4:10pm: Ten-minute break
4:05pm: Celina Lin eliminated
Celina Lin has also become a casualty of the Day 1b field as the players are falling away at a rapid pace, with the 300-600 level in particular putting a lot of pressure on the short stacks.
Lin was down to around 8,000 in chips and lost a race with pocket eights against her opponent’s king-jack when both a king and a jack found their way on board. We hope to see the Asia’s poker queen back again for third time lucky on Day 1c.
3:55pm: Rathi runs into the ladies
The rise and fall of Rathi Shashank has gone full circle with the Indian added to the list of those eliminated here on Day 1b. Shashank moved all in preflop with 4♥ 4♣ but ran into the Q♠Q♦ of Percy Yung.
It was all girl power as Yung’s ladies held on the board of 8♦ J♦ 9â™ J♣ 6♥ . Yung is up to 22,000 with Shashank off to an early exit.
3:45pm: Jones triples
Table six is certainly the action table at the moment as a three-way all-in clash has just seen the demise of Hung Chang Lin and the triple up of the UK’s Nigel Jones.
Lin was short-stacked and all in with 9♣ 10♥ , chip leader Albert Kwan was in the action with A♣ Q♣ while Jones was in front with his A♥ K♥ .
The flop was a dry 4â™ 6♥ 8â™ , but Lin took the lead when the 9♥ hit the turn to have the only pair. Jones added a flush draw but he didn’t need it as the K♣ hit the river to give him the pot. Jones triples to 20,000, Kwan take a hit to slip back to 50,000, while Lin hits the rail.
3:35pm: Double for Percy
It was a six-way limped pot that led to the double up of Percy Yung, as all the action unfolded on a flop of A♠K♠4♦ . Action checked to Hung Chang Lin who bet 1,000. It was then folded to Yung who immediately moved all in for a total of 6,600. The table folded back to Lin who made the call with Q♠10♠for a Royal Flush draw as Yung was happy to be in the lead with her A♥ 7♠.
Lin had a lot of outs but missed on the 8♦ turn and 3♦ river as Yung doubled up to around 16,000 chips.
Meanwhile this table is the home of our current chip leader in Albert Kwan who has been on a massive run this afternoon to currently sit behind a stack worth 60,000.
3:20pm: Flynn out
It looks like Kelly Flynn was here for a good time, not a long time. In a heartbeat, Flynn’s chair has been vacated, presumed eliminated.
3:10pm: Straight-flush for Chen
Russian Artem Grechko hasn’t had a great time so far in Macau. Yesterday he was involved in a small altercation when the dealer accidentally mucked his cards when Grechko hadn’t protected them. Today, it hasn’t got much better as he has just run his ace-high flush into the straight-flush of Victor Chen.
The details were recalled to us second hand, but apparently both players were playing it a little slow after the flop landed 2♣ 4♣ 5♣ . Grechko had the A♣ 9♣ while Chen was holding J♣ 3♣ which improved to a straight-flush on the 6♣ turn. By the time the river came, Grechko was careful as he only called the 2,500-chip bet from Chen and then saw the bad news.
3:00pm: We’re in triple digits
A couple of late arrivals have pushed the total number of entries in today’s flight up over the 100-player mark. Some of those latecomers include Kelly Flynn who was runner-up in last year’s Macau Poker Cup Championship, and former Red Dragon winner Victor Chen.
2:50pm: Shashank slips with Big Slick
Rathi Shashank was off to a good start earlier today but has just slipped back to below his starting stack once again after doubling up American David Tam.
The chips were in preflop with Shashank holding A♥ K♥ against Tam’s J♥ J♦ . The board ran out 5♦ 9â™ 10♦ 10♣ 7♥ to leave Tam’s jacks in the lead for a double up to 19,000. Shashank is left with 7,800.
Tam did give a few of those chips back on the next hand as Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin raked in an early pot. Lin raised to 300 from early position and Tam called on the button to see a flop of 4♥ 2♦ 4♣ . Lin fired 500 and Tam called, before both checked the 3♥ turn. When the K♦ fell on the river, Lin led out for 1,000 which was too much for Tam as he gave it up. Lin is sitting with about 9,000 chips.
2:35pm: Lucky seven
At the moment we have 91 entrants with registration still open for a few more levels. It has been announced that it’s likely that the top seven players from today’s flight will progress onto Day 2.
2:30pm: Wen Lin Wang looking to go two for two
Interestingly, we have just spotted one player who was successful yesterday in reaching the final nine and the money. Wen Lin Wang made it through Day 1a with 171,500 which was good for the second biggest stack of the day. However, he’s obviously not satisfied with that number, or the HK$8,000 in prize money he is guaranteed, as he’s back to do it all over again.
If Wang can make it through the day again, he’ll collect another HK$8,000, but only his biggest stack will be brought back for him to play with on Day 2.
2:25pm: Something old, something new
Once again there are plenty of locals having a shot at the millions on offer in this event, with quite a few familiar faces firing a second bullet here today.
Most notable is Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin who is back for another shot. Joining her today for take two are Andrew Marks, Thommy Lam, Dang Quan Dai, Hanbing “Marlboro” Wang, Rathi Shashank, William Franceschine and Hung-sheng Lin, just to name a few.
We’ve also spotted the “Bubble King” as Sweden’s Mikael Rosen has joined today’s field, fresh off a deep run at the PokerStars.net ANZPT Perth Main Event.
2:15pm: Macau Millions format
The Macau Millions is certainly one of the more unique tournament formats in the world. In recent years the “repechage” or second chance format has become popular in a way for organizers to increase prize pools amongst its existing customer base. The Macau Millions has taken that concept to a whole new level.
Not one, not two, not three, but seven opening day flights gives each of our players seven chances to buy into the tournament in the hope of reaching day two and the money. You can fire one bullet, or if you have enough ammo, you can take all seven shots!
Play will continue on each “Day 1” until the field has been reduced to the final 7% of the field. At that point the players will have secured a berth on Day 2 and a guaranteed payday of HK$8,000.
The great thing about the Macau Millions format is that if you make it through a day one flight you still have the option of playing each of the other opening flights. You can try and reach the cash once again as only the biggest stack from your successful attempts will be used when play recommences on Day 2.
This is quite possibly the first poker tournament in history where someone could potentially cash seven times in the one event!
The structure for today’s play will see each player start with 10,000 in chips and 25-minute levels.
2:10pm: Day 1b kicks off!
PokerStars Macau Marketing Manager has welcomed the players to Day 1b of the Macau Millions and the cards are now once again in the air.
At first glance, it appears that it’s a slightly smaller field than yesterday with around ten tables in action.
It’s déjà vu all over again as we’re back in the PokerStars Macau Poker Room in the Grand Lisboa Casino for Day 1b of the 2011 Macau Millions Main Event.
Yesterday we saw 127 players kick off proceedings and we should get around 100 more players again today. At this rate we’ll be well on the way to breaking the magical 1,000 player mark for this guaranteed HK$1,500,000 event.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of the 2011 Macau Millions:
Sunday, April 3, 2:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 1B
Wednesday, April 6, 8:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 1C
Thursday, April 7, 8:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 1D
Friday, April 8, 2:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 1E
Friday, April 8, 7:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 1F
Saturday, April 9, 12:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 1G
Saturday, April 9, 8:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 2
Sunday, April 10, 12:10 PM – Macau Millions – Day 3
Play today will commence at 2:10pm this afternoon with all your live updates right here on the PokerStars Blog.
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