Friday, 29th March 2024 05:45
Home / Uncategorized / 2017 ACOP: Huntly leads final 9 in Warm-up, Lunt in hot pursuit

That’s it for day 2 of the Warm-up and things have definitely warmed up. We’re down to our final nine and they’re all guaranteed HK$143,000. They’ll come back later today to battle for the grand prize of HK$1,414,700.

Dennis Huntly is currently in the lead, but Lunt is just two big blinds away. Players will come back at 3pm local time to play to a winner. Here are the counts for the final table:

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Dennis Huntly

1. Dennis Huntly – 754,000
2. Jamie Lunt – 734,000
3. Jin Xin – 623,000
4. Weiran Pu – 477,000
5. Ka Shing Wong – 387,000
6. Shyngis Satubayev – 326,000
7. Tao Wang – 290,000
8. Bjorn Wiesler – 238,000
9. Ping Lin – 178,000

4:08am: Yu out in 10th
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Ryan Yu said he wasn’t running good, but then he picked up A♥ K♣ from under the gun.

Yu moved all-in for 210,000 and was hoping for a double up. Yu was right though, he wasn’t running good. Action folded to Jamie Lunt on the big blind and he called with A♦ A♣ .

The board ran Q♠ K♥ 5♣ 10♥ 7♠ and Yu won HK$116,200 for finishing 10th.

3:45am: Paik sent packing in 11th
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

It didn’t take long to get to ten. A short-stacked Albert Paik moved all-in for about 150,000 from the button with ace-five suited and Jamie Lunt called from the big blind with ace-king offsuit.

The board didn’t bring any help for Paik and he became our 11th place finisher, earning HK$98,300. Lunt on the other hand chipped up to 350,000.

One more to go. –AV

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Albert Paik

3:36am: Honeyman out in 12th
Level 20 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

Things slowed down at the tail end of level 19. The short stacks hung on and no big stacks clashed. But then the clocked ticked into the last level of the day and it was the last Dylan Honeyman would see this event.

Honeyman raised from the button with A♥ K♣ and Ping Lin three-bet to 65,000 with A♣ Q♠ . Honeyman moved all-in for 195,000 and Lin thought, for a while. Calling and losing would leave him with around 175,000. Minutes ticked by until someone called the clock to give Lin one more.

Lin called before the minute was up and showed his dominated ace-queen to Honeyman’s ace-king. The 6♣ Q♥ 6♥ J♥ 9♣ board paired Lin’s queen though and he got the elimination. Honeyman won HK$98,300 for finishing 12th while Lin chipped up to about 450,000. –AV

3:04am: Down to 12, boost of Honeyman
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Make it a dozen.

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant fell soon after the double KO and brought the tournament down to 12. Then we had a double up. Dylan Honeyman was down to 77,000 and went all-in with A♣ Q♥ and Albert Paik called with K♠ Q♣ .

Paik stood up and started asking for a king, but the 6♣ J♠ 2♦ 8♦ 6♥ board brought none. Honeyman doubled up to about 160,000 while Paik was left with about 115,000. 00AV

2:48am: Double kill for Huntly
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Paul Tedeschi and Chongxian Yang had been short for some time and then they both went all-in on the same hand.

Tedeschi went first, moving in for 82,000 from the button and then Yang called all-in for 70,000 from the small blind. Dennis Huntly was on the big blind and thought for a bit before calling. Huntly didn’t just have a bigger stack, he also had the better hand.

Tedeschi: Qâ™  5â™ 
Yang: Kâ™  9â™ 
Huntly: A♥ 10♣

Huntly paired his ace on the 8â™  6♥ 3♣ A♣ 3♦ board and scored the double KO. Tedeshci finished 15th, Yang was out in 14th, but both players won HK$80,400 for their finish. Huntly on the other hand extended his lead to 840,000. –AV

ACOP2017_WarmupDay2_053_Chongxian-Yang.jpg

Chongxian Yang

2:33am: Gamble gamble
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Sometimes you gotta gamble with 8-7 offsuit. And sometimes it works out.

That was the case for Tao Wang, who three-bet to 94,000 from the big blind after Chongxian Yang raised from the button. Yang then moved all-in and had Wang covered. Wang had about 100,000 behind, but only 8♦ 7♥ in his hand.

No matter though, gotta gamble sometimes. Wang called and was up against Yang’s A♦ Q♥ .

The 5♦ 10♥ Q♦ flop gave Yang a pair of queens, but then a 6â™  came on the turn to give Wang hopes of a straight. The 4♣ on the river turned those hopes into a reality and Wang doubled to more than 400,000 while Yang dipped below 100,000. –AV

2:23am: We’re back
Level 19 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Players are back and level 19 is underway. Stay tuned for more updates as we close in on the final table. –AV

2:07am: Final break
Level 18 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Players are on the last 15-minute break of the day. Yuki Ko has also been eliminated in 16th place, bringing the number of players down to 15 as well.

They’ll all come back for two more levels of play or until they hit the final table. –AV

1:55am: Tedeschi takes some time
Level 18 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

It took a lot of thinking to make the right fold for Paul Tedeschi.

The hand started with a raise from Tedeschi on the hijack. Dennis Huntly was on the button and was the only caller. The flop came down 9♣ 10♦ 4♥ and Huntly bet 45,000 when checked to. This put Tedeschi in the tank and he didn’t come out until the clock was called. Tedeschi called and then both players checked the 3♣ on the turn.

A 6♥ then completed the board and Tedeschi checked one more time. This time Huntly upped the bet to 90,000 and Tedeschi went back in the tank.

Tedeschi then asked Huntly a question, probing for information.

“If I say yes, that makes me look weak,” Huntly said. “But if I say no, makes me look strong.”

Interesting answer.

“Jacks?” Huntly asked, guessing Tedeschi’s hand. “Maybe you got pocket 10s.

“Have you got it?”

The clock was called again and Tedeschi folded when the final seconds started ticking by.

Huntly then turned over 8♦ 7♦ for the rivered straight and Tedeschi pumped his fist in celebration. The hand left Tedeschi with 125,000 while Huntly is now in the lead with about 610,000. –AV

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Paul Tedeschi

1:30am: Paik picks up some chips
Level 18 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Albert Paik has moved up to 205,000 after making a flush against Shyngis Satubayev.

Paik check-called 9,000 from the big blind on a flop of J♣ 5♣ Q♣ which brought the 3♣ on the turn. Paik check-called again on the turn, this time for 22,000, and the 3♥ river completed the board.

The action went check check on the end and Paik tabled K♣ Qâ™  for the winner. — BK

1:25am: Fengjiao Wang out in 17th
Level 18 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

There’s goes another one.

Dennis Huntly to 16,000 from early position and action folded to Fengjiao Wang on the small blind. Wang re-raised to 46,000 and Huntly threw in a four-bet to 75,000. Wang moved all-in for nearly 300,000 and Huntly called for about the same amount.

Huntly turned over 9♣ 9♦ for a flip against Wang’s A♦ Kâ™  . Wang did hit an ace on the river of a 9♥ 4♦ 3♦ 6♥ A♣ board, but Huntly had already flopped a set of 9s.

Huntly had Wang covered and Wang won HK$65,500 for finishing 17th while Huntly chipped up to nearly 550,000. –AV

1:15am: Weizhou Zha out in 18th
Level 18 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

We have our first two-table elimination. Weizhou Zha was down to just 45,000 and moved all-in with Q♦ J♦ . Action folded around to Weiran Pu and he called with A♥ K♥ .

Pu was already in the lead and the 3â™  5♦ 3♣ K♦ 9♦ board only extended it. Zha hit the rail in 17th while Pu chipped up to over 200,000. –AV

1am: Final two tables draw

Table 1

Seat 1) Yuki Ko – 80,000
Seat 2) Weizhou Zhu – 45,000
Seat 3) Ka Shing Wong – 250,000
Seat 4) Albert Paik – 200,000
Seat 5) Dylan Honeyman – 160,000
Seat 6) Ping Lin – 155,000
Seat 7) Jamie Lunt – 335,000
Seat 8) Weiran Pu – 150,000
Seat 9) Shyngis Satubayev – 160,000

Table 2

Seat 1) Tao Wang – 270,000
Seat 2) Phanlert Sukonthachartnant – 180,000
Seat 3) Bjorn Wiesler – 575,000
Seat 4) Ryan Yu – 210,000
Seat 5) Xin Jin – 140,000
Seat 6) Fengjiao Wang – 310,000
Seat 7) Paul Tedeschi – 220,000
Seat 8) Chongxian Yang – 250,000
Seat 9) Dennis Huntly – 300,000

12:50am: Big win for Wang
Level 17 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Fengjiao Wang just got a big double after calling off a big bluff.

Wang started the hand out with a raise to 11,500 from the hijack. Juncong Cao called from the button and Ryan Yu did the same from the big blind.

Yu checked the 7♣ 5♦ 3♠ flop and Wang bet 18,000. Cao called, Yu folded and a 9♠ came on the turn. Wang slowed to a check this time and Cao bet 28,000. Wang called and a J♣ completed the board. Wang checked one more time and this time Cao moved all-in. Cao had Wang covered and Wang thought for a bit. She had A♣ 7♥ . Would middle pair be good here?

Wang thought so and called. Cao turned over Kâ™  4â™  for king-high and Wang doubled to nearly 300,000 while Cao dropped to just less than 100,000. –AV

ACOP2017_WarmupDay2_003_Fengjiao-Wang.jpg

Fengjiao Wang

12:30am: Lucky 8s for Yu
Level 17 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Ryan Yu was caught in between two big stacks and managed to come out with a double up.

Shyngis Satubayev raised to 7,000 from early position that hand and Bjorn Wiesler called from the small blind. The two had just clashed the previous hand and Wiesler came out on top. Now it looked like they were about to battle again, but Yu intervened.

Yu moved all-in for 116,000 from the big blind and Satubayev thought for a bit and counted out the bet. Then he thought a bit more and called. Wiesler folded and Yu showed 8♣ 8♥ , comfortably ahead of Satubayev’s 7♥ 7â™  .

The Aâ™  Q♦ 6♣ Kâ™  4♦ board brought no upsets for Yu and he doubled to about 250,000 while Satubayev dipped to around 210,000. Wiesler on the other hand is still in the lead with nearly 500,000. –AV

12:20am: Lucky double for Weiran
Level 17 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Pu Weiran is lucky to still be in the tournament after getting the last of his chips in dominated by Albert Paik.

Paik opened to 10,000 from the cutoff before Weiran three-bet jammed for 67,500. Paik called it off and the cards went on their backs.

Weiran: J♣ 10♠
Paik: K♣ 10♠

Weiran managed to find a jack on the turn when the cards fell 9â™  10♥ 9♥ J♥ A♥ to see him take the lead and save his tournament life. Paik meanwhile was knocked back down to 270,000. — BK

12:06am: Back with blackjack
Level 17 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (500 ante)

Only 21 players have made it back for level 17. We’ll keep on playing until we hit a final table or after the completion of level 20. Here are the most recent eliminations:

22: Siow Choon Tong – HK$50,600
23: Ryo Naito – HK$50,600
24: Alexandra Janikova – HK$50,600
25: Song Yang – HK$44,700
26: Chit Kit Chan – HK$44,700
27: Weng Chih Matthew Chan – HK$44,700

11:45pm: Scheduled break

It’s time again for a 15-minute break.

11:40pm: Chip counts
Level 16 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Dennis Huntly – 245,000
Paul Tedeschi – 210,000
Yuki Ko – 155,000
Ryan Yu – 135,000
Albert Paik – 120,000
Dylan Honeyman – 115,000

11:30pm: Growing stacks
Level 16 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Stacks are starting to turn into towers as we keep on closing in on that final table.

Pots are getting hefty too. In one, Fengjiao Wang raised to 9,000 and Juncong Cao called from the small blind. Dylan Honeyman did the same from the big blind and all three players proceeded to check the Q♠ 2♦ 5♦ flop.

An A♦ came on the turn and Wang bet 15,000 when checked to. Honeyman folded, but Cao called and a 10♠ came on the river. Wang upped the bet to 25,000 for the final bullet, but it was a bluff. Cao called and Wang snap-mucked. Cao took down the pot and chipped up to abou 280,000.

It’s a large stack, but not the largest. Bjorn Wiesler appears to have the lead back with 350,000. –AV

11:15pm: Three-way all in
Level 16 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Yuki Ko will be counting his blessings after getting it all in three ways with the worst of it and somehow surviving.

It was Ko’s Jâ™  J♥ versus a short stack’s Qâ™  Q♣ and the A♣ A♦ of a player who had him covered. They were all in preflop and while the 9♥ 8♦ 2â™  flop was no help, the J♦ turn saw Ko spike a two-outer to take the lead.

The Q♥ river meant the short stack had turned the tables and the man with pocket aces ended up with the worst of it. Ko was all in for 105,000 so after paying off the short stack but doubling the rest through the other player he ended up with a profit – he now sits with 137,000 in chips. — BK

11:05pm: The eliminated
Level 16 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Here are the eliminations up to 28th:

28th: Dianlei Zhang – HK$41,700
29th: Renjun Yang – HK$41,700
30th: Zhe Sun – HK$41,700
31st: Junzhong Loo – HK$41,700
32nd: Martin Finger – HK$41,700

10:55pm: Falling fast
Level 16 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Now that players are in the money, the short stacks are going in faster than dumplings in a blogger’s belly.

Unlike the noodles, some players survive. Ryo Naito was down to 24,000 and moved all-in with A♠ K♠ and Ryan Yu called with A♣ J♦ . Naito flopped almost as great as he could with K♥ K♦ 10♠ and then a 10♦ came on the turn to give him a full house. The river was a meaningless J♥ and Naito doubled.

Before the next hand started, Renjun Yang grabbed the all-in triangle and put it on his stack. The dealer grabbed it back, but Yang stopped him. Yang, who was on the big blind, had exactly 4,500, enough for one ante and one big blind.

Siow Choon Tong reshoved when action folded to him and everyone else got out of the way. Yang turned over 5♣ 2♥ while Tong tabled Aâ™  3♦ . Both players paired on the A♣ 2♦ Q♣ flop, but aces beat deuces every day. A 6♥ came on the turn and then a Kâ™  ended Yang’s tournament.

Yang finished in 29th and then Dianlei Zhang busted in 28th moments after, bringing us to our final three tables. –AV

10:45pm: Kolev KO’d on the bubble
Level 15 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

After more than 90 minutes the bubble has finally burst here as Yuliyan Kolev received a bad beat to finish one short of a payday.

Ka Shing Wong opened to 7,000 on the button and Kolev three-bet to 20,500 from the small blind – leaving himself just 4,500 behind. Wong moved in over the top and after Kolev waited to make sure all hands had finished on the neighbouring tables, he then called it off.

Kolev: K♣ K♦
Wong: J♠ J♥

Kolev had the best of it and things stayed that way on the Qâ™  Q♣ 7â™  flop. The 10â™  turn brought a spade sweat but it was the J♦ river that saw Wong spike a set to eliminate Kolev. The fall of the final card was met with a roar from the railbirds who had gathered to watch the run out, and Bjorn Wiesler walked over to fist bump Kolev’s tablemate Martin Finger who had scraped through to the money with just 3.5 big blinds.

Kolev leaves us as the remaining 32 players all lock up HK$41,700. — BK

ACOP2017_WarmupDay2_059_Yuliyan-Kolev.jpg

Yuliyan Kolev (in red)
Ryan Yu

10:35pm: Belligerent bubble
Level 15 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Bubbles tend to burst, we’re hoping that holds true here. So far though, it’s standing strong.

Ryan Yu raised to 6,000 from the button in a recent double up and Chongxian Yang three-bet to 20,000 from the small blind. Yu called and a 6♠ 9♣ J♦ flop hit the board.

Yang bet 21,000 and Yu, who had Yang covered, moved all-in. Yang called and showed 9♦ 9â™  for a set of nines while Yu showed a straight draw with Q♥ 10â™  . Yu didn’t hit, but Yang did improve to a full house when the turn and river brought fours. Yu dropped to 170,000 while Yang chipped up to about 220,000.

The bubble continues. –AV

ACOP2017_WarmupDay2_013_Ryan-Yu.jpg

10:10pm: Slow going
Level 15 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

Yup, still on the bubble. There have been plenty of small pots and just two all-ins, only one of which was called. The short stack doubled up in that hand, with A♦ K♣ versus 4♣ 4♦ for a classic race. The K♠ 3♠ 10♠ J♥ 8♠ board brought the shorty a king and a double to about 45,000.

The bubble continues. –AV

9:45pm: We’re back
Level 15 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (500 ante)

We’re back from dinner and back on the bubble. Only 33 players remain and only one of our well-fed players will bust without making a minimum of HK$41,700. –AV

Dinner break

We’re still on the stone bubble and our remaining 33 players have stepped away for a 60-minute dinner break.

8:05pm: Hand for hand
Level 14 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

The Warm-up is now hand for hand as 33 remain and 32 places pay.

We’ll be glued to the tournament floor to catch the bubble, stay tuned.

7:50pm: Honeyman hits Paik hard
Level 14 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Albert Paik was just punished by a cold deck and it was Dylan Honeyman who collected the spoils.

It was a battle of the blinds and on a board of 4♦ 2♣ 4♣ K♣ Paik led from the small blind for 12,500. Honeyman made the call and the A♠ rolled off on the river.

Paik checked and Honeyman picked up the betting lead with a wager of 24,000, before Paik raised to 100,000 for enough to cover Honeyman’s 73,100 in total. Honeyman made a quick call and Paik saw that his 5â™  3♥ for a rivered straight was no good against Honeyman holding A♥ 4â™  for a full house.

Paik was left with 110,000 while Honeyman approaches 200,000. — BK

7:30pm: Ko climbing
Level 13 – Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Yuki Ko continues to climb after taking some chips from tablemate Adrian Attenborough.

Players went three-way to a flop of 6♠ J♠ 5♦ and after the big blind checked it, Ko fired for 9,000. Attenborough made the call on the button and with the big blind out of the way the dealer burned and turned the 9♣ .

The action went check check and the K♥ river completed the board.

Ko then loaded up and bet 24,500 and after some time in the tank Attenborough decided to let it go. He drops to 55,000 while Ko builds to 120,000. — BK

7:10pm: The rich get richer as Huntly hits a set
Level 13 – Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Dennis Huntly appears to be the chip leader here after accumulating all day to currently sit at around 280,000. He just took down another pot that went three-way to the flop.

On a flop of K♥ 2♦ A♥ the player in the hijack bet 5,800, Chongxian Yang called in the cutoff, but Huntly rereaised to 15,000 on the button. That was too much for the hijack and while Yang contemplated for over 30 seconds he too gave it up.

Yang revealed the A♣ before his hand went sailing into the muck, and Huntly looked disgusted to not get more value as he tabled 2â™  2♣ for bottom set. — BK

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Dennis Huntly

6:50pm: Pass the sugar to Honeyman
Level 13 – Blinds 1,000/2,000 (300 ante)

Dylan Honeyman has doubled up after ending up on the right end of a frosty deck.

We didn’t catch when all the chips went in but Honeyman had Kâ™  Jâ™  in front of him to his opponent’s 4â™  2â™  with the board spread 7â™  5â™  3â™  10♣ 8♦ . They had both flopped a flush but Honeyman’s was superior.

The dealer cut down his 27,100 and when that was paid off and he collected the rest of the chips in the pot he moved up to 80,000. — BK

6:20pm: Time for a break

Players have commenced a 15-minute break. — BK

6:10pm: Finger firing on all cylinders
Level 12 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Martin Finger has continued the upswing with a big pot recently going his way.

Players were three way to a flop and after it was checked twice over to Finger, he overbet jammed for 56,700 with less than 35,000 in the middle.

The big blind asked to see Yuliyan Kolev’s stack behind him before relinquishing his hand, and then Kolev went into the tank himself. With just 45,000 in his stack Kolev had a decision for his tournament life, but with a tormented look on his face he opted for a fold.

Finger collected another pot and climbed to around 90,000. — BK

ACOP2017_WarmupDay2_050_Martin-Finger.jpg

Martin Finger

5:55pm: Finger finding his feet
Level 12 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Martin Finger is chipping up after taking a small pot from tablemate Paul Tedeschi.

It was Tedeschi who opened the action with an under the gun raise to 3,500 before Finger three-bet to 10,500 on the button. Tedeschi flicked in a call and they went to a flop of 3♥ 2♣ 9♥ .

Tedeschi checked it over to Finger who continued for 7,000 and took it down.

With that pot Finger lifts to 65,000 while Tedeschi still boasting a healthy 100,000 in chips. — BK

5:35pm: Battling from the blinds
Level 12 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Bubble aggression is so yesterday. It’s all about being aggressive from the blinds these days.

That’s what two of our large stacks have been doing. In one hand, Vincent Li called from the small blind, and our start-of-day leader, Bjorn Wiesler, was on the big blind. He wasn’t going to make things so easy abd raised. Li called and a 4â™  6♣ 2♦ flop hit the board.

Wiesler bet 4,500 and that was good enough to get a fold from Li. Wiesler raked in the pot and chipped up to 170,000. It’s a big stack, but a bit behind our leader.

That title belongs to Dennis Huntly, who’s also been causing commotion from the blinds. Action folded to Huntly’s small blind that hand and he raised to 3,300. Linh Tran called from the button and the flop came 6♥ 10♣ A♥ .

Huntly fired away, making it 5,600 to go. It was too much for Tran though and he let his hand go. The pots might have been small, but they add up. Stacks are built a pot at a time. –AV

5:15pm: Chip counts
Level 12 – Blinds 800/1,600 (200 ante)

Here are a few of the chips counts from around the room. — BK

Dennis Huntly – 220,000
Ryan Yu – 175,000
Bjorn Wiesler – 140,000
Alexandra Janikova – 105,000
Yuki Ko – 97,000
Adrian Attenborough – 80,000
Linh Tran – 60,000
Martin Finger – 55,000
Martin Jacobson – 22,000
Dylan Honeyman – 21,500

4:55pm: Another Huntly hit
Level 11 – Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Dennis Huntly is now near the top of the leaderboard with about 190,000.

A chunk of those chips came from a recent elimination. There was a raise to 2,700 from early position that hand and Huntly called from the cutoff. Chin Sun Tan re-raised all-in for 22,800 from the button and the original aggressor folded.

Huntly called and showed A♣ 7♣ to Tan’s dominating A♦ Jâ™  . The 5♥ 10♦ 10♥ flop didn’t change much, but the 7â™  that came on the river catapulted Huntly into the lead. Tan went from favorite to underdog and then a 9♥ on the river turned him into a bustee.

Huntly chipped up to 190,000 while the tournament dropped to 53 players. –AV

4:40pm: Jacobson jabbed
Level 11 – Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Martin Jacobson is struggling to gain some momentum.

The former world champion is still close to the stack he started the day with. Jacobson has about 34,000, but now the blinds have crept up to 600/1,200.

Jacobson recently lost a pot to Albert Paik to drop down to that amount. Both players were faced with 9♥ 6♦ 6♥ flop and there was already a chunk of chips in the middle. Jacobson checked from middle position and Paik did the same from the button.

A K♦ came on the turn and this time Paik fired off a bet of 13,000 after Jacobson checked. The former world champ thought for a bit and then called, bringing a 3â™  on the river. Jacobson checked again and this time Paik fired a bullet worth 25,000. Jacobson thought again, but this time he went for the fold. Jacobson was left with about 34,000 while Paik chipped up to 140,000. –AV

ACOP2017_WarmupDay2_036_Martin-Jacobson.jpg

Martin Jacobson

4:30pm: Bjorn with it
Level 11 – Blinds 600/1,200 (200 ante)

Bjorn Wiesler started the day as chip leader and while he took a hit early he’s now bouncing back.

We arrived to catch the river action with the community cards reading 3♦ J♣ 10♦ 4♦ 10♥ and Wiesler had led for 9,500. Tao Wang was the only other active player and he put in a raise to 24,000 before immediately leaning back and crossing his arms.

Wiesler took a minute to make the correct call with A♥ 10â™  which was way the best of it against Wang’s 7â™  5â™  .

That pot sees Wiesler climb back to 170,000. –BK

4:05pm: Scheduled break

It’s time for the first break of the day. Play will resume in 15 minutes. — BK

4:00pm: Huntly hunts Xu
Level 10 – Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Tianyu Xu had less than 2,000 and moved all-in from under the gun. Dennis Huntly reraised to 10,000 from the hijack and Yuefeng Pan four-bet to 23,000. Huntly called and Xu stood up from his chair in apparent defeat.

The flop came 2♠ 10♦ Q♣ and Pan bet 16,000 when checked to. Huntly then threw in a large pile of 5k chips for a big raise and Pan folded.

Huntly turned over J♥ J♣ while Xu showed a lowly 9♣ 4♦ . Xu was in need of some help, but the A♦ and 9â™  on the turn and river wasn’t it. Xu hit the rail while Huntly chipped up to over 180,000.

Only 63 players remain as we close in on the first break of the day. –AV

ACOP2017_WarmupDay2_029_Dennis-Huntly.jpg

Dennis Huntly

3:45pm: Attenborough at it again
Level 10 – Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Australia’s Adrian Attenborough just raked another pot after a huge river bet was met with no contest.

We caught the action on the turn with the board reading A♥ 2♦ 8♥ 5♠ to see the big blind lead out for 3,000. Attenborough made the call from early position and the 2♣ rolled off on the river.

The big blind checked on the end but Attenborough loaded up and bombed it for 26,000 – roughly double the pot. His opponent conceded defeat with a not and surrendered his hand.

Attenborough now sits with around 110,000 at his disposal.

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Adrian Attenborough

3:35pm: Insurance policy
Level 10 – Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Sometimes you have to leave yourself with a little something. You know, just in case. Like a final Jeopardy bet that leaves yourself with $1 if you’re wrong.

That’s what happened to Chen An Lin, who was left with just a handful of big blinds after calling Song Yang’s large river bet.

Yang raised to 2,200 from the cutoff that hand and Lin threw in a three-bet to 6,200 from the button. Action folded back around to Yang and he called.

The flop came J♠ K♥ 8♠ and Yang checked. Lin bet 8,800 and Yang called, bringing a 9♠ on the turn. Both players checked that card and and a 10♣ completed the board. Yang took the initiative this time and bet big: 23,800.

Lin thought, counted at his stack, and then thought a bit more. Finally he pushed a tall stack in for the call and mucked after Yang tabled A♥ Q♦ for the broadway straight. The hand left Lin with just about 5,000 while Yang chipped up to around 130,000. –AV

3:20pm: Huntly hurt by Pan
Level 10 – Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Red Dragon champion Yuefeng Pan has put the hurt on Dennis Huntly after making quads and getting a full double up.

We arrived just in time to see the board spread out A♥ 9♥ Q♦ 9♣ Kâ™  and the dealer cutting down Pan’s 36,200 in chips. Huntly was forced to match it after his A♣ 5♦ was no good against Pan’s 9â™  9♦ .

The dealer pushed the sizable pot to Pan and Huntly was knocked back down to 45,000. — BK

3:10pm: Wiesler takes a hit
Level 10 – Blinds 500/1,000 (100 ante)

Bjorn Wiesler was chipping up early, taking down pots and piling chips onto his already large stack.

Then James Christopher Romero got seated at his table and dealt the leader a blow. It wasn’t large, but it was big enough for Romero to show he’s a new force to be reckoned with at the table.

Lawrence Chung started that hand off with a raise to 1,800 from the cutoff and Romero called from the button. Wiesler was on the big blind and three-bet to 6,800. Chung folded, Romero called and a 10♥ J♥ 10♠ flop hit the board.

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Bjorn Wiesler

Wiesler bet 5,400 and Romero called, bringing a 3♦ on the turn. Both players checked and an A♦ came on the river. Wiesler stepped back on the gas and bet 6,500, but this time Romero ramped it back up by moving all-in for over 20,000.

Wiesler turned and stared at Romero, perhaps shocked that someone was challenging his stack. Wiesler folded, but was still left with about 157,000 while Romero chipped up to about 60,000. –AV

3pm: Kings for Calzada
Level 9 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

David Calzada just took some chips from Albert Paik with a post-flop check-raise.

The flop showed J♣ 9♥ 10♦ and after Paik led for 3,000 from the big blind, Calzada quickly splashed out a raise of 8,000. Just as quickly Paik threw his hand in the muck and Calzada was awarded the pot.

He flashed K♣ K♦ and moved up to 33,000 while Paik still doing well on 120,000. — BK

2:50pm: Tran check-raises
Level 9 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

APPT Manila champion Linh Tran is here on Day 2 and continuing to chip up after a check-raise.

Tran defended his big blind to a raise of 1,800 before the flop landed 8♠ 10♠ 5♥ . A quick check from Tran saw a continuation bet of 2,200 and Tran quickly reraised to 7,700.

His opponent snap-folded and Tran collected the chips to climb to 30,000. — BK

2:40pm: Sukonthachartnant shoves
Level 9 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Phanlert Sukonthachartnant is still in the running after getting a shove through in a blind versus blind confrontation with Song Yang.

There was about 18,000 in the middle already and with the board reading Q♥ 8♣ A♠ 5♣ Sukonthachartnant moved in for 18,100 from the small blind. Yang sat in the tank and asked for a count after a minute but before another minute passed he decided to let it go.

Sukonthachartnant scooped up the pot and Yang was left with 76,000 in chips. — BK

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Phanlert Sukonthachartnant

2:30pm: A steady stream
Level 9 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Players keep on falling.

John Myung was down to just 3,700 and moved all-in with Q♥ J♣ . Yuefeng Pan called with A♥ 9♠ and hit an ace on the 3♣ 5♦ A♦ 7♦ 4♥ to help shrink the tournament.

As Pan was packing up his things, Paul Francois Tedeschi raised to 1,800 from middle position at another table. Action folded to Zhang Yang on the small blind and he moved all-in for 9,100. Not to be outdone, Pham Huy Quang reshoved for 40,800 from the big blind.

Tedeschi folded and the two players tabled pairs. Yang showd 5♠ 5♦ and Huy Quang had a higher 9♦ 9♠ .

The board brought no help for Yang and he hit the rail while Huy Quang chipped up to about 50,000. Only 84 players remain. –AV

2:15pm: Trickling out
Level 9 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Several of the short stacks came ready to go big or go home, and a few of them went home.

We’ve already lost seven players and another table has broken as we work our way down to the final table. One short stack that’s picked up a bit is the 2014 WSOP Main Event champion, Martin Jacobson. In one recent pot, Jacobson raised from the button and called a three-bet from the big blind.

The flop came 8♠ 5♥ A♣ and Jacobson took it down with a bet of 6,000. The pot put Jacobson up to about 40,000 and his table broke soon after.

Only 90 players remain. –AV

2:00pm: Preheating done
Level 9 – Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

The oven has reached cooking temperature and the Warm-up is underway. Play is starting back up with 400/800 blinds and a 100 ante.

Only 32 players will cash and there’s HK$1,414,700 up for first. –AV

1:30pm: Gearing up for the Warm-up

The sun is out and things –including the PokerStars Blog Pun Factoryâ„¢– are starting to warm up here in Macau.

Not only is day 2 of the the HK$25,000 (~$3,200) Warm-up about to start, the HK$800,000 (~$100,000) Super High Roller is scheduled to kick off in a few hours. We can only speculate how many players will make it to that tournament, but we know for sure how many are left in this one.

Only about a third of the 267 that signed up for the Warm-up made it through day 1. We have a grand total of 97 players coming back for day 2. They’re led by Bjorn Wiesler, who made it through the day with 156,300. While Wiesler bagged the biggest stack of the day, several players are in hot pursuit including Albert Paik (132,100) and Ryan Tack Yu (127,000).

The 2014 WSOP Main Event Champion, Martin Jacobson, also made it through to day 2, surviving with 28,000. It’ll be an uphill battle for everyone though since the plan is to get down to a final table.

Who will make it? I guess you’ll just have to stick with us to find out. Action kicks off at 2pm local time. –AV

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PokerStars Blog reporting team on the HK$25,000 Warm-up: Brad Kain, Caffeine and Alexander Villegas. Photos by Kenneth Lim Photography courtesy of PokerStars LIVE Macau.

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