Shouyi Gao Claims Chip Lead for Day 1b of Event #1: $400 Mystery Bounty
With 4:17 on the clock of level 17, Day 1b has come to an end with Shouyi Gao emerging as the chip leader after amassing an impressive 920,000. The player closest to Gao was Jacob Mitich, who bagged 806,000 heading into Day 2. In a distant third was Lashawn Myles, who managed to bag up 670,000 by the time play ended.
Gao had a late-night surge, including a hand where he doubled through Justin Arnwine after calling a large bluff by Arnwine on the river. From that point, Gao was near or already in the chip lead and didn't take any major hits to his stack for the rest of the day.
Day 1b began with 94 players, which was a notable increase from Day 1a. By level 7, that number had swelled to 293 entries — surpassing the Day 1a total of 278. When late registration ended there were 334 entrants. That number is expected to be surpassed in the upcoming flights, which tend to creep upward as the event goes on.
Jay Jin would end up as the unfortunate bubble boy. Jin, who had been nursing a short stack for most of the day, ended up calling all-in against Jared Hyman with a dominated draw and failed to improve. Other notables who fell short of the money include Justin Arnwine and Yaser Al-Keliddar, who fired a couple bullets but was unable to get any real momentum throughout the day.
The field shrank from 33 to 26 in short order, with Cordero Hines claiming the final elimination of the day after getting an opponent all-in preflop and holding with ace-king against his opponent's ace-ten. All seven players who were eliminated after the money bubble received a $500 payout.
The remaining 26 players from Day 1b will join the survivors from all the other Day 1 flights beginning on Sunday, January 29 at noon for Day 2. Pokernews will be providing coverage for Day 1c next at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 27, so be sure to follow for all the action as Event #1: $400 Mystery Bounty continues.
The 2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open $400 Mystery Bounty Schedule
| Day | Date | Starting Time | Late Reg | Entries | Survivors | Further Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1a | Wednesday January 25 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | 278 | 22 | 10% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1b | Thursday January 26 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | 334 | 26 | 10% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1c | Friday January 27 | 11:00 | End of Level 11 | tbd | tbd | 10% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1d | Friday January 27 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | tbd | tbd | 10% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1e | Saturday January 28 | 11:00 | End of Level 11 | tbd | tbd | 10% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 1f | Saturday January 28 | 17:00 | End of Level 11 | tbd | tbd | 10% of field will be in the money, play down to 8% |
| Day 2 | Sunday January 29 | 12:00 | - | - | - | Level duration increases to 45 mins, play down to a winner |
board. Jin called off his remaining stack after flipping a coin and hands were revealed.
completed the board — eliminating Jin on the money bubble. 
flop and Arnwine led out for 40,000 on the 
turn. Gao called. 
completed the board and Arnwine announced he was all in, which was enough to put Gao all in for his remaining 165,000. Gao snap called and Arnwine could only show 
for a busted straight draw. Gao tabled 
for a rivered pair of kings and doubled up. 
flop and both players checked on the 
turn. Jekins led out for 6,000 on the 
for eight-high. Jenkins revealed 
for a pair of tens and dragged the pot.
, Andrew Sekot shoved for his last 18,300 from the big blind against Jay Jin, who was under-the-gun. 
