The payout details have been confirmed by the organization.
With 167 entries for Day 1b this means that 20 players will be in the money as this is 12% of the field while only 13 players will bag up for Day 2 on Sunday, February 9. Seven players will be walking away with $550 in their pockets for cashing but not bagging.
Wesley Brown raised to 7,000 from under the gun and was called by the player on his left. Action folded to Andrew Chang on the button who three-bet to 18,000. The blinds folded and both Brown and the other player called.
The flop came 
, Brown checked, the other player shoved and Chang asked for a count. The dealer confirmed the shove was for 56,000. Chang made the call and Brown folded after looking at his cards once more.
Early Position: 
Andrew Chang: 
Chang had the overpair while his opponent had flopped top pair.
The turn was the 
which didn't change things and neither did the 
on the river as Chang claimed an elimination to his name.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
187,000
32,000
|
32,000 |
|
|
186,000 |
Kenneth Lee had raised from the middle position and Andrew Jeffrey shoved from the cutoff. Action folded back to Lee who made the call.
Andrew Jeffrey: 
Kenneth Lee: 
The board ran out 
for Lee to hold with the higher kicker to eliminate Jeffrey.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
418,000
108,000
|
108,000 |
|
Busted |
Jayson Craddock shoved from the middle position for 45,000 and Pearce Arnold shoved for more in the cutoff for the rest of the table to fold. Once all the action on the other tables was completed, the cards could go on their backs.
Jayson Craddock: 
Pearce Arnold: 
The board ran out 
for Arnold to hold with the pair of jacks and send Craddock to the rail as the bubble boy.
The rest of the field is now guaranteed at least $550 if they bust today and more if they make it to Day 2. Play will end when there are 13 players left.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
170,000
28,000
|
28,000 |
|
|
Busted |
At the start of Level 18, play ended immediately when there were 13 players left on Day 1b of the $400 Opening Event of the Potomac Winter Poker Open in the MGM National Harbor. Day 1b attracted 167 entries and 20 players made the money. Seven players busted and cashed for $550 before the 13 remaining players made it through to Day 2 to claim a bigger share of the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Patrick Dewey has taken the Day 1b chip lead honors with 594,000 in chips. He is followed by Michael Lisman (536,000) and Andrew Chang (520,000) as the only players to cross the 400,000-mark. Pearce Arnold will start Day 2 with 394,000 in chips after also being responsible for bursting the money bubble by eliminating Jayson Craddock when he held a pair of jacks. Craddock held king-queen and got no help from the board.
Wesley Brown, Arthur Gauthier, Vivian Nguyen, Alexander Pryor were some of the players who busted but did collect $550 for their efforts today. John Georgy was really close to making Day 2 but was the last player to leave the tournament area today without knowing for sure that he would be coming back on Sunday when he ran his ace-nine into the queens of Daniel Wellborn.
All 13 players will return on Sunday, February 9 at noon local time to play down to a winner together with the 16 Day 1a players and the rest who survive any of the other starting flights. PokerNews will be back at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 7 for the coverage of Day 1c and Day 1d so make sure to return then.
The 2020 Potomac Winter Poker Open $400 Opening Event Schedule
| Day | Date | Starting Time | Late Reg | Entries | Survivors | Further Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1a | Wednesday February 5 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | 207 | 16 | 8 players cashed for $550 |
| Day 1b | Thursday February 6 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | 167 | 13 | 7 players cashed for $550 |
| Day 1c | Friday February 7 | 11:00 | End of Level 11 | tba | tba | 12% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1d | Friday February 7 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | tba | tba | 12% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1e | Saturday February 8 | 11:00 | End of Level 11 | tba | tba | 12% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1f | Saturday February 8 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | tba | tba | 12% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 2 | Sunday February 9 | 12:00 | - | tba | - | Level duration increases to 45 mins, FT to 60 mins, play down to a winner |
