The Final Flight Has Landed

The third and final starting day is in the books, and that's all she wrote for the Day 1s at the 2010 PokerStars.net APPT Macau!

Today's flight was the big one as a total of 170 runners turned up, doubling the field size from the first two starting days. That put the total field at a respectable 342 runners, generating a first-place payout of HK$ 3,246,200 to the eventual winner.

Right now, Darren Judges is the one setting the pace toward that top payout spot. After a midday charge to the top of the board, Judges never looked back as he banged his gavel and punished his table, sending player after player to the exit shaking their heads. Judges bagged up 173,800 chips at the conclusion of play, and that puts him well ahead of his nearest challenger, and well ahead of anyone from Day 1a or Day 1b. Brendon Rubie appears to be in second place with 114,375 at night's end, and the late-breaking German Ralf Westphal is right in the mix as well.

Tomorrow will see the survivors from the three Day 1s all together under the same roof and ready for the run to the money. We'll have somewhere around 160 players returning for Day 2, and we should come awfully close to bursting the money bubble at 40 by the time all is said and done. Play kicks off at 12:15pm local time once again, and we hope you'll join us right back here to pick up the story.

Until then, goodnight from Macau!