Gao Xing is back in action once again and is looking for that all elusive Day 2 seat. Xing has been busy building and is sitting on a healthy looking stack at present.
We caught the Chinese player in action in a multi-way pot, making it 2,500 to go pre-flop and finding some customers, with Hanyan Yang (cutoff), Oliver Saul (button) and both blinds coming along for the ride to take the action five-way to a flop of .
Both blinds checked the action over to Xing, who seemed unperturbed at all the callers and she slid out a continuation bet of 3,300. The rest of the table quickly got out of the way leaving Xing free to rake in the 14,000-plus pot unopposed and she is now sitting on a stack of 66,000.
Registration is now closed and the numbers are in with 243 runners entering the Day 1F action. It appears the tournament clock was incorrect when it said 100 players were still in the running and the true number is 92. Of these 92 players 36 will be successful in their quest for a Day 2 seat, the other 56 will be leaving empty handed and will have to try their luck in the turbo flights or buy in direct for HK$38,000.
We had a quick scout of the poker room before the players went on their dinner break and got a few of the more notable stacks and it looks like the current frontrunner is United Kingdom's Oliver Saul.
We caught the end of a hand that proved to be quite an exciting one that saw Korea’s Soo Joo Kim put under pressure in a big pot.
There was already between close to 30,000 in the pot and the community cards were spread and Kim, sitting with 26,500 behind, was facing an all-in shove of 13,000 from big blind Jackie Wong.
Kim was in the tank when we arrived and tablemate Zhao Yanchao had just called for the clock. The tournament director arrived and informed Kim he had 30-seconds to act, but forgot to inform him when he had five seconds left and told Kim rather abruptly that his hand was now dead.
“What?” asked a disbelieving Kim. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me when I have five seconds left?”
After a little confusion Kim was given his five seconds and eventually flashed Wong before throwing his hand away and leaving the Hong Kong player free to scoop in the pot and climb to 47,500.
Down to his last 10,500, Chris Soh moved all-in from under-the-gun and action folded around to Hanyan Yang in the small blind who squeezed his cards and instantly smashed down his remaining 7,200 in chips.
Chris Soh:
Hanyan Yang:
That was poor timing on Soh’s part and great timing on Yang’s and the [jh6hd5] flop brought something for everyone. Unfortunately for Soh, that was as good as it got and the turn and river bricked out to see Yang win the hand. The silver lining for Soh is that he got 3,200 in change as he had Yang covered.
We caught the tail end of a big pot between Zhao Yanchao and Tang Jia, picking up the action on the flop just as Yanchao pulled the trigger and moved all-in. Jia beat him into the pot and the cards were turned over.
Zhao Yanchao:
Tang Jia:
Jia had the best of it with top set and just needed to fade a spade to win a massive 50,000-plus pot. Of course, the was the next card off the top and the river did not pair the board meaning Yanchao’s queen-high flush won him a tasty 53,000 pot. Jia took the hit with good grace and dropped to 25,100.
. 
and Kim, sitting with 26,500 behind, was facing an all-in shove of 13,000 from big blind Jackie Wong.
before throwing his hand away and leaving the Hong Kong player free to scoop in the pot and climb to 47,500.
, trailing to his adversary’s 
until Jie the hit the perfect 
flop.
turn left the other player drawing dead and Jie stacked up to 35,000 while his unfortunate opponent headed for the exit.
river bricked out to see Yang win the hand. The silver lining for Soh is that he got 3,200 in change as he had Yang covered.
river did not pair the board meaning Yanchao’s queen-high flush won him a tasty 53,000 pot. Jia took the hit with good grace and dropped to 25,100.