Some big stacks here in level 22

  • Level: 22
  • Small Blind: 8K
  • Big Blind: 16K
  • Ante: 2K
  • Chip Average: 327.9K
  • Remaining: 91
  • Entries: 1492


  • We are back from another short break, and play is resuming in level 22 with 91 players remaining. We took a walk around the room, and here are the biggest stacks we came across:

    1. Nicolas Malo Majeau – 1.1M
    2. Luigi Fantigrossi – 725K
    3. Byron Doyle – 715K
    4. Michael Malm – 675K
    5. Maxime Labrecque- 650K
    6. Stephan Belisle – 630K
    7. Mathieu Boucher – 625K

    Pyramid of Chips

    A few Day 2 photos

  • Level: 21
  • Small Blind: 6K
  • Big Blind: 12K
  • Ante: 2K
  • Chip Average: 236.8K
  • Remaining: 126
  • Entries: 1492


  • Once the bubble burst, we saw a number of players quickly make their way to the cashier, as many of the players that fell short stacked before the bubble burst were left with little room to manoeuvre.

    Here is a gallery of photos taken a little before and after the bubble:

    In the money

  • Level: 20
  • Small Blind: 5K
  • Big Blind: 10K
  • Ante: 1K
  • Chip Average: 195K
  • Remaining: 153
  • Entries: 1492


  • As is often the case in low-buy-in, high-participation events like Event 1, the money bubble wasn’t much to write home about. When the field was whittled down to 170 players things slowed down a little bit… But then picked right back up and at the beginning of Level 20 player #163 was eliminated and the remaining 162 were in the money.

    Play continues in Level 20 with a raft of post-bubble eliminations.

    Payout information will be available in small batches as players are eliminated and can be accessed by the link in the right-hand sidebar.

    The stacks are growing

  • Level: 18
  • Small Blind: 3K
  • Big Blind: 6K
  • Ante: 1K
  • Chip Average: 144.9K
  • Remaining: 206
  • Entries: 1492


  • With the pace of eliminations today a few players have managed to build up huge stacks as we edge closer and closer to the bubble. At this time the chip leader in the tournament has just under 500K chips and there are a half-dozen or so players over the 380K mark.

    By the way, after the next level (level 19( concludes the blind length will increase to 40 minutes.

    Some of the bigger stacks so far:

    • Patrick Fortin
    • Dominic Sanche
    • Raffi Garabetian
    • Christien Beaudoin
    • Ryan Levine
    • David Dastoli
    • Randy Khalil

    Update on the chip leaders

  • Level: 19
  • Small Blind: 4K
  • Big Blind: 8K
  • Ante: 1K
  • Chip Average: 165.8K
  • Remaining: 180
  • Entries: 1492


  • Day 2 of Event 1 is now on another break, as the T500 chips are being raced off the tables. We’ve found our five chip leaders, and here they are with their approximate stacks:

    1. Dominic Sanche – 552K
    2. Daniel Charette – 466K
    3. Mathieu Boucher – 430K
    4. Patrick Fortin – 422K
    5. Michael Malm – 400K

    Dominic SancheDaniel CharetteMathieu BoucherPatrick FortinMichael Malm

    Break 2… and the bubble

  • Level: 19
  • Small Blind: 4K
  • Big Blind: 8K
  • Ante: 1K
  • Chip Average: 165.8K
  • Remaining: 180
  • Entries: 1492


  • The players second break of the day has arrived and so has the money bubble. About 1 minute before the break started there were just 180 players, so with 163 spots paying they’ll be in the money very soon.

    This is a long break of 25 minutes during which the blue T500 chips will be removed from circulation.

    Level 15 begins

  • Level: 15
  • Small Blind: 1.5K
  • Big Blind: 3K
  • Ante: 500
  • Chip Average: 91.3K
  • Remaining: 327
  • Entries: 1492


  • Play has made it through the first of 16 levels to be played today and in the early action the bustouts are coming quickly as short stacks try and improve their position to make a deep run and the big stacks try and take advantage.

    49 players have already been eliminated today leaving just 327 still in the action. Photos and more coming soon.

    Break!

  • Level: 16
  • Small Blind: 2K
  • Big Blind: 4K
  • Ante: 500
  • Chip Average: 104K
  • Remaining: 287
  • Entries: 1492


  • Players are on break as tournament staff removes the T100 chips from circulation. Eliminations have continued at the same brisk pace as during the first level today and there are just 287 players left in the tournament.

    Some early photos of Day 2

  • Level: 16
  • Small Blind: 2K
  • Big Blind: 4K
  • Ante: 500
  • Chip Average: 113K
  • Remaining: 256
  • Entries: 1492


  • We’ve published some early photos of the Day 2 action. If the following slide show doesn’t work for you, please visit Flickr to view the photos.

    Welcome to Day 2

  • Level: 14
  • Small Blind: 1.2K
  • Big Blind: 2.4K
  • Ante: 400
  • Chip Average: 77.3K
  • Remaining: 386
  • Entries: 1492


  • Players are taking their seats for the second day of Event 1 in the 2014 Playground Poker Spring Classic. There are still 386 players in contention for the $37,570 top prize – and the rest of the 162 finishing positions who will cash.

    Play starts today in Level 14 and blinds remain 30 minutes long. The money bubble will be the first excitement we’re waiting for this afternoon and the tournament should get to that stage in just a few hours this afternoon. Play will continue for 16 levels today, and after level 18 blind level lengths will increase to 40 minutes.

    For a $150 buy-in tournament the field is surprisingly strong, with former event champions, a few high-rollers, and at least one WSOP bracelet winner still in the field.

    Good luck to all the players, and in just a moment the TD will announce, “shuffle up and deal”!