2024 NAPT Las Vegas

$550 NAPT Mystery Bounty
Day: 1a
Event Info

2024 NAPT Las Vegas

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$46,800
Event Info
Buy-in
$550
Prize Pool
$576,480
Entries
1,201
Level Info
Level
35
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
232
Players Left
35

Chris Shebat Leads 35 Survivors, Justin Young Bursts the Bubble on Day 1a of the NAPT $550 Mystery Bounty

Level 17 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Chris Shebat
Chris Shebat

The doors swung upon on the second edition of the PokerStars North American Poker Tour Las Vegas festival today with Day 1a of the $550 NAPT Mystery Bounty.

A field of 232 players filled the Resorts World Las Vegas poker room throughout the day as only the top 35 would finish in the money and book a ticket into Day 2. Chris Shebat ended up as the chip leader with 570,000 after winning a massive pot off Eric Molina when he flopped the nut straight to crack Molina’s set of aces.

Justin Young helped burst the bubble when he won a coin flip with two sevens against Jimmy Setna’s ace-queen on his way to bagging up 522,000. A few hands earlier, Young had spiked a flush to bust Young Sik Eum after both players showed down ace-king. Victor Paredes (479,000), Matthew Lambrecht (363,000), and Ekrem Bozkurt (266,000) round out the top five.

Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

RankPlayerChip Count
1Chris Shebat570,000
2Justin Young522,000
3Victor Paredes479,000
4Matthew Lambrecht363,000
5Ekrem Bozkurt266,000
6Yi Lin255,000
7Brian Battistone250,000
8Chris Vickrey240,000
9Quinn Lowry218,000
10Ky Nguyen203,000

Other players to survive the day include Irish Open champion David Docherty (186,000), Spencer Champlin (181,000), Team PokerStars Pro Barny Boatman (164,000), and Ben Ludlow (106,000). Among those who will have to try again on another starting flight are Jeff Platt, who busted one of his bullets today against quad kings, as well as Frank Lagodich, Terrance Reid, Joshua Remitio, Jack Hardcastle, Maria Konnikova, Tyler Patterson, and Ryan Leng.

There are still four more starting flights for players to try to make the money. Day 1b is ongoing, with two more flights tomorrow and the fifth and final Day 1e flight on Sunday at noon. All remaining players combine for Day 2 on Monday at noon when mystery bounties come into play. Day 2 will pick up on the earliest finishing time from one of the starting flights. Day 1a finished with 15 minutes remaining in Level 17 with blinds of 3,000-6,000 and a 6,000 big blind ante.

PokerNews will be back tomorrow providing live updates from another opening flight as the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas rolls on.

Tags: Barny BoatmanBen LudlowBrian BattistoneChris ShebatChris VickreyDavid DochertyEkrem BozkurtJustin YoungMatthew LambrechtSpencer ChamplinVictor Paredes

Young Wins a Flip to Bust Setna on the Bubble

Level 17 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Justin Young
Justin Young

On the first hand of hand-for-hand play, Jimmy Setna limped in from the small blind and Justin Young raised to 28,000 in the big blind. Setna then moved all in for 130,000 and Young called.

Jimmy Setna: AQ All in
Justin Young: 77

Setna was racing for his tournament life but couldn't connect with the J6538 board as Young's sevens stayed in the lead to bust Setna on the money bubble.

The remaining 35 players are bagging up their chips for Day 2.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Justin Young us
Justin Young
500,000
130,000
130,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Jimmy Setna ca
Jimmy Setna
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Justin YoungJimmy Setna

Paredes Gets Paid by Young

Level 17 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Victor Paredes
Victor Paredes

Victor Paredes bet 15,000 from middle position on a flop of 8K6 and Justin Young called in early position.

Paredes bet another 25,000 on the 7 turn and Young again called. The river was the 2 and Paredes bet 75,000. Young quickly called and Paredes turned over KK for top set to win the big pot.

Kinzang Tobgay was recently eliminated on another table to bring the field down to 36 players, one away from the money as play goes hand-for-hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Victor Paredes us
Victor Paredes
450,000
130,000
130,000
StakeKings
Profile photo of Justin Young us
Justin Young
370,000
-50,000
-50,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Kinzang Tobgay us
Kinzang Tobgay
Busted

Tags: Justin YoungVictor Paredes

Molina Soft Bubbles as Set of Aces Cracked By Broadway

Level 17 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Eric Molina
Eric Molina

After a rare appearance at the poker table, Eric Molina soft bubbled in a hand so brutal it likely set him back all the way to the Poker Boom.

As recounted by the table, Molina opened and received two calls, including from Christopher Shebat.

Molina continued when checked to on the flop of AQJx and both opponents called. Molina then moved all in when checked to on the 2 turn and only Shebat called to put the Main Event trash-talker at risk.

Eric Molina: AxAx All in
Christopher Shebat: K10

Molina had top set but was behind the stone nuts of his opponent with Broadway. The Kx river failed to pair the board and Molina, who was much quieter this tournament than he was in the 2006 Main Event when he famously sparred with champion Jamie Gold, was eliminated just a few spots off the money.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chris Shebat us
Chris Shebat
420,000
Day 1A Chip Leader
Profile photo of Eric Molina us
Eric Molina
Busted

Tags: Christopher ShebatEric Molina

Young Stuns Eum With the Same Hand

Level 16 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Justin Young
Justin Young

Soon after doubling up, Young Sik Eum again got all of his chips in the middle from the big blind as Justin Young put him at risk in middle position.

Young Sik Eum: AK All in
Justin Young: AK

Both players were poised for a chop as the JQ7 flop gave Young a flush draw. The K turn gave Young a flush and Eum was left heading to the rail once the 7 completed the board on the river.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Justin Young us
Justin Young
420,000
290,000
290,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Young Sik Eum us
Young Sik Eum
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Justin YoungYoung Sik Eum

Molina Fills Up on the River to Stun Lope

Level 15 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Eric Molina
Eric Molina

Eric Molina got the rest of his 83,000 in the middle from the hijack on a flop of 94A and Chinchillas Lope put him at risk in the big blind.

Eric Molina: A9 All in
Chinchillas Lope: 105

Molina showed top two pair, but Lope had flopped a flush and was poised for the knockout as the 7 fell on the turn. The river was the A and Molina spiked a full house to win the pot and double up.

"Nice catch," Lope told him.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Eric Molina us
Eric Molina
180,000
55,000
55,000
Profile photo of Chinchillas Lope us
Chinchillas Lope
130,000
-90,000
-90,000

Tags: Chinchillas LopeEric Molina

Saleh Runs Into Nines This Time

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Chris Shebat
Chris Shebat

Abou Saleh moved all in for 40,000 from the button and Chris Shebat called in the big blind.

Abou Saleh: A9 All in
Chris Shebat: 99

Saleh had doubled up earlier this level two two nines, but this time he was the one looking for the ace to stay alive. The board ran out 5224K ad Shebat stayed in front to send Saleh to the rail and boost his stack up past 400,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chris Shebat us
Chris Shebat
420,000
200,000
200,000
Day 1A Chip Leader
Profile photo of Abou Saleh lb
Abou Saleh
Busted

Tags: Abou SalehChris Shebat

Lagodich Turns a Straight For a Bustout

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Frank Lagodich
Frank Lagodich

A player in the cutoff bet 5,500 on a flop of 1074 and Frank Lagodich raised to 16,500 in the small blind. His opponent called and the 6 fell on the turn.

Lagodich then moved all in and his opponent snap-called for around 30,000, showing 107 for two pair. Lagodich had 98 for a turned straight as the 3 fell on the river to send his opponent to the rail.

"Easy game," a tablemate said to Lagodich.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Frank Lagodich us
Frank Lagodich
160,000
75,000
75,000

Tags: Frank Lagodich

Young Flips Roberts to the Rail

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Justin Young
Justin Young

Christian Roberts moved all in for 20,000 from the small blind and Justin Young called in the hijack.

Christian Roberts: JJ All in
Justin Young: AK

Young hit top pair on the K79 flop, then improved to trips as the board ran out 6K to send Roberts to the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Justin Young us
Justin Young
130,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Christian Roberts ve
Christian Roberts
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Christian RobertsJustin Young

Molina Rolls Back the Years

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Eric Molina
Eric Molina

An early position player opened and Eric Molina called on the button as the big blind also called.

The early position player bet 4,000 on the flop of K86 and Molina raised to 10,000. The big blind folded and the early position player called.

Both players then checked on the A turn and Molina's opponent moved all in for over 50,000 on the 4 river. Molina thought it over before calling with a slightly bigger stack.

The opponent could only show 33 as Molina showed K7 to win the pot with a pair of kings.

Eric Molina
Eric Molina
Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Eric Molina us
Eric Molina
125,000
100,000
100,000

Tags: Eric Molina