When observed from behind the scenes, it’s clear that the main event of the World Series has become more of a made-for-TV spectacle than anything resembling a normal poker tournament. It’s all very choreographed and staged, and none of the players would ever dare complain because they’re the principal actors. For many of them, this is their one shot at stepping into the limelight and they’re not about to mess it up by refusing to sign a waiver or laughing at the absurdity of it all.
Ten minutes before the start of the tournament, an ESPN guy asked tournament director Jack Effel if they were going to let spectators into the room at the beginning. Effel said sure, which made the ESPN guy very happy. Spectators make for good TV. Empty rooms do not.
The only carryover from the conditions I have grown used to here was in the high limit cash game area where players continued to bet and raise as if the main event was still a month a way. Ken Lehr and Chris Moneymaker were there, but Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were not. Just after midnight last night, I saw them battling it out with Daniel Alaei and Gabe Thaler much to the delight of the railbirds. Ben had a huge stack of bills behind him. Matt appeared nearly felted.
As the players found their seats just prior to the noon start, they were greeted by a bottle of water and a Milwaukee’s Best Light flashlight. That’s what $10,000 buys you. In fifteen minutes of wandering I saw a grand total of seven pros: Huck Seed, Mel Judah, Marcel Luske (who is at the featured table), Michael Mizrachi, Lamar Wilkinson, and T.J. Cloutier, who I discovered was only there to give some guy some money. He doesn’t play until Sunday.
On the first hand of the day I watched Grinder raise to $300. An unknown player reraised from the small blind to $1,200 and Grinder called. The flop came 7-6-4, and Dead Money checked. Grinder bet $1,200, and D.M. called. The turn was a 6. Same action as before. D.M. checked, Grinder bet, and D.M. called. The river was a 10, and by this point even I knew what D.M. had. He had played his A-K about as badly as possible, but at least he was smart enough to fold on the river when Grinder bet $5,000. That’s how the pros build their stacks early, taking advantage of weak play.
The greater story on this day and throughout the main event could be that of Ronald Lee. When he arrived at Table #161, he informed the dealer that he had turned 21 TODAY. The dealer gave him a high five and said, “You’re going to be the youngest World Series of Poker champion ever.” It could happen, which is the genius of this event. Anything can happen, and over the course of the next ten days it undoubtedly will.
