Main Event
Day 1b Started
2015 WinStar River Poker Series
Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2015 WinStar River Poker Series
Buy-in
$2,400
Prize Pool
$2,793,600
Entries
1,164
Level
31
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
50,000
Day 1b Kicks Off at 12 p.m. Today
Welcome to Day 1b of the 2015 WinStar River Poker Series $2,500 Main Event. Yesterday's Day 1a saw a field of 262 entries generated. When it was all said and done, just 27 remained with Maury Solano on top of the bunch with over 500,000 in chips.
Today should lend itself to a larger field of competitors, and those who failed to advance from Day 1a will have the option to fire another bullet today. Some of those we expect to see back in the mix are Allen Kessler, Aaron Massey, Matt Stout, Jake Schindler, Barry Hutter, and Ari Engel.
Like yesterday, the plan will be to play down to 10% of the starting field. Action should come to an end around the same time as Day 1a did, which was around 2 a.m. local time.
The cards will be in the air here at WinStar World Casino for Day 1b at 12 p.m., and you can find continued live coverage of the event right here on PokerNews.com. Stay tuned.
Level: 1
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Shuffle Up and Deal!
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
The cards are in the air for Day 1b of the 2015 River Poker Series $2,500 Main Event.
Notables in the Field
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
History of the River Poker Series Main Event
Level 1
: 50/100, 0 ante
First taking place in 2008, the River Poker Series Main Event featured a $3 million prize pool and attracted 1,450 entries. Jim Carroll took the title that year for $700,000 after he defeated Young Cho in heads-up play. In 2009, Bobby Hempkins won $710,000 after topping a field of 1,500 entries, and in 2010, Khoueng Souvoravong beat a field of 1,436 to win $646,690.
Another big field came out in 2011, and Bronson Tucker won $640,400 for topping a field of 1,355 entries. In 2012, it was Aaron Massey taking the title and $651,559 in prize money when he finished first in a field of 1,394 entries.
In 2013, the buy-in was upped to $2,500 after previously being $2,100. Khaophone Inthavong emerged from the field of 1,108 entries that year to earn the $473,900 top prize, and then in 2014 it was Jason Helder winning the event for a cool $1 million thanks to the first-place guarantee. Helder topped a field of 1,323 entries.
| Year | Guarantee | Buy-In | Entries | Winner | Prize | Runner-Up | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $2,500,000 | $2,500 | --TBD-- | --TBD-- | --TBD-- | --TBD-- | --TBD-- |
| 2014 | $2,500,000 | $2,500 | 1,323 | Jason Helder | $1,000,000* | Travis Rice | $340,403 |
| 2013 | $2,500,000 | $2,500 | 1,108 | Khaophone Inthavong | $473,900 | Benjamin Kantor | $286,418 |
| 2012 | $4,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,394 | Aaron Massey | $651,559 | Andrew Robinson | $334,030 |
| 2011 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,355 | Bronson Tucker | $640,400 | Richard Baker | $342,300 |
| 2010 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,436 | Khoueng Souvoravong | $646,690 | Daniel Snowden | $373,360 |
| 2009 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,500 | Bobby Hempkins | $710,000 | Kelli Shields | $370,000 |
| 2008 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,450 | Jim Carroll | $700,000 | Young Cho | $365,000 |
*Denotes a guaranteed first-place prize.
Since its inception, the River Poker Series Main Event has attracted an average of 1,367 entries and awarded tens of millions of dollars in prize money. Another field of 1,300-plus is anticipated this year, and with the guarantee you will see the winner awarded $1 million.
Level: 2
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
More Names in the Field
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
25,000 | |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
|
25,000 | 25,000 |
Big Pot Early
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
After prior preflop action, Barry Barron made it 1,500 to go and two players called. The flop was 
and the action checked to Khoa Nguyen. Nguyen bet 2,100, and Barron called. The other player folded, and the turn was the 
. Nguyen bet 4,100, Barron quickly made the call, and the river was the 
. With a shrug of the shoulders, Nguyen slid all his chips forward for an all-in shove. Barron acted quickly again, but this time he threw his hand into the muck, and Nguyen won the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
32,000 | 32,000 |
|
|
18,000 | -7,000 |
She Never Folds
Level 2
: 75/150, 0 ante
There was a raise preflop before Lynn Samples looked at the raiser and asked, "Are you the one who says I never fold?"
Another player answered, "Yep, that was him," and the table laughed, but it was the player who answered that was actually the player who made the initial comment.
Samples called and checked when the flop came 
. Her opponent bet 325, and Samples called. Both players then checked the 
turn and the river.
"I got a pair," said the initial raiser.
"I got a pair, too, a big pair," responded Samples.
She then turned over the 
, and her opponent mucked.
"She never folds," the same player from before said again.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
26,200 | 26,200 |