Playground Poker Fall Classic 2016

Richard Edwin Mask and Eric Afriat make a run for it

  • Level: 8
  • Small Blind: 300
  • Big Blind: 600
  • Ante: 75
  • Chip Average: 47.6K
  • Remaining: 85
  • Entries: 135

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Two players just made a significant leap and put some distance between them and the rest of the field. The first is Richard Edwin Mask, who took second place in the Second Chance event in the 2016 Spring Classic for $34,680.00. He is now leading Day 1a with a little over 150K in chips.

The second is none other than Eric Afriat, a local player who’s had a few good results in the past years. His breakthrough came in April 2014, when he took down the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown, in Hollywood, for $1,081,184.00. Since then, he’s been seen going deep in a number of events, namely the $2,500 buy-in Event in the Royal Series of Poker 2015, in Montreal, which he won for $34,895.00. He now has accumulated over 130K.

A lot of poker is still ahead of us today, but both players are very well positioned to bag a potent stack.

 

135 players in Day 1a

  • Level: 7
  • Small Blind: 250
  • Big Blind: 500
  • Ante: 75
  • Chip Average: 41.3K
  • Remaining: 98
  • Entries: 135

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Registration is now closed in Day 1a of the WPT Montreal, and the final number of 135 has come down. Out of those, just a little less than 100 are left, and will be playing 4 more 60-minute levels before bagging their chips onto Day 2, which is Monday at 12pm.

Current chip leader: Tomislav Radisic

Tomislav Radisic
Tomislav Radisic

Leaders at the dinner break

  • Level: 7
  • Small Blind: 250
  • Big Blind: 500
  • Ante: 75
  • Chip Average: 40.7K
  • Remaining: 98
  • Entries: 133

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Players are now taking their scheduled 45-minute dinner break, as 6 out of 10 levels have passed. We will know at the end of this break the exact number of entries for Day 1a,  but so far 130 players showed up, which is a little bit more than last year’s 127. Players still have a few minutes to join in this Main Event opening day.

After 6 levels of play, 5 players have brought their stacks from 30,000 to over 80,000, and are listed below. Play will resume at 250/500/a75. Here’s a fun fact: last year’s diner break chip leader in Day 1a went on to win the Event.

First Name | PrénomLast Name | NomStack | Tapis
TomislavRadisic100,250
GaryLucci95,500
DougHartwick87,200
AndrewBoujaoude81,125
ThomasBoivin80,700

 

 

Second break in Day 1a

  • Level: 5
  • Small Blind: 150
  • Big Blind: 300
  • Ante: 50
  • Chip Average: 34.8K
  • Remaining: 107
  • Entries: 124

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The players in Day 1a of the partypoker.net WPT Montreal are currently taking their second break of the day. Late registration continues after this break for 2 full levels PLUS the 45-minute dinner break following, so there’s still lots of time to get into the action on this first of 3 starting days in the WPT Montreal.

It’s a little early for any huge leaders to have emerged in this flight, but so far Danny Boyaci has taken a lead on the field, now playing over 85K in chips. There are quite a few players hovering in the 65K to 75K range, so no lead can be considered “safe” at this point in the action.

Danny Boyaci
Danny Boyaci

Two more “big league” locals join Day 1a

  • Level: 4
  • Small Blind: 100
  • Big Blind: 200
  • Ante: 25
  • Chip Average: 33.5K
  • Remaining: 110
  • Entries: 123

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Two of Montreal’s biggest stars in the game have joined Day 1a in the past few minutes: Marc-André Ladouceur and Samuel Chartier are now both seated in the tournament.

A few more photos

  • Level: 3
  • Small Blind: 75
  • Big Blind: 150
  • Ante: 25
  • Chip Average: 32.5K
  • Remaining: 109
  • Entries: 118

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We’re very happy to welcome 2016 WSOP Final Tableist Griffin Benger back to Playground Poker Club.

Among the recent eliminations are Marc-Etienne McLaughlin, who had a similar Final Table appearance just 3 years ago.

Photos from level 3

Photos of the action in level 2

  • Level: 2
  • Small Blind: 75
  • Big Blind: 150
  • Ante: 0
  • Chip Average: 30.9K
  • Remaining: 95
  • Entries: 98

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Day 1a in the WPT Montreal is most of the way through level 2, and during the level we got a few photos of the players seated so far. Some additional notable players have joined the fun since the last list we published, including Michael MacDonald, Jeff Gross, and Ari Engel.

Players continue to file into the Tournament Hall with freshly-purchased seating coupons and registration is open for another 5 hours, so the attendance will continue to climb until then.

A few of the early birds in the field

  • Level: 1
  • Small Blind: 50
  • Big Blind: 100
  • Ante: 0
  • Chip Average: 30.8K
  • Remaining: 79
  • Entries: 81

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A few players have jointed the early action who are household names – at least to poker fans.

  • Mike Sexton
  • Mike Leah
  • Darren Elias
  • Tony Dunst
  • Kevin Macphee
  • Ari Engel
  • Allan Kessler
  • Marc-Etienne McLaughlin
  • Eric Afriat

We’ve also noticed at least 2 of the 3 Greenwood brothers – Sam and Lucas.

More players are jumping in every few minutes and we’ll have more updates as the field fills out.

Cards are in the air in Day 1a of the WPT Montreal

  • Level: 1
  • Small Blind: 50
  • Big Blind: 100
  • Ante: 0
  • Chip Average: 30.4K
  • Remaining: 68
  • Entries: 69

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Players have taken their seats, the opening announcements have been made by tournament staff and the WPT’s Mike Sexton has delivered the traditional command to the dealers: “Shuffle Up and Deal!”…

And now, cards are now in the air for the 2016 partypoker.net WPT Montreal!

Welcome to the 2016 WPT Montreal

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Today is Day 1a of the partypoker.net WPT Montreal at Playground Poker Club, the headline event in the Playground Poker Fall Classic.

$3,850 WPT Montreal - $2,000,000 GTD
$3,850 WPT Montreal – $2,000,000 GTD

This is the 5th WPT Montreal we’ve hosted here at Playground Poker Club (in addition to 4 other WPT events at other times of year), and if past events are any indication, this is certain to be one of the great events of the poker year.

Each of the three Day 1s will play through 10 60-minute levels before the players who survive the day bag up their chips to return for Day 2 on Monday, November 14th. Late registration in the tournament is available until the end of the dinner break following level 6. In other words, players may enter the event any time until 6:15pm on any Day 1.

Good luck to everyone in the event today!