Robert Valdez Leads as 90 Players Bag Day 1b of the RIU Reno VIII Main Event
Day 1b of the Run It Up Reno VIII $600 Main Event attracted 362 runners, which along with 1a’s 267 brought the total field up to 629 entries, making it the largest spring event in RIU history. Like it was in the first flight, action was halted with 26:32 remaining in Level 12. At that time, 90 players remained with Robert Valdez and his stack of 326,500 leading the way.
That was well behind that of 1a chip leader Patrick Truong, who made it through Friday night with 471,000. Others to bag big stacks on Day 1b were Andy Camou (200,500), Ryan Schoonbaert (191,000), Joe Brindle (171,500), Stanley Wong (169,500), and Vito Distefano (140,000).
Others to bag were Max Brown (130,000), Ashley Sleeth (111,000), Jason Somerville (83,500), Kevin Martin (65,500), two-time Survivor contestant Shirin Oskooi (63,500), Adam Owen (34,000), and Jesse Sylvia (25,000).
Among those to see their RIU Reno VIII Main Event dreams come and go on Day 1b were Jesse Capps, Fintan “Easy with Aces” Hand, Evan Jarvis, Sasha Liu, Deb Swift, Cat “Catrific” Valdes, Black Chip Bounty champ Donnie McCormick, and six-time RIU Reno trophy winner Jimmy Cappucci.
On Sunday, the surviving 143 players from both Day 1a and 1b - 53 and 90 respectively - will return at Noon local time to play down to the final table. The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand to capture all the action, so be sure to tune in then.
board from UTG+1, and the lojack bet 4,500. Jon Cockey jammed for 16,400, and Watkins went into the tank. Eventually, a clock was called, and around ten seconds into the clock, he tossed calling chips in. The lojack then jammed for 9,200 more, and Watkins called that bet as well.
fell on the river, and Watkins exploded with a "YEAH BABY! COME ON!" 
, the players in the blinds both checked and Tim "VaderNader" Guilford, who last night finished runner-up at the Thursday Thrilla final table, bet 2,000 from middle position.
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appeared on the river.
