WSOP Main Event - Day 1B

As expected, Day 1B attracted a larger pool of players with a total of 1,489 taking their seat, including Phil Galfond, Dan Harrington, Johnny Lodden, Jamie Gold and Hollywood actor Matt Affleck, The Brits were also out in full flow, Chris Brammer, Ramsey Ajram, Jon Kalmar ,Roberto Romanello and John Eames just a handful of the many UK-based players flying the flag.

Among the aforementioned sat Black Belt Poker sponsored pro Owen Robinson, the recent UKIPT finalist perched in the less populated Pavillion Room and segregated from the bedlam of the main crowd. There were few recognisable faces on Owen's table, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing, as players throughout - including Annette Obrestad on Twitter - were commenting on the high standard of this year's Series, whether they faced pros or not.

Blessed with a 30,000 starting stack and two-hour levels, Owen had plenty of space to maneouvre, and did just that when he increased his stack to the dizzy heights of 30,100 within the opening level. Despite a steady start, he did play one interesting hand when he raised it up preflop with T-5 of spades and received one caller. The flop came 6s-7s-4d and Owen led for 400, before firing a second barrel of 650 on the Qd turn. After his second bet was called, he checked down the diamond river before being slowrolled by the nut flush.

Upon return from the break, Owen quickly found himself up to 50,000 courtesy of a rivered full house. With an early position player raising it up preflop, Owen flat called with A-J leading to an A-Q-x flop. Owen called a single bet, before flat calling again on the J turn. On the J river, Owen turned aggressor by betting 8,000, which his opponent called. Cards on their backs and Owen's boat was more than enough against A-Q for the flopped two pair and the Irishman picked up a nice pot.

Sadly, this would prove to be Owen's peak for the day as he was moved into the Amazon Room. Although his original table boasted WSOP star Shawn Buchanan and EPT finalist Ricardo Sousa, the grass wasn't greener on the other side, as Owen explained: "Really tough table in the Amazon Room. Got the redraw from hell with the chip leader directly to my left."

It was, in fact, the chip leader who sparked Owen's second half demise. In a battle of the blinds encounter, Owen limped with pocket deuces and called a raise from the big blind before checking a Q-7-4 flop. On the 3 turn, Owen check-called a bet of 2,000, and then spiked a set on the 2 river. Owen considered betting, but opted to check, subsequently calling a bet of 7,000. It may have been a wise move in the end as his opponent revealed pocket queens for a larger set. "I was considering check-raising," Owen later revealed, "but a conversation with Neil [Channing] earlier in the day had convinced me not to."

Post dinner, Owen's luck didn't change, and the cards began to run bad. He also confessed to misplaying a couple of hands and "blowing up a bit", adding, "The table is full of chumps at the moment, but the big stack is bashing me about. Played a big pot where he five-bet jammed me, but I lost the hand."

Only one and a half levels were played after dinner, but they remained fruitless for Owen who finished the day on a disappointing 14,250. "Lost a big pot just before the end with A-9 suited," he reported dejectedly. "That would have given me over 30,000, but I'm through, and I live to fight another day."

Owen wasn't the only British player who made it through to Day 2, as John Kabbaj, James Dempsey, Roland De Wolfe, James Keys, Ben Vinson and Kevin Allen will all be returning, although the official counts are currently unknown. At the other end of the spectrum, we sadly lost Liv Boeree, Simon Trumper, Sam Trickett, Keith Hawkins, and, right at the death, former Vegas 8 member David Tighe.

However, tomorrow's a new day, and it's one that Black Belt Poker will be ambushing in full force with Neil Channing, Warren Wooldridge, Jerome Bradpiece, Adam Latimer and Tristan McDonald all wearing the Black Belt Poker colours with pride. Hopefully all five of them can join Owen and co. in few days time for WSOP Part 2.

Official (known) UK Day 1A counts:

Dan Carter -- 108,650
John Shipley -- 100,675
Praz Bansi -- 65,725
Jeff Kimber -- 65,325
Nicky Evans -- 60,700
Steve Jelinek -- 57,825
Alexander Millar -- 56,600
Rob Akery -- 54,100
Mel Judah -- 51,250
John Magill -- 48,500
Jeff Duvall -- 48,300
Tim Flanders -- 47,475
William Haughey -- 47,300
Javed Abrahams -- 42,000
James Mitchell -- 41,075
Julian Thew -- 30,650
Jamie Brown -- 22,600
Peter Gould -- 21,000
Priyan Demel -- 13,500
James Akenhead -- 12,050

Previous WSOP Reports:

Employee of the Month
Fairytale Endings
Must Be Nice
Make Mine a Double
Blonde on Blonde
Summer of Sam
Chuft to Bits
Under the Radar
Taking Notice
BBP Braced for WSOP Main Event
WSOP Main Event - Day 1A

Vegas Blog:

May 23: My Old School Teacher
May 31: Welcome to America; Let the Institutionalising Begin
June 1: Pleasure & Pain
June 5: 100% British Beef
June 9: Alphabetti Spaghetti & Giant Meatballs
June 13: Colour Me Up
June 14: The Crying Game
June 20: Last Gasps
June 25: Dancing With the Devil
June 30: The End of a Streak
July 6: Tournament of Famous People