Main Event Update--The Outta Towners

My workspace sits just off the tournament area, close enough that I can be to the action in ten seconds, far enough away that I can concentrate. As I sat down to put up a little photo gallery of some of the lesser-knowns here, I heard a scream through the door. It was the first really loud noise I'd heard all day.

Not being a cat, I have little fear of curiosity and as such went a-runnin'. As I entered the tournament area, I was saddened to see that one of my photo gallery subjects was standing, taking off his hat, and starting to get a little loudish. Scrap that one, I thought.

But I kept walking anyway. You never know what will happen.


John Rice, Cumberland, Maryland

John Rice (pictured above) was all-in pre-flop. He got exactly what he wanted. A caller.

John held aces. His opponent held kings.

The screaming I heard came by way of the flop. The opponent had spiked a king on the flop, giving him a set. And you thought that stuff only happened online.

John was reduced to two very ugly outs.

I made it to the table in the middle of the room as the river fell.

An ace.

And you thought that stuff only happened online.

So, John just doubled up and maintains his position in the lesser-knowns photo spread. Maybe by the end of the day he will be known at a greater level.

I know that a lot of you have specific requests on who I should cover and seek out. The big problem is that there are 200 people in the room right now and none of them are wearing nametags. I'm meeting folks as fast as I can. I'm sure as the field winnows itself, it will be eaiser to pick people out.

In the meantime, I've jumped off the pro player bandwagon for a post or two to bring you a few of the nicer guys I've met so far. And a few people who just had a look about them that required a quick shot.


Jimmy from Greensboro, NC

David B. from Athens, GA

Pete from NY (I think)



In terms of action, we're now in the third level of the main event. We're down to about 180 players in the first flight. We've already lost one of the well-known pros. Carlos Mortensen was apparently getting very few hands this afternoon and read a a lesser-known for a bluff and called him down with ace-high. Turns out the lesser-known was running a bluff. The problem for Carlos was that the lesser known also held ace-high and outkicked Carlos' AJ with AQ. Not too long after that, Carlos went heads-up with Chris Moneymaker. Moneymaker held QT, Mortensen held Q9. The flop brought two queens. The board didn't help Mortensen any more and he was bounced in the second level.

And you thought that stuff only happened online.