Vojtech Ruzicka became one of the most well-known players ever to emerge from the Czech Republic following his appearance at the 2016 WSOP final table. He may well make more headlines here in the Bahamas but it won't be in the 2016 PokerStars Championships Main Event. We caught up with him as he made his way from the cardroom.
"I busted when I three-bet shoved with and was called by a player with pocket kings," Ruzicka told us. "He'd opened to 1,100, so it was a pretty standard spot. I'm looking forward to coming back tomorrow to play the $50,000 tournament, though."
That $50,000 one-day event is sure to be populated by plenty of big names, with all of the luminaries you've already seen in action today having a free day to take part before Day 2 or another of the many side events here in the Bahamas.
We missed the elimination of Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, but Paul Newey was kind enough to fill us in on some details.
As he told it, the 2008 PCA champ shoved all in from the big blind for his last 4,500 after the under-the-gun player had raised. His opponent called and the hands were turned up.
Grospellier:
Opponent:
It looked like it was going to be a chop, but the flop gave Grospellier's opponent a freeroll to running diamonds. Unfortunately for France's all-time money leader, that's exactly what happened when the turn and river came diamond-diamond.
Action folded around to Patrick 'SuperSerda' Serda and he raised to 1,000 from the hijack.
The button called, as did the small blind. The flop came . The small blind checked, and Serda bet 2,200. Both the button and the small blind called.
The turn was the . The small blind checked again and Serda bet 6,800. The button called and the small blind moved all in for his remaining 30,000. Serda called for his last 15,000 and the button also called for his last 10,000.
Serda tabled for top set, while both of his opponents tabled queen-jack for Broadway.
Serda was at risk, but the on the river saved him. He eliminated the player on the button and doubled through the small blind.
Action folded around to Natasha Mercier and she completed her small blind.
The player in the big blind did not want to check his option and raised to 1,200. Mercier called.
The flop came . Mercier checked, and the big blind thought about it for a while before checking back.
The turn is the . Mercier checked again, and her opponent bet 1,300. Mercier wasted no time and check-raised to 3,500. The big blind thought about it for a moment and sent his cards into the muck.
Daniel Negreanu and Igor Kurganov take in the news that Kevin Hart's out of Day 1a (possibly)
With so much happening on Day 1a of the PokerStars Championships Bahamas Main Event, we took a look at some of the biggest names in the field and how they're progressing.
Daniel Negreanu (pictured) has been building his stack steadily since sitting down amid Kevin Hart's hilarious bust-out hand. The Canadian poker legend, who is at the top of the All Time Money List for live tournament cashes, raised it up pre-flop then took down a hand with a c-bet of 1,500 into a pot of 4,000 on a flop of . Negreanu has around 37,000.
Ben Heath is down to 24,000 but is not concerned at all. He's online-railing his friend Charlie Carrel, who is heads-up for the $100,000 Super High Roller title against Jason Koon.
"I was following his progress, and it was going well. Then he busts out third and fourth place with against and kings in the next hand and he's heads-up."
While Heath has plenty of time to get back above average in the Main Event, French Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand 'Elky' Grospellier may not. He's down to just 5,500 chips at blinds of 200/400 and will need to 'Allez' very soon.
Mike 'Timex' McDonald is flying along, and that deserves a nod of appreciation given he's dominating a table stacked with ridiculous talent. McDonald just bet 1,000 in early position, garnering a call from two players, including Stephen Chidwick two seats to his left. The flop of saw Timex make it 1,500 and he took that pot down to build his stack to just over 70,000 chips.
and was called by a player with pocket kings," Ruzicka told us. "He'd opened to 1,100, so it was a pretty standard spot. I'm looking forward to coming back tomorrow to play the $50,000 tournament, though." 
and Busquet bet 2,000. Peters called.
on the turn before the 
completed the board. Peters checked again and after about a second or two, Busquet checked behind.
for quads and Busquet silently mucked.
flop gave Grospellier's opponent a freeroll to running diamonds. Unfortunately for France's all-time money leader, that's exactly what happened when the turn and river came diamond-diamond.
. The small blind checked, and Serda bet 2,200. Both the button and the small blind called. 
for top set, while both of his opponents tabled queen-jack for Broadway. 
, Gaelle Baumann checked from the cutoff and then snap-called off for roughly 18,000 when Ramin Hajiyev moved all in.
. Mercier checked again, and her opponent bet 1,300. Mercier wasted no time and check-raised to 3,500. The big blind thought about it for a moment and sent his cards into the muck.
. Negreanu has around 37,000. 
against 
saw Timex make it 1,500 and he took that pot down to build his stack to just over 70,000 chips.
