The tournament director who is announcing the action at our featured table was prompted to ask Mickey Appleman, "Have you won more money playing poker or lost more money betting sports over the years?" which elicited a chuckle from Appleman who replied that the answer was "too complicated an equation for him."
Appleman currently has four WSOP gold bracelets, and although he has never won the Main Event, he is certainly no stranger to it. He made the final table of the Main Event in 1987 (8th place) and 2000 (9th place). Appleman has also cashed in over 40 WSOP events total so while less informed eyes may be focused on his tablemate Doyle Brunson, Appleman will certainly be a threat to the other players at the featured table as well.
A player in early position limped and action folded around to Jason Alexander in the big blind, who raised to 600. The limper came along to see a flop, which came . Alexander quickly fired 1,800 and his opponent mucked.
2007 WSOP Main Event Champ Jerry "The Shadow" Yang has been eliminated here early into Level 2 of this year's Main Event.
From late position, Yang raised it up to 1,050 and Rob Goldstein in the cutoff re-raised to 2,250. Yang called and the two saw the flop. Yang checked, Goldstein bet 2,500, Yang raised to 6,000, Goldstein re-raised to 12,500 and apparently even told Yang "You're beat here Jerry, you should fold." But Yang clearly didn't believe him as Yang pushed all in for 21,400 and was called by Goldstein.
Goldstein showed for a set of jacks while Yang had for top two pair. The turn and river were the and the . Yang did not improve and he becomes one of only a few eliminations this early on in the tournament.
A mass of chips sat in the middle, totaling about 15,000, with the board showing . Manuel Bevand, first to act, had pushed all in with his remaining 12,400, and his opponent was contemplating whether to call. He took his time with his decision, as the bet represented more than half of his remaining stack.
Finally the call came. "Kings?" said Bevand somewhat hopefully, tabling his . The response to his question came wordlessly -- and positively -- as his opponent showed .
The river brought the momentarily scary-looking (for Bevand) , and Bevand bounces back to about 28,000.
"That's all skill," he said as the dealer pushed the chips his way. "Just kidding," he added, and his opponent shook his head with a smile.
We found three players in for 2,325 apiece before the flop came down . Jani Sointula led out for 3,800 from early position and received calls from the player next to act as well as from the cutoff. On the turn, Sointula led again, this time for 7,500 and again both of his opponents called. When the hit the river, Sointula bet one last time for 12,500. Only the player next to act called while the cutoff laid his hand down. Sointula turned over for the top boat and it looked like his opponent flashed before he mucked as Sointula took down the huge pot.
We caught up with the action on a board with several thousand in the pot already. Randy "Nanonoko" Lew bet 3,050 and his lone opponent called from the button. Both players checked the river and Lew's opponent revealed for two-pair. Lew glanced at the board and then his opponent's hand before mucking his hand.
The player on the button made a raise to 550 and Dutch Boyd made the call from the big blind. The flop came down and Boyd checked to his opponent who continued with a bet of 650. Boyd pushed out a raise, making it 1,625 and his opponent called.
The came on the turn and Boyd bet 2,250. His opponent quickly raised, making it 4,850 to go and Boyd tanked before finally making the call.
The river brought the and both players checked. Boyd tabled and his opponent showed . Both players chopped the pot with eights and treys and a queen kicker.
We came to Jordan Rich's table table as he was heads up with the player in the hijack position. The flop read , and Rich bet out 600. The hijack called, and the turn came out the , and Rich checked to his opponent, who bet out 1,100. Rich called, and he also check called a river bet of 2,500 when it came the . His opponent showed for two pair, and Jordan mucked his hand, dropping him to 17,000.
. Alexander quickly fired 1,800 and his opponent mucked.
flop. Yang checked, Goldstein bet 2,500, Yang raised to 6,000, Goldstein re-raised to 12,500 and apparently even told Yang "You're beat here Jerry, you should fold." But Yang clearly didn't believe him as Yang pushed all in for 21,400 and was called by Goldstein.
for a set of jacks while Yang had 
and the 
. Yang did not improve and he becomes one of only a few eliminations this early on in the tournament.
![[user38338]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
. Manuel Bevand, first to act, had pushed all in with his remaining 12,400, and his opponent was contemplating whether to call. He took his time with his decision, as the bet represented more than half of his remaining stack.
.
. Jani Sointula led out for 3,800 from early position and received calls from the player next to act as well as from the cutoff. On the 
turn, Sointula led again, this time for 7,500 and again both of his opponents called. When the 
for the top boat and it looked like his opponent flashed 
board with several thousand in the pot already. Randy "Nanonoko" Lew bet 3,050 and his lone opponent called from the button. Both players checked the 
river and Lew's opponent revealed 
came on the turn and Boyd bet 2,250. His opponent quickly raised, making it 4,850 to go and Boyd tanked before finally making the call.
