After a disappointing turnout for the opening two days, Day 1C of the WSOP Main Event saw an impressive 2,181 salivating poker enthusiasts stump up the $10,000 buy-in fee for a potential two weeks of grinding en route to the November Nine.
Among them were seven Black Belt Poker sponsored pros including Neil Channing, Kevin Williams, Jamie Burland, Ben Meredith, Sam Razavi, David Docherty and Jerome Bradpiece. Also playing was Academy mentor Alex Rousso, Friend of Black Belt Poker Tristan McDonald and Green Belt Gareth Alder who qualified online.
Incredibly, and despite Black Belt Poker's mixed fortunes leading up to the Main Event, everyone survived the opening day.
Out of the Vegas 11, it was David Docherty who prospered the most, bagging up an above-average 61,900. The Scottish pro made two excellent river calls, the second of which saw him raise with Q-Q, before bet-calling a Jh-9c-5c flop and check-calling bets on a Js turn and 8s river.
Perhaps the most fun hand was experienced by Sam Razavi. He flopped a full house with J-J on a J-7-7 flop in a five-way pot with both blinds holding a 7. After trap-calling both a bet and a raise on the flop, Sam got it all in on the K turn against T-7. Thankfully, the flop action folded out a K-J as the K river would have given him a bigger full house. This pushed Sam up to circa 80,000, although he ultimately slipped to 52,125.
At the other end of the spectrum, Jamie Burland grinded out a stack of 22,775 after being dealt a starting table tougher than a two-dollar steak, whilst poor Jerome Bradpiece was the victim of an incorrect ruling and ended with 29,950.
The hand in question saw Jerome get raised with Kc-Jc on a Tc-3-2c-3c board. He threw in one 5,000 chip for the call, but was told by both the dealer and tournament director that it was a raise. His opponent quickly raised again, and following much deliberation, Jerome released his hand only to later learn that he was up against a smaller flush. To add salt into wounds, the tournament director later confessed that he'd made an error. Nevertheless, karma enabled Jerome to double through with A-K versus K-K and he will be returning with 29,950.
Elsewhere, Neil Channing made his first Day 2 of the Series with a highly credible 56,700, Ben Meredith packed up 61,350 and Kevin Williams, who endured a roller coaster of a day after running a straight into a bigger straight and kings into aces (a Q-J-9 flop prevented him from going bust), feels like he's got a million with 39,775.
Black Belt Poker have endured their fair share of beats over the course of the Series, so for every single player to end the day with their tournament life in tact was a splendid achievement, and one that showed just how focused they are on performing to the best of their abilities in the biggest event of the year.
Day 2A sees the survivors from Days 1A and 1C combine, and the team will be determined to jump all the hurdles the Poker Gods have to offer and make it through to Day 3. The action kicks off at 12pm (Vegas time), and you can follow their progress right here on Black Belt Poker via our Vegas tab in the menu.
Jerome Bradpiece -- 29,950
Neil Channing -- 56,700
Ben Meredith -- 61,350
Sam Razavi -- 52,125
David Docherty -- 61,900
Kevin Williams -- 39,775
Jamie Burland -- 22,775
Alex Rousso -- 67,675
Tristan McDonald -- 9,575
Gareth Alder -- 73,600
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