Jeff Griffiths Bags Day 1a Chip Lead in $1,650 Ante Up World Championship
The Day 1a flight of the $1,650 Ante Up World Championship has come to a close. Just 20 players remain from the opening field of 153 entries, and those 20 players are all in the money and will come back Sunday for Day 2.
Jeff Griffiths bagged the Day 1a chip lead, riding a late day surge to end the day at 609,000. Other top chip counts from the tournament’s opening flight include Jon Cohen (557,000), Toko Luu (475,000), Josh Prager (468,000) and William Givens (458,000).
The Ante Up World Championship is structured for each of the Day 1 flights to play down to the money, and the 20 survivors from Day 1a will join the players that make it through Saturday’s Day 1b flight. Those two fields will combine and come back Sunday to play down to a champion in this $500,000 guaranteed event.
Friday’s play ended on the last hand of Level 14, with Robert Angeleri scoring the final elimination of the day to send the remaining players home for the night.
Other notables making it through to Day 2 include Seymond Pon (389,000), Damlieng Xayasounthone (354,000) and Amir Lehavot (281,000).
The Thunder Valley Poker Room is expected to host an even bigger field for Saturday’s Day 1b flight, with upwards of 40 seats being awarded via a satellite tournament that ran concurrently with today’s Main Event action.
Saturday’s Day 1b flight begins at 11 a.m.; follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team as the $1,650 Ante Up World Championship continues.
, put in his last 42,000 from the small blind, and Amir Lehavot made the call from the big blind.
river, and his tournament run ended.
. 
and the opponent mucked, bringing Cohen the pot and chipping him up to 226,000.
, and the action checked to Luu, who bet 10,000. A player in early position called, while the cutoff folded.
and river 
, and Luu showed down 
, good for the win.
. The player to Lewis' direct left folded, and Samuel Cosby made the call on from middle position.
, Lewis quickly put out a bet for 13,000, and Cosby called again.
for the superior ace-high flush.
flop. Ronald Larsen called from under the gun, the hijack folded, and Tyler Patterson made the call from the cutoff.
turn, and Larsen made the call.
, putting out a bet for 7,000 and getting the fold.
against Azevedo's attempted bluff with 
.