As it is written in the structure sheet, the tournament will end on Day 1 once the field reaches approximately 15% of the remaining players.
In the case of Day 1a, the 259-player field would mean play would end with 39 players.
Speaking to the tournament directors, they have informed us that they plan on playing until the next break (in two levels time; or 80 minutes), and they expect the tournament to be down to around 45 players. If that is the case, they will draw for the number of hands remaining, and then bag and tag for the evening.
The action folded round to Dara O'Kearney on the button, and he moved all in for 27,200. Kirk Morrison called all-in from the big blind for his last 18,000, and the cards were tabled.
O'Kearney:
Morrison:
The board ran out and Morrison rivered a pair to stay alive here on Day 1a.
From under the gun, Matthew Levine opened to 3,500 and Nikhil Gera called on the button, as did both the small and big blinds.
The flop landed , and after the blinds checked, Levine continued for 6,500. Gera bumped it up to 17,000, and once the blinds folded, Levine called.
The turn landed the , and both players checked as the completed the board on the river and Levine led out for 40,000. Gera quickly announced a call, and when Levine tabled his for a straight, Gera sent his cards to the muck.
As Gera dropped to 34,000 in chips, Levine extended his lead over the remaining players to now sit with a whopping 230,000 in chips.
Kirk Morrison opened the action in late position with a raise to 3,300 and only the big blind called as the flop landed .
The big blind checked, and Morrison bet out 3,000 with his opponent calling, and then checking the on the turn.
Morrison bet 5,000 and his opponent again made the call as the completed the board on the river and Morrison tossed in 10,000 before his opponent check-folded.
The action folded round to the cutoff, and he opened to 3,500 before Arash Ghaneian three-bet the small blind to 10,800.
The cutoff called as the flop landed and Ghaneian bet out 15,800. The cutoff folded, and Ghaneian collected the pot to move up to 97,000 in chips but not before showing his .