$200 No-Limit Hold'em
Day 1a Started
2018 Western New York Poker Challenge
$200 No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018 Western New York Poker Challenge
Buy-in
$200
Prize Pool
$128,877
Entries
798
Level
31
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000
Cards Hit the Felt Today for the 2018 Western New York Poker Challenge
![[user270022]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
The 2018 Western New York Poker Challenge (WNYPC) kicks off this morning at the Seneca Niagra Resort & Casino with the first of eight events played over the course of the next 11 days. Running through April 6-16, poker fans in the area will be treated to some low buy-in, big value events culminating with a $200,000 guaranteed Main Event set to get underway on April 13.
The first event of the series features a buy-in of $200 and a guaranteed prize pool of $50,000. Players will have four shots to qualify for Day 2 with starting flights scheduled at 10:00 A.M and 6:00 P.M local time today and tomorrow with the survivors returning on Sunday to play down to a champion.
Players will start with 15,000 in tournament chips and play either 14 30-minute blind levels or until the field gets down to 12% remaining. Registration will remain open until the end of the eighth level and players are permitted to play any of the Day 1 flights with only their top stack carrying forward to Day 2.
In 2017, Nick Walker claimed the victory in the kickoff event topping a field of 638 entries en route to a cash prize worth $17,404. Though, with a deal made between the final four players, Matt Heiligenthaler actually banked the top prize walking away with $23,000.
Here's a look at the schedule for the 2018 WNYPC:
PokerNews will be here throughout the festival, bringing you all the news and live updates. Follow @pokernews on Twitter, on Facebook, and Instagram.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal!
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The cards are in the air here on Day 1a. The tournament clock currently shows 39 entries with registration open for the next eight levels.
Brunskole in the Filed
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
Canadian Matthew Brunskole has hopped across the border to test his luck in another Niagra Falls event. Brunskole's latest cash was a big one here claiming victory in the kickoff event at the 2017 Fall Poker Classic right here in this very room.
The win gave Brunskole $36,024 to add to his resume crossing the $100k mark in the process. Brunskole has four recorded cashes here in Niagra Falls poker room so we'll be keeping an eye on him as the tournament progresses.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
15,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Don't Keep Your Fans in the Dark, My Stack App Activated for the 2018 WNYPC
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
The PokerNews MyStack App is available for players here at the 2018 Western New York Poker Challenge, allowing players to directly update their chip count on the PokerNews Live Reporting page for their friends and family to see.
You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.
Be forewarned, however, any abuse of the app will result in account suspension or termination.
Reid Takes Early Lead
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
Things escalated pretty quickly in a threeway pot between Canadian Colin Reid and two tablemates. After a player made it 600 preflop, Reid popped it up to 3,000, getting a call from the other player in the pot.
The original raiser moved all-in for around 10,000 sparking calls from both Reid and the three-bet flatter.
Colin Reid: 
Original Raiser: 
Three-bet Flatter: 
A huge cooler had Reid in great shape to take down a huge pot and after a 
run out, all the chips were pushed Reid's way.
Reid finished runner-up in this very event last spring. He's off to a good start to improve on that this time around.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000 | 25,000 |
Level: 3
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0
Nice Boost for Marciniak
Level 3
: 100/200, 0 ante
Carrie Marciniak opened with a bet of 700, receiving calls from three other players in the pot. The flop fanned out 
and the player in the big blind slid out a bet worth 1,000. Marciniak was the only player to make the call bringing the 
on the turn.
The player in the big blind led out once more wagering 1,600 and Marciniak quickly called.
The board completed with the 
and the player in the big blind fired a third barrel worth 2,200 and Marciniak called. Marciniak was showed the 
but she had better revealing the 
to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
20,500 |