Keith Carter Leads Day 1b Field Narrowly Over Kevin Eyster
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On Saturday, the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackersville, Oklahoma, saw Day 1b of the River Poker Series Main Event take place with a total of 455 entrants putting up the $2,500 entry fee. By the time play concluded, only 46 would survive to return for Day 2 on Monday. When all was said and done, it was Keith Carter who led the Day 1b contingent with 835,000 in chips.
After the first two flights, there were a total of 821 entrants with 83 moving on — and already in the money. They will be joined by those who make it through on Sunday's Day 1c.
Carter would move into the chip lead near the end of the night when he took out another big stack by flopping a set of nines. He would hold onto that lead through the end of the night, just edging out Kevin Eyster, who finished with 819,000.
Eyster won a massive pot at the end of the night when he tangled with WSOP bracelet winner Bryan Campanello. The latter would call Eyster's all-in bet on the 
board with 
and would be disappointed and crippled when Eyster showed him the 
. The river was the 
to send Eyster the huge pot.
Rounding out the top five were Chris Neal (498,000), Webber Kang (475,500), and Jence Kelling (462,500).
Others to make it through included Kevin Posey (434,000), Nate Kogel (296,000), Andy Philachack (215,000), La Sengphet (88,000), and Seneca Easley (59,000). Despite the misstep against Eyster, Campanello bagged up 93,500.
There were plenty that would come out to take their shot and come up short including Chris Tryba, TJ Cloutier, Ari Engel, Allen Kessler, Brandon Steven, Rex Clinkscales, Kyle Bowker, Tom Marchese, and Jordan Morgan. Fortunately for that group they will have one more shot tomorrow on Day 1c.
WinStar poker ambassador Maria Ho lost a key pot to Philachack during Level 14 with the blinds at 1,200/2,400/400 that saw her knocked just below 50,000 in chips. Shortly thereafter, the last of her chips went in when she picked up pocket queens, but unfortunately ran into an opponent's pocket kings.
Play for Day 1c will get underway Sunday at 12 p.m. local time. Players should expect a long day of poker as the field will once again be whittled down to the top 10%. PokerNews will be on hand with all of the latest updates from the tournament floor, so make sure to tune in for all the exciting coverage.