The cards are back in the air which means late registration has officially closed for Day 1b. A total of 242 entries have been recorded with just 126 players still remaining. There will be 30 players advancing to Day 2 on Sunday, all of whom will be in the money.
The field has grown to over 220 entries thus far and this is the last chance to register for this flight. The remaining players are going on another 15-minute break and the registration period will be over once the next level begins.
There will be a third and final flight later this evening that will get underway at 6 p.m. local time.
Tyler Kolness just arrived to the party on Table 24 with a fresh stack of 30,000 chips and was faced with a raise from Harold Huggins. Kolness reraised to 7,000 and Huggins called to see a flop of 9♠9♥7♦.
Huggins checked to Kolness who continued with a bet of 5,000. Huggins quickly check-raised all in and Kolness instantly called off his stack of 23,000.
Tyler Kolness: K♣K♦
Harold Huggins: 4♥4♦
"Of course you have it," Huggins said much to his dismay.
The turn was the K♠ and Kolness improved to a full house, leaving Huggins drawing dead to the 5♥ on the river.
There was a raise to 3,000 in middle position and Jason Maeroff called in the cutoff. The small blind ripped all in for around 15,000 and the action folded back to Maeroff who called.
Opponent: K♦J♣
Jason Maeroff: K♠Q♣
Maeroff found himself in a dominating position and the flop of 10♠5♥3♥ left it that way. The 5♠ on the turn paired the board and the Q♦ hit the river for good measure to give Maeroff the best hand and eliminate his opponent.
Justin Arnwine has made a living out of winning poker tournaments, lots of them, but his crowning achievement came last week at the final table of the $1,700 RGPS Grand Prix Maryland Main Event.
Arnwine won the ring and $80,646 top prize for beating out the 251-entry field, putting on a masterclass in how to close out a tournament at the final table before ultimately defeating the uproarious and unpredictable Russ Dunlevy heads-up.
In a three-bet pot, Mary Fowler was heads-up with the player on her right. The flop came A♠9♥7♠ and both players committed 15,000 each to the pot.
The 9♠ paired the board on the turn and Fowler shoved all in for 22,100. Her opponent called and Fowler turned over the goods with A♥A♣ for a full house. Her opponent was drawing to just a single out with 10♦9♦. The river was the 7♥ and Fowler held on to double up her stack.
Brad Wilkerson was eliminated on the stone bubble late last night and was back at the felt today in another attempt to reach Day 2 and get into the money positions. However, the struggles have continued for Wilkerson after getting involved in a pot with Angela Sayers.
On a flop of 10♦7♦6♠, Wilkerson led out with a bet of 6,500 in early position. Sayers shoved all in for 15,700 and Wilkerson flicked in a chip to call.
Angela Sayers: 10♣6♣
Brad Wilkerson: A♠K♥
"Two pair," Sayers announced as she tabled her cards, much to the dismay of Wilkerson. "You know I play those bulls*** cards."
The A♥ on the turn gave Wilkerson some hope but the J♠ bricked out on the river as he passed a double up across the table.
Timothy Earls raised to 2,000 from under the gun and Stephen Morgan just called from the big blind. The flop fell K♣10♠10♥ and both players checked to the Q♦ on the turn.
Morgan led out with a bet of 5,000 and Earls called to see the 9♣ on the river. Morgan flicked in another bet of 5,000 and Earls gave it some thought before making the call. Morgan flipped over A♠J♠ for a straight and Earls flashed his AxKx before it hit the muck.