Freerolling

So I thought I’d play in one of those Poker Stars WSOP freerolls. Call me crazy but I didn’t really have anything better to do at 8:30 on a Wednesday night.

Anyway, I prepared myself for craziness and took my seat along with 1250ish others. First hand, I’m the BB and I’m dealt:

Early position player raises 5x to $100, 2 players call and I decide to call and see a flop:

First hand of the tournament and I flop a set. I check (despite the potential flush draw) and the initial raiser does as planned and bets out $200 into the $410 pot. Everyone folds to me and I check-raise to $600, happy to take this down here.

My opponent thinks, then shoves all-in for another $800 chips. I say to myself, “If I’ve run into JJ here so be it, I can’t fold this hand against a typical first table opponnent in one of these things”. I call. He turns over:

For ace high. He’s drawing nearly dead until the turn:

and the river:

Giving him broadway and all my chips.

Are these really the types of players who win main event seats from these things? Crazy! Ah well, at least the pain was over quickly. Time to go play some cash games…