$500,000 Guaranteed Main Event
Day 1a Started
2012 Sands Bethlehem DeepStack Extravaganza
$500,000 Guaranteed Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 Sands Bethlehem DeepStack Extravaganza
Buy-in
$2,500
Entries
188
Level
24
Blinds
12,000 / 24,000
Ante
3,000
Hold'em for the Holidays: Day 1a Awaits
Greetings from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where the Sands Bethlehem DeepStack Extravaganza Main Event kicks off today. The series has been underway for a week, and will be culminating today through Monday with this $500,000 Guaranteed Main Event.
Today we'll be bringing you all of the action from Day 1a, the first of two Day 1 flights. This is a re-entry event, meaning if players bust today they'll have an option to re-enter immediately today (through the first five one-hour levels), or come back tomorrow to try anew. There are unlimited re-entries as well for those ready and willing to keep buying back in.
One other twist to note is that players surviving Day 1a can also "re-enter" (so to speak) and play Day 1b, then if they survive tomorrow they'll continue on Day 2 with the largest of the two stacks they've accumulated.
Cards go in the air at noon. Come back here for all of the action from Bethlehem, a.k.a. "The Christmas City"!
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal!
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Players are starting to file in and the first hands of Day 1a are being dealt. Late registration is open through Level 5.
Fishberg Defends
Gregory Fishberg has arrived, and soon after taking his seat immediately began working to add to his 30,000-chip starting stack.
In his first hand, a player in middle position min-raised to 200 and Fishberg reraised to 700 from the big blind, forcing a fold from his opponent. Fishberg showed his hand — 
— before dragging the small pot.
The next hand saw the same opponent raising to 200 again, and Fishberg called from the small blind as did his neighbor to the left. The flop came 
, and when checked to the original raiser bet 250. Fishberg promptly check-raised to 550, forcing folds from both opponents.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
32,000 |
Men at Work
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
"Which day will get more, today or tomorrow?" asked David Dawson of his table. We have a relatively small group here thus far — about 45 players — with more trickling in as the first level proceeds.
"Oh, tomorrow, definitely," answered Mario Damiao. "Some people do have jobs you know." Indeed, expectations are a much bigger group will be turning out for Saturday's Day 1b.
"Who would want to do such a thing?" grinned Dawson as the dealer pitched him cards for the next hand.
Who's Here?
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Chips for Patel
We have had one player felted thus far in the first level of play, as Dixit Patel just took all of Michael Ryan's chips to bump his stack up over 60,000. Patel is looking to bookend a successful DeepStack Extravaganza series, as he took down Event #1 ($400 NLHE) when things got underway here in Bethlehem last week.
Meanwhile, it appears Michael Ryan is probably going to be re-entering the event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
62,000 |
Mighty Hand for Meek
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Brian Meek and Edward Miller were just involved in a big first-level hand. With the board showing 
, Miller shoved his remaining chips and Meek was quickly there with the call.
Miller held for a flopped two pair, but Meek had turned the nuts with 
to send Miller to the rail. Meanwhile, Meek is now up over 60,000.
One For Spence
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Miguel Reyes limped in under the gun and action folded to Theo Tran on the button. He raised to 350 and was called by Jeffrey Spence in the big blind, as well as Reyes, and a 
flop fell.
Spence checked to Reyes who bet 400, chasing out neither opponent. The 
turn hit and Spence checked to Reyes again who bet 500. Tran called, but Spence popped it to 2,000. Reyes gave it some thought, but ultimately folded. Tran did the same and Spence took the pot.