Play Ends After Five Levels or When 350 Players Remain

The original schedule for today was to play for five levels. But as the field continues to shrink at a quick pace, the backup contingency plan might kick into effect. If the field reaches 350 players before the end of the fifth level, play will stop.

Why?

The top 621 players will finish in the money, but the field can't reach the money until the field combines -- for obvious reasons. If, for example, the field played down to 275 people today, and 325 people tomorrow (more players are starting on Day 2b), that would already be inside the money. How would they determine who finished 621st if they were busting on two different days?

So play will end today after five levels, or when the field reaches 350 players. And whenever play ends today, tomorrow's field will play the exact same schedule. So if Day 2a plays four levels, and another 22 minutes and 37 seconds into the fifth level, then Day 2b will also play 22 minutes and 37 seconds into the fifth level. That way, when they combine on Day 3, everything will be fair.

It takes just 39 tables (nine-handed) to hold 350 players. So the tournament side of the room is going to be pretty empty by the end of the day.

There are currently about 648 players left in the field for Day 2a.