$550 NAPT Mystery Bounty Day 1e | 2024 PokerStars NAPT Las Vegas

11-03-2024 18:24 UTC-8

Antonio Esfandiari to Make Poker Return on Upcoming PokerStars Big Game on Tour

Josh Noy

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Antonio Esfandiari is back. The poker boom era fan favorite who famously won the 2012 $1 million buy-in World Series of Poker (WSOP) Big One for One Drop is returning to poker for the second season of the PokerStars Big Game on Tour.

"The Magician," who hasn't played much poker the past few years, will compete in high-stakes cash games against a stacked lineup and a "Loose Cannon," a non-pro chosen through an audition phase to be staked into a game that could change their life. Nikki Limo and Lily Newhouse were chosen during auditions at Resorts World during the 2023 North American Poker Tour (NAPT) series in Las Vegas.

The audition process for the next Big Game on Tour Loose Cannons is underway.

Find Full Details Here

Level: 12

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

11-03-2024 18:21 UTC-8

Galstyan Spikes the River to Double

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

With around 30,000 in the pot on a board of 3♥8♠J♠K♣, Avi Cohen moved all in on the button and Karapet Galstyan called for 28,000 in early position.

Cohen had A♥A♣ and was ahead of Galstyan's J♦9♦ as he was poised for the knockout heading to the river. Galstyan, though, caught the 9♣ to make two pair as he earned the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Avi Cohen	100,000 100,000	100,000
Karapet Galstyan	90,000 62,000	62,000

Tags: Avi Cohen Karapet Galstyan

11-03-2024 18:17 UTC-8

Hsu Applies the Pressure

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Nick Becker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Gary Melnick raised to 3,000 in middle position, the player in the cutoff called, and Chia Hsu three-bet to 15,000 in the small blind. Melnick called and the cutoff got out of the way.

On the 3♦10♥K♣ flop, Hsu continued with a bet of 20,000. Melnick reluctantly folded and announced "Ace-queen, good bet."

Player	Chips	Progress
Gary Melnick	150,000 60,000	60,000
Chia Hsu	110,000 78,000	78,000

Tags: Chia Hsu Gary Melnick

11-03-2024 18:15 UTC-8

Konnikova Chipping Up

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Connor Richards

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

PokerStars ambassador and award-winning psychology author Maria Konnikova is chipping up nicely in the Day 1e flight.

Konnikova recently sat down with PokerNews with an interview on the Life Outside Poker podcast, where she discussed her writing career, being mentored by acclaimed science author Steven Pinker, meeting Erik Seidel for the first time and her research for a new book into cheating in poker and other games.

Watch the full interview on YouTube or listen on podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maria Konnikova	250,000

Tags: Maria Konnikova Erik Seidel

11-03-2024 18:13 UTC-8

Spragg Snags an Ace

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Connor Richards

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Marle Spragg was all in for 26,500 from the cutoff against the big blind.

Marle Spragg: A♥10♥
Big Blind: J♥J♦

Spragg took the lead on the flop of 8♣8♠A♣ and nothing changed on the runout of 7♥6♥ to earn the content creator a double. Her opponent was left with crumbs and was eliminated the next hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Marle Spragg	55,000 33,500	33,500

Tags: Marle Spragg

11-03-2024 18:11 UTC-8

Balleur's Sixes Eclipse Moon's Ace-High

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Gaetan Balleur raised to 3,000 in the cutoff and Huy Nghiem called in the small blind. Benjamin Moon then moved all in for 27,000 in the big blind and Balleur reshoved. "Can I show what I have," Nghiem asked.

"Don't do that," a tablemate told him as Nghiem eventually folded.

Benjamin Moon: A♦2♥ All in
Gaetan Balleur: 6♥6♦

Moon hit a pair of deuces on the 10♠3♥2♦ flop, but Balleur's sixes remained in the lead through the 4♥ turn and 7♠ river to send Moon to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Huy Nghiem	120,000 38,000	38,000
Gaetan Balleur	70,000
Benjamin Moon	Busted

Tags: Benjamin Moon Gaetan Balleur Huy Nghiem

11-03-2024 18:10 UTC-8

Harris Chipping Up

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Nick Becker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Michael Harris raised to 4,000 in late position and Yang Lu flatted on the button.

The flop came 9♦Q♠J♦, Harris continued for 5,000, and Lu made the call.

The 5♥ turn went check-check, as did the 4♥ river. Harris tabled J♣10♠ for a pair of jacks to take down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yang Lu	185,000 5,000	5,000
Michael Harris	182,000 122,000	122,000

Tags: Michael Harris Yang Lu

11-03-2024 18:07 UTC-8

Hear Ye Hear Ye: Opponent Sees Clearly After Jamming Into Trips of O'Leary

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Connor Richards

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Xulong Zhang was eliminated in a heads-up pot against Ian O'Leary after moving all in on a board of 6♦2♠K♥10♣K♦ and getting snap-called.

O'Leary held K♣J♣ for trips, while Zhang was forced to show Ax8x for just ace-high.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ian O'Leary	90,000 90,000	90,000
Xulong Zhang	Busted

Tags: Ian O'Leary Xulong Zhang

11-03-2024 18:05 UTC-8

Playing Down to 64

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Tournament officials announced that today's flight drew 427 entrants, building a total field of 1,201 through all five starting flights.

Play will conclude for the night once 64 players remain. The tournament clock currently shows 180 players still in.