$500 5-Card PLO Hi
Day 1 Completed
2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open
$500 5-Card PLO Hi
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open
Buy-in
$500
Prize Pool
$56,805
Entries
47
Level
20
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
0
Entries
47
Players Left
5
Roy Kim Leads The Final Five of Event #4: $500 5-Card PLO High
Level 18
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
Just after 17 levels of play, Roy Kim emerged as the Day 1 chip leader of Event #4: $500 5-Card PLO High after bagging 2,335,000 in chips. Kim, who had been very active all day, knocked out several players throughout, including eighth-place finisher Seung Lim and seventh-place finisher Carl Buckland. Kim will enter Day 2 with more than double that of second place, Shouyi Gao, who bagged 1,070,000.
Potomac Winter Poker Open $500 5-Card PLO High Seating and Chip Counts
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy Kim | United States | 2,335,000 |
| 3 | Manuel Herrera | United States | 965,000 |
| 4 | Anthony Luong | United States | 670,000 |
| 5 | Bob Fitzgerald | United States | 180,000 |
| 6 | Shouyi Gao | United States | 1,070,000 |
Day 1 began with 20 entrants and that number slowly climbed up to 47 by the time late registration ended. Throughout the re-buy and add-on period, an impressive 127 re-buys/add-ons had been purchased — bringing the total prize pool to $56,805.
Given the fast structure of the event, it didn't take long once the re-buy period ended to reduce the field to a final table. Among those who didn't make it were Andrew Voor, Robert McLaughlin, Adithya Sundar, and Chris Lee, who, despite a very hot start, fell to Kim late in the day after running into Kim's set of kings.
During the final table of eight, Kim continued his dominance by eliminating Lim and Buckley as mentioned before. The money bubble burst after Andy Nguyen lost the majority of his chips to Kim and the rest to Manuel Herrera after running into full houses in back-to-back hands.
The original schedule was set with the intention to play 19 levels on Day 1; however, it was decided by tournament staff to halt play for the day after bursting the money bubble.
Potomac Winter Poker Open $500 5-Card PLO High Payouts
| Place | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1 | $25,562 |
| 2 | $14,201 |
| 3 | $8,521 |
| 4 | $5,681 |
| 5 | $2,840 |
Day 2 will begin at 3 p.m. on Monday, January 30, and play down to a winner. Play will begin where it left off on level 17 and levels will be increased to 45 minutes from level 20 onwards. Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we bring you all the action leading to an eventual champion for Event #4: $500 5-Card PLO High here at the 2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open.
End-of-Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 18
: 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,335,000 | |
|
1,070,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
965,000 | |
|
670,000 | |
|
180,000 |
Play Done For The Day
Level 18
: 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
With just five players remaining, it was decided that play will end for the day.
The five finalists will come back tomorrow at 3 p.m. and play down to a winner.
A recap will be posted shortly.
Andy Nguyen Eliminated in 6th Place
Level 18
: 15,000/30,000, 0 ante
Andy Nguyen was eliminated in sixth place after losing the majority of his stack in one hand and the rest on the hand directly after.
In the first hand, Andy Nguyen opened to 65,000 from the hijack and was called by Roy Kim on the button and Anthony Luong in the big blind.
The flop came 
and it was checked to Nguyen, who bet 205,000. Kim then raised to 825,000. Luong folded and Nguyen called.
Both players checked on the 
turn; however, Nguyen bet enough to put Kim all in on the 
river. Kim called and Nguyen tabled 
for a straight. It was no good against the 
of Kim for a full house and Nguyen was left with crumbs after the hand.
On the very next hand, Nguyen went all in for his last 30,000 under-the-gun and every player called.
Everyone checked on the 
flop.
The 
came on the turn and Bob Fitzgerald bet 180,000 from the small blind and Manuel Herrera called from the cutoff.
The 
completed the board and Fitzgerald checked to Herrera, who bet enough to put Fitzgerald all in for his last 180,000. Fitzgerald folded and Herrera revealed the 
for jacks-full of tens. Nguyen held the 
for a straight, which was no good and he was eliminated.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,335,000
635,000
|
635,000 |
|
|
965,000
305,000
|
305,000 |
|
|
670,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
|
|
180,000
-300,000
|
-300,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 18
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 0
Fitzgerald Doubles Through Nguyen
Level 17
: 10,000/20,000, 0 ante
Andy Nguyen limped from the hijack and Roy Kim limped in the cutoff. Anthony Luong called from the small blind and Bob Fitzgerald checked his option from the big blind.
The flop came and action checked to Nguyen, who bet 50,000. Only Fitzgerald called.
The came on the turn and Fitzgerald went all in for 160,000. Nguyen called and hands were revealed.
Andy Nguyen: 
Bob Fitzgerald: 
The 
completed the board and Fitzgerald held up with queens and sevens.
In a hand soon after that was missed, Manuel Herrera doubled through Roy Kim with aces-full.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,700,000
-300,000
|
-300,000 |
|
|
780,000
-220,000
|
-220,000 |
|
|
660,000
390,000
|
390,000 |
|
|
480,000
180,000
|
180,000 |
Level: 17
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 0
Quick Break
Level 16
: Blinds 8,000/16,000, 0 ante
Players are now on a shortened 10-minute break.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,000,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
1,000,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
950,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
600,000
215,000
|
215,000 |
|
|
300,000
-470,000
|
-470,000 |
|
|
270,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
Carl Buckland Eliminated in 7th Place
Level 16
: Blinds 8,000/16,000, 0 ante
Carl Buckland was all in from the small blind and Manuel Herrera was all in from the big blind against Roy Kim on the button on a 
flop.
Carl Buckland: 
Roy Kim: 
Manuel Herrera: 
The turn and 
river gave both Herrera and Kim broadway and they split up Buckland's chips — eliminating him in seventh place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,800,000 | |
|
|
250,000 | |
|
Busted |