WSOP MAIN EVENT REACHES DAY 2: DOWN UNDER DAILY DAY 12

The 12th day of the 2014 World Series of Poker Asia Pacific (WSOP APAC) was all about the $10,000 buy-in Main Event. After several days in a row of awarding bracelets, the climactic big dance was the only event being hosted in the Crown Poker Room in Melbourne, Australia. 

Following Sunday’s opening day flight, Monday was the second and final chance for players to hit the table and start making their way towards becoming the next WSOP APAC Main Event champion.

There were 129 entrants on Day 1a of the WSOP APAC Main Event and it was always expected the Day 1b would be bigger. The question was just how much bigger.

By the time the final level of the night began there had been 195 runners, bringing the total over the two days to 324. Registration is open until the beginning of Day 2, so that number may increase a little before the tournament is locked out and the prize pool in announced.

Not surprisingly there were dozens of notable players in the Day 1b field, though not all of them could survive the night. Some of those eliminated throughout the day include Antonio Esfandiari, Mike Watson, Vanessa Rousso, Daniel Negreanu, Jeff Madsen and 2014 November Niner Bruno Politano.

Politano’s tournament came to an end when he got his chips in on a low board with an overpair of queens and ran into an opponent’s set of sixes. Politano may not be winning the WSOP APAC Main Event, but he will be a the November Nine in just a few weeks going for the most prestigious title in poker and the eight-figure top prize that goes along with it.

For much of Day 1b it was the familiar face of Kahle Burns who sat behind the largest chip stack. Burns, of course, made the final table of this event in 2013, finishing in 5th place and collecting over $200,000.

It is arguable that Burns’ big day at the felt really kicked into gear when he eliminated recent WSOP APAC Dealer’s Choice even champion Rory Young. It was the turn of a      board that would be Young’s demise as he got his chips in with    for two pair and had ran into the    of Burns for a set of sevens. No help on the river and Burns started building a big stack.

Another player who was threatening for the chip lead late into Day 1b was two-time bracelet winner Brian Rast. During the final level Rast hit a set of threes on a     flop and got Australia’s Bruno Portaro to commit all his chips with    for top pair. Rast’s threes held up and Portaro was on the rail.

Rast ended up with a top ten stack, while Burns was pipped at the post by Tam Truong who amassed the chip lead with a stack 155,875. Burns will begin Day 2 with 152,050. Both of these players are trailing Day 1a leader Tobias Reinkemeier with 171,925.

WSOP APAC Main Event Day 1b – Top Ten

Tam Truong -155,875
Kahle Burns -152,050
Michael O'Grady -148,475
Victor Teng -140,325
Suraj Dutt -135,400
Vincent Chua -119,150
Timo Pfutzenreuter -113,000
Kyle Montgomery -109,025
Brian Rast -107,925
Baden Logan -107,275

Click here for End-of-Day 1B chip count and Day 2 seating draw

Some of the other players who made it through Day 1b include Gary Benson, 2010 WSOP Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel, former WSOP Player of the Year Frank Kassela, cricket legend Shane Warne, 2012 WSOP Main Event champ Greg Merson and Joe Hachem (20,325).

All of the 112 survivors from Day 1b will join with the 70 from Day 1a, and any late registrants, for Day 2 from 12:30pm local time on Tuesday. The plan on Day 2 is to play six levels.