When it comes to finding notables in the massive Main Event field, nothing is easier than spotting players wearing the patented PokerStars logo and accompanying Team Pro patch. Today, last year's champ and Team PokerStars Pro (Canada) Jonathan Duhamel is being featured on the ESPN Main Stage.
While all eyes are on Duhamel, other Team Pros are taking their shot at WSOP glory. They include:
That is a laundry list of names, and it only encompasses one day of the Main Event! Unfortunately, all of these names can't win the Main Event, which means most of them will be back online and playing in no time. Be sure to visit PokerStars for your chance to play against pros from all around the world. Also be sure to check out the upcoming European Poker Tour and Latin American Poker Tour, both of which will no doubt draw many of the players listed about.
We were unable to retrieve the details of the hand, but having nursed a short stack for most of his level, Eric Cloutier and his wig have been confirmed as the latest to have made the 2011 WSOP Main Event Day 1c obituaries.
Players are always instructed to protect their hand by some means and many choose to use a simply tournament chip or coin. Others tend to go a more creative route. Ever since Greg "Fossilman" Raymer used fossils to protect his cards during the Main Event in 2004 it seems that many players want to have something cool and unique to help protect their hand. We did a quick scan of the black section here in the Pavilion room and found players using all of the following items as card protectors:
Polished Rock
Tic Tac Box
Miniature Sumo Wrestler
Wooden Cross
Figurine of "Donkey" from the Shrek movies
Clear Crystal
Dog Figurine
Jade Chipmunk
Miniature New England Patriots Football Helmet
Yoda Figurine
Whether using these items will bring their owners luck or not is yet to be seen, but we admit it might be fun if the guy holding the tiny yoda wins the whole thing and we end up seeing a slew of Star Wars figurines at the tables next year.
Christina Lindley raised to 400 from the button, getting called by both the blinds to see an flop which was checked around. On the turn, the big blind fired out 750 and Lindley was the only caller to the river where her opponent now bet 1,900. Lindley called again and tabled , the big blind couldn't beat this and Lindley moved up to 35,000.
Just as we stepped away from the main feature table, a big hand arose for Jonathan Duhamel in which the defending champ found himself all in by the river. At showdown, Duhamel produced the better hand with eights full of kings versus an opponent holding sixes full of kings, thereby scoring a welcome double-up.
Jack Effel just took a moment to introduce a special player in the Main Event, who happens to be the oldest player registered in the 2011 Main Event. We're taking about 91-year old Ellen "Gram" Deeb. You might recognize the Ellen's last name, and in case you're wondering . . . yes, that is Shaun Deeb's grandmother. From what we understand, Deeb was sweet enough to buy his grandma's way into the Main Event, proving you're never too old to take a shot at poker's biggest title.
"You're all playing for second," Deeb joked when Effel asked if there was anything she'd like to add.
We caught the action on the river with a board of with a pot had already reached over 25,000. Mark Schmid, a 2011 WSOP Bracelet winner, was all in for his final 13,125 and his opponent was mulling over his decision. Eventually, he threw in the chips and Schmid tabled . His opponent angrily showed and mentioned that queen-ten was the only hand he was afraid of.
en Safari
flop which was checked around. On the 
turn, the big blind fired out 750 and Lindley was the only caller to the 
river where her opponent now bet 1,900. Lindley called again and tabled 
, the big blind couldn't beat this and Lindley moved up to 35,000.
with a pot had already reached over 25,000. Mark Schmid, a 2011 WSOP Bracelet winner, was all in for his final 13,125 and his opponent was mulling over his decision. Eventually, he threw in the chips and Schmid tabled 
. His opponent angrily showed 
