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Henry Hearns Tops Second Flight of Bar Poker Open Vegas World Championship
The Golden Nugget Las Vegas ballroom was rammed with Bar Poker Open players from around the world, as the second flight of the 2026 BPO Vegas World Championship kicked off with 126 entries.
After nearly 18 levels of play, Henry Hearns was staring down on the rest as he bagged up 1,070,000 to top the seven remaining players.
Trailing Hearns in second is Jeff Fisher, who will return with 740,000 when play resumes in the money on Wednesday, June 10. Rounding out the podium in third spot was David Shepherd with 410,000
Day 1a2 End of Day Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Hearns | United States | 1,070,000 | 43 |
| 2 | Jeff Fisher | United States | 740,000 | 30 |
| 3 | David Shepherd | United States | 410,000 | 16 |
| 4 | Len Villani | United States | 350,000 | 14 |
| 5 | Maria Piaseczny | United States | 300,000 | 12 |
| 6 | Scott Lafayette | United States | 210,000 | 8.5 |
| 7 | Chontel Crenshaw | United States | 90,000 | 3.5 |
Second Flight Action
With 126 players taking their seats and multiple chances to get a bag through to Day 2 the action was fast and furious from the off. Tables were breaking left, right, and center from the get-go.
However, it took over 16 levels until the money bubble approached, and we saw Shepherd build a big chip lead, eliminating numerous players nearing the bubble.
Hand-for-hand play went on for nearly two levels of play and finally came to an end when short-stacked Albert Croteau called the all-in jam of Fisher in a blind on blind confrontation. Fisher held pocket threes which held against Croteau’s ace-king suited.
After the money bubble had burst action sped up and the remaining players were soon seated at the final table of ten.
Hearns stormed into the chiplead with a double knock out when his ace-king spiked an ace on the turn to crack Chris Arcella’s pocket Jacks and Chris Davis’s pocket Queens to send them both to the rail and put the players into their second bubble period of the night.
The end-of-day bubble didn’t take long when short-stacked Hasani Budd took a punt from the small blind with queen-three and was looked up by Shepherd with pocket fours, Budd got no help and was sent to the rail in eighth spot and will have to take his chance in one of the remaining flights to get a bag through to Day 2.
Remaining Schedule
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 9 | Day 1b | 11:00 a.m. |
| June 10 | Day 2 | 12:00 p.m. |
| June 11 | Day 3 | 12:00 p.m. |
All players who participated in the first two flights are eligible to play the second chance Day 1b on Tuesday, June 9, when action gets underway at 11:00 a.m. local time.
The event will award a $1,500 bonus for players who advance to Day 2 more than once, so even those who bagged could return to improve their Day 2 position. Only the largest stack carries forward into the money, and players can reenter one time on Day 1b.
Starting stacks will remain 25,000 chips, and the last opening flight will continue with 30-minute levels. The money will be reached when only the top 10% of the field remains, while the top 5% will join today's survivors on Wednesday, June 10. Late registration remains open until the start of Level 10.
Full coverage of the Bar Poker Open Vegas World Championship continues, so be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews as we move into the money and get closer to crowning a new champions here at Golden Nugget Las Vegas.