$10,000 Wynn Millions ($10M GTD)
Day 1a Completed
$10,000 Wynn Millions ($10M GTD)
$10,000 Wynn Millions ($10M GTD)
Day: 1a
Peter Braglia Takes Chip Lead on Wynn Millions Day 1a
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
On Friday, the highly-anticipated $10,000 buy-in, $10,000,000 GTD Wynn Millions got underway. The first of three starting flights attracted 263 runners, but after 10 levels of play, approximately 90 remained with Peter Braglia bagging chip lead with 321,500.
Others to bag big stacks were Cliff Josephy (317,000), Joseph Cheong (301,500), Alex Foxen (295,500), and Jerald Saeman (280,000), who round out the top five. They were joined by Jason Koon (236,500), Vanessa Kade (168,000), Dan Smith (160,000), Ryan Riess (121,500), Chance Kornuth (113,500), Jason Somerville (105,500), Tony Dunst (90,500), David Peters (81,000), and Nick Schulman (74,000).
Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to advance to Day 2. Among those to fall were Andrew Lichtenberger, Brock Wilson, Jared Bleznick, Chris Brewer, Frank Funaro, Erik Seidel, Maria Konnikova, Shaun Deeb, Kristen Bicknell, 2020 WSOP champ Damian Salas, and GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu.
Negreanu actually busted the tournament twice, which was somewhat of a surprise given he doubled in Level 1 after making quad queens. However, his hot start cooled as he busted his first bullet in Level 2 in a particularly brutal hand.
There was four-way action that saw a 
flop and Nitis Udornpim continued for 1,500. Negreanu raised to 5,500 and all three opponents called bringing the 
turn.
Action was checked to the player in middle position who fired out 1,600 and Negreanu raised all in. Action folded to Udornpim who came over the top and isolated.
Nitis Udornpim: 
Daniel Negreanu: 
Negreanu was ahead after flopping a set of fives but a completed the board on the river, giving Udornpim a better full house and sent Negreanu to the rebuy desk. His second bullet didn’t go any better and he exhausted his single re-entry per flight option two levels later.
The good news is that he and others have a chance to try again as there are still two more starting flights to go with Days 1b and 1c at Noon local time on Saturday and Sunday respectively. PokerNews will be on-site to capture all the action throughout the six-day long tournament, so be sure to tune in all weekend long into next week.
End-of-Day 1a Chip Counts (full)
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
321,500 | 31,500 |
|
317,000 | 117,000 |
|
301,500 | 1,500 |
|
295,500 | 25,500 |
|
280,000 | 280,000 |
|
249,500 | 249,500 |
|
238,000 | 238,000 |
|
236,500 | 56,500 |
|
232,500 | 156,900 |
|
211,500 | 31,500 |
|
202,500 | 52,500 |
|
197,500 | -42,500 |
|
195,000 | 25,000 |
|
193,000 | 43,000 |
|
168,000 | -8,000 |
|
164,000 | 44,000 |
|
160,000 | -25,000 |
|
157,500 | 157,500 |
|
153,000 | 153,000 |
|
151,000 | 151,000 |
|
150,000 | 10,000 |
|
|
150,000 | 150,000 |
|
149,000 | 149,000 |
|
148,000 | 23,000 |
|
146,000 | 96,000 |
Play Has Ended
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
End of day chip counts and recap will follow.
Final Six Hands
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
The tournament dealer has just announce the final six hands of the evening.
Racener Makes His Move
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
John Racener raised from early position and Joe McKeehen defended his big blind to see a 
flop.
McKeehen check-raised to 9,000 after Racener continued for 3,500 and Racener called. Once the 
fell on the turn, Racener moved all in and McKeehen quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
55,000 | -15,000 |
|
48,000 | 19,500 |
Watson Dusted by Daniels
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
Mike Watson was all in preflop from late position and was called by Shawn Daniels from the small blind.
Mike Watson: 
Shawn Daniels: 
Watson was behind needing to spike an ace but the 
runout ended his tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | 76,600 |
|
Busted |
Somerville Gets Lucky in Return to Live Poker
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
Until today, Jason Somerville hadn't played any poker since before the pandemic. He opted to make his return by late registering on Day 1a, and recently he got his stack of 47,500 all in preflop against a big-stacked opponent.
Jason Somerville: 
Opponent:
Somerville was behind but the dealer delivered a reprieve as the 
flop paired his ace. Neither the 
turn nor river changed a thing and Somerville stayed alive.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
97,000 | 49,500 |
Ormson Two Outed on River
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
A player got their stack of 47,000 all in preflop only to find themselves in dire straits against Wisconsin's Larry Ormson.
Larry Ormson: 
Opponent: 
Ormson had the superior pocket pair and looked good through the 
flop and turn. All he had to do was dodge a ten on the river, but that proved easier said than done as the spiked to send the pot to his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
50,000 | -50,000 |
Mandavia Won't be Bullied by McKeehen
Level 10
: 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
Ankush Mandavia opened for 3,500 from under the gun and was called by Joe McKeehen on the button, along with John Racener from the big blind.
The flop was checked to Mandavia who continued for 5,500. Both McKeehen and Racener called to see the 
fall on the turn.
Action was checked to Mandavia once again and he fired out 18,000. Only McKeehen called and the 
completed the board on the river.
Mandavia check-jammed after McKeehen fired out 22,500 and McKeehen quickly folded giving Mandavia the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
140,000 | 35,000 |
|
|
70,000 | |
|
|
28,500 | -21,500 |