by AlCantHang, May 30, 2012 | 3:45 pm

2012 World Series of Poker is underway and there’s already been some complaints and controversy. Plus the return of Phil Ivey. The WSOP always likes to make a big pop with their first open tournament and 2,101 players showed up for the $1,500 NLHE Event #2 on Monday. During these large events over the last few years, the WSOP staff (or perhaps it’s a Rio decision) had a policy to change the women’s room into a men’s room to accommodate the large field.

It’s a foolish thing to do and always draws well deserved complaints. This year it didn’t take long for the anger to force a change in policy after Vanessa Selbst, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, and a stream of players to raise their voice. Now we should cross our fingers and hope they don’t repeat the silly flash mob before the Ladie’s Event.

Tempest in a teapot controversy seemed to be John Kim accusing Casey “bigdogpckt5s” Jarzabek of incorrectly tweeting his bustout hand in Event #2 to deceive backers. Turns out it was the crippling hand he reported but it just means players are now policing the statements of other players spewed out on social media. Thank god we live in the future.

The big story was the long awaited return of Phil Ivey to the WSOP after staying away in 2011 because he’s a douche “I do not believe it is fair that I compete when others cannot.” Twelve months later and the Full Tilt players haven’t been paid back but Ivey’s righteous rage disappeared along with his lawsuit. Ivey has been back in full force playing every event he can fit into his schedule including double dipping today in the Stud/8 and Pot Limit Hold’em. No stories yet of big talking internet kids confronting Ivey.

No open bracelets have been awarded yet but Event #2 will play out later tonight with Vanessa Selbst, Brent “bhanks11” Hanks, Andrew Badecker, and JP Kelly still in line for the title. Chiab “Chips” Saechao, a blackjack dealer from California, won the Casino Employees Event #1 for $70,859 and bragging rights for the year.

Today’s Boxscore

Chiab Saechao $70,859 – WSOP $500 Casino Employees
Phil Hellmuth $7,204 – Record 86th WSOP cash

Link Dump

Explain this Shaun Deeb

$25k Fantasy – This has been running for a few years, a bunch of degens with cash burning a hole in their pocket getting together for a little fantasy poker along with the real deal poker. 11 teams put up the money to draft 8 players auction-style. Phil Ivey was the top player picked followed by Jason Mercier and Daniel Negreanu. Track along as you see fit. BLUFF Magazine’s Lance Bradley handicapped the teams and it looks like Casey Katz is the early favorite.

WSOP By the Numbers – These articles caused one of the sillier WSOP arguments in the media last year. Who cares who started it (or made the most from creative cut/pasting WSOP docs), Jess Welman always did it best. You say Jess isn’t doing them on BLUFF this year? Still worth the look.

Tweet o’ the Day – Brought to you by @killahmcgillah

gotta love @WSOP: largest concentration of poker wealth of the year & the standard uniform is “sweatpants you’d wear to paint your garage.”

— addy litfin (@killahmcgillah) May 30, 2012

---

Be sure to check out our new sponsors at Face Up Gaming. Legal, subscription-based online poker with plenty of great prizes including cash, WSOP seats, and poker trips. Sign up with Bonus Code pokerati.