Players are well into level 13, the final level to be played today. In a few minutes the TD will announce a number of hands to be played and when each table has played that number of hands the day will wrap up.

At this point the blinds are 1,000/2,000/a300 and there are 152 players left.

We’ll post the final Day 1b chip counts once the bags have all been collected from players.

Day 1b has reached level 11 and there are 222 players remaining. Blinds are 600/1,200/a200 and they’re playing another 2 levels after this one ends (which is in 25 minutes).

Note that we received feedback that the photos we published earlier were not working correctly – the pages were too “heavy” for most browsers. We have temporarily removed them until we can find a better solution.

The tournament has just started on level 8 and there are 331 players remaining of the 513 that started today. Blinds are now 300/600/a75 and a break is coming at the end of this level.

To follow up on a story from early in the day, tough Table 24 has just broken with the notable players who were seated there almost all still surviving in the event.

A large-field event like this – at any buy-in – always attracts a very wide range of players, from full time poker professionals to purely recreational players. So when players are seated (randomly, of course) at the beginning there’s almost always a wide range of experience levels around every table.

Randomness plays tricks though, and one table to start today seems exceptionally tough. Players Club members Phil Plouffe and Christopher McClung are both seated there with at least 3-4 other very experienced local players who are often found in tourney winner’s photos…

As we say, “à suivre…”

Players have taken their seats and cards are in the air for Day 1b of Event 1 in the Full Tilt Poker Montreal Festival! Due to the large turnout yesterday today’s schedule has been extended by one level, so players will play 13 30-minute levels today.

Late registration is still open but we’ve already reached the published capacity for today and players arriving now will be seated as alternates. That means that there are 400 players currently in the event but many alternates will be added during the first four levels as well.