Here are the final chip counts for Day 1b.

Some photos of the action from Day 1b…

The second break is over and the players are about 10 minutes into level 9 of 14 to be played today. Blinds are 500/1000/a100 and the average stack is 41.4K. As I cruised the floor before and during the last break I saw a few big stacks around 150K. Check out our Facebook gallery for Day 1b to see some of the bigger stacks.

One player was approaching 200K until he doubled up Trishelle Cannatella just before the break. We missed the action – when we got there Trishelle was in a strong position having called with pocket tens against the big stack’s pocket fives. Her tens held up and she doubled to around 60K while the other player still had well over 140K.

Players have another 5 levels to play and we’ll be posting chip counts.

Round 6 has begun and there are 319 players remaining in the Day 1b field. Blinds are 250/500/a50 and the chip average is 27.7K. A quick survey of the room revealed a couple of stacks that could grow pretty quickly – but no one yet has build up a monster stack.

Day 1b has reached the first break of the day and although alternates are still being seated (until the end of the break), attendance has stabilized at 438 players.

We’ve put some photos of the early action on Facebook including (once again) photos of a few members of the Players Club.

It’s 7:30pm and after a short announcement from the tournament staff, cards are in the air. As was the case for Day 1a (yesterday), play will continue for 14 half-hour levels tonight. So far 381 players have taken their seats and including the usual poker stragglers and alternates we’re sure to pass tonight’s capacity of 400 players.

Good luck to everyone!

I just checked at the cashier and 260 entries have been sold for Day 1b which starts in 45 minutes! There’s definitely still time to get into tonight’s event – last night we went past the 400 player capacity by 54 players who joined as alternates before the first break.