WSOP Tournament of Champions Starts
Apart from perhaps the Main Event, the Tournament of Champions (TOC) will be the most watched event of the season. The interest has been enhanced because the TOC has been reintroduced after a three year gap. 20 players voted by the public and 7 nominated players will vie for one of the most coveted crowns in poker.
The 27 players were drawn into three tables of nine each. Mike Sexton the 2006 TOC winner and “poker’s greatest ambassador” started the proceedings by calling “Shuffle Up and Deal”. Phil Hellmuth, Howard Lederer and Huck Seed did not turn up on time. Hellmuth and Seed are habitual late comers. Hellmuth’s delay agitated Mike ‘the Mouth’ Matusow, who cannot get into the groove unless he has a slanging match with Hellmuth. He had to be content with telling everyone that Hellmuth’s behaviour was disrespectful to ESPN, to the other players and the game of poker. On the other hand Greg Raymer showed great respect to the occasion. Never seen in anything but shorts even in the coldest weather Raymer turned up in a pair of slacks.
The table talk was not all poker. Daniel Negreanu offered Cloutier $1 million if he would kiss Esfandiari. Cloutier did not pick up the gauntlet. Esfandiari was willing to French kiss Cloutier for $1 million, but this time Negreanu was not willing. The slanging match did materialize and the tournament director had to intervene. But it was impossible to keep Matusow down. “These are my fans,” he boomed. “Stand up when I make fun of Phil Hellmuth!” And his fans responded.
John Juanda was the first to go. It is always a bad feeling. Juanda Tweeted, “Just like that, I’m out of TOC. Tried to get Harman to lay down 2nd set and it didn’t work! 
Thx again4 all the supports &loves, guys! 
” But the shock defeat was that of Phil Ivey. He went all in with a pair of Kings. Chris Fergusson had a Queen pair. A Queen on the turn knocked Ivey out. After winning his eighth bracelet Ivey has offered 7 to 1 that he will win his ninth in WSOP 2010 as well. Well it will not be in the TOC.
At the time of writing 17 players remain. The Grand Old Man of poker, Doyle Brunson, is out. Both the poker babes Annie Duke and Jennifer Harman are in. Matusow is at the head of the table. So it is not only big talk from him.
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