Event #70: $400 Colossus
Day 1a Completed
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #70: $400 Colossus
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2023 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$400
Prize Pool
$4,989,540
Entries
15,879
Level
47
Blinds
5,000,000 / 10,000,000
Ante
10,000,000
Entries
7,673
Players Left
962
Olga Iermolcheva Bags Big in Event #70: $400 Colossus; Spraggy Well in Contention
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Droves and droves of both recreational and professional poker players filled the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas at the 2023 World Series of Poker for Event #70: $400 Colossus. An overwhelming 7,705 entries were tallied from the start of the day until the end of dinner break. Of those entries, only 965 remain with a bag and a guaranteed shot at the WSOP gold bracelet. Those unable to find a bag have another opportunity to find one on Day 1b.
Event #70: $400 Colossus Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chengtzu Lai | United States | 1,456,000 | 121 |
| 2 | Alessandro Minasi | Italy | 1,415,000 | 118 |
| 3 | Abraham Serrano | Spain | 1,337,000 | 111 |
| 4 | Alan Chute | United States | 1,326,000 | 111 |
| 5 | Yanfeng Wang | United States | 1,250,000 | 104 |
| 6 | Ivan Starostin | Russia | 1,228,000 | 102 |
| 7 | Todd German | United States | 1,202,000 | 100 |
| 8 | Olga Iermolcheva | Ukraine | 1,105,000 | 92 |
| 9 | Corey Davila | United States | 1,080,000 | 90 |
| 10 | Nadav Bitton | Canada | 1,074,000 | 90 |
One, Olga Iermolcheva, ran a stack of 65,000 to a whopping 1,125,000 over a span of two hours. She has had plenty of deep runs this summer already, including a win at the $500 Ladies Championship at the Orlean’s Summer Open for $14,350, as well as a 19th place finish here at the Event #11: $600 NLH Deepstack for $ 13,438. There was one hand she might have talked herself out of risk that may have been pivotal in her arriving where she did.
Alan Chute bagged a tremendous 1,326,000 at the end of the day thanks to cracking the aces of bracelet winner Lori Eisenberg, who had accumulated quite the stack but was thwarted at the end of day. Chute’s biggest documented score was for $ 8,920 in a Daily Deepstack this summer and he’ll be looking to best that if he can keep up his trajectory going into Day 2.
Marle Spragg and Benjamin Spragg, quite the power couple, were both in attendance and riding a deep run going into the money. Mrs. Spragg bagged this tournament in 2022 but came just short this time, as she was seen heading to the payouts in the last level of the evening. Mr. Spragg did spin his stack up to an impressive 623,000 by night’s end.
Plenty of big names, including the likes of Alejandro Lococo, Ben Yu, and Allen Cunningham all fell before the end of day.
Player’s who bagged will be ineligible to play the next flight but even those that cashed have another opportunity to run the gauntlet if they so choose.
The remaining players will be returning on Sunday, July 2nd at 10 a.m. local time to play a full 15 levels. They'll be joined by the survivors of Day 1b which takes place July 1st at 10 a.m. local time. Stay tuned in to PokerNews to catch it as it happens live.
End of the Night Chip Counts (full)
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,456,000 | 1,456,000 |
|
1,415,000 | 1,415,000 |
|
1,337,000 | 532,000 |
|
1,326,000 | -60,000 |
|
1,250,000 | 1,250,000 |
|
1,228,000 | 1,228,000 |
|
|
1,202,000 | 1,202,000 |
|
1,105,000 | 885,000 |
|
1,080,000 | 1,080,000 |
|
1,074,000 | 1,074,000 |
|
1,053,000 | 1,053,000 |
|
1,046,000 | 1,046,000 |
|
1,032,000 | 1,032,000 |
|
1,011,000 | 261,000 |
|
|
1,005,000 | 1,005,000 |
|
956,000 | 956,000 |
|
943,000 | 943,000 |
|
935,000 | 935,000 |
|
|
933,000 | 933,000 |
|
924,000 | 924,000 |
|
905,000 | 905,000 |
|
|
887,000 | 887,000 |
|
884,000 | |
|
|
863,000 | 863,000 |
|
854,000 | 854,000 |
Last Three Hands
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
The tournament director has announced the final three hands before the players bag for Day 2 on Sunday, July 2nd.
Players Elated at the End of NIght
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
It seems the delays from early in the day have been washed away as the remaining players seem thrilled to still have a chance at this colossal prize pool.
Marle Spragg, however, was seen leaving going to payouts but she will have another opportunity tomorrow if she sees fit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Kassouf Takes it on the Flop; Claims to Have Tens
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Ian Steinman raised under the gun to 20,000 and Will Kassouf three-bet to 62,000 from a couple of spots to his left. The action folded back around to Steinman and he made the call.
"You're going to have to hit twice," said Kassouf before the flop came out, "I don't have to hit."
The dealer fanned a flop of 4♥3♣2♠ and Steinman check-folded to a continuation bet of 100,000 from Kassouff.
"Pick one, they're both the same."
Steinman replied with a simple, "No."
Kassouff showed the 10♦ and claimed to have pocket tens.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
715,000 | 365,000 |
|
605,000 | 205,000 |
Brito Sends Bennett Out on the Bubble
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
After a series of raises, Michael Bennett was at risk for his tournament life on the stone bubble for 226,000 and it was Fernando Brito looking for the knockout.
Michael Bennett: J♣J♦
Fernando Brito: K♠K♥
Bennett's jacks ran into a bigger pair and he couldn't catch up as the board ran out Q♦9♥5♦4♠4♠.
There was an elimination at another table at the same time though, so Bennett and the other player will split the minimum cash of $640.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
542,000 | |
|
Busted |
Aces for Some on the Bubble
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Allen Kessler called PokerNews over to his table, as he had just gone all in on the direct bubble and once it folded all the way through, he requested a picture of him be taken with the A♦A♥ he had in in the hole.
Just one table over, Kyle Miholich went all in and was called by the commanding stack of Jonathan McAmm.
Kyle Miholich: A♠A♥
Jonathan McAmm: K♦Q♠
The board ran out without at sweat, 4♠5♠J♥7♥5♣ and Miholich.
Jason Olenak was on one of the outer tables, eagerly awaiting to see if he made the money, as he was only left with one big blind.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
475,000 | |
|
165,000 | 20,000 |
|
145,000 | 85,000 |
|
|
8,000 |
Hand-For-Hand
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
With 1,165 left and 1,156 being paid the $400 Colossus is officially in hand-for-hand until the bubble burst.
Eisenberg's Aces Cracked to be Eliminated
Level 17
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Alan Chute raised 20,000 in early position and Lara Eisenberg three-bet to 60,000. The table folded back around to Chute and he made the call.
When the flop came 8♣5♣3♠, Chute check-raised the 50,000 bet of Eisenberg to 130,000. Eisenberg jammed for 590,000 and Chute called.
Lara Eisenberg: A♠A♥
Alan Chute: 8♠8♦
Chute flopped top set to crack the aces of Eisenberg and she couldn't find an ace as the board completed with the 6♦ on the turn and the 3♦ on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,386,000 | 1,386,000 |
|
Busted |