Day 1D is traditionally the busiest day of the WSOP Main Event; only two years ago, Harrah's (now, officially, Caesars Entertainment) were doing the unthinkable and turning players away due to lack of space. This year, they had no such intentions as a whopping 2,802 crammed into the Rio for the final leg of the opening heats for an overall field of 6,865.
Although the Vegas 11 played, and survived, Day 1C, Sunday played home to our online qualifiers as well Brown Belt Nik Persaud. former Grader Owen Robinson and WSOP Warrior Master League winner Hasmukh Khodiyara. The three qualifiers were Sean Fennesey, Jeremy Rickard and Greg Moore, all of whom had won entry via the iPoker Mega satellite which created 30 seats and a $100,000 plus overlay.
Echoing the achievements of the Vegas 11, Day 1D was yet another fruitful day for Black Belt Poker as five of the aforementioned players made it through to Day 2, all boasting more than their starting stack. The only casualty was Owen, who got it all in with a pair and a flush draw, but failed to improve.
Out of the qualifiers, it was maths professor Jeremey Rickard who shone brightest; he ended proceedings with a stack of 62,850, whilst Sean Fennesey of Fife, Scotland bagged up 35,200, and former Gutshot dealer Greg Moore 57,600. World Heads-Up Champion Nik Persaud, meanwhile, finished with 54,450.
Hasmukh earned his Main Event seat when he became the Ultimate Warrior, topping the WSOP Warrior Master League to win a Main Event package worth $20,000. Only a few weeks prior, he had attended the Black Belt Poker Academy: How to win your WSOP Main Event seat.
Despite this being his first ever trip to Vegas, not only did he make it through to Day 2 with a respectable 42,250 in chips, but he also cashed in two side events, including an impressive 34th place finish in a $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event for $18,346, one percent of which he kindly donated to the Vegas Prize Fund.
Earlier in the week, and before entering the $10,000 battlefield, the qualifiers were invited to the Black Belt Poker luxury mansion. They were then taken to the Horseshoe Casino in Downtown Las Vegas where they tucked into a delicious steak courtesy of Black Belt Poker. Afterwards, Neil pointed out the location of one of his first ever Main Event starting tables (it was, we learned, right in the middle of the casino and next to people playing slot machines) as well as the Hall of Fame and Wall of Champions where Russ Hamilton still returns a smile.
Black Belt Poker have launched out of the blocks like a cheetah being shot out of a cannon, and can boast an incredible 15 players proudly wearing the logo for at least another day. The Vegas 11 contingent are playing Day 2A as I write. To follow their progress, simply check out the Vegas tab and hopefully I'll once again be singing their praises come Day 3.
Alex Rousso -- 67,675
Ben Meredith -- 61,350
David Docherty -- 61,900
Gareth Alder -- 73,600
Greg Moore -- 57,600
Hasmukh Khodiyara -- 42,250
Jamie Burland -- 22,775
Jeremy Rickard -- 62,850
Jerome Bradpiece -- 29,950
Kevin Williams -- 39,775
Neil Channing -- 56,700
Nik Persaud -- 54,450
Owen Robinson - eliminated on Day 1D
Sam Razavi -- 52,125
Sean Fennesey -- 35,200
Tristan McDonald -- 9,575
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