Sallie Avino arrived on Saturday before her Sunday entry into the World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event. That Sunday morning, Sallie could see Rio from Harrah’s where she is staying. Sallie stated she wasn’t nervous. Very relaxed and looking forward to the day and the experience of playing in her first WSOP $10,000 event. Her plan was to play tight and last. She stated she was so appreciative of the opportunity thanks to the Atlanta Poker Club!
Sallie’s poker experience started at noon on Sunday and finished between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. She got to bed about 3:00 a.m. She started her first day with 30,000 in chips and finished the first day at a chip stack of 17,650. Relating a few of her experiences, she took a bad beat at the first table with pocket 10s and flopped two pair – board was 2, 2, 7. She raised and was reraised and a 6 was on the turn and a 6 on the river to give her opponent a boat as he had 7, 6. Later in the evening she had pocket Queens and a shorter stack pushed on the button and had pocket 7s and flopped 7, 7, 2. She got her money in with the best hand and that was all she could do. By the way, Layne Flack was on her right at her first table of the day.
Sallie said that the poker room at the Rio is huge and overwhelming. It is very quiet as the players are concentrating. She said there is no rudeness and all the players are very cordial even when busted out. She is very impressed with how the tournament is run. There is a special room set aside with food for the players.
Sallie, Joe, and their son Chris went to dinner on Monday night and they ended up sitting with Vanessa Rousso and her entourage. Sallie has met Dan Harrington and had her picture taken with him, and she saw Scotty Nguyen and Barry Greenstein among other pros.
Sallie indeed made it to the second day which occurs today, Tuesday. The blinds start at 300-600 with antes. She will have a different seat starting out and her hope is to get some cards.
Updates will be up on facebook today, as right now the time in Las Vegas is 11:45 a.m. and Sallie hasn’t started her second day yet.
No matter what happens, Sallie will have some experiences that few players will ever have and she is enjoying every minute of it! GOOD LUCK, SALLIE!
