NATHANAEL KOGEL LEADS 294 DAY 2 PLAYERS IN CHOCTAW MAIN EVENT
A total of 831 players showed up to Choctaw Resort and Casino in Durant, OK on Saturday afternoon to pony up $1,675 and take their seat in Day 1B of the Choctaw WSOP Circuit Main Event. Those players brought a combined field size over the two starting days to a total of 1,428 which is the fourth largest main event field in Circuit history.

With over 1,400 entrants, the $1 million guaranteed prizepool was more than doubled, as the event generated a total prizepool of $2,142,000. The eventual winner of this event will take home $369,503 and the top four spots in the tournament will earn a six-figure payday.

Of the 1,428, only 294 will return on Sunday at noon for Day 2 of the event as they will continue their quest at a six-figure score and a Circuit ring.

There were plenty of top pros who showed up to the play the Main Event over the first two starting days.

Bracelet winner Chance Kornuth, former November Niner Ylon Schwartz, bracelet winner Larry Wright, former November Niner Rob Salaburu, six-time Circuit ring winner Ari Engel, Jake Bazeley, and Former November Niner John Dolan all showed up and played at least one of the starting days. Unfortunately for them, none of them were able to bag chips at the end of a Day 1.

Heading into Sunday, Nathanael Kogel is our chip leader with 354,500 in chips. Kogel pulled away from the rest of the pack on Day 1B and takes the overall chip lead into Day 2. Paul Phillips is in second chip position and bagged 324,500 on Day 1B. Aaron Massey was the Day 1A chip leader and will come into the penultimate day of the tournament fourth in chips with 303,000.

Some other notables who are healthy in chips on Day 2 include Ben Reason (207,000), Kevin Eyster (217,500), and six-time bracelet winner TJ Cloutier (164,500). Eric Baldwin, Ralph Massey, Zal Irani, and David "ODB" Baker, Darren Rabinowitz, Bryan Campanello, and Joe Kuether will also be making appearances on Day 2.

Jeff Fielder won this event in 2013 for $312,080 after besting a field of 1,140 entrants. He will come into Sunday with 113,000 in chips. The defending Casino Champion, Andrew Robinson, and the current Casino points leader, Christopher Bowen were able to survive Day 1A and Day 1B, respectively.

The 294 players who still are vying for a spot at the final table will return to table at noon local time on Sunday with the intention of playing down to a final table. When cards get in the air, the blinds will be 1,500/3,000 with a 500 ante with levels being increased to 60 minutes each in length.

Check back with WSOP.com for continued coverage of the Choctaw Main Event as we inch closer to the money and eventually the final table.

Here is a look at the top 10 chip stacks:

1. Nathanael Kogel - 345,500
2. Paul Phillips - 324,500
3. Allan Hedin - 311,500
4. Aaron Massey - 303,000
5. Jeff Gibralter - 260,500
6. Kashif Rasul - 251,000
7. Allan Farber - 245,500
8. Joseph Hall - 245,500
9. Chad Tye - 241,000
10. Kevin Eyster - 217,500

Full chip counts available on WSOP.com.