Doyle Brunson Debuts in 2012 WSOP Event #15

Las Vegas-based Chris Tryba will be hoping for third time lucky in the $1,500 buy-in Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better event #15 at the World Series of Poker.

Having finished 10th for $12,822 in the $1,500 buy-in Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better event #4 and then 17th in the $1,500 buy-in Seven-Card Stud event #7 for $3,814 this series, Tryba will be aiming to pick up a gold bracelet – and $269,037 – from a tournament that attracted 212 entries.

However, the most notable fact about this event so far is that poker’s elder statesman, 78-year-old Doyle Brunson, made his 2012 debut at the WSOP. The 10-time bracelet winner has decided to cut back on his tournament participation this year, but he still managed to last the day in 40th place on 29,000 chips – even though he didn’t take his seat until the start of level 5.

‘The Texas Dolly’ Is In Town!

Poker media veteran and author Nolan Dalla announced over the PA that ‘The Texas Dolly’ was in the Amazon Room, with all those gathered about giving him a warm and welcoming round of applause. Here’s hoping ‘The Godfather of Poker’ can make a play for Phil Hellmuth’s WSOP record of 11 bracelets. Mind you, Phil ‘The Poker Brat’ Hellmuth is also still alive, down in 47th on 26,600, so maybe he can grab that elusive 12th gold bracelet…

Just 137 players made it through to Day 2 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Vegas, but it is Tryba that topped the leaderboard when the chips were bagged up to sit on 63,600, although he will do well to remain there as he is being chased by the likes of Todd Brunson (10th on 45,800), Andrey Pateychuk (11th on 44,400), Barry Greenstein (12th on 43,500), Bryan Devonshire (13th on 43,100), Phil Ivey (15th on 40,100), Eli Elezra (16th on 39,900), Cyndy Violette (17th on 38,900), Allen Bari (20th on 36,700), Dan Shak (21st on 36,500), Chad Brown (22nd on 36,400), Huck Seed (25th on 35,000) and Abe Mosseri (27th on 34,400).

Phil Ivey Takes Down Large Level 1 Pot

Meanwhile, eight-time WSOP champion Phil Ivey made his move early, taking down a huge, four-player pot – which included Pat Pezzin and Alexander Kuzmin – with his quad sixes during level 1.

Ivey – who finally secured his first cash of the 2012 series by making it into Day 2 of the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout event #14 – was dealt 6♠ 4♠ 6♣ 9♦ to add to his 6♥ 6♦ Q♣ for the pot as no one managed the low to take the 36-year-old very quickly up to 36,000 chips.

Eight levels were played out in an event that possesses a $996,400 prize pool, with the likes of Jon Aguiar, Shaun Deeb, Jon Turner, Jeff Lisandro, Matt Glantz and Maria Ho among the most notable casualties.

The leading 24 players are guaranteed at least $9,675, while each final table player is assured of earning $27,012 – although we all know that the biggest prize is what they will all be aiming for.

WSOP 2012 Event #15 Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts

1. Chris Tryba (USA) – 63,600

2. Brian Twete (USA) – 54,800

3. David Grey (USA) – 54,700

4. Calvin Anderson (USA) – 50,500

5. Andrew Finkernagel (USA) – 48,900

6. Jesse Martin (USA) – 47,300

7. Tuan Vo (USA) – 46,300

8. Drew Scott (Canada) – 46,200

9. Mike Gorodinsky (USA) – 45,900

10. Todd Brunson (USA) – 45,800