WSOPC Planet Hollywood

David DiBernardi

We're just a few more eliminations away from the end of Day 1B, but not before some significant happenings at table 2.

Chris Hunichen and Brock Wilson were both eliminated, and David DiBernardi faced a similar fate, but instead doubled through now former chip leader Evan Sandberg in a huge late pot.

A healthy pot of roughly 150,000 had already been built by the turn, with the board showing as Sandberg jammed from the small blind for 128,000 effective.

Di Bernardi looked at the tournament clock to see that five more players still needed to bust before the end of play, and then thought for another moment before spiking in a call.

David DiBernardi:
Evan Sandberg:

Sanberg's semi-bluff with a gutshot and two overs was called by DiBernardi's top pair, top kicker, which held up through the river.

The pot moved DiBernardi within striking distance of new chip leader Nick Pupillo, while Sandberg may have fallen right out of the top ten.

• Nick Pupillo - 440,000
• David Di Bernardi - 410,000
• Evan Sandberg - 220,000

Evan Sandberg

I think we can confidently say that if it wasn't already, this is now the toughest Day 1 table in the history of the WSOP Circuit.

Multi-time bracelet and Circuit ring winner Evan Sandberg (our current chip leader) has just been moved onto table 2, which now lines up like this:

• Seat 1: Brock Wilson - 35,000
• Seat 2: Nathan Smith - 125,000
• Seat 3: Nick Pupillo - 442,000
• Seat 4: Chris Moorman - 145,000
• Seat 5: David DiBernardi - 215,000
• Seat 6: Mitchell Halverson - 105,000
• Seat 7: Chris Hunichen - 140,000
• Seat 8: Evan Sandberg - 447,000
• Seat 9: Ethan Yau - 120,000

We're currently nine eliminations away from ending the night and moving on to Day 2, so a hearty advanced congratulations to any and all who move on from this incredibly talented table.

Nathan Smith has made the most of a very difficult table

We earlier told you the harrowing tale of Nathan Smith, who was dropped onto a table with then chip leader Nick Pupillo to his left, with Chris Moorman and Brock Wilson also in his immediate vicinity.

Nathan Smith in seat 2 amidst a murderer's row of talent

Since then, Smith's plight has grown even more challenging, with Chris Hunichen and Ethan "Rampage" Yau also joining the table.

Chris Hunichen

However, Smith has met this challenge with open arms and actually thrived, boosting his stack up to 185,000 from 80,000 when he first sat down.

His stack now sits just outside the top ten, and if he can survive a couple more levels, he'll be on to Day 2, where you'd think he'd be redrawn to a more favorable table, right?

Evan Sandberg continues to lead at the latest break of the WSOPC Planet Hollywood Main Event

As Level 13 begins, registration is now closed on Day 1B of the WSOPC Planet Hollywood Main Event with a final total of 201 entrants, with 63 remaining for blinds of 2,000 / 4,000 (4,000).

Play is scheduled to continue until the end of Level 17 or when 33 players remain, whichever comes first. Last night's opening flight ended early in Level 15 before the next scheduled break.

This number will be no less than 16% of the remaining field, with the money bubble coming on Day 2 for survivors of each of the three starting flights.

Leading tonight's charge to day 2 is the surging Evan Sandberg, who has continued to add to his chip lead, which now sits at 506,000. Nick Pupillo remains second with 344,000, while Vera Dong has 300,000 for third overall.

In a side note for the kids, Sandberg has recently been moved to table 6, seat 7.

Meanwhile, rounding out the top ten is Brad Owen, who has steadily grown his stack throughout the day into a contender and now sits with 200,000 chips.

You can check out the updated PokerOrg leaderboard under the 'chip counts' tab above.