$1,675 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1c | Poker Night in America at Golden Nugget

06-05-2016 23:26 UTC-7

Zo Karim Bags Day 1c Lead

mnuwwarah

Level 15 : 1,500/3,000, 500 ante

Zo Karim fired up a dose of his patented "brown magic" to hold with aces in a monster pot and bag the chip lead on Day 1c of Poker Night in America $1,675 Main Event at Golden Nugget. Karim is an experienced tournament grinder with a number of final tables in major tournaments to his credit and nearly $1.4 million in cashes.

A total of 59 runners turned out for Day 1c, and just 11 of them bagged up for Monday's Day 2. Some others joining Karim in punching tickets were Chad Eveslage (296,000), Maxim Sorokin (273,000), experienced voice actor Nika Futterman (237,500), Kyle Frey (73,000), and World Series of Poker bracelet winner Joey Weissman (42,500).

Karim had aces come through for him in a big pot to surge into the lead late. It was Level 14 (1,200/2,400/400) when the big hand went down, starting with an early-position raise from Alex Keating to 5,000. Michael Lipman called and Karim made it 16,400 with the bullets. Raymond Dandrea cold-called on his left on the button, and both Keating and Lipman helped bloat the pot preflop before hit the felt.

Action checked to Karim, and he fired 27,000. Dandrea shoved for 140,000 or so, and Keating tanked before calling off about 50,000. Lipman folded. Dandrea had and Keating , but two bricks on the last two streets sent the huge pot to Karim, as he doubled through Dandrea for about 95,000. Dandrea still managed to find a bag with 102,000.

Some of the players firing and bricking on this last chance to qualify for Day 2 were Mike Dentale, Anthony Spinella, Sylvain Loosli, Kane Kalas, Michael Rocco, and 2016 Aussie Millions champ Ari Engel.

The players who did bag will be meeting at noon local time tomorrow for Day 2. There will be 25 total players, and 15 will reportedly be paid, although PokerNews is still awaiting a payout list. Come back tomorrow for that and much more when Day 2 coverage gets going.

Tags: Zo Karim

06-05-2016 22:06 UTC-7

Monster Pot for Karim

mnuwwarah

Level 14 : 1,200/2,400, 400 ante

Alex Keating opened for 5,000 and got one call, and Zo Karim made it 16,400. Raymond Dandrea flatted on the button, and Keating and the fourth player made it four to a flop. Two checks before Karim fired 27,000. Dandrea moved all in for about 140,000, and Keating tanked a few minutes and called off about 50,000.

"So stupid," Karim said, slamming in a call after the last player folded.

Karim:
Keating:
Dandrea:

Karim was ahead though, and the and were bricks. He busted Keating and doubled through Dandrea.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zo Karim	313,000	180,000
Raymond Dandrea	43,100	-124,900
Alex Keating	Busted

Tags: Zo Karim

06-05-2016 21:09 UTC-7

"Give This Money to My Friend Robert"

mnuwwarah

Level 13 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante

Alex Keating, pictured at an event last year.

We found Alex Keating facing what looked to be a pot-sized bet of 45,000 on a completed board of . The bet came from Robert Schulz on the button.

"I don't think I can fold this hand," Keating said. "I know you have a boat or have me outkicked."

"Can you at least promise me you're going to do something good with this money? At least promise me you won't do something bad like fund a terrorist organization or something."

Schulz cracked the barest hint of a smile.

"He smiled!" Keating exclaimed. "Look how happy he is, he knows he's getting this money."

Schulz covered his mouth with his hand and finally, Keating turned his attention to the dealer.

"Give this money to my friend Robert," he said, placing it in the center of the felt.

Schulz showed and took the pot down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Schulz	249,000	83,700
Alex Keating	34,500	-3,500

Tags: Alex Keating Robert Schulz

06-05-2016 20:45 UTC-7

Weissman Doubles; Kosi Busted

mnuwwarah

Level 12 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

Joey Weissman shoved all in for 20,500 in the cutoff, and Maxim Sorokin called on the button. Small blind Justin Chock jammed for 74,400, and Sorokin tank-folded.

Weissman:
Chock:

The flop gave Weissman a pile of outs, and the turn was one of them. An river was safe for him.

Moments later, Duwayne Kosi busted at that table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Weissman	66,000	46,900
Justin Chock	58,800	-9,200
Duwayne Kosi	Busted

Tags: Joey Weissman Duwayne Kosi Justin Chock

06-05-2016 19:44 UTC-7

Capps Busts Yunis; Spinella and Dentale Join

mnuwwarah

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Nick Yunis put 15,000 in from the cutoff and Jesse Capps shoved over in the small blind. Yunis called his last 600.

Yunis:
Capps:

Yunis tried apologizing in advance but his three-outer never had a chance after the flop.

Mike Dentale and Anthony Spinella bought into the tournament after dinner.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jesse Capps	43,200	9,200
Anthony Spinella	30,000	30,000
Mike Dentale	30,000	30,000
Nick Yunis	Busted

Tags: Anthony Spinella Jesse Capps Mike Dentale Nick Yunis

06-05-2016 14:45 UTC-7

Eveslage Crushing

mnuwwarah

Level 5 : 150/300, 50 ante

Chad Eveslage checked from the big blind on a board and an opponent in early position bet 3,600. Eveslage made it 11,000 and his opponent jammed for about 21,000. Eveslage snapped with for the nuts but he had cards to fade as his opponent had a set of nines. The river was a blank.

The next hand, there was an open to 750 from Joey Weissman and a call from Duwayne Kosi. Eveslage made it 3,500 and both opponents called. The flop came and Eveslage checked. Weissman did likewise and Kosi bet 8,100. Eveslage was the only caller, and he check-called another 15,600 on the turn. Check-check on the , and Eveslage revealed that his opponent couldn't beat.

Player	Chips	Progress
Chad Eveslage	86,400	43,400
Duwayne Kosi	26,000	-25,000

Tags: Chad Eveslage Duwayne Kosi

06-05-2016 12:41 UTC-7

Montes Not Running Good

mnuwwarah

Level 3 : 75/150, 25 ante

On a final board of , Jose Montes was in the big blind and checked to Justin Chock, who bet moved all in for 15,675. Montes shook his head and counted down his stack, ultimately deciding on a call for all but his last 1,475.

Chock turned over for aces full, and Montes turned his face-up before mucking it. Left crippled, he busted out a couple of hands later.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justin Chock	56,000
Jose Montes	Busted

Tags: Jose Montes Justin Chock

06-05-2016 10:32 UTC-7

Welcome to Day 1c of Poker Night in America at Golden Nugget

mnuwwarah

The time has come for the last of three starting flights of Poker Night in America $1,675 Main Event at Golden Nugget. Day 1c is scheduled to get rolling at 11 a.m. local time in downtown Las Vegas, and it's the last chance to qualify for Day 2 and a chance at the PNIA televised final table.

A total of 14 players have already bagged up stacks and moved on after two starting flights, and Mike Comisso put a pile worth 575,000 in the bag on Day 1b, so he's the man to catch at the moment.

Once again, today's players will receive starting stacks of 30,000 with levels lasting 40 minutes. Blinds begin at 50/100 and players may reenter as many times as they wish. Play will last into Level 15, at which point any remaining survivors will bag their stacks with 24:40 left on the clock to match up with the players from Day 1a.

Stay tuned for the live updates here on PokerNews.