Boeken and Stephensen in Strong Contention After Day 1a of WPT Amsterdam
The first starting day of the first-ever World Poker Tour Amsterdam €3,300 Main Event was a big success, and it was Fredrik Andersson who came out on top with a stack of 228,100 in chips. The Swedish chip leader came out of nowhere and racked up a big lead, mainly due to lots of aggression in the last levels of the day.
A total of nine levels were played and 54 players remained from the 130 total entries on Day 1a. Among the big stacks moving on to Day 2 was top local player Noah Boeken with 195,200. World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up Felix Stephensen bagged 114,400.
At the start of the day, we immediately spotted Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi and Anthony Zinno battling it out. Mizrachi, winner of two WSOP bracelets and two WPT events, did not have a good day and busted out twice, while Zinno, a three-time WPT champion in his own right, survived the day with 47,700 in chips.
Dutch poker legend Rob Hollink entered the event as well, and after a relatively quiet day he made it through with 48,000 in chips. Former Master Classics of Poker Main Event winner David Boyaciyan busted out once, and he will likely reenter on Day 1b. The same goes for Paul Newey, as the Big One for One Drop finalist couldn't get anything going.
The €6,000 High Roller event did not finish before the Main Event started, and Jack Salter battled it out against Jason Wheeler in heads-up play while Day 1a started up. In the end, it was Wheeler who won the match, and he took home €125,000. Both players also made it through Day 1a, as Salter bagged up 56,100 and Wheeler survived with 92,800.
One of the hottest players on Day 1a was without question Samantha Abernathy, who bullied the guys on her table around pretty badly. Abernathy showed a lof of aggression and held the chip lead for quite some time. In the end, the lone lady in the field survived the day with 92,700 chips.
In other news, Jorn Walthaus busted out in the early goings, but he returned and finished the day on 36,900 in chips. Dutch WSOP bracelet winner Marcel Vonk busted out as well, when his aces got cracked in the fourth level of play. Vonk will reenter on Day 1b as well, as he decided to not enter again on Day 1a. Ludovic Geilich started the day very strong and even got his stack up to 130,000. The end of the day was a lot less fortunate for him, though, as he called off a large portion of his stack with pocket kings. Geilich was crippled, and survived the day with 47,400, while his opponent, Monty Albadawi, jumped up the ranks and bagged up 189,700.
Play will resume on Tuesday at 2 p.m. local time, and a big field is expected for Day 1b. Please stay tuned to PokerNews.com for more coverage of this event, as we will be here with you for the duration.
rainbow and action checked to Boeken who bet 4,500. The first player folded, both players that had limped before the flop called again.
on the turn made for a second diamond. Again both players checked to Boeken and the Dutch Master Classics of Poker champion bet 15,000. The first player shoved all in, Mizrachi called all in for 14,000, and Boeken called the little extra.
on the river. That pot catapulted Boeken to the top of the field, eliminated Mizrachi, and crippled the third involved player. Boeken's good friend Joep van den Bijgaart re entered and is playing 30,000 again.
and a player called on the button and the big blind called as well. The flop brought out 
hit and Geilich checked again. 
, changing just about everything. De Vries went from top dog to trailing, Zinno found the ace he was looking for, and Mizrachi had a gutshot to keep his hopes up. 
hit the turn, not doing anything for anyone. 
on the river was anything but a blank though, helping De Vries win the hand. “Wow! A one outer! Sick.” said De Vries. The dealer checked all three stacks, and it turned out Mizrachi was eliminated, de Vries had doubled to 40,000, and Zinno was cut down to 18,000.
and action checked around. All three of them checked on the 
river for free. The big blind checked and Smith bet 2,000. Boeken called from the button.
for a bluff. Boeken showed 
and took it down.
and both players checked. On the turn the 
hit and Abernathy bet 2,300. Her opponent made the call and the river was the 
. Both players checked this time around and Abernathy showed 
. Her opponent tabled 
, but he wasn't out of the woods just yet.
hit the turn and Salter already put down his head a little. The 
on the river was a blank, and Wheeler and Salter shook hands.