There will not be a woman at the final table of the Main Event this year. After Warren Zackey opened the pot to 350,000 preflop, Leo Margets put all of her chips at risk and shoved all in.
Zackey called with and found himself in a dominating position against Margets' . Margets was left looking for running cards after a flop of . She didn't get them. The turn and river fell and to make her the first eliminated player of the day.
Jordan Smith made it 320,000 to go, Marco Mattes called from the small blind, and Joseph Cada called from the big blind.
The flop came down and the action was checked to Smith, who bet 550,000. Both blinds gave up their hand and Smith took down yet another pot, pushing his stack above the 7 million mark.
Maybe James Akenhead would have been better served to show up fifteen minutes late insted of just three minutes late. He opened a pot to 260,000, then called when Ian Tavelli reraised to 750,000. On a queen-high flop, , Akenhead checked to Tavelli. Tavelli made it 1.5 million to go and then snap-called when Akenhead moved all in.
Akenhead:
Tavelli:
Akenhead found himself coolered less than fifteen minutes into the day. No help on the turn or river for him. He had to pay off 4.305 million to Tavelli, leaving himself with just 2.8 million. Tavelli is up to about 10 million.
Joe Cada raised to 250,000 from early position and Jordan Smith called from the hijack seat.
The flop came down . Cada led out for 400,000 and Smith called. The hit the turn and both players checked. The river was the and Cada checked over to Smith, who bet 900,000. Cada called.
Ben Lamb raised to 265,000 from under the gun, and it folded around to Francois Balmigere who pushed all in from the small blind for about 1.35 million. Ludovic Lacay folded from the big blind, and Lamb made the call.
Balmigere showed and Lamb . The flop was , changing nothing, but the brought a response from the crowd as Balmigere was now in the lead. The river was the , and Balmigere survives.
Balmigere has 2.75 million now, and Lamb 8.1 million.
Jordan Smith made it 275,000 to go from the button and Phil Ivey called from the small blind.
The flop was and both players checked. The turn was the . Ivey checked to Smith, who bet 325,000. Ivey came in with a raise to 800,000 and Smith made the call. The river fell the and Ivey checked. Smith checked behind.
Smith showed and Ivey mucked. First blood to Jordan Smith!
Well, cards are in the air just a shade after noon local time. On the outer table all players were in their seats -- except for James Akenhead. Akenhead was conspicuously absent, having not yet made his way into the Amazon Room. His chip bag was opened and dumped onto the table, with his overnight bag tag resting on top of his chips.
About three minutes after cards were in the air, he hurriedly made his way into the room and took his seat at the table.