Wednesday, May 23, 2007

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Phil Gordon leads WSOPC main event pack

By Sarah Polson

After one day of play in the World Series of Poker Circuit main event at Harrah's New Orleans, Phil Gordon's honeymoon in a tropical location seems to have brought him luck as he's taken the early chip lead.

Phil Gordon ended Day 1 with 187,400 in chips, with his nearest competitor at 103,300.

We'd hate to jinx him by putting too much importance on the early lead. After all, the poker pro and popular author and television personality still has to make it through two more days of play.

Also still in the mix after the first day is Josh Arieh. He sits in the middle of the pack with 53,300 in chips.

After a starting field of 346 players, 85 remain to play in Day 2 today, and all have their eye on the top prize of $516,801. The seat to the 2007 WSOP Main Event will be nothing to scoff at either.

While the main event is the most anticipated event of the WSOPC series, there were a couple more winners of preliminary events over the weekend who took home a good chunk of change as well.

Harold Ballow, a 45-year-old poker player from Denham Springs, La., won Event 11 the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em event.

He bested a field of 322 poker players to take home a first-place prize of $145,238 along with a WSOPC gold ring to commemorate his Bayou Poker Challenge win.

Event 12 brought out the ladies for their very own event. While 289 players anted up the $200 buy-in, it was a 24-year-old college student at Louisiana State University who walked away with the $18,102 top prize.

Lauren Larter, who is studying occupational therapy, also received a gold and diamond pendant for her win.

Stay tuned to PokerListings.com as we continue to bring you updates from the WSOPC in New Orleans.

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Amazing Race Runner Takes WSOPC Event
Texan Knows His Hold'em at WSOPC
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Humphrey Omaha Victor at WSOPC New Orleans
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