Main Event
Day 1b Started
2017 PokerStars Festival Dublin
Main Event
Day: 1b
Welcome to the PokerStars Festival Dublin Main Event Day 1B
After an exciting day's play yesterday, the players here in Dublin are ready for another exciting flight of the PokerStars Festival Main Event.
A total of 137 came together for Day 1A of the Main Event, and more are expected today as we get closer to finalising our Day 2 field.
Players will receive 30,000 in chips for their buy-in, and will have 12 45-minute levels to get close to Yuriy Boyko, who bagged the Day 1A chip lead with a total of 196,900 chips.
Here is the structure for today:
| Level | Length | Small Blind | Big Blind | Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | 50 | 100 | 0 |
| 2 | 45 | 75 | 150 | 0 |
| 3 | 45 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
| 4 | 45 | 250 | 300 | 50 |
| 5 | 45 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
| 6 | 45 | 250 | 500 | 75 |
| 7 | 45 | 300 | 600 | 100 |
| 8 | 45 | 400 | 800 | 100 |
| 9 | 45 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
| 10 | 45 | 600 | 1,200 | 200 |
| 11 | 45 | 800 | 1,600 | 200 |
| 12 | 45 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 300 |
If any players are to bust from Day 1B, there is still the chance to qualify for Day 2 through the special turbo Day 1C flight which starts at 21:30. Level lengths are slashed to 20 minutes long and that will be players' final chance to qualify for Day 2.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the updates live from the Regency Hotel in Dublin.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Cards Are In the Air!
![[user252447]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The shuffle and deal has been declared and play is underway for Day 1b of the Main Event.
All Kicking Off
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
There are a number of notable poker pros playing Day 1b today but, as is their wont, they have yet to take their seat preferring to wait for the later levels when the antes kick in.
At the tables for the first cards off the deck though are ex-footballers Wayne Bridge and Michael Duberry who are special guests of PokerStars and both keen to put in a good showing.
Duberry had a result late last night when he finished third in the hotly contested Media Tournament. He was short on chips when a multi-way all in saw him ladder up and declare it a, “Win for patience.”
That finish also meant Duberry won a last longer versus Bridge who now owes him lunch and Duberry is now on the look out for the most expensive lunch in Dublin.
Also early to the nine handed baize is seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | |
|
|
30,000 | |
|
30,000 |
Names in the Field
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Former UKIPT Dublin champion Kevin Killeen is in the field. His victory came back in February 2014 when he took down the tournament for €87,700. Seated at his table is member of PokerStars Team Online Fintan Hand who tweeted about the seating draw.
Look what the cat dragged in. First table of the @PokerStars festival Dublin.
— Fintan Hand (@EasyWithAces)
PokerStars Live at the Hippodrome sponsored player Kelly Saxby is also seated on Day 1B.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
More Familiar Faces
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The room is steadily filling up with 162 entries now on the board.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
|
30,000 | 30,000 |
Early Pots for Duberry and Saxby
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
A player raised to 300 from under the gun and got five callers including Michael Duberry. The flop came 
. It checked to Duberry who bet 700. The small blind was the only caller. The turn was the 
. The small blind checked and Duberry bet 1,400. The small blind folded and Duberry took down the pot.
Meanwhile at a neighbouring table Kelly Saxby raised from under the gun and got two callers. She bet 500 on the 
flop and the big blind called. The turn was the 
and the big blind check-folded allowing Saxby to take down the pot. Her stack has taken an early knock, but there is still plenty of time left for her to run it up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
33,000 | 3,000 |
|
|
23,000 | -7,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Backdoor Quads for Edward O'Brien
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
We got to the table on the turn of 
with Ramali Kusnadi betting 700 and Edward O'Brien raising in position to 1,800. Thomas Meyler called and Kusnadi also called.
The river was the 
. Kusnadi checked and O'Brien bet 4,500. Meyler went into the tank
"It's been tough so far lads!" he said before calling. Kusnadi quickly folded.
O'Brien turned over 
for backdoor quads which was enough to take down the pot and leave Meyler short.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
47,000 | |
|
|
6,000 |