The Day 1b field has reached 90 entries and almost half of them have been knocked out already, as there are only 47 players left. This is the final level during the registration period in which players can jump in, though, Day 1c will start soon as well.
"Just put it in," Stephen Courtney joked after munching on his early dinner and facing possible action on the river of a A♠J♥5♥2♣5♦ board. When Toran Tate bet, Courtney indeed snap-folded and Tate flashed the A♦.
It was limped to Tanith Rothman in the blinds and she pushed all-in for around 23,000. Initial limper Didier Mery jammed his larger stack and Anthony Charter folded.
Tanith Rothman: J♥J♦
Didier Mery: 7♣7♥
The dominated pair improved to a set on the A♦6♣2♠7♦3♦ board to send Rothman to the rail.
Damian Nigro was the latest casualty for The Hendon Mob as he revealed "Busto. Got quite a bit of hands and even hit the flop decently but could hardly fade turn or river." That leaves two qualifiers and Anthony Charter in the mix.
On a larger pot to the 10♠8♥2♦10♣5♣ river, Greg Mokgoathleng bet 15,000. Marko Nortje reluctantly folded and Corne Schalkwyk did so as well. Mokgoathleng flashed the 3♠3♣ before collecting the pot and Schalkwyk sighed "I should have just gone all-in preflop.
In the meanwhile, defending champion Rachid Amamou joined the same table while Edgar Antezana bowed out one table over.
Jacobus de Nysschen got his dominated ace into the middle preflop and flipped over the A♣5♣. He was up against Jon Persent with the A♦Q♦ and failed to improve on the J♣8♥2♦2♣9♠ runout.
Out of a field of 95 entries, only 52 players remain and they are on the third scheduled 10-minute break. When the cards go back in the air, the late registration for this flight will be closed. However, Day 1c is about to start on the hour and that has 11 levels of 30 minutes for those interested to jump in.
An unofficial 97 entries have emerged for the second flight with some 54 players remaining. Maxwell Young jumped in at the last minute, while Francis Vanderlinden and Bradley Moore departed soon after the end of the registration period.
Rachid Amamou was all-in for 22,000 with the K♥9♥ on the 9♦6♣4♣ flop and looked up by Marko Nortje, who showed the 10♣8♣ for a gutshot and flush draw. The J♦ turn gave Nortje more outs but the 4♦ river was a blank for the defending champion to double.