(Way) Outside the WSOP – Day 4 Stimulus Special, 40K NL, OHL
The $1,000 NL Hold’em Stimulus Special looks to be a huge success, as day 1a appears to be sold out with at least 2,800 entered. There’s still some room for tomorrow’s day 1b, but it looks like that field will also be maxed out before play gets underway at 12 noon today. The WSOP Staff Guide projected 5,305 entrants and that has already been exceeded, so I’ll take the cheap win and take the over with a field of 5700 who will eventually play this weekend as the WSOP staff finds a few additional tables to put on the floor to accommodate the field.
The 40th Annual $40,000 NL Hold’em event returns for day 3 action today at 2pm with 23 players playing down to Sunday’s ESPN final table. Justin Bonomo will start action as the chip leader with 2,678,000 in chips, Ted Forrest in 2nd with 2,586,000, and David “WhoooKidd” Baker in 3rd with 2,367,000. Greg Raymer is the last remaining World Champion in the field, in 4th place with 2,287,000. Other notable names include Alec Torelli, Dani Stern, Matt Glantz, Isaac Haxton, David Chiu, Neil Channing, Andy Black, and Andrew Robl.
The $1,500 Omaha Eight or Better also comes back at 2pm today with 197 players remaining from their record field of 918. 2008 winner Thang Luu appears to have returned to his winning form, as he’ll start play today as the chip leader with 73,600 in chips. Other notable names remaining in the field include Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Todd Brunson, and Brandon Cantu. Their final table is also scheduled for Sunday, although with much less exposure than what will be a mix of live and online stars of the 40k event or the WSOP Champions Invitational event, which also starts on Sunday. More to come today, with an update soon (?) if the Stimulus Special has sold out.
8am Update: Under 80 seats left for Sunday.
10:30am Update: 5,839 registered from Da Commish’s Twitter
Pauly says:
May 30th, 2009 at 9:51am
Last night shortly after dinner, one of the French pros that I know told me that Day 1A was sold out.
Around Midnight, one of the Harrah’s suits told me that they reached 5,000 entrants! He wasn’t specific about capping the event would be at 6,000 or if they would accept alternates.
Kevin Mathers says:
May 30th, 2009 at 9:53am
I’m surprised they haven’t considered going 11-handed to start, that’s over 500 seats right there.
Pauly says:
May 30th, 2009 at 11:07am
How about 12-handed? With tables in the parking lot!
It’s (un)officially sold out by 10am on Saturday.
DanM says:
May 30th, 2009 at 12:28pm
so you dig the OHL vs O8B, kevin? awesome!
Kevin Mathers says:
May 30th, 2009 at 1:31pm
Although it’s more suited for a lower-tier hockey league, OHL it is for now.
DanM says:
May 30th, 2009 at 1:48pm
i don’t get the hockey reference!
Kevin Mathers says:
May 30th, 2009 at 2:09pm
http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/
Make that junior hockey league.