$1,000 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2018 Seneca Fall Poker Classic
$1,000 Main Event
Day: 1a
Barry Kruger Bags the Lead in Day 1a of the Seneca Fall Poker Classic 2018 Main Event
Level 15
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
The tournament had a smaller than usual turn out for this event with just 21 entries being gathered and only three players making it through by the end of level 15. The person to bag the largest stack of the three remaining players in the first flight of the Seneca Fall Poker Classic 2018 $1,000 Main Event was Canada's Barry Kruger.
Kruger found himself atop the leader board very early in the day and never let off the gas as he accumulated an overly impressive 424,000 in chips. The Toronto native seemed to be on a steady climb during the final table, never really having any set backs and sending several people out the door. One of which was well know Canadian grinder Jason James, who was eliminated by Krugers rockets, putting him out in fifth place.
The other two players moving on are Seneca regular Alex Visbisky (166,000) and Canadian Nicola Stagliano (40,000). Visbisky grinded most of the day, showing patience as he picked very optimal spots to be aggressive and it was not until he had just under 20 big blinds that he got all in behind, with his top pair of tens against Stagliano's over pair of jacks. A fortunate card landed on the river for Visbisky, as an ace hit the table, giving him two pair and pushing him over the six figure mark for the first time in the tournament.
The Day 1a flight gathered a total of $19,110 towards the prize pool. Look for the next two Day 1's to more than exceed the $200,000 guarantee and accumulate another great first place prize at the Fall Poker Classic.
Some notable players to finish just shy of making the Day 2 include Henry Zou, Seneca regular Daniel Wagner, and well-known Canadian Peter Raimondi.
The Day 1b flight will be starting at 11 a.m. on Friday the 16th. All players can join, including those who were eliminated on Day 1a and those who want to try for a larger stack than they bagged already.
The PokerNews reporting team will be bringing you all of the live coverage for the remainder of the Fall Poker Classic Main Event.
Alemkunnapuzha Doesn't Make Day 2
Level 15
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
George Alemkunnapuzha moved all in for his remaining chips and Alex Visbisky made the call. The two players turned over their hands and Alemkunnapuzha would be at risk of elimination.
Alex Visbisky: 
George Alemkunnapuzha: 
The flop came down 
and Visbisky moved even further ahead with his set of sixes. The 
on the turn have Alemkunnapuzha a flush draw and he hit it on the river when the 
landed on the table but it also gave Visbisky quads. Alemkunnapuzha was eliminated from tournament as the Day 2 bubble boy.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
424,000 | 2,000 |
|
166,000 | 51,000 |
|
|
40,000 | -4,500 |
|
|
Busted |
Updated Chip Counts
Level 15
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
422,000 | 18,000 |
|
|
115,000 | 8,000 |
|
|
54,000 | -13,000 |
|
|
44,500 | -7,500 |
Kruger Sends James Home Late in the Day
Level 15
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Jason James moved all in for around 55,000, Barry Kruger made the call and the players turned over their hands with James at risk of elimination.
Barry Kruger: 
Jason James:
The board ran out 
and Kruger's aces held on to eliminate James from the tournament. Kruger now has a commanding chip lead as the remaining four players battle it out to find a seat in Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
404,000 | 82,000 |
|
|
107,000 | 3,000 |
|
|
67,000 | -7,200 |
|
|
52,000 | -45,500 |
|
Busted |
Level: 15
Blinds: 1,500/3,000
Ante: 3,000
Chip Up Break
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 2,400 ante
The players will now be taking a quick five-minute break to chip up all the 100 black chips.
Alemkunnapuzha Sticking Around
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 2,400 ante
George Alemkunnapuzha moved all in for his remaining 35,100, Jason James made the call and the players turned over their hands with Alemkunnapuzha at risk of elimination.
George Alemkunnapuzha: 
Jason James: 
The board ran out 
and Alemkunnapuzha's pair of jacks took down the pot, doubling his stack through James.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
74,200 | 12,200 |
|
|
46,500 | -55,500 |
Johnny's are Not Good for Stagliano
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 2,400 ante
The flop showed 
, action checked to Alex Visbisky who bet 8,000 into a pot around 22,000 and Nicola Stagliano raised to 20,000 from the button. Action folded to Visbisky who moved all in for 41,000 and Stagliano made the call, putting Visbisky at risk of elimination.
Visbisky tabled 
for top pair with top kicker, Stagliano showed 
for an over pair and the best hand. The on the turn changed nothing but the Visbisky managed to suck out when the 
slammed down on the river. Visbisky doubled through Stagliano with his two pair and eclipsed the 100k mark for the first time today.
The very next hand Stagliano called an all in from Jason James for 48,900 and the players turned over their hands with James at risk of elimination.
Jason James: 
Nicola Stagliano:
The flop came down 
and Stagliano was still ahead with his jacks. The 
on the turn moved James ahead with his pair of ladies. A peeled off on the river, giving Stagliano a set of jacks but also improving the hand of James who hit broadway. James took down the pot and Stagliano now finds himself near the bottom of the barrel as Day 1a is drawing near to an end.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
104,000 | 53,500 |
|
|
102,000 | 52,000 |
|
|
97,500 | -47,500 |
Updated Chip Counts
Level 14
: 1,200/2,400, 2,400 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
322,000 | 72,500 |
|
|
145,000 | -1,500 |
|
|
62,000 | 7,000 |
|
|
50,500 | -10,700 |
|
|
50,000 | -48,500 |