WPT Championship: Deep Stacks and Creative Post-Flop Play at Bellagio

The WPT championship at the Bellagio is unique, featuring a deep starting stack and a late registration period until the 12th level.

On the first day, the starting stack is 100,000 chips, and the blinds are 100-200. This setup allows for creative post-flop play. James Dampsey, a winner of the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamonds and a WSOP bracelet holder, eliminated the first player of the day. Dampsey made a raise of 700, and his opponent went all-in with a set, but Dampsey called and won with a higher set.

Daniel Negreanu showed a unique approach to playing sets during a hand. He called a raise with a set and later revealed his hand, commenting on the absurdity of the situation. Tyler Smith and Tommy Vedez engaged in a complex hand where Vedez ultimately folded. Michael Mizrahi demonstrated his poker skills in a hand against Isaac Baron, ultimately winning with a bluff. At the end of the first day, leaders included Steve O'Dwyer, Masa Kagawa, Tyler Smith, Guillaume Darque, and Vanessa Selbst.