Big Names and partypoker Pros Advance on partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Vegas @ Aria Day 1a
Day 1a of the inaugural $10,300 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Vegas @ Aria attracted 222 entrants and after eight levels just 143 players have booked their place in Day 2 on Sunday.
A selection of big names headed over to the Aria to check out partypoker's first foray into the American market, and right in the midst of a packed Vegas summer schedule of poker.
partypoker Chairman Mike Sexton (221,500) as well as partypoker pros such as Mikita Badziakouski (203,500), Bertrand Grospellier (263,000), Kristen Bicknell (87,500), Anatoly Filatov (83,000), Ludovic Geilich (90,000), Joao Simao (239,000) and Team Online's Jeff Gross (116,500) all jumped in on Day 1a and made it through.
The only partypoker pro to bust on Day 1a was Roberto Romanello. His kings were flushed away by an opponent, and he has the opportunity to re-enter tomorrow, or until the start of Level 11 on Day 2.
Other players who will need to fire a second bullet if they are to make Day 2 include Niall Farrell, James Romero, Ben Heath, Dan Smith, Aymon Hata, Danny Tang and Andreas Eiler.
The chip leader looks like being Govert Metaal with 482,500 closely followed by Justin Liberto (413,000). Players over 300,000 were at a premium but Craig Varnell (355,500) managed it as he continues his recovery from a freak head injury earlier this summer.
Big names such as Joe Cada (267,500), Frank Crivello (250,000), Daniel Strelitz (244,500), Sergio Aido (236,000), John Cynn (231,500), Daniel Neilson (220,500) and Adrian Mateos (202,500) all bagged healthy stacks.
PokerNews will be keeping you up to date throughout the rest of the partypoker MILLIONS so stay tuned for updates of all the action.