The clock is reading 146 entries with two levels left to register. Registration for Day 1a closes at the start of Level 9 around 10:35 p.m.
The previous Day 1a in Tunica totaled 177 entries, with this edition's on a similar trajectory.
Level: 7
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 1,000
Action was picked up four ways to a flop of A♠Q♦6♠ in a single-raised pot. When the action folded to an early position player, he jammed for his remaining 18,400. On the button, Chad Marsh called while all subsequent action folded.
Early Position: K♠10♠ 
Chad Marsh: A♥J♣
Marsh was ahead with top pair but his opponent had a flurry of outs with a gutshot and flush draw. Nothing changed on the 9♣ turn and Marsh held through the A♦ river as he improved to trips to knockout his opponent and add his stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
85,000 |
Level: 6
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
Jason Grimes opened to 1,200 from under the gun and Robert Heard called next to act.
On the K♣J♦J♣ flop, Grimes continued for 800 and Heard called.
The turn brought the 8♣. Grimes fired a second barrel for 1,600 and Heard quickly called.
On the 3♠ river, Grimes slowed down with a check and Heard snap-jammed for his remaining 12,400. Grimes took around 30 seconds before he flicked in the call.
Robert Heard: Q♣9♣
Jason Grimes: Q♥J♥
Grimes had flopped trips and couldn't get away as Heard turned a flush and got maximum value on the river as he found the full double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
34,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
15,000 |
In a single-raised pot with the board reading 9♠4♥3♦, Jeremy Drewery bet 3,200 from middle position. On the button, Brandon Terry raised to 14,000 before Drewery three-bet jammed for around 40,000 effective as the covering stack, and Terry called it off.
Brandon Terry: A♣9♦
Jeremy Drewery: 10♦10♣
Terry had flopped top pair but it was no good against the overpair of Drewery. The board ran out J♣3♣ and Drewery held as Terry wished his oppoents good luck on his way to the exit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
95,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 5
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
The players are going on the first 15-minute break of the day. There are currently 116 entries.
Action resumes in Level 5 with blinds at 300/600/600.
After a series of raises, John Duke five-bet all-in as the covering stack over Jesse Lott's four-bet. After some time in the tank, Lott decided to call it off for 69,300, almost 140 big blinds.
Jesse Lott: K♥K♣
John Duke: Q♥Q♣
Lott made the correct call and even had Duke's suits covered. The board ran out 10♥8♦3♦A♥7♣ and Lott got the full double in by far the largest pot of the tournament thus far.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
140,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
15,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
The action was picked up with the cards on their backs in a three-way all-in between David Frazier from middle position, Christopher Lockwood from the cutoff, and Vincent Freeman from the small blind for around 14,000 each. Frazier and Lockwood had a side-pot for around 9,500 each, with Frazier the at-risk player.
Vincent Freeman: Q♦Q♣
David Frazier: A♠A♥
Christopher Lockwood: 5♠5♣
Lockwood was trying to claim a double knockout as the covering stack but Frazier stayed ahead on the J♠9♥8♥ flop. However, Freeman spiked a two-outer on the Q♥ turn, but Frazier picked up a flush draw. In dramatic fashion, the dealer peeled the 7♥ on the river to give Frazier the winner as Freeman hit the exit and Lockwood was left short.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
65,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
7,000 | |
|
Busted |
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