170 Players survived day 1 out of the 294 who started. Here are the survivors, sorted by chip count, with their day 2 table and seat assignements. Play resumes Monday at noon.

	Barry Greenstein - End of day 1 chip leader?

Play is over for today and the remaining players are bagging their chips and getting their new seat assignments for day 2. Johnny Grooms plans to take the end of day counts home and compile them there before sending them out to the media, so it will be a couple of hours before I have end of day numbers. I'll get them posted here when possible.

I believe the end of day chip leader will be Barry Greenstein with ~130K.

The surviving 177 players will return Monday at noon to resume play.

Johnny Grooms has just asked Scotty Nguyen, defending WPO Champion, to draw a card, which was a 4. That means all tables will play just 4 more hands and then will be done for the day. (This method prevents players from slowing down the pace of play just to survive to day 2.)

Jason 'BigBird' Sagle got his last chips in with AQ suited, but ran into the pocket Aces held by Victor Ramdin. Although Jason picked up a flush draw, it did not materialize and he was busted.

On a flop of 9 3 K, Barry Greenstein calls a 3K bet.  Turn is a Ten and Barry calls a 5K bet.  River is a 6 and his oppoenent fired 10K.  Barry raised to 40K and the player called all-in, showing K6 for two pair.  Barry rolled over QJ for the straight and sends the other player packing.  With that pot, Barry has vaulted into the chip lead with over 130,000 chips.

About 10 minutes left to play today and then they will begin the bag-and-tag process.

Isaac Haxton gets his last chips in with KJ suited against Chris Highers who held AQ off. Board came 8 3 2 T 4 and Isaac was felted.

Also departed: Thomas Wahlroos, Shannon Shorr, and Lee Markholt.

187 players remain. Average stack is a bit over 31,400.

On a flop of 4 9 9 , seat 6 bet 2K, Cyndi Violette raised to 7K from the cutoff, and Mark Gallagher (button) moved in for 13,775. After a couple of moments, seat 6 called all-in and Cyndi called. Seat 6 held pocket 4s for the flopped full-house (4s full of 9s). Mark held pocket Jacks for two pair (Jacks and 9s) and Cyndi was drawing stone-cold dead with the A 8 flush draw. The turn changed everything, however, when the third 9 fell and gave Mark the bigger full house (9s full of Jacks). River was a useless 6 and Mark tripled up, eliminating the player in seat 6.

Other departures: Hoe Puan, An 'the Boss' Tran, and Gregg Merkow.

About 192 players remain.

Here's the official payout schedule. Of course the winner also receives the $25,500 entry to the WPT Season 5 Championship at Bellagio and the gold and diamond WPO bracelet.

	William 'Wilpay' Payne - chip leader at end of level 4.

Level 5: Blinds 200/400 with 50 antes. Play has resumed. 207 players remain.  Average stack is about 28,400.

It appears Cyndi has dropped off the leader-board. The new chip leader is William 'Wilpay' Payne with about 80K. Sung Joo is back in second with about 76K and Barry Greenstein has about 65K.

End of level 4 and break time!

Just before the end of level 4, Phil Ivey got his last chips in with A9, but ran into AQ and failed to improve, so Phil will not return for level 5.

Carlos Mortensen doubled through Nenad Medic when his KJ out-flopped Nenad's AK.  The board was K J 5 5 8 and Carlos was up to about 30K.

Daniel Negreanu moved his last ~10K in on a flop of K T 8 and Phil Ivey makes the call with AJ (gutshot). Daniel held QT for middle pair. Last two cards were 8 4 and Daniel gets some of his chips back.

Phil Ivey doubled through Daniel Negreanu when his flush draw turned into two pair (runner-runner) to beat Daniel's top pair/open-ender.

Isaac Haxton runs his pocket Jacks into a pair of Pocket Kings and is left with only about 13K.

Tony Cousineau was facing a bet from Ed Corrado on a flop of 7 2 5 . The clock was called and just before time expired, Tony made the call, showing 8 7 for top pair. Ed held 4 3 for nothing but the open-ended straight draw. Turn was the 5 which changed nothing. Ed said "oops" and stood up to leave, but the river was the A closing Ed's straight and giving him the pot.

More departures: David Plastik, Chris Reslock, and Lance Allred.

	Mark Seif, Vanessa Rousso, and Thomas Wahlroos

In a battle of the blinds, Mark Seif made it 1,100 from the small and Vanessa pumped it up 2K more. Mark called and the flop was 5 4 3. Both checked and the turn was a King. Mark checked and Vanessa moved all in for about 23K. Seif thought about it for a while and started some table-talk to try getting a read. He finally called, showing KJ for the pair of Kings, but Vanessa's AK had him out-kicked. River was a Jack, however, and the miracle 3-outer gave Mark two pair and the pot and gave Vanessa the evening off.

Over on table 42, the player in the cutoff raised and Phil Helmuth (small blind) re-raised another 2K. The opener was thinking and Phil started badgering him ("let's see if you can get me off this hand"). The player finally pumped it again to 10K. Phil decided he could, and although stating he felt he was folding the best hand, mucked his KJ face up. The other player, who never uttered a word, showed AK as he dragged the pot.

Mary Jones got all in with pocket Kings on a flop of all diamonds. Unfortunately for Mary, Hoyt Corkins held the A 4 and had flopped the nut flush. No help for Mary and she was busted.

Also gone: Vinnie Vinh, David Matthew, and Gioi Luong.

Level 4: Blinds 150/300 with 25 antes. Play has resumed.

	Cyndi Violette - chip leader at end of level 3

End of level 3 and about 234 remaining players are on break.

On the last hand of the level, Kathy Liebert got her last chips in and was unfortunate to run into her opponent's flopped set of Tens, so she gets the rest of the day off.

Also gone are David Plastik and Glyn Banks.

Cyndi Violette has rocketed into the chip lead with 114K. No one else is anywhere close.

With the board showing A 6 5 6, Humberto Brenes got his last chips in with pocket 5s (fives-full) only to run into his opponent's pocket Aces (Aces-full). He was drawing to a single card (the case 5) which failed to materialize on the river and Humberto was busted.

Also gone are Michael 'the Grinder' Mizrachi and Nick Schulman.

At the river, the board showed J 7 6 J J and Shannon Shorr (small blind) bet 1,800. Vanessa Rousso thought for a few moments and then popped it another 2,500. Shannon immediately moved all-in and Vanessa mucked her hand.

With the board showing 2 2 6 7 , Dave Kotowych fired 3K at the pot and Amir Vahedi called. River was the 7 . Dave fired 7K (more than Amir had left) and Amir pushed his last chips out (4,575). Dave held pocket 3s for two pair, but Amir showed 7 6 for sevens-full. Amir doubled up and now has some chips to work with.

On a flop of 8 T T, John Juanda moved his last chips in and was called by Robert Williamson III, who held AK offsuit. John showed his signature hand, pocket Jacks (JJ). Turn was a King giving Robert the lead with Kings-up. John was drawing slim, needing one of two remaining Jacks on the river. Well, even the best players in the world have to get lucky sometimes. The river was another Jack giving John Jacks-full and the pot.

With the board showing 4 K 2 3 Q (flush on board) Hoe Puan moved his last 3,475 all in and stood up. The action was on Vinnie Vinh, who claimed that Hoe walked away from the table so his had could be killed. The floor was called and it was generally agreed that Hoe only took a couple of steps and did not move away from the table. Vinnie wanted Hoe close enough so he could get a good look at him. Hoe's hand was ruled live and after a little more kvetching, Vinnie folded.

Eric Froehlich and Ralph Perry have been felted.

294 players is official. Total prize pool is $2.8 million. First place will pay 4904,574 plus the $25,500 seat to the WPT Season 5 Championship at Bellagio. 27 places will be paid. Full payout schedule will be posted shortly.

Level 3: Blinds 100/200 with 25 antes. Play has resumed.

	Brad Johnson - chip leader at end of level 2

Level 2 has ended and 270 remaining players are on break.

It appears that Brad Johnson is the chip leader with almost 72K. Paul McCaffrey is in second with a bit over 70K. Sung Joo is third with about 69K and Gavin Smith is fourth with about 63K.

On a flop of 7 9 T , Justin Marsh checked, Rick LaFay bet 1,500, and Justin check-raised him to 3,500. Rick called. Turn was the 6 and both checked. River was the 8 and both checked. With a ten-high straight on the board, Rick showed QJ off (no heart) for the nut straight, but Justin held A Q for the nut flush and he dragged the pot.

Four players on table 35 took the flop for the minimum: A 8 K . Check to Curtis Whitlow, who bet 400. Mickey 'Mouse' Mills folded, and Hoyt Corkins called (the other player also mucked). Turn was the Q and Hoyt fired 800, which was quickly called. River was the J and both checked. Hoyt showed A 4 for top pair, but Curtis held A8 offsuit for two pair and he took the pot.

On the turn with the board showing 4 5 5 T , Dewey Tomko moved his last 13,500 all in. JC Tran thought about it for a couple of minutes, then called. Dewey held 7 5 for trips, but JC showed pocket 4s for fours full. River was 8 and Dewey was busted.

The Phils (Ivey and Hellmuth) arrived just before the end of level 1. The playoff game is on the big screens in the tournament room, so a lot of attention has been diverted from the playing of poker. Johnny Grooms, our Tournament Director, keeps reminding everyone that betting on sports is illegal in Mississippi.

The official player count of 294 was announced, but there seems to be some discrepancy and that number is being double-checked.

Level 2: Blinds 100/200. Play has resumed.

It is too early and there are too many people in this room to try to find a chip leader. An unofficial player count of 300 was just announced, but that is not final.

Level 1 has ended and players are on break.

On the last hand at table 38, Justin Marsh raised to 350 from the middle, then David Tanner made it 1K. 'Ranger' Rick Lafay jacked it all the way up to 5K from the button. Back to Justin, who bowed out. David spent about 2 minutes in the tank, then folded his AK face up. Rick showed pocket Aces and they all headed out to enjoy their break.

Just got a registered player listing and here are some folks I missed or who have registered by have not yet arrived: Eric Mizrachi, Harold 'Big Daddy' Mahaffey, Dewey Tomko, Darrell 'Gigabet' Dicken, David Dicken, Randy Gil, Tex Barch, Gregg Merkow, Jon Friedberg, Ted Lawson, Mickey 'Mouse' Mills, Jonathan Little, Ed Corrado, Tony Cousineau, Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Amir Vahedi, Joe Tehan, Mike Gracz, Nick Schulman, Daniel Negreanu, Alan Sass, Jerri Thomas, Berry Johnston, Galen Kester, Brad Berman, Robert Williamson III, Carlos Mortensen, Nani Dollison, Jose Rosenkrantz, Brett Richey, Yosh Nakano, Erik Seidel, Bob Stupak, Eskimo Clark, Don Mullis, Dale Morrow, and Cyndy Violette.

Apparently many players who pre-registered but have not yet arrived are flying via Chicago and have been delayed due to bad weather at O'Hare.

	Mark Seif, Vanessa Rousso, and Thomas Wahlroos

Players are still arriving and registration will be open through level 1, but here's a list of players already in the room: David 'Devilfish' Ulliott, Justin Marsh, Ralph Perry, Tom McCormick, Vinnie Vinh, David Bach, Hoe Puan, David Matthew, Gioi Luong, Dan Schmiech, Thor Hansen, An 'the Boss' Tran, Nam Le, Humberto Brenes, Gavin Smith, Huck Seed, Chau Giang, Kathy Liebert, Hoyt Corkins, Eric Cloutier, Joe Bartholdi, Barry Greenstein, Kido Pham, Lance Allred, Scotty Nguyen, Justin 'ZeeJustin' Bonomo, 'Captain' Tom Franklin, Dennis Perry, Chris Reslock, Bill Edler, Tom Schneider, Nenad Medic, Minh Nguyen, Robert Mizrachi, Allen Kessler, Michael 'the Grinder' Mizrachi, Isaac Haxton, David Plastik, Jason Stern, Eric Froehlich, Jimmy Tran, John Spadavecchia, Mark Seif, Vanessa Rousso, Thomas Wahlroos, Shannon Shorr, John Racener, Tuan Le, John Juanda, Hilbert Shirey, John Phan, Jeff 'Happy' Shulman, Victor Ramdin, Chad Brown, Jason 'BigBird' Sagle, Lee Markholt, Paul McCaffrey, Chris Moneymaker, and Allie Prescott.

Whew!

Level 1: Blinds 50/100. Cards are in the air.

Players began with 20,000 chips and levels are 90 minutes long with a 15 minute break after each. The plan for today is to play 5 levels, so there will be no dinner break.

	Kaelaine Minton

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

Kaelaine here, the hardest-working woman in the tournament reporting business.  Will do anything poker-related for money.

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