ELI LOEWENTHAL TAKES CHIP LEAD INTO DAY 2 OF BIKE MAIN EVENT

December 10,  2018 (Los Angeles) - Both starting flights of the World Series of Poker Circuit Planet Hollywood $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event are complete and Eli Loewenthal (pictured) leads the was as the tournament is bagged up and headed to Day 2. 

Day 1A gathered a total of 224 entries, with just 43 making it through to the second day. Day 1B sold an immense 322 entry slips, with 67 remaining at the end of the night, bringing the total of the two starting flights to 546, with 110 runners making it to Day 2.

The total buy ins from the two flights is 546 entries, accumulating a prize pool of $827,190. The payouts will be released to the players at the start of Day 2 and will be posted shortly afterwards.

The 110 players to make it through their respective days will all be chasing Loewenthal, who finished Day 1B with 382,000 in chips. Loewenthal is no amateur to the scene, holding a resume of cashes surpassing the $700,000 mark. The Indianapolis native stayed steady around the average mark throughout the day and it was not until the last couple levels of play that he spun up the overall chip lead stack heading into Day 2.

Nick Phoenix bagged the Day 1A chip lead 343,000 in chips and will be starting Day 2 in second. Craig Varnell (335,000), Ankush Mandavia (320,000), and Shane Raikes (288,000) round out the top five.

Some notable players to bag include pro Daniel Strelitz (248,000), seven-time ring winner Vincent Moscati (234,000), bracelet winner Sandeep Pulusani (202,500), pro Scott Stewart (146,000), bracelet winner Phil Laak (102,000), two-time bracelet winner Tuan Le (171,000), and Nikhil Gera (56,000) who won this event in 2016.

There were many notables to stake a stab at this event but failed to make it through to Day 2 including bracelet winner Anthony Marquez, well-known and fan favorite Allen Kessler, Dejuante Alexander, circuit regular Thomas Zanot, Canadian Jaspal Brar, Richard Kirsch, and pro Taylor Black are some of the well-known pros that will be headed to the rail for Day 2.

 The remaining players from the two starting flights will combine for Day 2 on Tuesday at noon and will play 10, 60-minute levels before bagging up for Day 3. Play begins at level 16 with the blinds at 2,000/4,000 and a 500 ante. The tournament will wrap up on Wednesday when a ring is given to the eventual Main Event champion.

 Here are the top 10 chip counts after Day 1B. For full chip counts, click the REPORTS tab, above.

1 – Eli Loewenthal – 382,000
2 – Nick Phoenix – 343,000
3 – Craig Varnell – 335,000
4 – Ankush Mandavia – 320,000
5 – Shane Raikes – 288,000
6 – Brett Apter – 286,000
7 – Matt Schultz – 284,500
8 – Dipak Bhakta – 270,500
9 – Yonas Abate – 263,000
10 – Matthew McEwan – 253,000

Full Chip Counts
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