The players, too, are going to try their best to win the Main
Event because the winner's name will be immortalized forever as the first winner of the NAPT. It's a
huge honor to be the winner of the inaugural event, so a lot of pros have come to try their luck.
Joe Cada, winner of last year's WSOP, made an appearance, and so did Daniel Negreanu. Joe Hachem
and Chris Moneymaker also came, as well as Jason Mercier, Dennis Phillips, Vanessa Rousso, Tom McEboy,
Scotty Nguyen, and Steve Paul– Ambrose. Some celebrities also managed to come; Jason Alexander,
Seinfeld Actor, was able to show up. Famous baseball player, Orel Hershiser also made an appearance,
as well as Darus Suharto and Bill Chen.
All in all, it was quite a star– studded field, so ordinary
folk were occasionally treated to a celebrity in their tables –
whether you'll interpret that as a good
thing or bad thing, however, is entirely up to you.
Preliminary Events
However, luck still plays a huge part in a game of skill like poker, so some pros, despite all their talent,
had to be sent home packing just on the first day alone. Kevin "BeL0wab0Ve" Saul was one. Bill "Patrolman35"
Kopp of Ultimate Bet also had to go home early. It can't be said that Kopp left without a flair, however,
because the hand that beat him was one of the most exciting plays ever. With both players holding flushes,
it was quite a dramatic play, with everyone watching on edge as they watched the scene unfold. A lot of
other players had gone home after the first day, and more will follow in the next days. In the end, only
128 players will finish in the money, with the one in first place nabbing a whopping $827,000 first place prize.
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