It may be cool outside, but things are starting to heat up inside the SKYCITY Queenstown Casino, especially on the table of Lee Nelson.
Our ears pricked when we overheard Nelson get into a bit of an altercation with the floor staff, so we wandered over to see what was up.
It took a few explanations from Nelson, and a second floor person to be called, before we got our head around what had led to this point. Apparently Seang-hai Ching had tossed out a single 500 chip from early position. His intention was to raise to 375, but with a late position player already calling 150, the action was on Nelson in the big blind who announced raise. It was at this point that this got a little tense, and a tad confusing. Nelson had announced raise, but wanted his option back once he learned that Ching's bet was to be ruled as just a call.
“It changes the whole situation if his bet is just a call and not a raise,” exclaimed Nelson.
However the action stood and Nelson was forced to raise. He made it 800 and Ching called as the third player got out of the way. Both players quickly checked the board to the river where Nelson decided to take a stab at it with a bet of 825. Ching thought for a few moments and made the call.
Nelson opened for not a whole lot, as Ching's were good to take down the pot and end the drama.
When we arrived at Table 5, Aaron Benton, from the big blind, and Stewart Ballard, from the cutoff, were both committing a raise to see the dealer flip over a flop.
Benton opted to check-call a bet of 800 here and then both players tapped the table on the turn. A landed on the river and this time Benton would bet, firing out 1,100. Ballard made a fairly quick call and the two players went to showdown.
Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang opened with a raise to 250 from under the gun and action folded to John Shin in middle position. He thought for a moment before raising to 550. The table folded back to Huang who made the call to see a flop of .
Huang check-called for 700 before both players checked the turn. Huang was casually collecting his drink from the waitress as he tapped the table for a third time when the fell. Shin was also resigned to check behind as both players were sheepish to open their hand.
Huang opened and hoped it might be good but Shin’s creative had somehow caught a baby pair of threes, which was enough to win an early pot.
The tournament clock is currently telling us that 46 players have entered here on Day 1c of the 2012 ANZPT Queenstown Snowfest Main Event. That brings the total entries up to an impressive 146. That number easily surpasses last year's 127-player field and leaves 2009's 134 players and 2010's 119 players in the dust. It also means that this year's event is the largest in Queenstown's history.
The newest addition to PokerStars Team Online is Roy "GodlikeRoy" Bhasin. He hasn't really been seen on the live tournament poker circuit before, but the Australian pro is known for crushing online pot-limit omaha cash games. He is in today's field and will be looking to make a name for himself on the live felt here in Queenstown. However, if he wants that to be the case, he will have to do a bit of work as it hasn't been a great start to the day.
When we arrived at the table, there was already over 4,000 in the pot and Ray McCarthy was busy leading with a bet of 2,000 on the river of a board. Bhasin made a quick call and then mucked his cards just as quickly as McCarthy turned over for a flopped set. With that, Bhasin is down to around 15,000.
A quick look around the room and these are some of the players we have recognized. Included in here are prominent Aussie's Kristian Lunardi and Jarred Graham, along with Australian Poker Hall of Fame members, Leo Boxell and Lee Nelson. Also at the tables is Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang, PokerStars Team Online Pro, Roy "GodLikeRoy" Bhasin and Asia Player of the Year, Hung-Sheng "Shaq" Lin.
Today is the final Day 1 flight. It's the last chance for players to qualify for tomorrow's Day 2. Lat registration will be open for the first two levels, while the field could be capped if more than 50 players hit the felt.
As was the case the last couple of days, there will be six 60-minute levels played before the chips are bagged up. A 10-minute break will be held after every two levels. The blinds start at 50-100 and that's about all you need to know for now. Let's see who is in the room, shall we.
![[user162117]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
board to the river where Nelson decided to take a stab at it with a bet of 825. Ching thought for a few moments and made the call.
for not a whole lot, as Ching's 
were good to take down the pot and end the drama.
flop.
landed on the river and this time Benton would bet, firing out 1,100. Ballard made a fairly quick call and the two players went to showdown.
fell. Shin was also resigned to check behind as both players were sheepish to open their hand.
and hoped it might be good but Shin’s creative 
had somehow caught a baby pair of threes, which was enough to win an early pot.
for a flopped set. With that, Bhasin is down to around 15,000.
