2024 Champions Club Winter Poker Open

$1,500 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2024 Champions Club Winter Poker Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$209,730
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,363,560
Entries
1,033
Level Info
Level
38
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
71
Players Left
9

$1,500 Main Event

Day 1b Completed

Tai Vo Leads Day 1b of $1,500 Main Event

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Tai Vo
Tai Vo

Another day is in the books here at Champions Club in Houston, Texas as Day 1b of the WPO Event #15: $1,500 Main Event has come to a close. 71 players took their shot today in the $1 million guaranteed event, but only 9 finished the day with chips in a bag. Leading the way is Tai Vo who bagged up 1,190,000, which is over 400,000 more than Gabriel Andrade who finished in second with 760,000. Rounding out the top three is Champion's very own Isaac Trumbo who ended the day by busting David Mzareulov and managed to bag up 670,000.

Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts

PlacePlayerChip CountBig Blinds
1Tai Vo1,190,000149
2Gabriel Andrade760,00095
3Isaac Trumbo670,00084
4Robert Burnett501,00063
5Robert Valden357,00045
6Thai Ha262,00033
7Yunkyu Song196,00025
8Matthew Liu193,00024
9Benjamin Rose131,00016

As with all of the tournaments here at Champions Club, the action was fast and heavy from the jump, with players not afraid to stick their stacks in at Level 1. Most of the action came from one particular table, where Derek Normand and Zhong Wilkerson were both seated. Wilkerson went on a heater midway through the day, and was even chipleading at one point, but alas, she was crippled in a big hand with Normand and then finished off by Matthew Liu.

Normand also drove most of the action and managed to build up a healthy stack until a brutal beat sent him home early. He got it all in with pocket kings against the pocket tens of Jamie Ho and the pocket fives of Tai Vo, but a five on the flop gave Vo the lead and spelled the end for Normand, who was left crippled and exited soon after. On the other table, Trumbo and Andrade didn't get involved in quite so many big pots but slowly grew their stacks throughout the day. Local crusher Thai Ha (262,000) was also in the mix today, bouncing from table to table as he either busted or just kept getting moved. It was interesting to see how the dynamic at each table shifted whenever he would be placed there.

As this is only the second of six starting flights, there is still plenty of time for players to get in on this action, with a flight every day until Sunday, when the players return for Day 2. There will also be multiple satellites each day as well as PLO flips for many chances to get into this tournament cheaply.

Day 1c fires off tomorrow at noon local time, but unfortunately there will be no coverage for that flight. No need to fret, however, PokerNews will be back on the scene the following day with all the action in Day 1d.

See you then!

Tags: Benjamin RoseDavid MzareulovDerek NormandGabriel AndradeIsaac TrumboJamie HoMatthew LiuRobert BurnettRobert ValdenTai VoThai HaZhong Wilkerson

End of Day 1b: Players Bag

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

With the elimination of David Mzareulov, play has stopped as the surviving nine players have bagged up to return Sunday for day 2.

A complete list of chip counts as well as a recap of the day's events will be released shortly, so stay tuned!

David Mzareulov Eliminated as Bubble Burst

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Isaac Trumbo opened for 20,000 and was called by David Mzareulov to see a flop of J97. Mzareulov checked, Trumbo continued for 20,000, and then Mzareulov check-jammed all in. Trumbo quickly tossed out a calling chip to put him at risk and once the action was completed at the other table, the cards were on their backs.

David Mzareulov: Q9
Isaac Trumbo: KJ

Mzareulov would need some help to stay alive, but the runout of 47 failed to do so and he was eliminated on the stone bubble of Day 1b.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Isaac Trumbo us
Isaac Trumbo
670,000
90,000
90,000
Profile photo of David Mzareulov us
David Mzareulov
Busted
Jaka Coaching

Tags: David MzareulovIsaac Trumbo

Level: 16

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 8,000

Hennessy Eliminated by Song

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Short-stacked Mark Hennessy got the last of his chips into the middle and was called by Yunkyu Song.

Mark Hennessy: K6
Yunkyu Song: AK

Unfortunately for Hennessy, the board ran out 109QJ6 to give Song a Broadway straight on the turn and he was sent to the rail 2 places off the money.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Yunkyu Song us
Yunkyu Song
210,000
15,000
15,000
Profile photo of Mark Hennessy us
Mark Hennessy
Busted

Ha Shoves on Mzareulov

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

On a heads-up completed board of J673A, Thai Ha checked, and David Mzareulov bet 50,000 into the pot of 120,000.

After spending some time in the tank, Ha then pushed all in, which resulted in a hasty fold from Mzareulov.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Thai Ha vn
Thai Ha
302,000
131,000
131,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of David Mzareulov us
David Mzareulov
180,000
-45,000
-45,000
Jaka Coaching

Tags: David MzareulovThai Ha

Level: 15

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 6,000