Field Tops 1,000 Players in Event #5 of 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge
The final two starting flights for Event 5: $50 No-Limit Hold'em of the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge took place on Wednesday. After two more solid turnouts, the field size was pushed into four-figure territory as 1,026 total entries were generated.
On Day 1e, the fifth of six starting flights, 130 entries joined the fray. At the end of it all, Kali Zurek bagged up the leading stack with 190,700 in chips. That was well clear of Tom Law (151,200), Peter Craniotis (144,100), and Jeff Klein (131,100), who were the only other players to finish about 100,000, but still well behind Shayne Shackelford's Day 1d performance of 520,000 in chips.
Zurek grabbed the chip lead in the second-to-last level of the day in a huge aces-over-kings cooler worth some 160,000 after the money went in preflop.
From the 130, 16 players advanced.
Other than Shackelford's success, Zurek had produced the most profitable day thus far. That all changed after the final starting flight was completed, though, as Kyle Badger amassed 199,300 in chips. Behind him, 10 other players finished with 100,000-plus stacks as 39 players advanced from the flight that had a whopping 335 entries.
All told, 1,026 entries were generated for the event and 122 players survived for Day 2. The event's $25,000 guarantee was well surpassed as the prize pool reached $41,040, and the top 63 spots will be paid out. Making the money will earn a player $148, and there is $9,234 up top for the winner.
Be sure to tune back into PokerNews for continued live coverage of this event starting at 12 p.m. local time.
Also on the slate is Event 6: $200 No-Limit Hold'em starting an hour earlier at 11 a.m. local time. Here's a look at the rest of the 2015 Western New York Poker Challenge schedule:
For more information on the WNY Poker Challenge, which dates back to 2012, either visit their Facebook page or contact their poker room at (716) 278-6300.
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