button in SafariPacked Field Expected on Day 1c of the Gateway Poker Classic Main Event
The Hollywood Casino & Hotel poker room is expected to be packed today when Day 1c of the RunGood Poker Series Gateway Poker Classic $800 Main Event begins at 11 a.m local time.
A total of 284 players have already entered over the first two flights trying to get their hands on the championship trophy, but that number should increase significantly today. Phil Boyd leads the 35 players who have secured their tickets for Day 2 and is the only player in the million-chip club with 1,082,000.
Current Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phil Boyd | United States | 1,082,000 |
| 2 | Mike Bell | United States | 693,000 |
| 3 | Travis Gillihan | United States | 644,000 |
| 4 | Stephen Martines | United States | 615,000 |
| 5 | Cameron Dugan | United States | 611,000 |
| 6 | Ben Miller | United States | 606,000 |
| 7 | Janelle Rettig | United States | 474,000 |
| 8 | Jeremy Drewery | United States | 462,000 |
| 9 | Keith Heine | United States | 453,000 |
| 10 | Casey Blakeley | United States | 413,000 |
Mike Bell (693,000), Travis Gillihan (644,000), Stephen Martines (615,000), and Cameron Dugan (611,000) round out the top five. Keith Heine, who won the RGPS stop here in St. Louis back in 2023, is also a big stack with 453,000, while RunGood ambassador Jeffrey Copeland is through with 260,000.
A large host of players will try to join them today. Players on Day 1c begin with a 40,000 starting stack, and levels will be 30 minutes. Late registration remains open through the end of Level 8, with unlimited reentries available. There is also a Day 1d flight beginning at 5 p.m. tonight.
All surviving players from the four starting flights combine for Day 2 tomorrow at noon to play down to a champion. The action picks up on the earliest finishing time from one of the flights. Each of the first two flights ended with around 25 minutes remaining in Level 18 with blinds of 8,000/16,000 and a 16,000 big blind ante.
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Stay tuned as PokerNews follows all the action from a crowded field today and provides live updates.