Online Poker Digest

After four long, grueling days all of the day 1 flights have concluded for the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event. Thursday’s day 1d saw a total of 2,391 entrants plunk down the $10,000 buy-in, making this year’s world championship the second largest field in World Series of Poker history. Combined with Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday’s total of 4,928 the 2010 Main Event drew a whopping 7,319 players.

The turnout for this year’s Main Event has to be a welcomed site for poker enthusiasts as player pool numbers had been down in recent years. The large field of over 7,000 poker players generated a $68.8 Million prize pool in which the first place finisher will receive a little over $8.9 Million. Anyone who finishes in the money will be guaranteed a $19,000 payday.

Day 1d saw some of the best poker action from this year’s Main Event. Many notable poker pros are amongst the chip leaders after their respective day 1. Bracelet winner David Benyamine is one of those leaders with approximately 130,000 chips. Other notable players who finished day 1 in good shape include Vanessa Rousso, Jason Mercier, Archie Karas, Matt Keikoan, Brett Richey, and Steve Billirakis.

Noteworthy eliminations from the last starting day include Sorel Mizzi, Allen Kessler, Joe Cassidy, John Juanda, Joe Hachem, and Emmitt Smith. The first of two day 2’s will get under way tomorrow as the players continue to work their way to the final table.

David Williams has once again reached the pinnacle of the poker world. First, it was the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up finish against Greg Raymer, and now, Williams walked away from the Bellagio’s poker room in Las Vegas last weekend with $1,530,537 and the honor of being called the WPT World Champion.

During final table play, Williams had to play some of his best poker against some of the most renowned card sharks in the game, most notably Billy Baxter and David Benyamine. Baxter is known in the gambling world as an avid sports gambler and poker player. Benyamine is a high-stakes cash game regular who has played for the biggest stakes both online and live. The other three players at the final table were no slouches either. John O’Shea, Eric Baldwin, and Shawn Buchanan all put up valiant efforts during the course of final table play, with Baldwin actually taking second place for the entire event.

Williams had to stave off elimination at the hands of Shawn Buchanan when play got down to three players. Buchanan moved all-in with pocket queens only to be called by Williams and his pocket nines. However, a nine on the flop gave Williams the pot and eliminated Buchanan in third place. When it go to heads up play between Williams and Baldwin, only 22 hands were needed to decide the eventual champion.

Baldwin moved all-in over the top of a Williams raise with the ace and five of hearts. Williams, who had a major chip advantage over Baldwin, called with pocket deuces. An ace on the flop looked pretty to Baldwin, but the deuce on the turn gave Williams the set he needed to eliminate Baldwin and capture tournament victory.