The face-lift of the Fontana Room in the Bellagio, Las Vegas, having been completed, the World Poker Tour (WPT) has returned there with the Festa al Lago event, which will run till the 26th of October.

This was an event attended by the stars of the poker fraternity. Day 1A is over with Antonio Esfandiari in the lead. Other well known names who fared well on Day 1A are Jennifer Tilly, Jason Mercier, Johnny Chan, Daniel Negreanu and Doyle Brunson. The notables who busted included Eli Elezra, Gavin Smith and Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth had escorted no other than 8 gold medals winner Michael Phelps, who was rumored to participate on Day 1B.

However, Day 1B has begun without Phelps. The stars fighting it out are Nenad Medic, Erica Schoenberg, David Benyamine, Vivek Rajkumar, Isabelle Mercier, David “Chino” Rheem and Kathy Liebert. Patrik Antonius has been knocked out.

The prize pool has not yet been announced.