ARI ENGEL LEADS HEADING TO DAY 2 OF HAMMOND MAIN EVENT
Seven-time ring winner in pole position with $313K first prize on the line.

Hammond, Ind. (October 25, 2014) — Day 1 of the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. is in the books following consecutive starting flights on Friday and Saturday. The championship field totaled 1,147 entries, generating a $1,720,500 prize pool. The starting field sheered itself to 251 remaining after the Day 1 flights, and Day 2 resumes Sunday at noon CT. On the line when cards go back in the air will be a $313,993 first prize, a Circuit gold ring and a berth in the season-ending National Championship.

Leading the way heading to Sunday's action is none other than Ari Engel. The Canadian-born tournament pro earned his seventh gold ring just days ago in a $580 HORSE event and sits second on the all-time Circuit wins list. He continues his hot play here in the Main Event and transformed his 20,000-chip starting stack into 344,500 to match Day 1A chip leader Tim Burden atop the counts.

The pair at the top is joined by notables Viet Vo (343,000) Pfizer Jordan (291,500), Andy Spears (238,500), Steven Burkholder (225,000), Tom Midena (211,500), Steven Hensely (208,500) and Kevin Stammen (142,000) as well as Ralph (131,000) and Aaron Massey (79,500), Zal Irani (129,000) and Josh Williams (126,500).

Day 1A of Horseshoe finale began Friday and saw bracelet winners Stammen, Owais Ahmed, Kevin Eyster, Nick Jivkov, Chris Tryba, Aaron Steury and Tyler Patterson take their shot alongside the likes of chip leader Engel, five-time Circuit winner Valentin Vornicu, 2008 November Niner Dennis Phillips, defending Champion James Dorrance and others. While none of these standouts advanced from the opening flight, all exercised their option to re-enter in Flight B.

Like it’s predecessor, Saturday’s closing flight attracted a talented field that, in addition to the above names, included five-time ring winner Mark Smith, Jean “Prince” Gaspard, Joe Kuether, Kevin Saul and perennial Circuit cashers Rex Clinkscales and Doug “Rico” Carli.

Eyster, Jivkov, Tryba, Vornicu, Phillips and Dorrance came up dry on both attempts and are joined on the rail by Kuether, Saul, Smith, Clinkscales, Gaspard and others. Meanwhile, Patterson (130,500), Carli (54,000), Ahmed (49,500) and Steury (39,500) each punched their ticket to another day of play.

Others set to take to the felt include John Holley (147,500), Eddy Sabat (85,000) and Bob Chow (51,500).

Day 2 is set to kick off Sunday at 12 p.m. with just the top 117 players finishing in the money. Play begins with blinds of 1,500/3,000 and a 500 ante.

Top 10 Day 2 chip counts:

1. Ari Engel - 344,500
2. Tim Burden - 344,500
3. Viet Vo - 343,000
4. Pfizer Jordan - 291,500
5. David Kowal - 281,000
6. Andy Spears - 238,500
7. Craig Stasio - 226,000
8. Steven Burkholder - 225,000
9. Matthew Prozaki - 215,000
10. Ryan Hartmann - 214,500

Full chip counts available on WSOP.com.