The entries on Day 1b have just reached 230. With the 211 from Day 1a, that means the totoal field so far is 441. While that is a very solid effort, it's a little less than expected. However, registration is still open for another hour, so there is still time to beat last year's field of 460.
Recent New Caledonia Poker Open third-place finisher Ben Benoit is no longer in his seat. We asked tablemate Ricky Kroesen what happened and apparently Benoit “stacked off” on a king-high board with 
and ran into 
.
Benoit, from New Caledonia, has come a long way to only play a small time in Sydney, but that’s poker!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
The two Hachem brothers have late registered the ANZPT Sydney Main Event.
2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem took his seat next to fellow Aussie poker legend Gary Benson.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000 | |
|
20,000 | |
|
||
Full Tilt ANZPT Ambassador Liam O'Rourke finished runner-up in the ANZPT Sydney Main Event back in 2012. He's here in 2014, with a new poker sponsor patch on his shirt, and is looking to make an impact.
Fortunately O'Rourke started the day strong as we just saw him lose some chips.
It started with O'Rourke opening it up with a raise from the cut off. The player on O'Rourke's direct left, on the button, three-bet to 1,525 and O'Rourke made the call. On the 
flop, O'Rourke check-called a bet of 1,800 and a 
hit the turn. This time when O'Rourke checked, he was faced with a bet of 4,000. This would prompt O'Rourke to go into the tank. Eventually O'Rourke opted to fold.
Despite losing this hand O'Rourke is still travelling strongly on 25,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
Tony Hachem just told us a little story about ANZPT Commissioner Danny McDonagh. Apparently McDonagh was recently wandering the tables looking for spare seats when one sharp dealer, clearly unaware of McDonagh’s position on the ANZPT, said to him that was not allowed to stand so close to the table.
That brought plenty of chuckles from the table, especially from Hachem who was keen to stir the pot. Apparently even McDonagh’s mock-line of “Don’t you know who I am?” didn’t bring much joy from the non-believing dealer! Should’ve worn a tie today Danny
Here are some random approximate chip stacks during the late stages of the second level of the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
36,000 | |
|
35,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
27,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
26,000
6,000
|
6,000 |
|
|
24,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
22,500 | |
|
22,000 | |
|
18,000 | |
|
|
18,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
|
|
15,000 |
The players have been sent on their first 10-minute break of the day.
Check back soon for more ANZPT Sydney action!
Level: 3
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 25
The first break of the day is over and the cards are back in the air.
Antes now kick in!
Registration is also closed.
It looks like we will miss out on surpassing last year's 460-player field by just a couple of entrants.
Here are few more random approximate stacks during these early stages of Day 1a of the ANZPT Sydney Main Event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
31,000
11,000
|
11,000 |
|
27,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
|
||
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
23,500
23,500
|
23,500 |
|
|
22,000
22,000
|
22,000 |
|
22,000
22,000
|
22,000 |
|
19,500
500
|
500 |
|
|
19,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
|
||
|
10,500
9,500
|
9,500 |
