partypoker qualifier is continuing his strong start here on Day 1F of the partypoker presents: WPT500 at ARIA Resort & Casino, and he's up to 80,000 as the field nears the third break of the day.
Richard King - 80,000 (67 bb)
The cutoff is all in preflop holding 
, and Brett Murray has him covered with 
in the hole UTG+1. The board falls 
and the cutoff doubles up to survive. Murray is down to 25,000 after paying out the double.
Brett Murray - 25,000 (20 bb)
Defending champion Craig Varnell was back in action today, trying to duplicate his run here last year when he outlasted 5,112 other entrants to take the title and $185,000. He spent most of the day at Maria Ho's table, the fun section of the tournament area today but will have to wait for a later flight to defend his title. He was riding a short stack late and hit the rail after registration closed.
Season 15 WPT500 Selfie contest!Check out rules & how to enter https://t.co/mhgB3fzJlq @ARIAPoker #WPT500Contest pic.twitter.com/Xl3CEUzHXD
— danielle ruiz (@_danielleruiz) July 2, 2016
Let's play! Season XV For rules: https://t.co/6oaAG4yOdC hashtag for the contest is: #WPT500Contest & @AriaPoker GL pic.twitter.com/yd3gBe67k9
— Ivy Teves (@IvyTeves) July 2, 2016
Get your duck face ready!
During each starting day at the partypoker presents: WPT500 at ARIA Resort & Casino, World Poker Tour is giving away $100 in food and beverage credit to the player who tweets the best selfie. Entering the contest is easy, all you have to do is:
1. Take a selfie (duck face not required, but be creative!) while playing in the WPT500 at ARIA
2. Tweet the photo, tagging @AriaPoker and #WPT500Contest
We will select one winner per day from June 27 – July 4.
Good luck!
Jason Les is all in preflop for 16,800 on the big blind holding 
, and he is up against the of the hijack and the 
of the cutoff. The board is dealt 
and Les more than doubles up to survive with 46,500. The cutoff is eliminated on the hand.
Jason Les - 46,500 (46 bb)
Level 9 comes to an end, and Level 10 begins with increased blinds of 500-1,000 with a 100 ante. Play continues without a break.
With 210 players remaining from a Day 1F field of 452 entries, the average chip stack is about 32,300 (32 big blinds).
There will be a 45-minute dinner break after Level 14 (about 6:45 pm), and action will continue tonight until the field is down to the final 17 players (5% of the field).
The final 11% of today's field will finish in the money. Here are the Day 1F payouts:
1st-23rd: $1,500 + Advance to Day 2
24th-37th: $1,200
38th-50th: $950
Lynn Gilmartin (pictured) is all in preflop on the small blind with 
in the hole, and Christian Keliipio has her covered holding 
on the hijack. The board is dealt 
and Gilmartin is eliminated on the hand.
Christian Keliipio - 39,000 (48 bb)
Lynn Gilmartin - Eliminated
Diane Casino moves all in from the button for about 12,500, and the small blind moves all in over the top for 12,800 with 
. Casino turns over , and she needs to improve to stay alive.
The board comes 
, and the pocket sevens hold up for the small blind to win the pot and eliminate Casino from Day 1F.
Diance Casino - Eliminated
With 452 entries here on Day 1F, the final 50 players (11%) will finish in the money, and the final 23 players (5%) will advance to Day 2 (which will be played on Tuesday, July 5th).
1st-23rd: $1,500 + Advance to Day 2
24th-37th: $1,200
38th-50th: $950
The players return from break to begin Level 9, with increased blinds of 400-800 and a 75 ante.
With about 260 players remaining from a Day 1F field of 452 entries, the average chip stack is about 26,000 (33 big blinds).
There will be a 45-minute dinner break after Level 14 (about 6:45 pm), and action will continue tonight until the field is down to the final 17 players (5% of the field).
The final 11% of today's field (50 players) will finish in the money. Here are the Day 1F payouts:
1st-23rd: $1,500 + Advance to Day 2
24th-37th: $1,200
38th-50th: $950
Recent eliminations on a very busy Day 1F in the WPT500 Main Event at ARIA include Nancy Birnbaum and Kathy Liebert. Recent arrivals include Dylan Wilkerson and Jason James.
Players continue to pour into the tournament area with a full level remaining to register, or re-enter if a players goes busto. Some of the newer faces include Maria Ho (pictured above), Kathy Liebert, Steve Fox, Travis Riffle, Nancy Birnbaum, and Jessica Meir.
Players have this level plus the 15-minute break to get in the game.
Level 7 comes to an end, and Level 8 begins with increased blinds of 300-600 and a 75 ante. Play continues without a break.
The tournament clock shows 424 entries so far here on Day 1F, for a tournament total of 2,022 entries and counting. Registration remains open until the beginning of Level 9 (about 2:30 pm), with unlimited re-entries.
Ankush Mandavia has joined the field on Day 1F at the WPT500 Main Event at ARIA. He is fresh off of a gold bracelet win at the World Series of Poker, but he ventured over to The Strip for his poker action today.
Level 6 comes to an end, and Level 7 begins with increased blinds of 250-500 and a 75 ante. Play continues without a break.
The tournament clock shows 405 entries so far here on Day 1F, for a tournament total of 2,003 entries and counting. Registration remains open until the beginning of Level 9 (about 2:30 pm), with unlimited re-entries.
A player from late position moves all in for 12,000, Sehn man Ung calls from the big blind with 
. His opponent announces "deuces never loses!" and turns over 
.
The board ran out 
and deuces almost cracked Ung's pocket jacks until he hit his set on the turn, eliminating his opponent.
Sen man Ung - 31,000 (78 bb)
Day 1F of the @partypoker #WPT500 @ARIAPoker now underway.Reg open till 230PM. Live Updates https://t.co/ahxXwKGs2o pic.twitter.com/qBaEzl7tGf
— Royal Flush Girls (@RoyalFlushGirls) July 2, 2016
The familiar faces over in the poker room include Sasha Barrese (pictured), Corey Hochman, Hunter Cichy, Cliff Fisher, Gordon Eng, and Steve Buckner.
With the board showing 
on the turn, Jorie Damiano moves all in, and her opponent calls with 
for a pair of aces with a club flush and a gutshot straight draw. Damiano turns over 
for a pair of jacks with an open-ended straight-flush draw.
The river card pairs the board with the 
, and her opponent wins the pot with two pair, aces and tens, to double up thru Damiano.
Jorie Damiano - 9,500 (24 bb)