As of right now, the board reads that 410 players have entered on Day 1b. Unless that number grows immensely over the next little bit of time, the hopes of breaking last year's record-setting field of 848 will be dashed. Remember, there were 280 players yesterday and today needed to reach 569 to break the record.
When we arrived at the table, Fabrizio Gonzalez was faced with a bet of 4,300 from Rene Van Loo on the board. Gonzalez had 13,000 chips behind and tanked for a few minutes. Eventually, he folded the hand and allowed Van Loo to scoop the pot.
The UK's John Gale just won a massive pot to double up through Dan Shak and take the chip lead. We arrived at the table with the board reading and a little over 11,000 chips already in the middle. Shak had 17,000 in front of him as a bet of some sort and Gale was all in for 45,650. What we're unclear of is how the betting and raising actually went down, but the important part is that Shak tank-called and created a pot worth over 100,000 in chips.
Shak called with the for a set of sixes, but he was behind the for the straight for Gale.
"Please pair the board," said Shak as he stood and watched anxiously.
"Please don't," responded Gale.
The river didn't complete the board when the landed and Gale won the pot. Shak wasn't eliminated, but was knocked all the way back to 12,000 in chips. Gale boomed to over the century mark and is sitting in pole position on Day 1b right now.
Daniel Negreanu has been eliminated. He moved the last of his chips in -- only 2,000 -- with pocket fours and was called by a player holding . His opponent spiked a five and that was that.
With the board reading , Christopher Dowling checked to Tristan Clemencon. He bet 3,300 and then Team PokerStars Pro Toni Judet raised to 7,300. Dowling tanked and then reraised all in for 26,375. Clemencon folded and Judet called after about 30 seconds or so.
Judet held the for a set of nines. Dowling held the for a gutshot to Broadway and the nut flush draw. The river completed the board with the and failed to give Dowling what he needed, sending him to the rail and Judet up to 70,000 in chips.