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Day 1c of the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event attracted a massive field of 2,314 entering the halls of the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for their shot at poker immortality. The huge field meant that this year’s Main Event is set to easily eclipse last year’s figure and become the second largest live poker tournament in history.
The Aussies were out in force also with a large crew hitting the felt, including Aaron Benton, Kristian Lunardi, Jonathan Karamalikis, Daniel Neilson, Van Marcus, Jackie Glazier, Rayan Nathan, Paul Birman, Bill Jordanou, Greg Shillig, Tony Dunst, Sal Fazzino, Peter Aristidou, Mark Vos, and 888poker ambassadors Shane Warne and Jeff Fenech. A bus load of APL players were also hitting the WSOP felt for the first time, while WSOP bracelet winner Simon Watt was also in the mix.
Many of the Aussies struggled to get going with Karamalikis forced to bluff with just five-high in the very first level of the day. Neilson was on the short stack for most of the day, as was Birman, while Lunardi fell towards the end of the day when his pocket queens were cracked by an opponent’s pocket jacks when a two-outer jack spiked on the river. Rayan Nathan and Mark Vos were also unable to survive the day.
Some of the Team APL members had a rough day on the felt, to say the least. Michael Mifsud’s elimination was one that was made for TV after flopping quad fives holding 
on a 
flop, only to be overtaken by 
when the 
turn and 
river gave his opponent a straight-flush! Soon after Raymond Eid fell in similar fashion when his ace-high flush also beaten by a straight-flush! Keith Christian, Wayne Bell and Arthur Liew also were unable to survive the day. 13 of the 18 Team APL players made it through to day 2.
Fazzino ended the day in good shape as the leading Aussies with 102,725 despite losing with pocket aces against pocket kings, and pocket queens versus pocket sixes, during the day. Watt wasn’t far behind with 86,350 and Shillig made it through with 85,150. Aristidou (75,725), Phillip Faux (Team APL - 73,775), Jordanou (62,100), Marcus (51,825) and Benton (46,925) all had solid days to be in good shape heading into Day 2 while Glazier (38,975), Fenech (36,150), Dunst (27,100), Warne (20,175), Karamalikis (20,150), Birman (14,850) and Neilson will be thankful to live to fight another day but with some work ahead of them when they return on Friday.
They’ll do it again one last time as Day 1d will no doubt bring out the largest field of any of the starting days to fill all corners of the Rio. Good luck to all the Aussies at the WSOP.
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