4
Concern but No Panic
There are still many of Full Tilt pros in the Main Event, but with the exception of Allen Cunningham (170k), no one is in strong chip position. Richard Brodie, Chris Ferguson and MarkVos have roughly 70k. Phil Ivey is under 30k. Aaron Bartley and Layne Flack are both around 50k. But at this point no one is panicking. With blinds of 600 and 1200 with a 200 ante, most of these players have well over 30 big blinds and have time to choose their spots carefully. Everyone seems to playing very paiently.
At the tables, stacks continue to consolidate. There are a dozen players with more than 300k and a couple of 500k. Around the room, spectacular pots are being played. As I walked by his table, Daniel Negreanu was shaking his head in disgust while staring at a board of 7-3-3-4-8, with 3 clubs. On the river he had bet 40k and was check-raised for another 40k. Eventually, he called. Negreanu had the straight with 5-6; his opponent had a pair of 10s. One set-over-set confrontation resulted in a 200k pot.
Many of the shorter stacks are playing conservatively, hoping to stay alive and make the money. Only another 400 people need to bust before that initial payouts start.
Things are getting interesting here. Every pot is important. Great hands of poker lie ahead.
