Opening day at the WPC began with a $300 Limit Hold'em event that drew 226 entrants.
The final nine players began final table play a 4pm the following day. With 23 minutes and 41 seconds remeining the blinds were $500 - $1,500 at the $1,500 - $3,000 limit.
Forty- five minutes into the final table play Don Martorello lost a bigh hand to Jon Adlovec leaving him short stacked with only $3,000 in chips.
On the next hand Don went all in with 8 - 8 against Jon's 10 - 10. Jon made trip 10's on the river sending Don home in 9th place.
John Bonetti's stack had dropped to $1,500 leavin ghim very little choice as to what to do when Mike Thorpe raised. John called all-in with a A-9 and Mike showed Q-5.
The board came 3-4-8-Q-8, giving Mike a pair of queens for the win. John was forced to settle for 8th place and $1,315.
At 5.25 the remaining seven players took a short break. When play resumed the blinds increased to $1000 - $2000 and the limit rose to $2000- $4000.
Max was still holding on to the lead with $76,500 in chips, Jon moved up to a close second with $74,500, Ed dropped to third with $47,500, Gino was still in 4th with $27,000, Billy moved into 5th with $19,000 adn Mike was trailing with $10,500.
At 6.15pm Mike raised and Gino Barkdoll called. The flop came K-7-10, Mike bet out and Gino called. The turn card was an eight and Gino check raised Mike to put him all-in. Mike called and proudly turned over 7-10 for two pair. Gino showed K-J for a pair of Kings. Mike was really disappointed when the dealer turned over a king on the river and gave Gino trip Kings for the win. Mike finished in 7th place and collected $1,644.
At 6.30pm the limit increased to $3000-$6000 with $1,500-$3,000 blinds. On the fourteenth hand at the new level Billy Swords raised all-in against Max Pescatori with his remaining $4,000. Max called from the big blind. Max showed 5-6 and Billy turned over A-5. Max's only out was a six and the first card off the deck was a six followed by a deuce and and trey. Neither the turn nor th eriver produced an Ace for Billy sending him home in 6th place.
At 7.05pm Gino played his last hand against Jon. Jon raised, Gino reraised and Jon called. The flop came 6-3-K, Jon bet the flop and Gino called all-in for his remaining $1,500. Gino showed A-8 and Jon turned over A-Q. The board came 6-3K-5-J and Jon's ace high eliminated Gino in 5th place.
Ed Corrado's $47,500 had dwindled down to $6,500 and when he raised Jon's big blind he got a call from Jon. The flop came 10-2-J and Ed called all-in with his remaining $500. Ed showed K-3 and Jon turned over A-Q. The turn card came a five but the river came a queen giving Jon a pair of Queens. Ed had to settle for 4th place and $3,946.
The final table was down to the remaining three, Max was still in the lead with around $147,000, Jon was holding onto second with $100,000 and Kevin was barely hanging on with $15,000.
Shortly after play resumed Jon and Max got into a raising match before the flop. Kevin said "I sure hope these guys get all-in on this hand" Needless to say he got a few laughs.
It didn't happen and three hands later Kevin got involved in a hand with Max that landed him a 3rd place finish. Max raised, Kevin reraised all-in with his remaining $9000, Max called. Kevin showed A-6 and Max turned over A-8. The board came 3-J-4-A-5 and Max's kicker played for the win. Kevin had to settle for 3rd place and $6,248.
The final 2 players Max and Jon took a short break and agreed on an equitable deal for both ending the tournament at 7.45pm.
Local Jon "Hippie" Andlovec took 2nd place and $12,495.
Las Vegan Max Pescatori was declared the winner of the opening event and added $24,333 to his bankroll. | 
