Main Event Day 1b | 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge

The second and final first-day flight for the 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event went off at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Saturday and it was a big one.

After a snow day Friday limited first flight entries to just 84, they drew a whopping 183 entries Saturday. That made it a grand total of 267 entries, outdoing last year's 244 and creating a massive guarantee-smashing $235,681 prizepool.

They'll pay a total of 27 players and first place is a juicy $57,738.

By the time 15 levels of play were through Saturday, just 38 players remained in the thick of it. They will be joined by the 17 survivors from Friday as a total of 55 go through to Sunday's playdown to a final table.

Flight 1b was a seesaw affair that saw the chip lead change hands dozens of time throughout the day. In the end, legendary local rounder Andy Spears faltered a bit and Niagara Falls, Canada's Matt Brunskole grabbed the lead in the last level of the night.

Play will resume at 11 a.m. local time Sunday with the money bubble in sight plans to play down to the final nine and possibly beyond.

PokerNews' coverage of the 2017 WNYPC will continue at that time.

Tags: Andy Spears Matt Brunskole

It's clear skies and sunshine outside as the 2017 Western New York Poker Challenge Main Event continues today inside the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, NY.

Today marks the second of two starting days in this $200,000 Guaranteed tournament and it should be a big one.

The first of two starting flights drew 84 entries on Friday. Just 17 survived the flight with Budwey Salhab grabbing the lead.

A bit of a snow day kept entry to a minimum Friday, but all that is expected to turn around now.

The buy-in is $1,000 and players will start with 30,000 chips. The plan is to play through 15 40-minute levels. Registration and unlimited reentry is available through the 45-minute dinner break, or before the start of Level 11.

The event is being held on the hotel balcony, so it is open to players 18 and up.

Last year pro poker player/bowler hybrid Rick Block outlasted a field of 244 entries to win the title, trophy and a $52,768 first place prize. A pretty big crowd will have to show up today if they are going to match those numbers, but that's not out of the realm of possibilities.

PokerNews will be on hand from the call to shuffle up and deal until they bag and tag starting at 11 a.m. local time, so keep it locked right here.