Steve Idels Bags a Commanding Lead on Day 1a of the 2022 Winter Open Main Event
Steve Idels of St. Augustine, Florida leads a field of 21 from Day 1a of the $2,000 Main Event in the 2022 Winter Open at bestbet Jacksonville. The surviving players outlasted a field of 148 to bag for a Day 2 that will kick off on Sunday at 12 p.m. EST. The first of two opening flights generated a prize pool of $264,920.
Idels went on a late run to take a commanding chip lead and he will return on Day 2 in search of his third cash of the series after finishing third in Event #5: $360 Monster Stack for $9,479. Other returning players include Warren Sheaves, Ryan Hohner, Matt Mauldin, and Stephen Strout.
$2,000 Main Event Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Name | Hometown | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Idels | St. Augustine, Florida | 585,000 | 146 |
| 2 | Warren Sheaves | Asheville, North Carolina | 373,000 | 93 |
| 3 | Justin Zaki | Tampa, Florida | 370,000 | 93 |
| 4 | Ryan Hohner | Plainfield, New Jersey | 345,000 | 86 |
| 5 | David Dibernardi | Youngstown, Ohio | 216,000 | 54 |
| 6 | Matt Mauldin | Columbia, South Carolina | 215,000 | 54 |
| 7 | TK Miles | Tallahassee, Florida | 215,000 | 54 |
| 8 | Stephen Strout | St. Augustine, Florida | 190,000 | 48 |
| 9 | Matt Thomas | Jacksonville, Florida | 182,000 | 46 |
| 10 | Robert Zeff | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 163,000 | 41 |
Day 1a Highlights
Day 2 qualifier Bradley Beetz got started early when he made a straight to double through fellow qualifier Dibernardi. Five-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Hastings took his shot, but his Day 1a came to an end when he shoved with pocket tens and ran into the ace-king of defending champion Scott Stewart.
Stewart ran well for most of the day, but he was eliminated from Day 1a when Matt Thomas went runner-runner to make a straight and crack the defending champion's pocket kings. Stewart has an opportunity to return tomorrow to find a bag on Day 1b and make a run at his title defense.
Hohner held the chip lead late after winning one of the biggest pots of the night when he called the bluff of Austin Reilly and turned over pocket queens. Hohner ceded the chip lead to Idels, but he still sits among the top ten with a great chance on Sunday. Mac Johnson scored a late knockout and will also return on Sunday looking for a chance to run it up for a run at the final table.
Day 1b will kick off on Saturday at 12 p.m. EST and players will start with 25,000 chips. Players will play 40-minute levels and registration will close at the beginning of Level 10. Action will continue through the end of Level 14, and the remaining players will combine with Day 1a on Sunday at 12 p.m.
Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews live reporting team all weekend long for updates from the floor of the $2,000 Main Event at bestbet Jacksonville.
on the board, Matt Mauldin checked and David Dibernardi bet 11,000. Mauldin check-raised to 38,000 and Dibernardi went into the tank. After considering all of his options, Dibernardi tossed his hand in the muck to give Mauldin another pot. Mauldin has been chipping back up in the late levels.
. Hohner bet 14,000 and Riley called. The turn was 
. 
on the river. 
. Riley showed 
and mucked the losing hand as Hohner started stacking the biggest pot of the day.
and the flopped pair of queens held for Kobzyev to pick up the elimination.
and a pair of kings was good enough for Stewart to eliminate Hastings and take the big pot.
