Saturday, June 23, 2018 4:37 AM Local Time
Duy Ho Tops Day 1d of Event #6: $365 GIANT No-Limit Hold'em as 63 Survive
Duy Ho from the United States finished as the Day 1d chipleader of Event #6: $365 GIANT No-Limit Hold'em with a solid stack of 1,275,000. Ho, who already made two WSOP final table in 2012 and 2014 respectively, managed to take the chip lead during the first levels of the day and keep it until the final hand. He will try to snatch his first gold bracelet in this event.
Just behind Ho stands Alice Sicconi, a well-known face in the Italian poker community, and Richard Dubini, who finished 12th in last year's Main Event. Among those who will back for Day 2 are also Bart Lybaert (640,000), David Lappin (640,000), Katie Swift (475,00) and Adam Owen (122,000).
The fourth of five Day 1 flights of the inaugural $365 buy-in tournament attracted 1,167 entries, generating a prize pool of $425,955 with 176 places getting paid.
At the end of the 21 levels of play, there were 63 who still had chips in front of them, earning at least $1,042 for their efforts. Each will play Day 2 with the survivors of the other flights on Saturday, June 30 with a restart at 2 p.m.
Many notables players took their chance in the event but didn't make it to the money, such as the defending champion Dieter Dechant who reentered the event, Marvin Rettenmaier, Mark Radoja, Jon Kyte, Muskan Sethi, Sorel Mizzi or Melanie Weisner.
The unfortunate John Gorsuch became the bubble, eliminated by Georgios Vrakas. Gorsuch, down to only half an ante, was having an unlucky day as he told PokerNews he also busted only eight places before the money in Event #43: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em. In total, the bubble lasted more than 30 minutes due to many doubles up. After the bubble had burst, a more festive Friday night mood took place with players gambling it up and many all-in moves, as they tried to spin up a stack.
The final Day 1e flight is on Friday, June 29 at 7 p.m and the PokerNews live reporting team will be on hand again to bring you all the action.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 4:06 AM Local Time
Selected End of Day Chipcounts
Full chip counts will follow later on Saturday once announced. The players are leaving the tournament area and a full recap of the day is to follow.
| Duy Ho | 1,275,000 | 0  |
| Alice Sicconi | 1,064,000 | 444,000  |
| Bart Lybaert | 640,000 | 30,000 |
| David Lappin | 640,000 | 629,000 |
| Katie Swift | 475,000 | 335,000 |
| Philipp Brendel | 252,000 | 252,000 |
| Adam Owen | 122,000 | -143,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:48 AM Local Time
End of the Day
The remaining 63 players are now counting their stack before they will be verified by the floor supervisor. They will all receive at least $1,043 for their efforts.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:38 AM Local Time
Ho Puts Pressure
Duy Ho opened from under the gun to 70,000 and it was called by a player in middle position and the big blind.
On the flop , the three players checked. The turn brought a and after a check, Ho announced all-in, putting his opponents' tournament at risk. They both mucked their hand and Ho grabbed the pot, to climb to a massive stack worth 1,500,000.
| Duy Ho | 1,500,000 | 600,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:34 AM Local Time
Six More Hands to Play
The tournament director announced six more hands are going to be played tonight, after what the remaining players will bag their chips.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:29 AM Local Time
Dubini Among the Biggest Stacks
The action started with a player in middle position pushing all his stack in the middle for 160,000 chips. Only Richard Dubini, on the button, made the call and the two opponents turned their cards over.
With , Dubini was in good shape to win the hand, facing for his opponent, and a board gave him the pot.
| Richard Dubini | 820,000 | 680,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:19 AM Local Time
Last Level of the Day
The remaining 89 players are now playing their last 20-minute level of the day.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:18 AM Local Time
Level 21 started
Level: 21
Blinds: 12000/24000
Ante: 4000
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:18 AM Local Time
Lybaert Adds to his Stack
A player moved all in for a stack around 50,000 left and the action folded to Bart Lybaert who made the call to create the following showdown:
Bart Lybaert:
His opponent:
Lybaert had the dominated hand, but the dealer revealed a board , giving Lybaert a full house and eliminating his opponent.
| Bart Lybaert | 610,000 | -110,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:08 AM Local Time
Sicconi Keeps Climbing
The board was reading and three players were involved in the hand, with one of them already all in. Alice Sicconi made a bet and her opponent announced all-in for a stack around 150,000. Sicconi snap-called and tabled .
Her opponent, holding , and the first player, with , were beaten and Sicconi knocked out two players at the same time.
| Alice Sicconi | 620,000 | 260,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 2:59 AM Local Time
Level 20 started
Level: 20
Blinds: 10000/20000
Ante: 3000
Saturday, June 23, 2018 2:57 AM Local Time
Van Zadelhoff Loses Some Chips
The player on the button moved all in for a stack worth 135,000 and Steven Van Zadelhoff situated in the big blind made the call.
Holding , Van Zadelhoff had the best hand, facing for his opponent, but the run out gave a pair of jacks to his opponent as well as the double up.
| Steven van Zadelhoff | 310,000 | 75,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 2:51 AM Local Time
Cruz Takes From Swift
A first player raised to 32,000 and it was called by David Cruz one seat over. Katie Swift raised it to 85,000 and the initial raiser called. Cruz announced all-in for a stack worth 420,000, putting Swift into a big decision.
After a few minutes, she ended up folding her hand, and so did the initial raiser.
| David Cruz | 570,000 | |
| Katie Swift | 140,000 | -210,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 2:48 AM Local Time
Some Updated Chipcounts
| Duy Ho | 900,000 | -200,000 |
| Bart Lybaert | 370,000 | 70,000 |
| Alice Sicconi | 360,000 | 100,000 |
| Georgios Vrakas | 260,000 | 0 |
| Charlie Sewell | 240,000 | 18,000 |
| Richard Dubini | 140,000 | -130,000 |
| Sandy Piot | 70,000 | -45,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 2:36 AM Local Time
Level 19 started
Level: 19
Blinds: 8000/16000
Ante: 2000
Saturday, June 23, 2018 2:22 AM Local Time
Last Break of the Day
The remaining 153 players are now on their last break of the day and are all guaranteed of a $556 dollars min-cash.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 2:11 AM Local Time
Players Are in the Money
The bubble lasted more than 30 minutes, with seven players who found a double up, the room was full of action. In the end, it's Georgios Vrakas who busted the last player before reaching the money.
John Gorsuch, fell down to only half an ante, was all in from the under the gun position, and Georgios Vrakas made a raise. All the other players folded their hand and the players tabled their cards:
John Gorsuch:
Georgios Vrakas:
Gorsuch was in desperate shape to find a double up, but the board didn't save him and he hit the rail with a smile. Gorsuch told us he also busted eight places from being in the money today in Event #43: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em.
| Georgios Vrakas | 260,000 | 235,000 |
| John Gorsuch | 0 | 0 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 1:53 AM Local Time
Bubble
With 177 players left, six players already doubled up and the tournament is still on the bubble.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 1:39 AM Local Time
Some Updated Chipcounts
| Katie Swift | 350,000 | 245,000 |
| Richard Dubini | 270,000 | 135,000 |
| Adam Owen | 265,000 | 93,000 |
| Alice Sicconi | 260,000 | 45,000 |
| Steven van Zadelhoff | 235,000 | -5,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 1:37 AM Local Time
Level 18 started
Level: 18
Blinds: 6000/12000
Ante: 2000