Big Stax 500
Day 1c Completed
Parx Big Stax XXXI
Big Stax 500
Day: 1c
Wen Zhang Leads Day 1c as 76 Bag for Day 2
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The final starting flight of the Big Stax XXXI 500 was the largest yet attracting 426 total entries and is in the books after another 15 levels of play with 76 players bagging and tagging at the end of the night.
The final starting flight started off quick with all-ins being announced all over the room as players were either building stacks quickly or re-buying and trying.
One player who built a stack very quickly was the Day 1d chip leader Weg Zhang. Zhang built up a 200,000 stack mid-way through the day and then had a table break and got seated next to Victor Ramdin. It was here where Zhang started increasing his stack swiftly, getting in back-and-forth matches with the Big Stax XXXI 300 winner with Zhang coming out on top ending the night with 644,500.
Patrick Ibrahim was player who got off to a very fast start doubling up within the very first levels of the day and continuously built up his stack without ever dropping below the average. Ibrahim shot up to the top late in the night with a knockout earning himself a bag with 488,500, along with Lance Funston as both players tied for second.
Rounding out the top stacks include Michael Dicharo who cracked pocket aces twice to end the night with (447,500), Steven Ortiz (428,500) and Danny Pabon (414,500). Pabon had an interesting climb to the top as he was just an average stack most of the day until Mario Concepcion came to his table. Concepcion had over 550,000 chips when he sat down at Pabon's table but after a few brutal hands and being flushed out on the river by Pabon, ended the night without finding a bag for Day 2.
The three starting flights accounted for 907 total entries coming from 558 unique players with 165 players returning with a bag for Day 2 Starting Sunday at 11 a.m. local time in the main casino poker room.
Players who didn't bag will still be able to buy-in until the end of level 16.
Come back to PokerNews for updates throughout the rest of the Big Stax XXXI 500 tournament.
End of Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
644,500 | 164,500 |
|
488,500 | 328,500 |
|
488,500 | |
|
447,500 | 447,500 |
|
428,500 | 428,500 |
|
|
414,500 | 414,500 |
|
398,000 | 18,000 |
|
372,500 | 372,500 |
|
361,500 | 181,500 |
|
357,500 | 7,500 |
|
357,000 | 357,000 |
|
348,500 | 238,500 |
|
|
334,000 | 334,000 |
|
312,000 | 312,000 |
|
|
309,000 | 309,000 |
|
|
298,500 | 298,500 |
|
|
283,000 | 283,000 |
|
279,000 | 129,000 |
|
272,000 | 272,000 |
|
|
268,000 | 268,000 |
|
|
260,500 | 50,500 |
|
258,500 | 123,500 |
|
255,000 | 255,000 |
|
252,500 | 105,500 |
|
|
250,000 | 250,000 |
Play Has Ended for the Day
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
End of day chip counts and recap will follow.
Final 3 Hands
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The tournament director has just announced the final three hands of the night.
Zhang and Ramdin Continue to Battle
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
It was a battle of the blinds with Wen Zhang sitting from the small and Victor Ramdin from the bug.
The board read 
and Zhang lead out for 15,00 into a 70,000 pot.
Ramdin raised to 50,000 sending Zhang into the tank.
Zhang thought for a while then tossed his hand into the muck.
As Ramdin was collecting his chips, Zhang said, "I really wanted to move all in there."
Ramdin replied, "I wish you would have.. it would have been the fastest snap-fold you have ever seen."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
480,000 | 120,000 |
|
390,000 | 4,000 |
Bonita Check-Jams Lepera
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
There was heads-up action between Diane Lepera from under the gun and Michael Bonita from the big blind.
The flop came 
and Bonita check-raised all in after Lepra fired out 25,000 into a 28,000 pot.
The raise sent Lepera into the tank and after a few minutes, she mucked 
face-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
130,000 | -50,000 |
|
130,000 | 35,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
McGuinness Claims Another
Level 14
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
The button player open-jammed for 40,000 and John McGuinness came over the top from the small blind getting isolation.
John McGuinness: 
Opponent: 
McGuinness had his opponent dominated and drawing dead after the 
flop.
The turn sealed the deal giving McGuinness the nut-flush and the dealer dropped the meaningless 
on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
380,000 | 140,000 |
Kordys Flops the Goods to Double Through Hong
Level 14
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
There was four players that saw a 
flop. Action was checked to Kevin hong who bet 28,000 from under the gun. Rafal Kordys called from middle position while the other two players folded.
Hong jammed after as soon as the 
turn hit the felt and Kordys snap-called for less.
Rafal Kordys: 
Kevin Hong: 
Hong was drawing dead as the dealer completed the board with the river and Hong sent over 52,000 to Kordys for the double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
390,000 | -97,500 |
|
140,000 | 75,000 |