Warren Sheaves raised to 5,000 from middle position and the player in the next seat over moved in for around 25,000. Action folded around and Sheaves called.
Opponent: 
Warren Sheaves: 
The board ran out 
and ace-queen held to secure the elimination for Sheaves.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
186,000 |
Matt Thomas took a moment with the PokerNews team to relay his clash with defending champ Scott Stewart.
Stewart raised to 3,000 from the button and Thomas flat-called from the big blind.
The flop came 
and Thomas checked. Stewart shoved and Thomas check-called, turning over 
. The champ had 
and Thomas needed some help.
The turn came 
and the river was 
, giving Thomas the runner-runner straight to knock Stewart out of Day 1a.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
96,000 | |
|
Busted |
A player on the button raised to 4,000 and the small blind three-bet shoved for 22,000. Matt Mauldin four-bet jammed his last 54,500 and the button got out of the way.
Small Blind: 
Matt Mauldin: 
The board ran out 
and the queens held to secure the pot for Mauldin, who chips back into health as Day 1a enters the late stages.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
81,000 | 7,000 |
Level: 11
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
Thomas Newton raised from under the gun to 3,500 and Bryce McVay called from the next seat over. Action folded around to Min Zhang, who called from the big blind.
The flop was 
and Zhang checked. Newton continued for 6,500 and McVay three-bet shoved for 25,000.
Zhang folded and Newton thought a moment before tossing his cards in the muck to give McVay the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
151,000 | 151,000 |
|
82,000 | -6,000 |
|
43,500 | 43,500 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
157,000 | 97,500 |
|
144,000 | -14,600 |
|
126,000 | 19,500 |
|
118,000 | 58,500 |
|
|
105,000 | -5,500 |
|
|
88,000 | -7,000 |
|
86,000 | -46,000 |
|
|
74,000 | -89,500 |
|
73,500 | -8,500 |
|
68,500 | 2,000 |
|
|
65,500 | 26,500 |
|
63,000 | -5,500 |
|
53,000 | 53,000 |
|
|
51,500 | 51,500 |
|
30,000 | -8,500 |
Level: 10
Blinds: 1,000/1,500
Ante: 1,500
Players are now back from the dinner break and registration has closed. The final tally for Day 1a is 148 runners and a prize pool of $264,920. There are 51 players left and play will continue until the end of Level 14.
Players are now on a one-hour dinner break at the end of Level 9. The tournament will return at approximately 7:30 p.m. EST.
Registration will close at the beginning of Level 10.
