button in SafariOry Hen Leads, Craig Welko Makes a Big Push For POY on Day 1b of the RGPS Pompano Beach Main Event
Craig Welko’s bid to become the RunGood Poker Series Player of the Year got a big boost on Day 1b of the RunGood Passport Season $1,110 Pompano Beach Main Event.
Welko, holding a narrow lead over Nick Rigby atop the leaderboard, was one of nine players who survived the second starting flight and will come back tomorrow for Day 2 to chase the championship ring. Welko earned a big double up in the closing moments of the day, turning two pair to crack Art Peacock’s aces, as he ended up with 491,000 and in third place.
It was Peacock who was responsible for the last two eliminations of Day 1b, however. He first won a race with sevens against ace-queen to bust Eugene Katchalov. On the money bubble, Peacock woke up with ace-jack in the big blind after Michael Panto shoved for 50,000 with queen-jack. Peacock’s ace-kicker continued to play, and Panto became the unfortunate bubble boy.
Day 1b Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ory Hen | United States | 858,000 |
| 2 | Art Peacock | United States | 676,000 |
| 3 | Craig Welko | United States | 491,000 |
| 4 | Sergio Giha | United States | 253,000 |
| 5 | Corey Paggeot | United States | 253,000 |
| 6 | Fred Bunchan | United States | 239,000 |
| 7 | Will Underdown | United States | 174,000 |
| 8 | Walter Vanschaick | United States | 128,000 |
| 9 | Tom Milmore | United States | 49,000 |
The WPT champion bagged up a massive stack of 676,000, but he and the rest of the field are looking up at Ory Hen. Hen bagged up 858,000 and took the overall chip lead heading into Day 2. Sergio Giha (253,000), Corey Paggeot (253,000), and Fred Bunchan (239,000) also made it through the day, while Will Underdown (174,000), Walter Vanschaick (128,000), and Tom Milmore (49,000) are further down the leaderboard.
Among those to fail to survive the day were newly-crowned WPT champion Ian Cohen, Matt Glantz, Rigby, Luke Brereton, and Antonio Delacruz.
Day 1b drew 78 total entries, bringing the total field up to 126 through two starting flights. There are also currently 58 players registered for the Day 1c flight that is ongoing, with around 30 minutes left for late registration. The 15 players who have already secured a spot on Day 2 will return tomorrow at noon local time, with action picking up on the earliest finishing time from one of the starting flights. Day 1b ended with nine minutes remaining in Level 16 with blinds of 5,000/10,000 and a 10,000 big blind ante.
PokerNews will be back tomorrow to follow all the action as the championship ring awaits one lucky player here at Harrah’s Pompano Beach.