Here are the day-end chip counts for Day 1b of the WPT Montreal, Event 6 of the 2014 Playground Poker Fall Classic. There were a total of 209 entrants in the 2nd of 3 starting flights in the event, and 86 players have qualified for Day 2.

Day 1c runs tomorrow (Saturday November 22nd) at 11am. Any player who wishes to do so my re-enter the tournament on Day 1c. Players who qualify for Day 2 from multiple starting flights will have their smallest stack(s) removed from play.

Note that these are unverified player-counted chip counts. All chips have been sealed in bags until they return to play on Day 2.

We are nearing the half-way mark of the last level of play here in Day 1b of the WPT Montreal, and when the clock runs out in this 10th level of the day, the remaining players will bag and tag their chips onto Day 2. Player reported chip counts will be made available shortly after the conclusion of this day.

This was the second of 3 starting flights for this Main Event of the Playground Poker Fall Classic, and Day 1c is scheduled to start tomorrow at 11am.

Level 9 photos

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Players have been tweeting about their experience at the WPT Montreal all day! Here are some of the messages we came across today:

Finally seated and ready for action at one of my favorite places to play @PlaygroundPoker after a long day of playing with food.

— David Williams (@dwpoker) November 21, 2014

Just sat down at WPT Montreal. It's day 1b, looking to make it through and have a day off tomorrow. Let's go!

— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier) November 21, 2014

Our 5 to watch at #WPTMontreal includes @DylanWilkerson http://t.co/3rBb1MFiE3 pic.twitter.com/U0hlZ7qBGE

— partypoker (@partypokerUS) November 21, 2014

Nice to see so many poker pros enjoying their time in Canada at WPTMontreal. Seems it's becoming a must attend stop on the circuit.

— Mike Johnson (@MJohnsonPoker) November 21, 2014

I really must say, the chairs at @PlaygroundPoker make live poker much more enjoyable. More rooms should try to keep up with them.

— Tim Reilly (@TimReillyPoker) November 21, 2014

Just sat down at one of my favorite places to play poker for WPT day 1b @PlaygroundPoker @AllenKessler

— Christian Harder (@realcharder30) November 21, 2014

Playing day 1b of the #WPTMontreal event at @PlaygroundPoker – lets goooo! #partypoker

— Kara Scott (@KaraOTR) November 21, 2014

Bagged up 144k last night @partypoker @WPT @PlaygroundPoker. Get to enjoy 2 days off before day2 on Sunday #WPTMontreal

— Mukul Pahuja (@MukulPahuja) November 21, 2014

Lunch with dad then off to @PlaygroundPoker for day 1b of WPT

— Jason Lavallee (@constantcolorup) November 21, 2014

Good luck to the 2 Jeffs today @PlaygroundPoker @WPT #WPTMontreal Main Event @tragicjeff and @JeffMadsenobv

Eight levels have come and gone here in Day 1b of the WPT Montreal, and several players have managed to separate themselves from the average by growing some impressive stacks. Here are the current leaders and their approximate stacks:

1. Mike Leah – 187,000
2. Mark Darner – 156,000
3. Jonathan Jaffe – 132,000
4. Niall Farrell – 131,000
5. Christian Harder – 129,000
6. Maurice Hawkins – 127,000
7. Maduka Meragal  – 124,000
8. Alim Perales – 115,000

Day 1b will resume upon the completion of 2 more levels.

In just a level and a half following the dinner break – when only Mike Leah was near the 150K mark and only a single other player held over 100K – and there are two new players vying for the top spot. Both Jonathan Jaffe and Mark Darner have chipped up considerably since we last checked and both of them have joined Mike near the top of the leaderboard with 2.5 levels left to play tonight.

The final break of the day will take place after this level (in about 25 minutes).

The WPT Montreal Day 1b is a few minutes into it’s 8th level of play, which means there are around 3 more hours left before players bag and tag their chips onto Day 2. With 209 players registered in today’s flight, the total number of entries so far in this Main Event is of 342. Tomorrow will the the third and last chance to participate in what is sure to be a massive prize pool, and if history has shown us anything, it’s that the last flight is generally the largest.

2004 WSOP Main Event Runner-up David Williams has made his way to the tables somewhere near the end of late registration, and has quickly grown his stack up to above average.

A few notables have already been eliminated, but with the Player’s Party scheduled tonight for 9pm at the Rail Coal Fire Bistro, many of them are still in the building, enjoying some delicious snacks and drinks at the bar. This list includes: Pratyush Buddiga, Timothy Reilly, Ankush Mandavia, Marc-Andre Ladouceur, Chanracy Khun, Eric Afriat, Marc-Etienne McLaughlin, amongst others.

Photographs taken during level 7

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Finally seated and ready for action at one of my favorite places to play @PlaygroundPoker after a long day of playing with food.

— David Williams (@dwpoker) November 21, 2014

The players have just returned to the tables after the 45-minute dinner break. During the break we found just two players who can rightfully be called “chip leaders” as they are the only two players over 100K in chips. Interestingly, they’re both playing on Table 54.

1. Mike Leah – 149K
2. Linda Huard – 116K

Trailing the leaders are several players in the 80-90K range, so we’re certain to see some marked stack-growth in the coming levels.

Some other notable players’ counts during the break – organized into fun categories.

“Team Quebec”

• Guillaume Rivet – 53K
• Laurence Grondin – 13K
• Chris McClung – 50K
• Rayan Chamas – 21K
• Jean-Philippe Piquette – 24K
• Philippe Plouffe – 53K

Only players named “Greenwood”

• Max Greenwood – 88K
• Lucas Greenwood – 30K

Past winners/finalists in Playground Events

• Alim Perales – 78K
• Jason Comtois – 12K
• Serge Cantin – 11K

And more…

• Kara Scott – 20K
• Dan Smith – 52K
• Byron Kaverman – 83K
• Jason Mercier – 51K
• Jeff Madsen – 55K
• Antonio Esfandiari – 28K
• Paul Klann – 10K
• Daniel Strelitz – 40K
• Will Failla – 51K
• Christian Harder – 45K
• Andrew Frankenberger – 44K
• Michael McDonald – 35K
• Pratyush Buddiga – 19K
• Todd Terry – 35K
• Matt Marafioti – 12K

Both Jason Mercier and Antonio Esfandiari have taken their seats in Day 1b of the WPT Montreal. Antonio has been seated directly to the left of Mike Leah – on a table that has had a lot of chips on it from the beginning when the set-over-set-over-set hand occurred earlier this afternoon.

The last time we checked, Mike Leah had grown his stack to over 125K within his first level at the table, so the potential is there…

Will there be fireworks? Only time will tell.

Antonio Esfandiari

Jason Mercier

Mike Leah has been one of Canada’s top online and live poker pros for years – he has published results going back to 2006 – and he has been a regular visitor to big events here at Playground Poker Club. Widely known by his online alias GoLeafsGoEh, he even has (tongue-in-cheek) special permission to wear his trademark Toronto hockey jersey while at the tables here in the Montreal area.

For all of his success in the past, nothing predicted his monster year so far in 2014. Leah kicked off the year with a side event win in a $5K Turbo at the PCA, followed it up with a string of successes at events throughout North America… and then he went to Florida, where he placed 2nd in the huge $5K SHRPO Main Event. Then it was off to Australia, where he won the A$25K High Roller event at the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific in Melbourne. Mike has gone from being a successful, well-respected poker pro to a superstar in a matter of just a few months.

Mike Leah arrived to take his seat in the 2014 WPT Montreal – and he seems to be continuing his mission to win anything and everything in 2014 – he asked floor staff immediately to confirm that he correctly understood the re-entry rules for this event!

Players are on their second 15-minute break of the day and during the break we took the opportunity to update the leaderboard now that a full 4 levels are in the rear-view mirror.

1. Mark Harding – 125K
2. Mark Darner – 99K
3. Linda Huard – 97K
4. Maduka Meragal – 93K
5. Danny Qutami – 92K
6. Caylen Pelletier – 91K

There are just two more levels before the dinner break tonight, and the end of the dinner break will mark the end of late registration. If you’re thinking of playing today, now’s the time to get to Playground and take your seat in the 2014 WPT Montreal!