WSOP: Day 1C Belongs to Kevin Song; Paul Pierce Survives

Paul Pierce is playing the WSOP Main Event in hopes of adding a WSOP bracelet to go with his NBA championship ring.

Over the last 16 years Kevin Song has amassed $3.3 million in tournament earnings and yet most poker fans probably couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. That could change though if his efforts on Day 1C of the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event prove to be a sign of things to come.

Song, who owns a WSOP bracelet from a $2,000 Limit Hold’em event in 1997, finished the third starting day with 163,325, good enough for the best on the day and fifth overall with only one starting day left to go. Song trails Day 1A chip leader Fred Berger, Ben Lamb, Shane Sigsbee and Andrew Hinrichsen.

“It really means nothing, it just means I have a little bit of edge on the other players. It is just the first day, we still have a long way to go,” said Song. “As first day chip leader, you have a little cushion when it comes to play, that is all.”

Chris McClung got closest to Song and sits just 950 chips back. Giuseppe Zarbo, with 159,400, and Daniel Skolovy, with 151,475, were the only other players to break the 150,000 chip mark.

A few big name celebrities also found their way to the felt on Saturday. Former Everybody Loves Raymond stars Ray Romano and Brad Garrett were in action as was Boston Celtics superstar Paul Pierce. Romano busted out the second level of the day but both Romano and Pierce managed to advance to Day 2. Garrett finished with 68,000 but it was Pierce who surprised most observers with his play. The NBA all-star bagged up 63,750 despite having what he describes as limited playing experience.