Matt Brunskole Leads 33 Main Event First Flight Survivors

The 2017 Seneca Niagara Summer Slam Main Event drew 145 entries for the first of two starting flights inside the Niagara Falls Poker Room at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Friday.

A bevvy of local legends, players having a hot Summer Slam series, and defending 2016 Summer Slam Main Event champ Russ Campanella were among those who entered.

By the time 15 40-minute levels of play were through a total of 33 survived and Campanella's title defense is still alive as he was among them.

Canadian Matt Brunskole, who pulled this same trick in the Spring at the Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event, managed to bag the chip lead on over 370,000. He joined the leaders early and got a double knock out late to secure the biggest bag from this group headed to Day 2 Sunday. Chris Damick was right there with him until a late slide. He bagged, but under 100,000.

Other recognizable names that bagged big included Blake Napierala, Adam Foster, Mark Roberts and Jason Nablo. Plus, a host of capable rounders remain in the mix.

In the meantime, the 2017 Seneca Niagara Summer Slam Main Event moves on to its second and final starting flight Saturday. It should be a big one beginning at 11 a.m. local time with registration and reentry available until the start of Level 11. Anyone who can survive that will join this group on Sunday.

PokerNews will of course be on hand to cover all the action, so stay tuned.