2007 WSOP $5,000 No Limit Event Draws The Biggest Names in Poker

Michael Mizrachi is one of the pros we saw out in the star-studded field of the $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Event at the 2007 World Series of Poker. (Bodog Beat Image)

Since the final table we wanted to watch today (the no limit shootout featuring Daniel Negreanu and Erick Lindgren) is being hidden behind the shroud of mystery, we took a stroll through the Day 1 field for what we now will call the "mini Main Event". What we saw floored us. There is literally a big name pro every few feet, and just thinking about having to play at a couple of these tables made our bowels quiver.

Here are a couple of examples of two tables right next to each other:

1. Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, Amnon Filippi, Steve Dannenman and Anna "The Poker Pixie" Wroblewski (Ok, maybe not so much Anna, she looks to cute to be scary, but she'd still kick our collective ass).
2. Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Mark Seif and Phil Ivey (uh, Phil by himself scares the crap out of us at a poker table)

With so much talent in the room, the action has been intense producing some great showdowns. One interaction we saw was between Chau Giang and Harry Demetriou. They were both in a pot and there was some discrepancy over whether the dealer had heard "raise" or "call" from Chau. Harry and Chau literally went after each other, just jawing back and forth across the table. By my count there were five floor people and a security guard around the table, maybe just in case Chau pulled out some kung-fu or something.

We also saw Jeff Madsen take a horrific beat to put him out just about an hour after the cards were in the air. His table was criticizing the play of Jeff's opponent (possibly an Aussie), to which he responded, "you guys are experts now that the hand is finished." To which Jeff's neighbor replied, "no, we just know which one of us has two WSOP bracelets and which one just got lucky." The cocky Aussie sat down and replied, "wait, who was that guy?" We feel sorry for Jeff since that guy will probably end up donking off all his chips anyway, but that's poker.

On the lighter side we just walked past a table with Clonie Gowen, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and John D'Agostino that was having the best time of any table we've ever seen. The whole table was laughing and joking around with each other. One guy was even offering around cans of soda, Altoids and hot soup from a thermos. All from a leather attache case he had with him at the table. Poker is nothing without its characters.
We'll keep you updated on more action from the floor and this "mini Main Event" live from the 2007 World Series of Poker.