‘Breaking Bad’s’ Paul has WSOP celebrity watchers atwitter

Celebrity stargazing is an annual tradition during the World Series of Poker Main Event, and TMZ could have had a veritable field day at the Rio Convention Center on Monday.

Several stars turned up for the $10,000 buy-in No-limit Texas Hold ’em World Championship, including UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, NBA forward Paul Pierce, former NFL defensive lineman Richard Seymour and actor James Woods, to name a few.

But nobody attracted more attention that actor Aaron Paul.

Paul, who played meth dealer/cook Jesse Pinkman in the Emmy Award-winning show “Breaking Bad,” was spotted on the rail in the Pavilion Room, and word quickly spread throughout the Rio and on Twitter. Wearing a denim jacket, sunglasses and a fedora, Paul watched some of the Main Event tables and — “Yo!” — he even posed for a few selfies with fans.

Paul was not entered in the Main Event and instead played in the daily $235 deep-stack tournament. Heisenberg, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found.

ALCOHOL ABUSE: Michael Nelson wasn’t one of the celebrities playing in the Main Event, but he might have been the most famous person in the Amazon Room on Monday night.

According to several reports, Nelson returned from the dinner break and was so drunk that he sat in the wrong seat, causing more than a few snickers from other players in the room. Shortly after WSOP staffers got Nelson to the correct table, he moved all-in for approximately 21,000 chips and was called by James Oliver, who was holding pocket queens.

The following is WSOP.com’s account of Nelson’s final hand:

“Turn your cards over,” the dealer told Nelson, who flipped over the seven of clubs.

Nelson grunted.

“Turn both your cards over,” the dealer continued as Nelson smiled before he showed the ace of hearts.

The board ran out and Nelson was knocked out.

“I won!” Nelson yelled.

“He’s got you covered,” the dealer told Nelson, who shrugged.

“Well, good luck with it,” Nelson said, as the dealer began dealing the next hand.

All players except for Nelson were being dealt into the next hand, as he remained seated at the table.

CLOCK SUCKER: It’s not unusual for a player to call for the clock on an opponent who is taking too long to make a decision. Davidi Kitai of Belgium called the clock on himself.

During the second level of play, Kitai was facing a 6,000-chip bet and went deep into the tank as he thought about whether to call. After several minutes, the three-time bracelet winner forced himself into a choice by calling the clock.

A floorperson was called over, and Kitai eventually make the call with only a few seconds remaining in his allotted time. It turned out to be the right move, as Kitai won the pot.

Kitai was eliminated later Monday.

SENT PACKING: Among those notables eliminated during Day 1C were 2004 Main Event champion Greg Raymer; 2006 Main Event champ Jamie Gold; 2007 Main Event winner Jerry Yang; 2007 Player of the Year Tom Schneider; 2010 Main Event runner-up John Racener; this year’s “Monster Stack” event winner Hugo Pingray; cricket player Shane Warne; Jackie Glazer, the last woman standing last year; Sam Trickett; Men Nguyen and Kathy Liebert.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.