"Winner on Table 3!" a dealer shouted in the Pavilion Room.
When we walked over, Christopher DeMaci was shaking Blair Hinkle's hand before proceeding out of the tournament area. Luckily for us the hands were still face up and it looked like this:
Hinkle:
DeMaci:
Board:
We caught up with Hinkle after the hand, and according to him the money went in on the turn.
Hinkle is guaranteed at least $16,607 and will return tomorrow for Day 2.
With the action folding round to Joe Tehan in the small blind, he pushed his last 14,000 into the middle and was called by Cliff Josephy from the big blind.
Tehan:
Josephy:
The board ran out to see Tehan eliminated as Josephy climbs to over 40,000 in chips.
Faraz "The-Toilet" Jaka climbed all the way back and eliminated Justin Bonomo to advance to Day 2. We missed the hand, but Jaka was kind enough to give us the scoop.
According to Jaka, he opened to 2,600 and Bonomo shoved for around 30,000. Jaka called and the hands were tabled:
Jaka:
Bonomo:
Jaka won the race, flushing Bonomo from the tournament.
Amit Makhija opened to 3,000 form the button only to have Julien Nuijten bump it to 8,700. Makhija shoved for roughly 42,000 and Nuijten made the call.
Makhija:
Nuijten:
The board ran out to see Makhija eliminated as Nuijten progresses through to round two.
Kirk Morrison pushed his last 20,000 into the pot from the button and was immediately called by Neil Channing.
Morrison:
Channing:
The flop of gave Morrison a set but still left Channing drawing to a spade or running cards for a straight.
Unfortunately for the $50,000 Poker Players Championship bubble boy, Morrison would see the and fall on the turn and river to see him bubble his second event for the series as Channing progressed through to round two.