Artyem Perlov, fresh off a win in the DeepStacks Poker Tour Mohegan Sun National Championship, is off to a good start on Day 1b.
He didn't participate in Day 1a, but took his seat for Day 1b a few minutes and has already won two pots that we've seen. We arrived at the end of the first hand, but Perlov and an opponent checked the river of a board and Perlov's took it down.
The following hand, Perlov was in the small blind and called the player in the cutoff's raise of 300. The player in the big blind, called, too, and the trio saw an flop. Perlov checked to the player in the big blind and she bet 550. The cutoff folded, Perlov called, and the hit the turn. Both checked through to the river where Perlov bet 1,250.
The player in the big blind flashed the before folding, giving the pot to Perlov.
We had to look fast, but we did see Dwyte Pilgrim at the end of Day 1a. Having bought in right at the end of the flight, the three-time WSOP Circuit ring winner tried to score a quick double-up, but busted in the process.
He's back for Day 1b, and appears settled in for a longer stay this time. In fact, just now we saw him in what might be called literal "surrender mode," yet things worked out for him nonetheless.
The hand began with a middle position raise to 125, called both by Pilgrim in the cutoff and by the big blind. The flop came , and after the big blind checked the original raiser bet 175. Pilgrim called, as did the big blind. "You got company," said Pilgrim to the bettor.
But the turn and river saw no further action from the trio, all checking around on both streets. Before the others tabled their cards, Pilgrim held up a cocktail napkin, waving it aloft.
"I surrender," he said with a grin, indicating his belief that his hand couldn't possibly be best. But the other two were hesitating. Finally the big blind turned his cards over. "Nine-high," he said, showing . Then the preflop aggressor mucked.
"No way!" said Pilgrim, showing his as he set down the napkin and dragged the small pot.
We're back! And so are another room full of players riffling chips and taking hands here in Level 1 of Day 1b, the second flight of the day. As was the case this morning, we're seeing another big group already in their seats, including a few familiar faces from those who busted Day 1a and have come back to fire another bullet tonight.
Back in a little bit to let you know who's here as we begin to track Day 1b and see if anyone from this group can challenge T.J. Crews's leading Day 1a stack of 141,900.
We've reached the end of the Day 1a flight and are about to take a break before Day 1b begins early this evening.
It looks as though our leaders at the end of Day 1a were T.J. Crews with 141,900, with Brian Nguyen close behind with a stack of 138,300. Other notables making it through from this first flight to tomorrow's Day 2 include Jamie Kerstetter, Lee Childs, Jacob Coker, Brian Ali, Matt Matros, Drazen Ilich, Mike Sica, and Miami John Cernuto.
Meanwhile, we saw a number of busts during Day 1a, with around 200 making it through out of the 364 players who registered. But we expect a lot of those to be coming back for Day 1b.
We'll back as well with reports on Day 1b from the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Resort Atlantic City Main Event. Come back after 7 p.m. Eastern time for all the action from Day 1b!
After a player in early position min-raised to 1,200, Roland Israelashvili shoved for about 18,000 in middle position. The next player to act four-bet jammed with a covering stack, clearing out the rest of the table.
Israelashvili was well behind with against the four-bettor's and was felted when the board ran out .
board and Perlov's 
took it down.
flop. Perlov checked to the player in the big blind and she bet 550. The cutoff folded, Perlov called, and the 
hit the turn. Both checked through to the 
river where Perlov bet 1,250.
before folding, giving the pot to Perlov.
, and after the big blind checked the original raiser bet 175. Pilgrim called, as did the big blind. "You got company," said Pilgrim to the bettor.
and river 
saw no further action from the trio, all checking around on both streets. Before the others tabled their cards, Pilgrim held up a cocktail napkin, waving it aloft.
. Then the preflop aggressor mucked.
as he set down the napkin and dragged the small pot.
against the four-bettor's 
