Monday, Aug. 27, 2007

• Email
• Print

Safieddine on top at WPT Legends of Poker Day 1b

Francois Safieddine is the chip leader at the WPT Legends of Poker heading into Day 2.

By Arthur Crowson

Francois Safieddine is right where a poker player wants to be heading into Day 2 of a major tournament.

The Denver, Colo., resident has amassed a fortress of chips at the World Poker Tour Legends of Poker event in LA and sits firmly atop the chip counts with 165,000 to his name. Even better, he's done it against some stiff competition.

Safieddine had an insane WSOP that saw him take down first place in one of the No-Limit Hold'em events, which was good for $521,785. He also cashed in the WSOP Pot-Limit event and then placed 90th in the Main Event for $82,476. During his busy summer Safieddine also found time to win one of the Bellagio Cup events for $72,355.

Now Safieddine has his eyes set firmly on becoming a poker legend as the L.A. WPT championship pushes onward.

Day 1b of the WPT Championship event saw some high-profile chip leaders like Joe Sebok and Gavin Smith but they couldn't hold the lead to the end of the day.

The day also saw some big-time bust-outs from former and current WSOP world champions who both hail from California. Both Jamie Gold and Jerry Yang saw their cards run dry and their luck run out during Day 1B. They will not be returning for Day 2.

A couple of chatterboxes were also eliminated as Mike "The Mouth" Matusow was silenced and Phil Hellmuth's poker game crashed. Poker gossip magnets Chantel McNulty and Brandi Hawbaker should hang out because neither of them made it to Day 2.

More than one Brunson made it through, however. Doyle Brunson survived with 24,600 while daughter Pam Brunson has 63,000 in chips.

Right behind Safieddine is Jordan Morgan. Morgan is no stranger to the WSOP himself. He had an amazing four cashes in this year's series. His biggest money finish to date was coming in second at the 2006 United States Poker Championship, which made him $405,072 richer.

Also of note is 2007 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider who is sitting pretty in fourth place overall with 128,300 in chips. The "Donkey Bomber" is prepped and ready to make a serious attempt at winning the tournament.

As always PokerListings.com is on the scene with two of our best reporters. We're talking about Matt "Mr. Rhode Island" Showell and Erin "Lois Lame" Warner. They're firmly entrenched in the Bicycle casino and won't be going anywhere until there is a winner.

Day 2 gets going at 2 p.m. (PDT) today so keep checking our live updates section to see how this one plays out.

Related Articles:

• WPT Legends Begins Today
• Roll Call: PL.com Enters Brave New World
• A Brunson Wins the Ladies Night

More News

• WPT sale gets shareholder approval
• Third offer made for WPT
• Poker Gods shine on Vedes at WPT Festa al Lago
• Deeb in control at WPT Festa al Lago final
• Lavallee leads WPT Festa al Lago final 11
• Late starter Bloch in the hunt at WPT Festa
• Tilly returns at WPT Festa
• Festa features rare late registration