There was nothing spectacular about most of Emery’s day. He gradually built up his stack, picking up a nice pot here, losing a decent one there, but it at least looked like he was going to finish somewhere amongst the chip leaders. It was in literally the waning moments of the night that he made his jump up into the chip lead. According to the play-by-play at WSOP.com, Emery raised pre-flop to 4,000 with 6-9 suited. One player called and the flop came down Q-5-7. Emery bet another 4,000 chips which again was called by his opponent. The 8 on the turn gave Emery a straight, but of course the other player did not know that, so Emery’s 10,000 chip bet was also called. A 3 was dealt on the river, at which point Emery moved all-in. His opponent pondered his decision for a while before finally calling with Jacks; Emery’s chip stack climbed to the point it is at right now.
This tournament is not typically filled with big name stars, but there were a few players poker fans might know. Defending champ Chad Holloway, PokerNews’ Senior Editor, bowed out in Level 5. Bernard Lee, 13th place finisher in the 2005 Main Event and former Poker News Daily contributor, was eliminated shortly thereafter and the aforementioned Ty Stewart fell after Lee.
There are just 51 players left in the Casino Employees Event, so everyone remaining got to sleep well, knowing they had made the money. The tournament will resume at 1:00pm local time Wednesday.
2014 World Series of Poker Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em – Day 1 Chip Leaders
1. Corey Emery – 164,900
2. Jay Graunstadt – 125,000
3. Aaron Henderson – 115,700
4. Peter Alba – 105,000
5. David Luttbeg – 87,700
6. Sergio Trevino – 87,400
7. Cameron Tullis – 83,200
8. Cory Rodvik – 82,400
9. Chen Zhong – 80,100
10. Carlos Loving – 78,700
