$1,500 Main Event
Day 1b Completed
2024 Champions Club Winter Poker Open
$1,500 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1b
2024 Champions Club Winter Poker Open
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,363,560
Entries
1,033
Level
38
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Entries
71
Players Left
9
Tai Vo Leads Day 1b of $1,500 Main Event
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Another day is in the books here at Champions Club in Houston, Texas as Day 1b of the WPO Event #15: $1,500 Main Event has come to a close. 71 players took their shot today in the $1 million guaranteed event, but only 9 finished the day with chips in a bag. Leading the way is Tai Vo who bagged up 1,190,000, which is over 400,000 more than Gabriel Andrade who finished in second with 760,000. Rounding out the top three is Champion's very own Isaac Trumbo who ended the day by busting David Mzareulov and managed to bag up 670,000.
Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tai Vo | 1,190,000 | 149 |
| 2 | Gabriel Andrade | 760,000 | 95 |
| 3 | Isaac Trumbo | 670,000 | 84 |
| 4 | Robert Burnett | 501,000 | 63 |
| 5 | Robert Valden | 357,000 | 45 |
| 6 | Thai Ha | 262,000 | 33 |
| 7 | Yunkyu Song | 196,000 | 25 |
| 8 | Matthew Liu | 193,000 | 24 |
| 9 | Benjamin Rose | 131,000 | 16 |
As with all of the tournaments here at Champions Club, the action was fast and heavy from the jump, with players not afraid to stick their stacks in at Level 1. Most of the action came from one particular table, where Derek Normand and Zhong Wilkerson were both seated. Wilkerson went on a heater midway through the day, and was even chipleading at one point, but alas, she was crippled in a big hand with Normand and then finished off by Matthew Liu.
Normand also drove most of the action and managed to build up a healthy stack until a brutal beat sent him home early. He got it all in with pocket kings against the pocket tens of Jamie Ho and the pocket fives of Tai Vo, but a five on the flop gave Vo the lead and spelled the end for Normand, who was left crippled and exited soon after. On the other table, Trumbo and Andrade didn't get involved in quite so many big pots but slowly grew their stacks throughout the day. Local crusher Thai Ha (262,000) was also in the mix today, bouncing from table to table as he either busted or just kept getting moved. It was interesting to see how the dynamic at each table shifted whenever he would be placed there.
As this is only the second of six starting flights, there is still plenty of time for players to get in on this action, with a flight every day until Sunday, when the players return for Day 2. There will also be multiple satellites each day as well as PLO flips for many chances to get into this tournament cheaply.
Day 1c fires off tomorrow at noon local time, but unfortunately there will be no coverage for that flight. No need to fret, however, PokerNews will be back on the scene the following day with all the action in Day 1d.
See you then!
End of Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,190,000
275,000
|
275,000 |
|
||
|
760,000
75,000
|
75,000 |
|
670,000 | |
|
501,000
-4,000
|
-4,000 |
|
357,000
122,000
|
122,000 |
|
262,000
-40,000
|
-40,000 |
|
||
|
|
196,000
-14,000
|
-14,000 |
|
193,000
-112,000
|
-112,000 |
|
|
131,000
-120,000
|
-120,000 |
End of Day 1b: Players Bag
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
With the elimination of David Mzareulov, play has stopped as the surviving nine players have bagged up to return Sunday for day 2.
A complete list of chip counts as well as a recap of the day's events will be released shortly, so stay tuned!
David Mzareulov Eliminated as Bubble Burst
Level 16
: Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Isaac Trumbo opened for 20,000 and was called by David Mzareulov to see a flop of J♣9♦7♥. Mzareulov checked, Trumbo continued for 20,000, and then Mzareulov check-jammed all in. Trumbo quickly tossed out a calling chip to put him at risk and once the action was completed at the other table, the cards were on their backs.
David Mzareulov: Q♦9♠
Isaac Trumbo: K♥J♠
Mzareulov would need some help to stay alive, but the runout of 4♦7♣ failed to do so and he was eliminated on the stone bubble of Day 1b.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
670,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 16
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Bubble Time! Hand-for-Hand
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
With the elimination of Mark Hennessy, there are 10 players remaining in Day 1b which means they are now on the stone money bubble and hand-for-hand is now in effect.
Hennessy Eliminated by Song
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Short-stacked Mark Hennessy got the last of his chips into the middle and was called by Yunkyu Song.
Mark Hennessy: K♠6♠
Yunkyu Song: A♠K♦
Unfortunately for Hennessy, the board ran out 10♣9♦Q♠J♦6♣ to give Song a Broadway straight on the turn and he was sent to the rail 2 places off the money.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
210,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Ha Shoves on Mzareulov
Level 15
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
On a heads-up completed board of J♣6♦7♣3♣A♥, Thai Ha checked, and David Mzareulov bet 50,000 into the pot of 120,000.
After spending some time in the tank, Ha then pushed all in, which resulted in a hasty fold from Mzareulov.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
302,000
131,000
|
131,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
180,000
-45,000
|
-45,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000