Just 26 of 172 Remain With Ferenc Riech Leading
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Day 1 Flight 2 of the 2016 Aussie Millions Poker Championship Event #1 $1,150 No-Limit Hold'em drew a total of 172 players Thursday, bringing the total up to 332, and putting the event well on the path to surpassing its $1 million prize pool guarantee with two starting flights still to come.
Two-time European Poker Tour Main Event finalist Xuan Liu and 2014 WSOP APAC Main Event champion Scott Davies both took their second shot at the event to no avail.
2013 World Series of Poker Europe Ladies Event bracelet winner Jackie Glazier took her first kick at the can. However, the Aussie was felted early and was soon joined by 2012 WSOP November Niner Jacob Balsiger and Australian Poker Hall of Fame member Leo Boxell on the rail.
A Writer and Producer on hit American TV shows Weeds and Entourage, Matt Salsberg, and 2015 WSOP November Niner Federico Butteroni both built contending stacks into the late levels. However, Butteroni got short and busted in the last ten minutes of play while Salsberg slowed down and bagged short.
By the time twelve 40-minute levels were through just 26 players remained with Ferenc Riech leading the pack. The German built a big stack midway through the day and used it to put a ton of pressure on his opponents through the late levels, ascending into the chip lead as the night wore on.
This group and the 26 survivors from Flight 1 will battle it out for a seat at the nine-handed final at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday with survivors from the next two flights set for Friday and Saturday also joining them.
As a repechage event, players eliminated from previous flights may re-enter any of the remaining flights.
While the event continues with the third of four starting flights set for 12:10 p.m. local time Friday, PokerNews' live coverage will shift to the final table of Event #2 $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. beginning at 1 p.m. Friday.
Coverage of Event #1 will resume with the fourth and final flight set for 12:10 p.m. local time Saturday.