WPT: Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey Atop London Leaderboard

It was another smooth ride for Phil Ivey yesterday in London.

WPT London might be a new event on the World Poker Tour schedule, but it’s playing out more like an old one with three-time WPT final tablist Erik Seidel leading the way after the completion of one of the tournament’s two starting flights. Seidel finished up Day 1A of the first-ever WPT London with 226,200 in chips, good enough to lead the 31 players remaining of the 72 that began that starting flight. The eight-time WSOP bracelet winner won his only WPT title at Foxwoods in 2008 but has come close to another WPT title numerous times, with fourth- and sixth-place TV table finishes and four other top-ten finishes to his credit. 

Joining Erik Seidel in the top ten chip counts at the end of the day was none other than Phil Ivey, who wrapped up the day fourth in chips with 146,200. Like Seidel, Ivey has a single WPT title on his resume (the 2008 LA Poker Classic). But Ivey has made nine TV table appearances, second only to Gus Hansen’s record of 10. The last of those TV tables came at Bellagio Cup VI just last month, when Ivey bought in at the last possible second on Day 3 but still finished third.

Today’s Day 1B action is already underway at the Mayfair Palm Beach Casino in London. Plenty of recognizable poker players have turned up, including Chris Moorman, Neil Channing, Heather Sue Mercer, Richard Ashby, Marty Smyth, Tyron Krost and 2010 WSOP Player of the Year Frank Kassela among the faces in today’s crowd. Last year’s WSOP Europe Main Event champ Barry Shulman also showed up, but he was the first player eliminated on the day.

Play continues through the seventh level tonight, at which time the remaining players will bag up their chips and add their names to the Day 2 roster alongside Erik Seidel and Phil Ivey.