Day 1a of the $500,000 Guaranteed WSOPC $1,700 Main Event at Potawatomi Hotel and Casino saw 204 entrants fire in hopes of securing a Day 2 bag and a shot at the coveted WSOP Circuit Main Event ring. Just 32 managed to secure a bag after a little over 15 levels of play, with Chris Roth and his 420,000 chip stack leading the way. Roth had to contend at a table with two-time WPT champ Brian Altman and his monster stack for much of the latter half of the day, but managed to overcome the challenge and bag the chip lead.
Other players able to find a bag include defending champ Richard Bai (280,000), Aaron Massey (233,000), Javier Zarco (212,000), Kou Vang (204,000), Aaron Johnson (187,000), Michael Hanson (144,000), and 12-time WSOPC ring winner Josh Reichard (83,000).
The aforementioned Altman spent a good portion of the day as the chip leader, and even minutes into the final level of the evening had a slim lead on the field. Altman's good fortune came crashing down, however, and he took a series of beats before getting his last chips in with ace-jack, only to run into the aces of Fadi Hamad to bubble a Day 2 bag.
A host of WSOP Bracelet winners also found themselves on the outside looking in by the end of day's play, as John Reading, Robert Mitchell, and Chad Holloway all succumbed before earning a trip to Day 2. Others unable to survive the day include Nick Pupillo, Mo Nuwwarah, and Phil Mader.
The final flight of the $1,700 Main Event here at Potawatomi Hotel and Casino kicks off Saturday, February 8th at 11 a.m. local time. All players that manage to navigate through the field will return on Sunday, February 9th at Noon to combine with the 32 survivors from Day 1a. The final day of play is scheduled for Monday, February 10th at Noon.
Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all the updates as we get one step closer to crowning the latest WSOP Circuit Main Event champ!
Tags:
Aaron JohnsonAaron MasseyBrian AltmanChad HollowayChristopher RothFadi HamadJavier ZarcoJohn ReadingJosh ReichardKou VangMichael HansonMo NuwwarahNick PupilloPhil MaderRichard BaiRobert Mitchell
flop, and although Dietz picked up chop outs on the 
turn, he was left wanting with the 
river.
flop gave him no favors. The 
river left Altman as the last player to be eliminated on the evening.
