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Couples highlight Main Event Day 1C

By Ryan McLane and Vin Narayanan

It was couples' day at the World Series of Poker Main Event as several famous pairings were among the 1700 plus players competing in Day 1C.

Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly, the unofficial first couple of poker, sat just three tables apart, choosing to play on the same day to minimize the chance of an extended period of Main Event post-partum depression.

"If we bust out on the same day, we can go home together," Tilly said. "It takes each of us a day or so to get over the depression, so playing on the same day is a way to lessen the spread of misery."

Tilly's words proved prophetic as both players busted out of the first day before the dinner break. Both popular competitors were followed to the rail by a slew of ESPN cameras.

Married duos Robert and Olga Varkonyi and Katja Thater and Jan von Halle played on separate ends of the Amazon Room Sunday. Chad Brown and Vanessa Rousso, another couple united by poker, also chose to play together.

WSOP Media Director Nolan Dalla said there is no specific rule keeping family and friends from playing at the same table, but requests to keep people with vested interests apart are usually honored. The size of the field keeps the likelihood of these pairs playing together slim, but it has happened in the past.

Another odd pairing of sorts started their day at table 32. Amir Vahedi, usually the featured player of his table when playing the Main Event's first day, shared the spotlight with retired baseball player Jose Canseco.

Canseco is playing in his first Main Event. "My plan is to get lucky as quickly as possible," he said.

Canseco played hard and fast, much the way he swung the baseball bat. But he eventually succombed to his lack of patience.

The biggest Main Event Day 1 field to date has also drawn the largest number of professional players. Phil Ivey, Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Mike Matusow, Chris Ferguson, T.J Cloutier, Brad Daugherty, Phil Gordon, J.C. Tran, and Allen Cunningham highlight the professional action.

Several other big-names were among today's players. Seinfeld's Jason Alexander, boxing champion Antonio Tarver and recording artist Nelly join Canseco.

But the biggest star of the early going was Mr. Peanut. He survived a fight with Mike Matusow to win the hearts of the Amazon Room.

Mr. Peanut was tackled by Matusow after refusing the Mouth's request to come to one of the ESPN featured tables. Mr. Peanut survived the attack then motioned to his belly to insinuate that Matusow's girth prevented him from getting the best of the battle.

Norway's Dag Martin Mikkelsen leads Day 1B field

When Day 1B of the World Series of Poker ended at just after 3 a.m. on Sunday morning a good 15 hours after play had begun.

Norway's Dag Martin Mikkelsen stood atop the heap with $236,000 chips. Accomplished European poker pro, television director and European Poker Tour creator John Duthie also finished in Day 1B's top ten with $151,000.

David "The Dragon" Phan is lurking behind the leaders with $140,000.

Saturday's action began with 1,545 players -- including a bevy of well-known poker pros -- filling the Amazon Room at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino. But all eyes eventually turned to two moms trying to play there way into Day 2.

Jane Gold, the mother of defending champion Jamie Gold, and Shirley Williams, mother of David Williams, spent the day proving that there sons are not the only ones in the family that can play poker.

Jamie Gold, who bought his mom into the tournament, said he taught his mother how to play, but the World Series of Poker boot camp really helped her process the information.

Jane put Jamie's lessons to good use and ended the day with $41,000.

David Williams had to watch his mom from the rail yesterday after busting out of Day 1B. Shirley, who cashed in the seniors event last year, ended the day with $62,700.

Another Williams, Montel, held the chip lead for two hours on Day 1B. But the talk show host couldn't sustain the momentum and ended up with $20,900.

Controversy also hit early Sunday morning when David Singer demanded a refund or a re-entry after he lost his all-in bet was to a player who twice received cell phone calls during his deliberation over calling.

Tournament rules that the player simply silenced his phone and did not use it. Singer's refund request was denied. See the full story here.

Comedian Norm Macdonald, Isabelle Mercier, Kathy Liebert, and Annie Duke were among the notables eliminated from the Main Event.

Still alive in the hunt for the bracelet are: Scotty Nguyen ($129,000 baby), Cliff Josephy (117,700), Robert Mizrachi ($80,900), Evelyn Ng ($70,800), Tom McEvoy ($72,600) and Dan Harrington (43,600).

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