Main Event Day 1b | 2015 partypoker World Poker Tour Prague

Main Event

Day 1b Completed

12-03-2015 01:53 UTC+2

Qualifer Josh Cranfield Bags Massive Lead; Kaverman Looks to Continue Stellar Year

Happy_Freaked

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

Welsh partypoker.net online qualifier Josh Cranfield bagged a massive overall chip lead with 176,400 on Day 1b of the 2015 World Poker Tour Prague Main Event, followed by the GPI Player of the Year leader Byron Kaverman. Kaverman's been on a tear this year with 11 six-figure cashes and a total of $3.4 million in earnings, and it looks like he's not done yet, bagging up 109,800 after Day 1b.

The second of two starting days drew a crowd of 173 players, of which 112 managed to make it through to Day 2. Combined with Day 1a's 60 entries, the total field of this WPT main tour stop now sits on 233, with late registrations and reentries available until the start of play on Day 2.

Just like on Day 1a, it was a who's who of the international poker circuit with a slew of top professionals filling up the room. Stephen Chidwick reentered on Day 1b, but he was once again not successful. European Poker Tour Malta High Roller winner Charlie Carrel doubled through Chidwick and ultimately bagged up 38,100 in his first-ever WPT. His good friend, Ben Heath, also playing his first WPT, finished on 58,300.

One of Spain's biggest names, Pablo Gordillo, had a linearly positive day, as we saw him accumulate throughout play. Gordillo bagged up 68,500, which was just a bit less than Frenchman Erwann Pecheux, who raked in 72,700.

Brits Tom Hall (64,800) and Oliver Price (60,500) made it through as well, and even Fedor Holz made a comeback from 1,200 in chips to bag up 30,300 at the end.

Play will resume at 2 p.m. local time on Thursday, as the players will play six 90-minute levels. PokerNews.com will be back for more live reporting, and until then we wish you a good night from Prague.

Tags: Ben Heath Byron Kaverman Charlie Carrel Erwann Pecheux Fedor Holz Josh Cranfield Stephen Chidwick Tom Hall

12-03-2015 01:27 UTC+2

End-of-Day Chip Counts

Happy_Freaked

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

A full listing of official chip counts will follow later tonight.

Player	Chips	Progress
Josh Cranfield	176,400	61,400
Byron Kaverman	109,800	-5,200
Igor Yaroshevskyy	98,300	98,300
Pierre Mothes	82,900	82,900
Erwann Pecheux	72,700	31,700
Pablo Gordillo	68,500	14,500
Ihar Soika	66,400	66,400
Tom Hall	64,800	27,800
Oliver Price	60,500	-24,500
Ben Heath	58,300	300
Ludovic Geilich	48,700	-19,300
Frederik Jensen	46,000	5,000
Charlie Carrel	38,100	14,100
Chris Hunichen	37,400	8,400
Jason Wheeler	36,000	6,000
Pierre Neuville	32,500	3,500
Fedor Holz	30,300	18,300
Marcin Wydrowski	27,100	-4,900
Martin Staszko	25,400	25,400

12-03-2015 01:22 UTC+2

Late Night Photos

Happy_Freaked

12-03-2015 01:04 UTC+2

Holz in Trouble

Happy_Freaked

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

As the day is almost done, and the option to re-enter will almost be taken away unless you manage to get knocked out. We just caught Fedor Holz on a flop showing when the German pro check-called 1,600 and on the turn the hit.

Holz check-called 3,200 on the turn and the river brought the . This time Holz check-folded when his opponent bet 5,200. Holz was left with just 12,000 chips and he'll likely be looking to double up in the last orbit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fedor Holz	12,000

Tags: Fedor Holz

12-03-2015 00:55 UTC+2

Six More Hands

Happy_Freaked

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

The day is almost done, as six more hands are left to be played. We will be right back with the chip counts and recap.

12-03-2015 00:35 UTC+2

Enter Kaverman

Happy_Freaked

Level 8 : 300/600, 75 ante

The current leader on the GPI Player of the Year rankings, Byron Kaverman, has been playing for quite some time today, but he only just noticed him in the field. Hidden in the one-seat, tucked away behind the dealer, Kaverman has quietly amassed a stack of 115,000 chips, and that makes him the current chip leader.

Kaverman's has had a very impressive 2015, with 11 six-figure cashes and a total of $3.4 million in live tournament results. A WPT title is still lacking from Kaverman's poker resume, and after two second places he's in a good spot to make a run at it here in Prague.