Jennifer Tilly 598

PUNTE is in Las Vegas covering the WSOP Main Event. For more daily updates from the Main Event, follow his dedicated page at facebook.com/JoshAtWSOP.

Today’s Action: Day 1C. This is the day that noted “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth makes his “grand entrace.” Hellmuth was always renown for showing up late to tournaments, and will do so today–dressed as a mixed martial artist. Hellmuth’s 11 WSOP bracelets lead all comers. Other notables playing today include 2009 Main Event winner Joe Cada, and “Voice of Poker” Mike Sexton.

Poker Quote Of The Day:

“Don’t walk too much.”

ESPN’s Lon Lon McEachern, to me. His quip really summarized the pace of play that day, where players were waiting for big hands instead of trying to make plays. With 300 big blinds to start, it also creates difficulty for players that have fallen behind to make up any ground.

shannon-elizabethSemi-Notable Celebrity Sightings To Date:

Jennifer Tilly. Jennifer (above) was eliminated yesterday, but she’s no poker slouch. The actress and girlfriend of poker pro Phil “Unabomber” Laak won the ladies’ event at the World Series in 2005. I never did get a chance to say how much I loved her in Moving Violations.

Orel Hershiser. The former Cy Young winner got out of Day 1, but not before the Russian guy sitting to his left asked him to spell his name (and re-spell it…several times) so he could text his friends about sitting next to the baseball great.

Ray Romano, Rene Angelil, Dennis Haskins, “Stone Cold Steve Austin,” Montel Williams.

Top Pair: Shannon Elizabeth. She was among the chip leaders during Day 1A, and probably among the leaders of inspiring boners as well.

Young Poker Pro That Makes More Money Than You: Here’s Cada on Letterman just days after winning last year’s main event. First prize was $8.5 million. That’s a lotta dimp.

Bad Beat Of The Day. 2008 Main Event finalist Dennis Phillips calls an all-in with Ace-King against Francois Balmigere…who also has Ace-King. That’s a chop, right? Eh…not exactly.