WSOP Main Event Day 1b: Mike Matusow Survives But Johnny Chan Out

The second starting flight of the 2021 Main Event at the World Series of Poker saw Mike ‘The Mouth’ Matusow make it through unscathed, but two-time champ Johnny Chan was among some big names who made an early exit.

Day 1b of the flagship $10k buy-in tournament apparently didn’t have the drama of the previous day’s partial Rio lockdown, which saw a temporary PokerGO worker tackled to the ground and arrested on multiple charges.

It did, however, have plenty of action and drama at the tables, where the focus will hopefully remain, as another 845 players looked to make it through to day two.

The name Deeb is synonymous with poker champions, but for both Freddy and Shaun – who are not related – it would be a short-lived Main Event this year.

Freddy, a two-time bracelet winner, including the 2007 $50k H.O.R.S.E. title, pinned his hopes and the last of his short stack on a pair of tens...

♦ ♥ ♣ ♠

Freddy Deeb: 10♣ 10♦
Jacobo Montoya: K♣ 8♣

Flop: 6♦ K♠ 9♥
Turn: 3♥
River: J♠

Shaun Deeb, who is currently vying for the Player of the Year title, hit the rail in similar fashion, the remains of his short stack disappearing when Keith Kordowski paired his ace to outgun Shaun’s pocket nines.

Brian Hastings, Nick Schulman, and Marle (Cordeiro) Spragg were among the other well-known faces who failed to progress, but there were many more who did bag a stack, though for some it was barely fumes.

Justin Bonomo and Cary Katz both bagged roughly one third of their starting stacks, as did Belgium’s Kenny Hallaerts. Ryan Riess, the 2013 ME champion, did slightly better bagging 40k, with highstakes Belarus pro Mikita Badziakouski finishing the day on 50k from a 60k starting stack.

Hendon Monster Barny Boatman was another of the ‘Europeans’ to tread water, while Mike Matusow made sure everyone knew how his day went...

Well finished day 1 of main with 56500 I had 104 k with 2 hrs left and flop top set on 3810 ddd and bb had 79 d 6 d turn he has straight flush and I’m dead for 100 k pot! I’m sick to my stomach as I played so good on an awful table. Get to new table and it was 5 ways every pot!

— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) November 6, 2021

With 611 of the 845 starters surviving to the end of the day, it was Las Vegas pro Steve Foutty who topped the chip counts, looking to add a deep run in the biggest event of all to his five cashes so far this series.

Day 1b Top 10 chip counts