button in SafariOpening Event Smashes Guarantee After Day 1B Surge
Saturday delivered another major turnout as Day 1B of the AUS $1,000,000 Guaranteed Opening Event packed the poker room once again.
A total of 589 entries were recorded across the second starting flight, with 86 players surviving the full 15 levels to secure their place in Day 2.
That latest wave pushed the overall tally to 992 entries through two flights, generating a prize pool thus far of AUD $1,289,600 and smashing the seven-figure guarantee well ahead of schedule.
Vanaparthy Takes Overall Lead After Day 1B
Leading the Day 1B survivors — and now the entire field — is Subramanyam Vanaparthy, who bagged 903,000 to overtake Day 1A chip leader Xin Li, who finished Friday with 810,000.
Vanaparthy entered the series with $88,520 in recorded live tournament earnings, and his recent form suggests confidence is running high. Just two months ago, he captured victory in the AUD $1,000 Gold Coast Poker Cup, earning AUD $31,177 ($22,048), which is the largest score of his career to date.
With the overall chip lead heading into the final flights, he has already put himself in prime position to surpass that mark here in Melbourne.
Terry Huang (745,000) and Jackie Thai (687,000) rounded out the top three stacks from Day 1B, with Thai making quad jacks in a three-way all-in during one of the final hands of the night to vault up the leaderboard.
Several accomplished players also found bags, including 2022 Kings of Tallinn Main Event champion Adam Kharman (649,000), who secured one of the bigger stacks heading into Day 2.
Other notable survivors included 2022 PokerNews Cup runner-up Daniel Hinh (386,000) and four-time WSOP bracelet winner Michael Gathy (148,000), both of whom safely advanced through the second starting flight.
With 142 total players now confirmed for Day 2, the leaderboard continues to take shape as the final starting flights approach.
Day 1B Chip Counts
PokerNews will once again be on the floor throughout the day, tracking entries, chip counts, and key moments as the field continues to grow.
Stay tuned to the PokerNews Highlight Blog to keep up with all the action as it unfolds live from Crown Melbourne.