The tournament director announced that it would be the last four hands a few minutes after the 4th table broke and the players settled in on the last 3 tables. One player was eliminated and the last 29 players are putting their chips in the bags. They are now registered for Day 2 on Monday, August 27th at noon.

The results of Day 1D have been added to the Colossus – Combined Day 1 Results table.

Congratulations to all the players.

The tournament hall is still busy here as the players claw their way to the coveted chip bagging at the end of level 14. The pace of eliminations has slowed down a little; a clear sign that players are waiting for the right moment to get their chips in the pot.

We took a few photos of the players as they head into the last leg of the tournament.

The players are on their final break as we survey the tables for chip leaders. Carlo Nini is in the lead with a respectable 332,500 stack, almost 3 times the average.

Play resumes in a few minutes and although the players are starting to show signs of fatigue, they are not to be deterred from their ultimate goal of gaining access to Day 2. All they have to do is be still standing at the end of level 14. Surely a feat easier said than done as the 177 eliminated players can attest to.

Nicholas St-Laurent went head to head against Kieu Hoa Lam pre-flop.

Nicholas St-Laurent:

Kieu Hoa Lam:

The dry flop was helpful to Kieu who only had to dodge aces and kings. The turn, however, was exactly what Nicholas was hoping for: . When the on the river was revealed it spelled a disappointing end for Nicholas St-Laurent, and a nice addition of chips to Kieu Hoa Lam’s stack.

The tournament is now halfway into Level 12, and only 40 players are left out of the original 215 entries. The empty seats are being filled by players coming from table 83 which just closed. Players with smaller stacks are always happy to see the empty seats fill out, this gives them a welcome reprieve from the hectic pace of blinds and antes.

We are now down to 6 tables and the tournament is still going strong, 60 players are left as the bell sounds for the break. While the players head for the dinner buffet and treat bar, we head for the tables to take a peek at the stacks.

With the average at 71,000 we found the three chip leaders, the only ones above the 200,000 mark.

Still 5 levels to go so there is no telling who’s going to bag chips for Day 2.

In almost any other environment if we see people wearing sunglasses indoor we think they’ve either had laser surgery, a rough night or hiding a black eye. In a poker room, however, we don’t think twice when we see players sporting the shades to play.

Either for style or utility (or both), it does make for some interesting shots. Here are a few photos of the players from levels 4 through 6.