PokerNews joined the action with 
on the board. Sangni Zhao jammed his last 12,000 from early position and Min Zhang snap-called.
Sangni Zhao: 
Min Zhang: 
The turn was 
and the river 
to secure the knockout for Zhang with aces and sixes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
55,800
26,300
|
26,300 |
|
Busted |
A player in the cutoff limped in and the button raised to 700. Steve Zhang three-bet to 2,500 from the big blind and the cutoff folded before the button tossed in chips for a call.
The flop was 
and both players checked. The dealer turned 
.
Zhang bet 1,500 on the turn and the button called to see 
on the river. Both players checked and Zhang turned over 
for a pair of tens. His opponent tossed the losing hand in the muck and Zhang took the pot.
Zhang is looking to build on an already stellar Winter Open, where he has three cashes so far, including third place in the opener for $31,805.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
39,500
14,500
|
14,500 |
With around 4,000 in the pot and 
on the board, Brian Hastings bet 300 from the small blind and a player in the cutoff called.
The dealer turned the 
and Hastings continued for 1,000. His opponent called and the river dropped 
.
Hastings fired another 1,000 at the river. His opponent called quickly and the five-time bracelet winner turned over for a pair of jacks. The other player tossed the losing hand in the muck and Hastings dragged the pot.
Hastings is chipping back up after falling behind early in the tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
19,200
900
|
900 |
|
||
David Dibernardi raised to 2,500 from middle position and a player in the cutoff called before Bradley Beetz came along from the button.
The flop was 
and the action checked to Beetz on the button for a 6,200 bet. Dibernardi folded and the player in the cutoff called.
The dealer burned and turned the 
and the cutoff checked. Beetz shoved his last 10,800 and his opponent went into the tank. After several moments, the cutoff emerged and tossed out calling chips. Beets turned over 
for the straight and his opponent had 
for top pair.
The river was an inconsequential 
and Beetz held on to secure a big double in early Day 1a action.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
47,400
-3,400
|
-3,400 |
|
44,100
44,100
|
44,100 |
Scott Stewart has taken his seat and is looking to go back-to-back. The returning champ beat 510 runners in 2021 to win the $2,000 Main Event for $117,817.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
Welcome to Day 1a of the $2,000 Main Event in the 2022 Winter Open at bestbet Jacksonville. Cards go in the air at 12 p.m. EST for the first of two flights in the culminating event of the popular First Coast poker series.
Scott Stewart of Lakewood, California is the defending champ after outlasting 510 runners to take home $117,817 for winning the 2021 Main Event. Should he return to Florida to defend his title, Stewart will look to add to his more than $2 million in lifetime earnings.
Earlier in the series, PokerNews was on hand to see Daniel Kusnerak win Event #1: $560 NLH for a top prize of $63,223.
| Event | Entries | Winner | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $560 NLH | 740 | Daniel Kusnerak | Newton, North Carolina | $62,223 |
| Event #2: $260 H.O.R.S.E. | 80 | Neill McNeill | Charlotte, North Carolina | $1,127* |
| Event #3: $360 NLH w/ $100 Bounties | 228 | Lisa Buck | Orange Park, Florida | $6,794* |
| Event #4: $160 NLH | 179 | Mark Marcellus | Jacksonville, Florida | $5,338 |
| Event #5: $360 Monster Stack | 238 | Casey Jarzabek | Thorold, Ontario, Canada | $13,324 |
| Event #6: $260 NLH Turbo w/ $50 Bounties | 94 | Jarrod Stokes | Lake City, Florida | $3,146* |
| Event #7: $320 NLH Ladies Event | 64 | Aja Owens | St. Augustine, Florida | $3,009* |
| Event #8: $1,000 NLH | 163 | Tony Boas | Jacksonville, Florida | $34,304 |
| *- Denotes chop deal |
Main Event runners will start with 25,000 in chips and registration is open with unlimited reentry until the start of Level 10 on each day. The two opening flights will play 14 levels and combine into Sunday’s Day 2 at 12 p.m EST. Day 2 will play down to a Final Table that will return for live streaming on bestbetLIVE at 4 p.m. EST on Monday.
Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews live reporting team all weekend long for updates on the action from the $2,000 Main Eventat bestbet Jacksonville.
