Friday, February 27, 2015 11:56 PM Local Time
The first of two flights in the $1,675 World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Lumiere Place began Friday at noon with 194 hopefuls. The impressive starting field, which marked a slight increase over last year’s 172-player opener, played to just 36 remaining following 15 levels.
Setting the pace is Josh Turner (pictured) who transformed his 20,000-chip starting into 400,500. Turner, who’s spent much of the 2014/2015 Circuit season at or near the top of the National Championship points leaderboard, not only is the only player over 400,000 chips, he’s the only player over 300,000. The next closest stack belongs to Byron Hubert who holds 261,000. From there, Russ Head sits third with 219,500 and Nate Ralston fourth with 196,000.
Others trailing Turner include Yuval Bronshtein (128,500), Tom Franklin (109,000), William Byrnes (95,500), Ari Engel (93,000) and Chico Pho (55,000).
Full Flight A chip counts are available under the “Reports” tab above.
As far as those who didn’t advance, notables Jeff Fielder and Mark Fisher came up dry on two bullets, and thus, ended their shot at Circuit gold in the $1,675 finale. Meanwhile, bracelet winners Chris Tryba and Kyle Cartwright, 2008 WSOP Main Event third-place finisher Dennis Phillips, defending Lumiere Casino Champion Peter Nigh, Chris Conrad and Zal Irani used just one and are permitted to re-enter the action tomorrow.
The second and final starting flight begins Saturday at noon. Those fortunate enough to bag chips reconvene with today’s Flight A players for Day 2 Sunday at 2 p.m.
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:51 PM Local Time
The remaining players are bagging and tagging set to return for Day 2 Sunday at noon CT. A Flight A recap along with complete chip counts will be posted shortly.
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:39 PM Local Time
Tournament staff has just announced Flight A will log six more hands before bagging for the evening.
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:39 PM Local Time
Ryan Tepen and Tom Franklin see the flop come , and they both check. The turn is the , and Tepen bets 6,000. Franklin calls, the and river brings the . Tepen continues for 11,000, and Franklin calls again.
Tepen shows , and Franklin mucks.
Ryan Tepen - 165,000
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:33 PM Local Time
Josh Turner took a pot off seven-time ring winner Ari Engel and sent a player to the rail a few hands later to now sit at 375,000 chips with 17 minutes remaining on Day 1A. Engel, meanwhile, holds an average stack of 101,000.
Josh Turner - 375,000
Ari Engel - 101,000
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:26 PM Local Time
Neil Scott opens from late position to 6,000. It's on Byron Hubert in the small blind and he three bets making it 15,000 to go. Actions folds around to Scott and he moves all in for a total of 60,000. Hubert calls and Scott is at risk.
Scott:
Hubert:
The flop hits Hubert, coming pairing his ace. He has the lead heading to the turn.
The turn brings the while the river officially sends Scott to the rail.
"You couldn't put me on ace-10?" Scott laughs.
"That's how you're running right now," a tablemate says to Hubert.
Byron Hubert - 260,000
Neil Scott - Eliminated
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:23 PM Local Time
There is already over 50,000 in the pot on the turn, and the board reads, . Josh Turner bets 32,000 from middle position, and Ari Engel calls on the button. The river is the , and Turner checks. Engel checks behind, and Turner tables . Engel mucks, and Turner wins the big pot.
Josh Turner - 266,000
Ari Engel - 120,000
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:10 PM Local Time
It is now the last level of the night. There are currently 42 players remaining. In 40 minutes, all players still alive will bag their chips and return on Sunday for Day 2.
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:09 PM Local Time
Level: 15
Blinds: 1,200/2,400
Ante: 400
Friday, February 27, 2015 11:00 PM Local Time
Chico Pho gets his last 48,500 in against Tim Killday. Pho is ahead, but at risk holding, against the of Killday.
The flop improves Killday, coming . A turn gives Pho outs to a straight. The river completes that straight when it falls the . Pho claps in celebration as the dealer begins to count down his stack.
Chico Pho - 102,500
Tim Killday - 38,000
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:52 PM Local Time
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:49 PM Local Time
Justin "Choctaw" Kruger opens from middle position for his last 24,400. Byron Hubert calls from late position and the button player shoves for 43,500. It's back on Kruger and he calls with the opportunity to send two players to the rail.
Button:
Hubert:
Kruger:
The board comes improving Hubert to a pair of aces and sending Kruger and the button player to the rail.
Byron Hubert - 178,000
Justin "Choctaw" Kruger - Eliminated
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:29 PM Local Time
Level: 14
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 300
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:28 PM Local Time
Ryan Tepen opens the action from early position for 3,200. Chase Zancauske comes along from the big blind and they are heads up to the flop.
The dealer burns and turns a board and both players check.
The turn is the . Zancauske leads for 3,000. Tepen calls.
The river brings the and Zancauske leads again, this time for 4,500. Tepen reaches into his stack and raises to 15,000. Zancauske calls after a minute or so of thinking and Tepen shows for king-queen high. Zancauske holds for a pair of tens and wins the pot.
Chase Zancauske - 107,000
Ryan Tepen - 75,000
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:23 PM Local Time
Ari Engel raises from the hijack, and the cutoff calls. The big blind calls as well, and the players see the flop three-handed. The dealer spreads , and the big blind leads out with an all-in shove for about 10,000. Engel thinks for a minute, then tosses out a call, and the cutoff folds.
Ari Engel:
Big Blind:
The turn is the , and the river is the , giving Engel a full house and eliminating his opponent.
Ari Engel - 205,000
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:08 PM Local Time
With registration officially closed in the opening flight, the final number is in. The first of two start days in the $1,675 Lumiere Place Circuit Main Event drew 194 entries -- slightly more than the 172 last year's opener drew. Today's 194 pair with tomorrow's field to create the complete, two-flight starting field.
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:05 PM Local Time
Russ Head and a lone opponent get it all in preflop. Head is behind holding against the opponent's pocket aces.
The board runs out improving Head to a set and keeping his hot streak alive.
"I'm not making any friends," Head laughs.
Head is now the only player over the 200,000 mark.
Russ Head - 219,000
Friday, February 27, 2015 10:02 PM Local Time
According to the table, Heather Alcorn shoved from the small blind with and Russ Head woke up in the big blind with pocket tens. Alcorn never paired her ace and she was eliminated from the Main Event.
Heather Alcorn - Eliminated
Friday, February 27, 2015 9:58 PM Local Time
Cards are in the air following the night's final break and registration is now closed for Flight A of the Main Event.
Friday, February 27, 2015 9:49 PM Local Time
Level: 13
Blinds: 800/1,600
Ante: 200