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$1,100 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia
$1,100 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$860,160
Total Entries
896
Level
35
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
125
Players Left
16
Players Left 1 / 896
Filter
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
It was an action-filled opening day of the $1,100 Main Event at the 2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia series, as 125 entries were recorded in the first of four starting flights.
After play concluded at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, just 16 players were left standing, having secured a bag for Day 2 along with a shot at the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
The final hand of the night was won by Abel Gebeyehu, bringing an end to hand-for-hand play while increasing his impressive chip lead. The Maryland native bagged up a commanding chip advantage, collecting 992,000 to lead the pack by a wide margin after 16 levels of play.
Sitting in second is Angel Lopez (651,000), who scored a double knockout on the second-last level of the night to vault up the leaderboard. Rounding out the top three is Aaron Shapiro (470,000), who found a triple-up with aces to stay alive and build from there.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abel Gebeyehu | United States | 992,000 | 165 |
| 2 | Angel Lopez | United States | 651,000 | 109 |
| 3 | Aaron Shapiro | United States | 470,000 | 78 |
| 4 | Casey Hatmaker | United States | 433,000 | 72 |
| 5 | Joseph Grodowski | United States | 382,000 | 64 |
| 6 | John Machen | United States | 329,000 | 55 |
| 7 | Donald Himpele Jr | United States | 255,000 | 43 |
| 8 | Alberto Sabogali | United States | 247,000 | 41 |
| 9 | Steven Christopher | United States | 227,000 | 38 |
| 10 | Percy Abraham | United States | 200,000 | 33 |
Opening Day Action
Some familiar faces joined the field on Day 1a, including PokerStars Ambassador Arlie Shaban. The day did not go as planned, as Shaban used two bullets but could not build any momentum before late registration closed.
Defending champion Edward Leonard, who conquered the field last year at Live! Philadelphia, also saw his day come to an early end when David Semless flopped an ace to score the knockout. Semless went on to bag up 116,000 chips, sitting among the short stacks after the opening flight.
The loudest hand of the night came in the double knockout for Lopez, hitting the river to send Jordan Ludwick out in disbelief. Ludwick had seen his pocket kings lose on the river twice in a span of three hands earlier in the day, and vented his frustration after watching his stack disappear late in the night.
The bubble burst late in Level 16, when Louis Lu shoved into Gebeyehu's flopped straight to exit in 17th place. That left the remaining 16 players in the money, bagging up for a chance at the title on Sunday, March 22.
$1,100 Main Event Remaining Schedule
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mar. 19 | Day 1b | 11:15 a.m. |
| Mar. 20 | Day 1c | 11:15 a.m. |
| Mar. 21 | Day 1d | 10:15 a.m. |
| Mar. 22 | Day 2 | 11:15 a.m. |
The second flight begins on Thursday, March 19 at 11:15 a.m. local time. Players will once again start with 40,000 chips, looking to reach the final 12.5% of their field on Day 1b.
Levels will continue to be 40 minutes long, with unlimited reentries available until late registration closes at the start of Level 13.
Blinds start at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante, and 15-minute breaks are scheduled after every two hours of play. Players will also get a 40-minute dinner break after Level 9.
Don’t miss any of the action, as the PokerNews team will have continuing coverage during every flight of the PokerStars Open Philadelphia Main Event.
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
992,000 | |
|
||
|
651,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
470,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
433,000
172,000
|
172,000 |
|
382,000
146,000
|
146,000 |
|
329,000
86,000
|
86,000 |
|
255,000
87,000
|
87,000 |
|
247,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
227,000
125,000
|
125,000 |
|
200,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
175,000 | |
|
174,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
|
146,000
18,000
|
18,000 |
|
140,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
|
116,000 | |
|
105,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Players have bagged up for Day 2, with 16 survivors earning a spot in the money.
Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap of the opening flight.
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Abel Gebeyehu checked the 3♠7♥5♣ flop from the big blind, and Louis Lu bet 15,000 in early position. Gebeyehu then check-raised to 40,000 and made the quick call when Lu announced all in.
Louis Lu: A♠7♦ 
Abel Gebeyehu: 6♦4♦
Lu's pair of sevens was trailing Gebeyehu's flopped straight, and nothing changed on the J♣ turn or J♦ river. That left Lu eliminated on the bubble, and the remaining 16 players got set to bag up for Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
992,000
217,000
|
217,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Just 17 players remain, needing one more elimination to bring an end to Day 1a.
The tournament clock has been paused, as action is now hand for hand.
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Louis Lu limped in early position, and David Semless followed with a call on his left. Jorden Andrugsurba moved all in from the hijack, and was at risk when John Machen shoved his larger stack.
Lu and Semless folded, and the cards were turned up.
Jorden Andrugsurba: A♠K♦
John Machen: K♠K♥
Manchen saw his pocket kings improve to a flush on the 3♥6♥4♥5♥10♦ runout, sending Andrugsurba out before the money bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
415,000
273,000
|
273,000 |
|
|
172,000
78,000
|
78,000 |
|
|
116,000
76,000
|
76,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Casey Hatmaker raised to 12,000 in early position before Percy Abraham moved all in for 94,000 in the cutoff. After taking a moment, Joseph Crowley shoved his larger stack on the button, and Hatmaker quickly got out of the way.
Percy Abraham: A♣K♥
Joseph Crowley: Q♠Q♦
The 10♠4♥3♣ flop left Crowley's queens in the lead, but Abraham connected with the K♣ turn. Abraham's double was confirmed on the K♠ river, winning the flip on the money bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
605,000
605,000
|
605,000 |
|
|
210,000
48,000
|
48,000 |
|
|
175,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
Level: 16
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
