2014 World Series of Poker

The first open event of the 2014 World Series of Poker kicked off on Tuesday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, and a total of 131 players ponied up $25,000 to take part in Event #2: Mixed Max No-Limit Hold’em. Leading the 60 survivors is two-time WSOP bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst.

Selbst, who won her most recent bracelet in the 10-game mix in 2012, won a massive pot off of Jake Schindler in the final level of Day 1, flopping quad jacks. The money went in the middle when Schindler turned a pair of tens to go with his open-ended straight draw, but Selbst held an unbeatable hand and raked in the 450,000-chip pot.

Right behind Selbst is 2012 $50,000 Poker Players’ Championship winner Brian Rast. Rast, who also reached the final table of the $1 Million BIG ONE for ONE DROP, jumped out to an early lead and eliminated a handful of players throughout the day, including 2012 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Merson and bracelet winner Phil Galfond. Rast is in search of his sixth cash at the WSOP, and possibly his third bracelet.

Joining Selbst and Rast atop the counts are Fabrice Touil, JC Tran, Al Decarolis, and Jason Mo. Like Rast, Decarolis quickly accumulated chips, but he started to fizzle as the day progressed, doubling up Mickey Petersen and Doug Polk.

Thirteen-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, nine-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey, and six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu also survived the first day of Event 2. Hellmuth was the last player to register the event and received a big double up through John Juanda when he flopped a set of eights against Juanda’s flush and straight draws. The Indonesian failed to improve on the turn or the river, and Hellmuth raked in a massive pot.

Nearly half of the field exited during Day 1, and several notable players kicked off their 2014 WSOP with a $25,000 loss. Among the players to bust were Marvin Rettenmaier, Chino Rheem, Mohsin Charania, Ryan D’Angelo, Joe Cada, Jean-Robert Bellande, Dan Smith, Martin Jacobson, and Jason Koon.

D’Angelo ran kings into Jennifer Tilly’s aces – Tilly was later eliminated with unknown action – Jacobson had top pair cracked by Kevin Eyster’s naked flush draw with just one card to come, and Koon lost a race with against Tran’s .

The survivors will return on Wednesday at 2 p.m. PST where they will play six-handed poker. It is unknown whether or not the tournament staff will halt play once the field is reduced to a certain number. Be sure to check back to PokerNews for live coverage of this and every bracelet event at the 2014 World Series of Poker!

A visibly frustrated and tired Jason Mercier opened to 4,000 from early position, and Barry Hutter reraised to 11,500 on his direct left. The action folded back to Mercier, who moved all in for 56,500, and Hutter quickly called.

Mercier:
Hutter:

Mercier took a commanding lead in the race on a flop of , and successfully doubled through as the board completed , respectively.

The tournament clock has been paused with 10 minutes remaining in Level 10, and each table will play five more hands before the players bag and tag for the evening.

Al Decarolis raised to 7,500 from middle position, Justin Bonomo three-bet to 18,500, and the action folded back to Decarolis. He moved all in for effectively 99,500, and Bonomo made the call.

Decarolis:
Bonomo:

Bonomo's wired pair of sevens were crushed, but he ran out a straight as the board came , doubling to over 200,000 chips. Decarolis dropped to around 190,000.

Ravi Raghavan raised from the hijack, Jake Schindler three-bet to 14,000 in the cutoff, and Vanessa Selbst four-bet to 31,500 from the big blind. Raghavan folded, Schindler called, and the flop fell .

Selbst bet 24,500, Schindler called and the turn followed.

Selbst took some time before she checked to Schindler who shoved for about 160,000. Selbst called immediately with for quad jacks, having the pot locked up against Schindler's . The inconsequential river officially secured the pot for Selbst, giving her the chip lead with about 30 minutes left on the clock.

Dani Stern (early position) and Darren Elias (cutoff) each committed 24,500 to see a flop where Stern bet 13,000. Elias raised all in for 57,800 and after a little while in the tank Stern called with . Elias led with and held up through the turn and river to secure the double up.

Stern was eliminated shortly thereafter.

The 2014 World Series of Poker is officially underway and the crew brings you the first podcast of the summer. Rich, Donnie and Jason discuss the 25K Fantasy draft, David "ODB" Baker's fantasy league and the first open event of the summer, Event #2: $25,000 Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold'em.

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