One familiar face on Day 1a1 is Kevin Specter, who is returning for his 11th year here at the Bar Poker Open Championship.
Having secured his seventh cash last year, he is looking for cash number eight in 2025. He has his eyes set on the $100,000 first place prize.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
Action picked up on the flop of K♥K♣A♠ in a hand between Ariel Dure in the cutoff versus his opponent who was under the gun.
With 3,000 in the middle, action went check-check, bringing the 4♦ turn where both players checked again.
Fireworks went off on the 5♦ river where the under-the-gun player led out with a bet of 1,900 and Dure bumped it up to 5,000.
His opponent then came over the top and moved all in for 11,900 and Dure called with the covering stack. Dure tabled 4♠4♥ for a full house, fours full of kings, besting his opponent's K♦J♣ who was sent to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
34,000
34,000
|
34,000 |
Level: 3
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 0
Action picked up on the flop of 8♠10♥3♠ in a hand between Michael Lyngle on the button and his opponent in the big blind who was short-stacked. Faced with a shove, Lyngle quickly called.
Opponent: 9♣7♣ 
Michael Lyngle: A♥A♦
Lyngle's pair of aces remained best as he dodged the straight draw of his opponent with the board running out 3♣, Q♦.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
41,000
41,000
|
41,000 |
With about 30,000 already in the middle, action went four-ways to a turn with the board reading A♦8♣J♦6♣. Kevin Specter was already all in and at risk. Emil Szinegh was first to act and moved all in, getting two calls by his opponents who were short-stacked.
Kevin Specter: 8♦5♦
Opponent: 10♣9♦
Opponent: A♥K♠
Emil Szinegh: A♠J♣
The river landed the 4♦ with Specter scooping the main pot with a flush to keep his tournament hopes alive. Szinegh earned the side pot and two players were eliminated.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
42,000 | |
|
|
33,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
Level: 4
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 0
On a flop of 10♥6♣10♣, Barry Fagan led out with a bet of 1,600 from the big blind and the player in middle position bumped it up to 4,400. Fagan made the call.
The J♣ turn went check-check, as did the K♣ river. Fagan, who is representing No-Limit Naples, tabled A♣4♣ for an ace-high flush, besting the two pair of his opponent who showed 8♠8♥.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
55,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
After an under-the-gun limp and a late position limp, MJ Olsavsky made it 4,000 to go in the hijack. The big blind called, as did the under-the-gun player and late position folded.
The trio checked it down to the river on a board that ran out 8♣8♦A♥6♣8♠ and Olsavsky tabled 10♠10♥ for a full house, eights full of tens.
"Holy macaroni, I can't believe it," said Olsavsky as both of her opponents mucked and the pot was pushed her way.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
