The beginning of level 12 marks the end of late registration for Day 1a.
In total there were 278 entrants, which represents a significant increase from the 207 entrants from the $400 opening event back in 2020.
The tournament director annoucned 27 players will make the money today, while 22 will bag into Day 2.
A short-stacked Yaser Al-Keliddar was all in preflop against Chris Quintanilla.
Yaser Al-Keliddar: 
Chris Quintanilla: 
Al-Keliddar had run into rockets, and the 
runout was of no help — sending the defending champion to the rail.
Al-Keliddar, and all players who fail to make Day 2, will have many more chances in the upcoming five day-1 flights over the next several days.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
90,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level: 13
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
A player shoved for around 20,000 from the hijack and Yamil Saenz re-raised from the small blind. The big blind quickly folded and hands were revealed.
Hijack: 
Yamil Saenz: 
Saenz was ahead, and the 
runout kept Saenz best — eliminating his opponent from the tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
320,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
|
275,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
220,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
|
|
80,000 | |
|
75,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
David Simard opened to 9,000 from the cutoff and was called by the small blind and Christian Taylor in the big blind.
Action checked to Simard on the 
flop and he continued for 22,000. The small blind folded and Taylor then check-raised to 85,000 total.
Simard thought it over and slid out a re-raise to 222,000. Taylor called all in for slightly less than 200,000 and hands were revealed.
David Simard: 
Christian Taylor: 
Both players held a flush draw, but Simard was ahead with his ace.
The 
turn improved Simard to two pair and the river sealed Taylor's elimination.
Simard is the current chip leader with about 500,000 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
500,000
225,000
|
225,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 14
Blinds: 2,500/5,000
Ante: 5,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
500,000 | |
|
330,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
|
300,000
180,000
|
180,000 |
|
|
285,000
235,000
|
235,000 |
|
|
280,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
|
|
265,000
-35,000
|
-35,000 |
|
|
250,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
|
75,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
70,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
Arthur Nalls was heads up from the big blind against Chris Quintanilla in the cutoff on a flop of 
.
Nalls bet enough to put Quintanilla all in for his last 50,000 and Quintanilla called all in after some deliberation.
Chris Quintanilla:
Arthur Nalls: 
Nalls was best with his flopped two pair. The turn and 
river failed to improve Quintanilla and he was sent to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
360,000 | |
|
|
Busted |
Players are on another 15-minute break.
Just 36 players remain in contention. Of those, 27 will make the money and 22 will bag into Day 2.
Level: 15
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
