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$400 Vegas World Championship
Day 1a2 Completed
2026 Bar Poker Open Vegas World Championship
$400 Vegas World Championship
Day: 1a2
Event Info
2026 Bar Poker Open Vegas World Championship
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a2
Buy-in
$400
Prize Pool
$345,720
Total Entries
1,032
Level
29
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
126
Players Left
7
Players Left 1 / 1,032
Filter
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
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.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
David Shepherd limped from late position and Hasani Budd moved all in from the small blind. Action came back to Shepherd who made the call.
Hasani Budd: Q♥3♥ 
David Shepherd: 4♦4♣
No queen or hearts to save Budd on the A♣8♣6♦J♣9♣ run out and he was sent to the rail as the end of day bubble boy.
The remaining seven players are now bagging up their chips to return for Day 2. Stay tuned for a full chip count and recap of the day.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Chris Arcella moved all in for 140,000 and Henry Hearns made the call. Chris Davis then also moved all in for more and Hearns called for the additional and had both players covered.
Chris Arcella: J♣J♥
Chris Davis: Q♠Q♣
Henry Hearns: A♣K♥
A safe flop for Arcella and Davis but when the A♥ peeled off on the turn they were in trouble. No miracles on the 10♣ river and Hearns was shipped the pot sending Arcella and Davis to the rail.
Level 18
: Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante
Lafayette Scott made it 40,000 to play from under the gun and action folded around to Maria Piaseczny in middle position who moved all in for 110,000. David Shepherd sat in the next seat also then moved all in and had both players covered. Scott folded.
Maria Piaseczny: A♣K♣
David Shepherd: A♦J♦
Not the flop Piaseczny wanted to see of 5♦J♥3♦ but when the K♠ peeled off on the turn she went back into the lead. The 3♣ bricked out on the river and Piaseczny was shipped the pot for a double up.
Level: 18
Blinds: 10,000/25,000
Ante: 25,000
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
All the money was in the middle and cards were on their backs.
Chris Arcella: A♣A♦
Hasani Budd: A♠K♣
A bit of a sweat for Arcella on the K♦J♣9♥ flop but when the 10♣ turn and 7♣ river bricked out he was sent the pot for a double up.
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Jerry Hill moved all in from under the gun for 120,000 as did David Masse in the next seat. Hasani Budd sat in the next seat also put his chips in to join the party.
Hasani Budd: A♦K♥
David Masse: K♠Q♦
Jerry Hill: A♠Q♠
No help for Masse or Hill on the 6♥10♠4♦J♥5♠ run out and Masse was sent to the rail whilst Hill picked up the bowl of rice side pot and was left on fumes with 10,000.
Hill was sent to the rail two hands later.
Level 17
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Action folded around to Jeff Fisher in the small blind who moved all in and had Albert Croteau in the big blind covered, who made the call for his tournament life.
Albert Croteau: A♦K♦
Jeff Fisher: 3♦3♥
No help for Croteau on the 7♥2♦Q♠ flop and when the 8♠ peeled off on the turn he was left drawing to six outs. None was forthcoming on the 6♦ river and Croteau was sent to the rail in 14th place as the unfortunate bubble boy.
