$1,100 Summer Series Event 2 Day 1a | 2023 PokerStars Summer Series

08-31-2023 20:40 UTC-4

Elias Wins Massive Flip

Jeremy Geist

Level 12 : Blinds 1,200/2,400, 2,400 ante

Action was opened in middle position to 5,000. Ryan McKnight was next to act and put in a three-bet to 18,000. The action was then on Robert Elias on the button who put in a cold four-bet to the tune of 50,000. Middle position folded and action was back on McKnight who five-bet jammed for 129,000 effective. Elias called and the cards hit their backs.

Ryan McKnight: Q♣Q♠
Robert Elias: A♦8♦

The flop looked good for McKnight in the form of 7♠9♠2♠. The 5♦ turn was clean but unfortunately tragedy on the river with the A♥.

McKnight hit the rail and Elias dragged a massive pot to catapult him into the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Elias	510,000 510,000	510,000

Ryan McKnight	Busted

Tags: Robert Elias Ryan McKnight

08-31-2023 20:25 UTC-4

Grabel Gets Aggressive

Jeremy Geist

Level 12 : Blinds 1,200/2,400, 2,400 ante

Action was opened in early position to 5,000. It folded to Kevin Grabel in the cutoff who flatted and then action folded to the small blind. They sat in the tank for a moment and then put in a three-bet to 21,000. The original raiser folded and action was back on Grabel who called.

The K♥J♦10♠ flop landed and the small blind led for 12,000. Grabel took a moment, did some accounting of the player's chips, and then put in a raise to 36,000. His opponent snap folded and Grabel dragged a great pot with little resistance.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kevin Grabel	290,000 42,000	42,000

Tags: Kevin Grabel

Level: 12

Blinds: 1,200/2,400

Ante: 2,400

08-31-2023 20:07 UTC-4

Chang Running Hot

Jeremy Geist

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

PokerNews was around as the table was commenting on how well Jen Chang was running. He was involved in and winning multiple pots in the lead-up to this hand.

The action was opened under the gun to 12,000. Chang then put in a cold three-bet to 25,000 from the cutoff and it folded back to the original raiser who called.

The 3♠10♠5♠ flop landed and action quickly checked through to an A♣ turn.

Action checked through again and the river landed the K♦. The under the gun player opted to lead out for 30,000. Cheng didn't think for a second before putting in a raise to 65,000. The original raiser thought for only a moment before he called.

Chang announced "ace-king...and spades" as he rolled over A♠K♠ for the stone cold nuts. His opponent shook his head and flashed A♦K♥ as he mucked.

Chang really is running hot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jen Chang	410,000 410,000	410,000

Tags: Jen Chang

08-31-2023 19:45 UTC-4

Kazakevich Bombs the River

Jeremy Geist

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Action folded all the way to Mikhail Kazakevich in the small blind who opened to 5,000. The big blind thought for a moment and then three-bet to 12,000. Kazakevich called.

The 6♥J♠K♦ landed on the flop and action checked to the big blind who continued for 11,000. Kazakevich called again.

The Q♣ landed on the turn and action quickly checked through to a J♣ river. Kazakevich saw the opportunity and led out for a large sizing of 35,000. The big blind went into the tank but eventually found the fold.

Kazakevich pulled in a nice pot after some blind on blind crime.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mikhail Kazakevich	129,000 129,000	129,000

Tags: Mikhail Kazakevich

Level: 11

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

08-31-2023 19:24 UTC-4

Assorted Chip Counts From Around the Room

Jeremy Geist

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Jugal Daterao	315,000 210,000	210,000
Adam Reese	252,000 62,000	62,000
Kevin Grabel	248,000 248,000	248,000
Ryan Dodd	125,000 125,000	125,000
Ryan McKnight	105,000 105,000	105,000
Joe McKeehen	82,000 24,000	24,000

Bin Weng	23,000 -98,000	-98,000

08-31-2023 19:16 UTC-4

Pence Gets the Knockout

Jeremy Geist

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Action was opened when a player went all in from late position for about 30,000. It folded to Julian Penza in the big blind who checked his cards and then quickly put in the chips.

Late Position: Q♦J♠
Julian Penza: A♠8♥

The full board ran out 9♥3♥3♣6♥6♦ and Penza would get the chips and the knockout.

Penza has been steadily accumulating chips and is among the top of the leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
Julian Penza	245,000

Tags: Julian Penza

08-31-2023 19:05 UTC-4

Carpino Has Him Pipped

Jeremy Geist

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

The action was opened under the gun to 3,500 by Nicholas Carpino. It folded to the button who three-bet to 12,000. The blinds folded and action was back Carpino who thought for only a moment before putting in the four-bet all in. The button snap called.

Nicholas Carpino: K♣K♠
Button: Q♣Q♥

The full board ran out 4♠4♥7♣6♥5♠ and Carpino got the pure double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Carpino	98,000 98,000	98,000

Tags: Nicholas Carpino

08-31-2023 18:53 UTC-4

Late Registration is Closed

Jeremy Geist

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

It is now the end of late registration and the official numbers are in.

156 Entrants made their way to Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia which means almost half of the $300,000 guarantee has already been met on just the first day.

20 total places will bag and be in the money from this first flight.