The PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Mohegan Sun Main Event attracted a starting grid of 716 players for a total prize pool passing $3.2 million. The tournament will crown a champion on Sunday.
The NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Event boasts a buy-in of $5,000 and attracted some of the top minds in the game to the Northeastern casino. When all is said and done, the top 104 players will finish in the money, with a first place prize of $750,000 up for grabs. NAPT Main Event final tables are played eight-handed and will air on ESPN2 in the United States. The minimum payout is $7,500, with the top six players earning a six-figure payday.
The first running of the NAPT on U.S. soil saw 872 players take to the felts of the $5,000 Main Event at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Unlike the Venetian Main Event, a bevy of top Full Tilt Poker pros turned out to the PokerStars-sponsored tournament in Connecticut. The crew on-hand included Tom “durrrr” Dwan, the newest member of Team Full Tilt. Also turning out was Phil Ivey, who began prop betting shortly after his arrival. Coverage found on PokerNews.com noted, “If it’s a poker tournament that Phil Ivey is playing, he’s booking action. Ivey’s flavor du jour is Tiger Woods to win the Masters. He booked action with Bill Gazes and David Singer at +555.”
Dwan turned out decked in Canadian gear, atypical for the youngster from New Jersey. Dwan called all-in with A-J on a board of A-8-6 with two hearts. His opponent flipped up Q-8 of hearts for middle pair and a flush draw, but Dwan faded disaster on the turn and the river to double up back to the tournament’s starting stack. Other Full Tilt Poker pros in attendance included 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event November Nine member James Akenhead, who excelled during Day 1.
Early in the day, PokerStars officials predicted a field of 650 players, as 615 had registered 30 minutes before its start time. Among those members of Team PokerStars Pro that hit the ground running were reigning WSOP Main Event champ Joe Cada, Daniel Negreanu, Chad Brown, Vanessa Rousso, Greg Raymer, Gavin Griffin, Barry Greenstein, Dennis Phillips, Jason Mercier, and Victor Ramdin.
Tweets poured in from the poker community throughout the day, including Greenstein, whose experience went from bad to worse. Right before the tournament’s “Shuffle Up and Deal” command, Greenstein Tweeted, “The good news: my watch says 10am and the tournament starts at noon. Looks like two more hours to sleep. The bad news: my watch is set for West Coast time, but the tournament is in Connecticut on the East Coast.” An hour later, a bathroom break was in store: “I couldn’t find a urinal in the bathroom. And I was surprised that it was empty with 700 entries.” However, Greenstein ultimately fell by the wayside, succinctly Tweeting, “QQ < KK. Out.”
Also starting the day off on the right foot was UB.com pro Adam “Roothlus” Levy. It’s presumed that the up-and-coming pro is staying at the Mohegan Sun and he explained his rather bizarre wakeup call: “Nothin’ like waking up at 6 in the morning because someone else set your hotel’s alarm clock & then hearing your neighbors having wild sex.” Levy proceeded to wake up and Tweet articles from the Washington Post.
We’ll have daily updates from the PokerStars NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Event right here on Poker News Daily.