2022 bestbet Jacksonville Winter Series Open

$2,000 NLH Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2022 bestbet Jacksonville Winter Series Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a8
Prize
$140,058
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,000
Prize Pool
$692,730
Entries
387
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
60,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
148
Players Left
21

Steve Idels Bags a Commanding Lead on Day 1a of the 2022 Winter Open Main Event

Level 14 : 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Steve Idels
Steve Idels

Steve Idels of St. Augustine, Florida leads a field of 21 from Day 1a of the $2,000 Main Event in the 2022 Winter Open at bestbet Jacksonville. The surviving players outlasted a field of 148 to bag for a Day 2 that will kick off on Sunday at 12 p.m. EST. The first of two opening flights generated a prize pool of $264,920.

Idels went on a late run to take a commanding chip lead and he will return on Day 2 in search of his third cash of the series after finishing third in Event #5: $360 Monster Stack for $9,479. Other returning players include Warren Sheaves, Ryan Hohner, Matt Mauldin, and Stephen Strout.

$2,000 Main Event Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

PlaceNameHometownChip CountBig Blinds
1Steve IdelsSt. Augustine, Florida585,000146
2Warren SheavesAsheville, North Carolina373,00093
3Justin ZakiTampa, Florida370,00093
4Ryan HohnerPlainfield, New Jersey345,00086
5David DibernardiYoungstown, Ohio216,00054
6Matt MauldinColumbia, South Carolina215,00054
7TK MilesTallahassee, Florida215,00054
8Stephen StroutSt. Augustine, Florida190,00048
9Matt ThomasJacksonville, Florida182,00046
10Robert Zeff Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania163,00041

Day 1a Highlights

Day 2 qualifier Bradley Beetz got started early when he made a straight to double through fellow qualifier Dibernardi. Five-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Hastings took his shot, but his Day 1a came to an end when he shoved with pocket tens and ran into the ace-king of defending champion Scott Stewart.

Stewart ran well for most of the day, but he was eliminated from Day 1a when Matt Thomas went runner-runner to make a straight and crack the defending champion's pocket kings. Stewart has an opportunity to return tomorrow to find a bag on Day 1b and make a run at his title defense.

Hohner held the chip lead late after winning one of the biggest pots of the night when he called the bluff of Austin Reilly and turned over pocket queens. Hohner ceded the chip lead to Idels, but he still sits among the top ten with a great chance on Sunday. Mac Johnson scored a late knockout and will also return on Sunday looking for a chance to run it up for a run at the final table.

Mac Johnson
Mac Johnson

Day 1b will kick off on Saturday at 12 p.m. EST and players will start with 25,000 chips. Players will play 40-minute levels and registration will close at the beginning of Level 10. Action will continue through the end of Level 14, and the remaining players will combine with Day 1a on Sunday at 12 p.m.

Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews live reporting team all weekend long for updates from the floor of the $2,000 Main Event at bestbet Jacksonville.

Tags: Austin RileyBradley BeetzBrian HastingsDavid DibernardiJustin ZakiMac JohnsonMatt MauldinMatt ThomasRobert ZeffRyan HohnerScott StewartStephen StroutSteve IdelsWarren Sheaves