Friday, 29th March 2024 09:44
Home / Uncategorized / PokerStars Festival Korea: Yuki Ko climbs the highest on Day 1B

Another day of chips flying, another 12 levels and another Day 1 flight in the books here at the PokerStars Festival Korea Main Event. Day 1B was much the same as yesterday, in fact the only real difference was the absence of a dinner break to make way for the Players Party tonight.

There were 66 who took a shot at Main Event glory today. That number is up from Day 1A’s 54 and brings our running tally to 120 so far with two more flights tomorrow. While many notables were busy in the High Roller yesterday, some of them made an exit from that tournament today and decided to join the Main Event hunt.

One of those was Yuki Ko, who after busting five bullets in the High Roller, late registered the Main Event and steamrolled his way through to bag up the end-of-day chip lead. Ko made quads with J♥ 6♦ on a board of 10♠ 8♥ 6♠ 6♣ 6♥ to send a player home early in the final level of the day.

PSF Korea Yuki Ko chip leader.jpg

Yuki Ko – ahead of the pack

Fellow High Roller evictee Daniel Demicki (6th place) followed Ko into the Main Event and also found success. Demicki picked off a bluff holding pocket tens when his opponent shoved on the turn with the board reading 6♣ 3♦ 9♦ 5♦ . He was ahead of his tablemate’s ace queen and the river changed nothing. Demicki went on to win a flip about 90 minutes before play concluded and ultimately bagged 209,500.

Albert Paik was also in the mix today, and while he took the crown at APPT Seoul here in Korea around this time last year, he couldn’t survive the day. The story goes that Paik found himself in a three-way all in holding A♥ 9♥ against one opponent’s 8♥ 8♣ and Mitsuru Sano’s Jâ™  J♥ . The J♣ 9♣ 3â™  flop left Paik dead to running cards and his elimination had been finalized by the fall of the 4â™  turn card.

PSF Korea Albert Paik elimination.jpg

Albert Paik (left) still smiling in the face of defeat

While Paik departed it looks like 19 made it through today’s flight. Some of those taking stacks through to Day 2 on Sunday include Justin Chan (203,700), Takashi Ogura (140,200), and Geoffrey Mooney (59,000).

That’s all from us here in Korea tonight. Now it’s time for everyone to unwind at the Players Party. Tomorrow will feature both Day 1C and a turbo Day 1D – we’ll see you then!

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