Day 2 of the 2015 partypoker World Poker Tour Canadian Spring Championship was a quick one, playing down from 151 players to 45 and in the money after eight levels at Playground Poker Club in Montreal, Quebec, on Sunday.
Canadian Mike Leah came in with a big chip lead, but it didn't take long for that story to change as he lost a massive pot to Nicholas Palma and his set of aces, before dusting the rest off shoving with a flush draw against Kevin Singh's pocket aces and failing to get there. Day 1b chip leader and 2014 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown champ Eric Afriat chipped up early and grabbed the lead at one point, but the day truly belonged to Ari Engel.
Engel has been killing poker's minor leagues for years with multiple World Series of Poker Circuit wins and a Heartland Poker Tour title, but has yet to capture a true major. Today, he moved at least one step closer to a WPT win, becoming the only player to crest the 1 million-chip mark and buiding a sizable lead.
In fact, only Canadian Trevor Delaney, who knocked out Daniel Leduc on the bubble with a miracle river card, is truly close.
While names like Scott Montgomery, Matt Marafioti, and Marc-Etienne McLaughlin joined Leah on the rail, Afriat, Palma, Singh, Jonathan Karamalikis, and local WSOP bracelet winner Pascal LeFrancois were among those who bagged what should be considered contending stacks.
The 45 survivors will return to Playground Poker Club for Day 3 on Monday beginning at 12 p.m. local time with the $237,390 first-place prize within sight and at least a $6,330 min-cash guaranteed.
The PokerNews LIve Reporting team will be on hand for all the action from beginning to end, so keep it locked right here.
In the meantime, PokerNews' Caitlyn Howe spent part of a beautiful Spring day getting a taste of Montreal. Check out the video evidence below:
Day 2 of the 2015 partypoker WPT Canadian Spring Championship will kick off from the Playground Poker Club on the outskirts of Montreal, Quebec at 12 p.m. local time Sunday.
With 370 total entries creating a $1,148,480 prizepool that will pay 45 spots, $237,390 plus a seat in the WPT Season XIV Championship awaits the winner.
Currently, there are 151 players retaining a shot at the title with Canadian killer Mike Leah leading them all.
However, there's lots of danger lurking in the top ten with locals like 2014 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown champ Eric Afriat, and World Series of Poker bracelet winners Pascal LeFrancois and Jason Duval also stacked.
Plus, WPT Champions Club member Marvin Rettenmaier, WSOP Circuit ring winner Darryll Fish and Montreal's own WSOP final table participant Laurence Grondin are also within striking distance.
Revised plans include playing eight 60-minute levels today, which should bring the event close to the money bubble.
As always, the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand for all the action, bringing you live updates, photos and videos throughout.
Before play begins, check out what Grondin had to say about her good start and playing at home in Montreal in the following video interview with PokerNews' Caitlyn Howe:
![[user127999]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
flop, then snap-called when one player came over the top all in for some 25,000.
was good against his opponent's bluffy 
and held on an 
run out to give him another notch on the belt and the chiplead.
turn and 
river, with Leah calling both. Palma turned over top set, Leah mucked and the lead is now Palma's.
