Main Event Day 1b | 2018 Poker King Cup Macau

09-22-2018 16:05 UTC+8

Gigantic Early Pot for Chao

RazorSharpPro

Level 5 : 150/300, 25 ante

Some of the players are wasting no time and some sizable pots are being played, despite the fact it is still early days.

In the largest pot witnessed so far today, Junxiang Tan and Zhang Chao became embroiled in some three-way action that saw the former bust to the latter.

The pre-flop action was unclear as we arrived on the flop with over 25,000 already in the pot and the community cards spread . Reconstructing the action, it appeared Tan had moved all-in pre-flop over the top of an under-the-gun open and a call from Chao. Both the under-the-gun player and Chao still had chips and were live in the hand.

Following a check from the under-the-gun player, Chao declared herself all-in and the third protagonist had a decision to make. The entire hand took close to 10-minutes to play out with the under-the-gun player tanking for an ice age before the clock was called. This ticked down to three seconds before he found the fold and both Chao and Tan revealed their hands.

Zhang Chao:
Junxiang Tan:

Chao had the lead in the classic race, locking up the pot on the turn to climb to 60,000 while Tan headed for the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zhang Chao	60,000	60,000
Junxiang Tan	Busted

Tags: Junxiang Tan Zhang Chao

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

09-22-2018 15:38 UTC+8

Lee, Ogura and Chiu in the Mix

RazorSharpPro

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

The number of entries continues to climb and the field has grown to 186 runners, but it is hard to provide exact numbers while the number of alternates continues to grow. However, it's safe to say that this is just the tip of the iceberg and Day 1b looks set to easily eclipse yesterday's opening flight.

Fresh from their High Roller final table appearances where they finished second and third respectively, Takashi Ogura and Ivan Hong Cheong Lee are in action, as is Taiwan's Jen Chen Chiu.

Player	Chips	Progress
Takashi Ogura	31,500
Jen Chen Chiu	30,000
Hon Cheong Lee	28,800

09-22-2018 15:27 UTC+8

More Pics from Day 1b of the PKC Main Event

RazorSharpPro

09-22-2018 15:24 UTC+8

Post Break Stacks

RazorSharpPro

Level 4 : 100/200, 25 ante

The players are back from the break and back into the action. It is still too early to determine a definitive chip leader, but those whose stacks are moving in the right direction include Hong Kong's Fuk On Wang and Andy Ying Kit Chan, as well as the ever-active Zhao Yanchao.

However, poker being a zero sum game, this means some players have less than they started with, including Ireland's Mark Gruendemann, Portugal's Antonio Martins and Belgium's Bart Luyckx, who made it through on Day 1a with a stack of 32,200, so is evidently trying to get through for a second time with more chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fuk On Wang	40,000	10,000
Andy Ying Kit Chan	36,000	6,000
Zhao Yanchao	35,000	35,000
Antonio Martins	20,500	20,500
Bart Luyckx	18,700	-13,500
Mark Gruendemann	18,000	-12,000

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 25

09-22-2018 15:00 UTC+8

Break Time

RazorSharpPro

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

The Main Event players are on their first 10-minute break of the day. There are now 17 ten-handed tables in operation with 170 players seated, and still plenty waiting in the wings as alternates. As such it is hard to gauge exactly how many entries there are currently in action as there have been a few early bust outs.

However, with the format offering unlimited reentry, the fact that players can come straight back in after they bust means that several players have already reentered and are just waiting to get back into action.

09-22-2018 14:59 UTC+8

Zhou Building Early

RazorSharpPro

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

With over US$1.8 million in live tournament winnings and five tournament titles to his name, including two High Roller titles, it's fair to say that Quan Zhou knows his way around a card table.

The Chinese player is utilizing his formidable tournament knowledge to chip up at an unhurried pace and is building steadily. We caught Zhou in action shortly before the first break, opening from under-the-gun with a bet of 550.

A short-stacked player with less than 8,000 in his stack flat called the button and the small blind also chose to come along for the ride to take the action three-way to a flop of .

Following a check from the small blind, Zhou made a standard continuation bet of 550, which was enough to get the button to bow out, but not the small blind, who shot Zhou a suspicious stare and threw in the call.

The turn paired the board and brought a check from the small blind and a second barrel from Zhou, this one a slightly larger 1,025, which was called.

The river brought a third check and subsequently, a third barrel from Zhou, this time for 2,600. This heralded the start of a staring contest between the two players as the clock ticked over into the break.

Zhou however, gave nothing away and his opponent eventually grudgingly mucked and headed off on break, leaving Zhou to scoop the pot and climb to 52,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Quan Zhou	52,000

09-22-2018 14:41 UTC+8

Wu Doesn't Believe

RazorSharpPro

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

Several of the players are splashing around in a lot of the early pots, and we have witnessed a great deal of multi-way action. That trend continued when Lin Wu opened the action to 500 from under-the-gun and picked up three customers to take the action four-way to a flop of .

While Wu looked non-plussed at all the callers, that did not stop him from leading out for 600. While this was enough to chase out the first caller, the other two still seemed keen and both tossed in the call to take play three-way to the turn.

Wu did not look happy about the arrival of the third spade and checked, opening the door for the middle position caller to take a stab for 1,500. The third player in the hand decided that seemed believable and mucked, but Wu was not convinced and grudgingly slid out the call.

The river completed the hand, and the betting with the action going check, check. Wu rolled over for a turned two pair and his opponent checked his cards, checked the board, rechecked his cards and then mucked, leaving Wu to rake in the pot and climb to 37,000.

Tags: Lin Wu

09-22-2018 14:31 UTC+8

Cohen in Action

RazorSharpPro

Level 3 : 100/200, 0 ante

The USA's Samantha Cohen had a quiet day at the tables yesterday for Day 1a, but has got off to a better start here on Day 1b, taking down an early pot to climb above starting stack.

We arrived on the flop with 1,050 in the pot and the community cards spread just as Cohen (big blind) checked the action over to the pre-flop aggressor, who continuation bet 600. Cohen made the call to keep the pair in action and the dealer peeled off the turn.