Phil Hellmuth Arrives Late And Still Dominates Day 1a

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Classic, Day 1a Recap By BJ Nemeth Phil Hellmuth has a reputation for arriving late to big tournaments. Sometimes, he arrives really late. With five levels scheduled for Day 1a of the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Poker Classic at Bellagio, Hellmuth didn't show up until Level 4 -- about 5:45 pm for a tournament that started at 12:00 noon. Of course, with the extremely deep starting stacks -- each player began the day with 45,000 -- Hellmuth only lost about 6% of his chips before he showed up. He arrived to find 42,250 in chips at his seat, and the blinds were still only 200-400 with a 50 ante. In a video interview with Amanda Leatherman earlier today, Hellmuth said that his wife called to wake him up, but he went back to sleep for a few extra hours of rest. Whatever happened, it worked. Hellmuth made the most of his less-than-two levels, quickly building his stack above average and then busting David Williams at the end of Level 4 to increase his stack even further. In the final half hour, Hellmuth was involved in one of the biggest hands of the day. The flop came 842, and Theo Tran check-raised Hellmuth to 25,000. The turn was the 3, Theo bet 23,000, Hellmuth moved all in, and Theo called with AA for an overpair with a gutshot straight draw to a wheel. But Hellmuth showed 65, and Theo was drawing dead -- Hellmuth had flopped a double-gutshot straight draw, and turned a six-high straight. That hand catapulted Hellmuth to the top of the leaderboard, where he finished the day with 188,150. Here's a look at the top 10, which is packed with notable players: 1. Phil Hellmuth - 188,150 2. Gary Gibbs - 169,075 3. Clonie Gowen - 162,550 4. Kido Pham - 153,000 5. Ryan Young - 152,650 6. Luke "IWearGoggles" Staudenmaier - 147,000 7. Nenad Medic - 138,000 8. Devin Porter - 137,675 9. Greg "Fossilman" Raymer - 136,200 10. Amnon Filippi - 135,425 Day 1a began with 203 players, and finished with an even 150 (a 74% survival rate). For the full list of all 150 Day 1a survivors, click on the "Chip Counts" tab. Day 1b starts tomorrow (Sunday) at 12:00 noon PT. Return to WorldPokerTour.com for live coverage throughout the day, including video interviews with Amanda Leatherman.

Blue Diamond Almonds Bold Player of the Day - Ryan Young

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

Day 1a Comes to an End

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

The tables play their final hands, and Day 1a comes to an end. There are approximately 155 players left, and we'll post the official chip counts later tonight as soon as they are released by the casino. The chip leader appears to be Phil Hellmuth, who did rather well after his extremely late arrival (5:45 pm) to finish with about 200,000 in chips.

Jon Friedberg Survives a Three-Way All In With a Sick Turn of Events

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

Preflop, Jon Friedberg is all in from middle position for 21,000, Vadim Trincher is all in from the cutoff for 26,400, and the small blind has both of them covered. Here are the cards: Jon Friedberg: AA Vadim Trincher: AK Small Blind: KK Friedberg is in a great position, dominating both of his opponents, while they share each other's outs. The flop comes 1073, and it's about as safe as can be for Friedberg. There's only one card in the deck that Friedberg doesn't want to see -- the K -- and it falls on the turn, causing the entire table to react loudly and attract the attention of the entire room. There is only one ace left in the deck to give Friedberg a higher set, but only a few people notice that Friedberg picked up a spade flush draw for additional outs. The river card is the 8, and Friedberg catches a runner-runner flush to overcome the set of kings and win the pot. Jon Friedberg triples up to about 64,000 in chips. Vadim Trincher is eliminated, and the player in the small blind wins the small side pot with his set of kings, cutting his losses to 15,600 on the hand.

Hellmuth Cracks Theo Tran's Aces - Sends Him to the Rail

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

After a flop of 842 Theo Tran checks it over to Phil Hellmuth who bets out 10,000. Tran check raises to 25,000 and Hellmuth makes the call. The turn is the 3 and Theo under bets the pot (Hellmuth style) for 23,000. Hellmuth moves all in and Tran calls instantly with AA. However, the poker brat has it cracked with 65 for the nut straight. Tran is drawing dead on the river and Hellmuth is now close to 200,000 in chips.

Day 1a Play Pauses Momentarily; How Many More Hands?

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

With about 20 minutes left in the last level, the TD stops action. A player will draw a random card to determine how many more hands each table will play until the end of the day. A table just broke, and a few tables are still finishing their hands. As soon as every table is ready, they will draw a card.

Young Can't Get Action With Aces

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

Action folds around to Phil Hellmuth in the small blind who limps into the pot. Ryan Young says "I'll give you a discount" but then raises to 5,000 anyway. Hellmuth folds and Young shows pockets aces.

Shaniac Wins A Five Way Pot

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

Steve Simmons limps into the pot and Shane "Shaniac" Schleger raises to 2,100. His raise gets no respect as he is called by Harry Demetriou, the button, the big blind and Simmons. The flop comes J104 and action is checked to Schleger who bets 5,400. The other four players now believe him and all fold.

Clonie Shows The Bluff

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

On a board of A108 action is checked to a player in late position who bets 10,000. A player in the blind folds and Clonie Gowen check raises to 30,000. Her opponent calls. The turn brings the 9 and Clonie fires out another 30,000, leaving her with less than 20,000 behind. Her opponent gives up his hand, showing the AK. Clonie can't resist the opportunity to show the bluff and tables KQ as she rakes in the pot.

Amnon Applies All In Pressure

Level 34: 500,000-1,000,000, 100,000 ante

Amnon Filippi raises to 2,000 from early position and is reraised by Peter Neff to 5,800. Action folds back around to Filippi who makes the call. The flop comes QJ2. Filippi checks and Neff bets out 8,500. Filippi thinks for several moments before announcing a large all in re-raise. Neff folds his hand and Amnon takes it down.