Mike Comisso lapped the field on Day 1b of Poker Night in America $1,675 Main Event at Golden Nugget, putting nearly 20 starting stacks in the bag as eight players survived the day to join the six survivors from Day 1a.
Vinicius Lima (218,500), two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Brandon Cantu (179,500), Paul Balzano (128,000), Justin Kindred (92,000), Nacho Barbero (84,500), Frank Bonacci (75,000), and Todd Tooley (64,000) were the other players finding bags after more than 14 levels of play — the tournament had a hard stop with 24:40 left in Level 15 (1,500/3,000/500) because that's when Day 1a players bagged.
A total of 47 players turned out, with some notable runners going home empty-handed. Jack Schanbacher, Nick Yunis, Scott Ball, and Mark "P0ker H0" Kroon were some of the players hitting the exits during the course of play. Kroon ran up a huge stack but was unable to maintain it and ultimately sent the last of his stack to Cantu after the dinner break.
As for Comisso, he registered late but worked his way up to a sizable count over 200,000 when he played the pot of the tournament thus far at Level 14 (1,200/2,400/400). It began with Comisso opening early to 5,200 and getting called in two spots. He checked the flop and Tooley bet 10,300. Comisso was the only taker, and they both checked the to see an river. Comisso bet 28,000 and snap-called when Tooley shoved for 257,900 effective.
Tooley held but his trips were crushed by the of Comisso, who raked in an enormous pot and left Tooley shell-shocked. It wasn't long after that when the flight came to an end.
Sunday will see one final Day 1 flight play out, and look for coverage of that right here on PokerNews.
Brandon Cantu checked a flop from the small blind, and Nacho Barbero bet 5,000. Cantu raised to 14,000 and Barbero called. Cantu put Barbero all in for 26,500 on the turn, and Barbero snapped with for a flush. Cantu was dead with a stone cold bluff, .
However, the players at the table did say that Cantu busted Mark Kroon, and he's well above his last recorded chip count.
Nick Yunis and Mark Kroon got in a raising war on a board of , with Yunis putting in 17,300 and Kroon clicking back to 26,650. Yunis called and the river was a . Kroon announced all in and Yunis snap-called. Kroon confidently moved to show his cards, and that was because he had the nuts: . Yunis showed and pushed his stack in.
Kroon had around 36,000 and that covered Yunis, who looked to have around 30,000.
Mark Kroon raised on the button and got calls from both blinds, who all saw a flop of . Action checked to Kroon, and he bet 2,025. Nick Yunis called, and Jack Schanbacher shoved for 15,725. Both opponents called, and they checked through the turn to see the . Yunis shoved all in at that point for 23,750, and Kroon mucked after shaking his head.
Yunis showed for a flush and Schanbacher, who was already on bullet No. 2, couldn't beat it.
One player recently bought in: Nick Yunis, who ran up a monster stack bigger than that bagged by chip leader Sam Panzica in just eight levels before busting out.
He just tried to set a trap for Mark Kroon, defending his big blind with and checking down a board of , but Kroon checked back the whole way with sevens.
Those two both enjoy playing plenty of pots, so expect them to tangle early and often.
One flight is down, and two flights are left, with the second of those coming today for Poker Night in America at Golden Nugget.
It was a stacked field yesterday as the 30 players that showed up for Day 1a included plenty of recognizable names. By night's end, although 17 levels were scheduled, six players bagged up in the middle of Level 15 (1,500/3,000/500). Sam Panzica led the pack with 199,500, followed by Matt Glantz (183,000), Jake Daniels (160,000), Chan Pelton (142,500), David Morton (116,000), and Matt Davenport (99,000).
Once again, the schedule calls for 17 levels of 40 minutes apiece, but it remains to be seen how many will be played. Players will begin with stacks of 30,000 and blinds at 50/100. Cards are schedule to fly at 11 a.m. local time at the Golden Nugget, and players will have the option to reenter through the start of Level 11. Stay tuned for coverage here on PokerNews.