PNIA Choctaw Main Event: Venkat ‘Kaly’ Chivukula Leads Day 1B, Complete Day 2 Seating Assignments and Counts

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3:40 AM: Complete Day 2 Seating Assignments and Chip Counts
Level 19 – Blinds (2,000/4,000/500)
Total Entries: 1,064
Players Remaining: 154

When the dust settled, there were 154 players that bagged up chips in this Poker Night in America Main Event to return for Day 2. A complete Day 2 preview will be posted tomorrow morning, but until then, as a reference, here are the seating assignments in alphabetical order, with the Day 2 redraw along with each player’s chip counts listed below:

LAST NAME	FIRST NAME	HOMETOWN	COUNT	TABLE	SEAT
MILLER	BOBBY	DENTON, TX	146,500	63	1
SANDERS	MICHAEL	RUSSELVI, AR	88,000	63	2
DIZENZO	DAN	SUSSEX, NJ	394,500	63	3
FISHER	JOEY	CASA, AR	21,000	63	4
DAO	NGUYET	DENTON, TX	122,000	63	5
SONG	JOHN	FORT W, TX	63,000	63	6
KELLY	MATT	FORT WO, TX	77,500	63	7
NODINE	NOAH	OKLAHOMA, OK	123,000	63	8
WHITE*	JACKSON	HOUSTON, TX	373,000	63	9
FREI	AARON		224,000	64	1
DERMIS	ANDREW	AUSTIN, TX	162,000	64	2
MERKOW	GREGG	PLANO, TX	157,000	64	3
WOOD	VAL	DURANT, OK	64,500	64	4
ARAYA	ABRAHAM	CARROL, TX	121,000	64	5
GOOD	DENISE	LAS VEGAS, NV	143,500	64	6
FABIAN	VASICE	DALLAS, TX	224,000	64	7
DONNELLY	BILL	OKLAHOMA , OK	170,000	64	8
RAMKHALAWAN	ALAN	TAMPA, FL	127,500	64	9
NGUYEN	NANCY	DENTON, TX	80,000	65	1
SHUPTRINE	ROBERT	BENTONV, AR	169,500	65	2
ZELMAN	MICHAEL	DALLAS, TX	109,500	65	3
NEWCOMBE	MATT	ADA, OK	207,500	65	4
PACK	DAVID	HOUSTON, TX		65	6
BUNCH	ERIC	TULSA, OK	88,500	65	7
STINE	ACE	OAKS, OK	164,500	65	8
HIGGINS	DAVID	MANSFIELD, TX	87,000	65	9
ROSENZWEIS	SAMMY	DALLAS, TX	76,500	66	1
RATSAPHANGTHONG	NOY	DALLAS, TX	130,000	66	2
VINAS	THOMAS	HOUSTON, TX	51,000	66	3
TRAN	DUC	PLANO, TX	170,000	66	4
HALLER	JACOB	MUSTANG, OK	50,000	66	6
GREEN	BRIAN	DECATUR, TX	163,500	66	7
TROTTER	REGGI	DURANT, OK	50,000	66	8
YEU	TZU YAO	HOUSTON, TX	11,000	66	9
WILSON	JIM	BROKEN A, OK	104,000	72	1
CUSTER	JUSTIN	DALLAS, TX	177,000	72	2
BISOL	JAMES	FORT WO, TX	96,000	72	3
CARAM	ABRAHAM		78,000	72	4
WORD	DEREK	DENISON, TX	245,000	72	5
PERRONE	MICHAEL	FAIRPORT, NY	122,000	72	6
CHIVUKULA	VENKAT	HOUSTON, TX	483,000	72	7
HOPKINS	DARRELL	MIDLAND, TX	111,000	72	8
TURNER*	FREDERICK	MCKINNEY, TX	271,000	72	9
CLEMENTE	DANIEL	WESLEY CH, FL	70,500	73	1
CANTU	BRANDON	VANCOUVER,	164,000	73	2
KLEIN	GEFFREY	HOUSTON, TX	173,500	73	3
TONG	KRIS	SOUTH HA, MI	76,000	73	4
HAQ	HASAN	TULSA, OK	331,600	73	5
JONES	DANIEL	KINGWOOD, TX	63,000	73	6
THORNTON	SCHUYLER	CORPUS CHRISITI, TX	51,000	73	7
GLANZ	MATT	PHILADELP, PA	440,000	73	8
CORVETTE	LARRY		6,000	73	9
POPAL	AHMAD	PLANO, TX	86,000	74	1
NULL	ALAN	HOUSTON, TX	65,500	74	2
OROZCO	MARIO	THE COLONY, TX	153,000	74	3
KELLER	CYNTHIA	DESOTO, TX	76,000	74	4
CUTSHALL	WES	CYPRESS, TX	220,000	74	6
NEAL	CHRIS	OKMULGEE, OK	21,500	74	7
EOFF	STEVE	NIXA, MO	101,000	74	8
BLANTON	PHYLIS	DALLAS, TX	220,500	74	9
FRALEY	JEREMY	ABILENE, TX	55,500	75	1
MUNAGALA	MADHUSUDHAN	IRVING, TX	44,500	75	2
HENDERSON	PAUL	HALTON CITY, TX	140,500	75	3
GUTFREUND	DAVID	CHICAGO, IL	220,000	75	4
CUMMINGS	CHRIS	HOUSTON, TX	105,000	75	6
HEMPKINS	BOBBY	FAIRVIEW, TX	103,000	75	7
WYATT	JEFF	BOSSIER, LA	32,500	75	8
NGUYEN	LONG	HOUSTON, TX	116,500	75	9
HOLDER	JASON		177,500	81	1
BRALEY	DEREK	DALLAS, TX	87,500	81	2
OSTAPCHENKO	ANDREW	CARLSBAD, CA	69,500	81	3
COFFARO*	JOSEPH	SPRING, TX	182,500	81	4
ROYMAN	JASON	EUSTACE, TX	241,000	81	5
CLEMENTS	RANDY	GARLAND, TX	175,000	81	6
JAFARI	SAYED	SPRING, TX	184,000	81	7
CHUBICK	ANDREW	DALLAS, TX	90,500	81	8
LUCCHESI	DAVID	WALNUT C, CA	89,500	81	9
CLARK*	AARON	GRAND PR, TX	327,500	82	1
MCFARLAND	JACOB	SAN ANT, TX	66,000	82	2
HOGHTELING	THOMAS	GARLAND, TX	43,000	82	3
BARLOW	LOU	OKLAHOMA, OK	250,000	82	4
RIECK	MICHAEL	LOUISIANA, MO	37,000	82	5
REGISTER	EVERETT	CARTHAGE, TX	247,500	82	6
BOND	MATT	DALLAS, TX	144,500	82	7
MORRIS	ARTHUR	DALLAS, TX	120,000	82	8
RIOS	PEDRO	HOUSTON, TX	132,000	82	9
OKEEFE	TIM	FORT WO, TX	142,000	83	1
TAYLOR	ESTHER	HAVERT, PA	226,500	83	2
GEORGE	GIL	DESOTO, TX	138,000	83	3
WEATHERSTONE	THOMAS	MISSOURI , MO	60,500	83	3
HALE	BRANT	COLE, OK	215,000	83	4
HOWARD	JANET	RICHARD , TX	59,500	83	5
TUCKER	BRAD	LUCAS, TX	228,000	83	6
ROGERS	GARY	GPRARIE, TX	101,000	83	7
MULLENS	SHANE	PLANO, TX	76,000	83	9
NGUYEN	THANG	MCLEAN,VA	133,000	84	1
BRONSTEIN	GEORGE	AUSTIN, TX	123,500	84	2
GALVINS	GINTS	AMARILLO, TX	35,000	84	3
TRABER	JAMES	EDMOND, OK	158,500	84	4
BONU*	ANDREW	LANSING, MI	180,000	84	6
BENNETT	JON	TULSA, OK	39,000	84	7
ALEXANDER	DEJUANTE	HOUSTON, TX	187,500	84	8
FISHER	BRODY	FORT SMITH, TX	68,000	84	9
VU	DUKE	HOUSTON, TX	77,500	90	1
DAVIS	KEENAN	LUBBOCK, TX	210,500	90	2
DREYFUSS	ROBERT	COLLEYVILLE, TX	44,000	90	3
LYONS	CHRIS	HOUSTON, TX	250,500	90	4
CARR	ERIC	PLANO, TX	141,000	90	5
SKINNER*	JOSEPH	LUBBOCK, TX	190,000	90	6
WALKER	JASON	ROWLETT, TX	162,500	90	7
DECKARD	JOHN	DALLAS, TX	129,000	90	8
BUI	TIEP	GARLAND, TX	191,500	90	9
V	TOMMY	TX	178,000	91	1
NGUYEN	HIEN	THE COLONY, TX	310,000	91	2
ATTEBERY	DARREN	OVERLAND, KS	131,500	91	3
TRUONG	THAO	SACHSE, TX	129,500	91	4
BLANTON	KEN		113,000	91	5
MAHLER	JOHN	DALLAS, TX	177,000	91	6
NGUYEN	QUAN	GARLAND, TX	235,500	91	7
CHANSAN	SOCHETRA	SAN ANTO, TX	152,500	91	8
MILLER	JACK	SAN ANT, TX	32,500	91	9
LUNA	CRISTOBAL	ROUND R, TX	201,500	92	1
SPEARS	ANDREW	BUFFALO, NY	141,500	92	2
CARRION	WILL	JUSTIN, TX	130,000	92	3
WATSON	ANDREW	TULSA, OK	80,000	92	4
GREEBLATT	ALEX	SAN FRAN, CA	141,500	92	6
PURMA	ART	IRVING, TX	11,000	92	7
DIXON	RICH		72,500	92	8
WARREN	MARTIN	ROLLA, MO	112,000	92	9
HERNANDEZ	JOSHUA	SAN ANTON, TX	74,500	93	1
GIESBRECHT	SEAN	VANCOUVER	127,000	93	2
STRICKLAND	BARRY	HOUSTON, TX	87,500	93	3
MACKINNON	D J	BUFFALO, NY	63,500	93	4
SPINELLA	ANTHONY	LAS VEGAS, NV	219,500	93	6
GONZALEZ	KIM	MCALLEN , TX	115,000	93	7
SOLOMON	PAUL	DALLAS, TX	109,000	93	8
BAKER*	ALLEN	HOUSTON, TX	165,500	93	9
SWANEY	LAURIE	OLYMPIA, WA	58,000	99	1
JENSEN	GARY	COLDSPRING, TX	283,500	99	2
LILLIE	CHRIS	ROLLA, MO	137,000	99	3
HUANG	YUNG	HOUSTON, TX	170,000	99	4
KING	CORLEY JR	FORNEY, TX	51,000	99	6
RODGERS	BILLY	ARLINGTON , TX	165,000	99	7
GONZALES	JAMES	DALLAS, TX	49,000	99	8
BROMBERG	DAVID	WOODLA, TX	45,500	99	9
ESQUIVEL	MICHAEL	CHICAGO, IL	207,000	100	1
GARDUNO	ADRIAN	AUSTIN, TX	162,000	100	2
HARRISON	JASON	IRVING, TX	150,000	100	3
PUPILLO	NICHOLAS	ADDISON, IL	152,000	100	4
DORSEY	TRAVIS	BOERNE, TX	90,500	100	5
THURMAN	DONALD	PLANO, TX	65,000	100	6
NICHOLSON	DAVID	PHILLIPINES	161,500	100	7
MORTON	DAVID	DALLAS, TX	134,500	100	8
ARAMI	MOHAMMAD	DALLAS, TX	123,000	100	9

As a reference point, a complete list of Day 2 players in chip count order can be found here. Those players will all return tomorrow at 12 PM, to first play into the money, with 108 players cashing, and then to play down to a five-handed final table. The PNIA blog will be there to bring you all the action, with a preview of the restart coming before play resumes at 12 PM.

2:22 AM: Chivukula Bags Biggest, Takes Clubhouse Lead Into Day 2
Level 18 – Blinds (1,500/3,000/500)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 97*

The last level of the night saw a few players shoot up the leaderboard, including Venkat ‘Kaly’ Chivukula. The Texan was pegged as a top stack near the end of the late registration period and through the final 40 minute period, increased his stack nearly at will to finish this Day 1B session atop the charts.

Chivukula ended up bagging 483,000, besting Matt Glantz’s Day 1A chip leading stack, meaning that Chivukula will be the overall leader coming back for tomorrow’s Day 2 session. He was the only player over the 400,000 chip mark but Jackson White was right under that number. White is coming off a final table run on the MSPT and he could be poised for another deep run, as he’ll enter tomorrow with a top-five stack.

Hasan Haq will also come back with a top stack, as he finished this flight with 336,000 and Hien Nguyen, put away 310,000. Those players will lead this Day 1B flight into tomorrow’s Day 2 session and while an official number of survivors from this second flight isn’t currently available, we imagine close to 150 players will return tomorrow.

Cards will get in the air at 12 PM for that restart and a complete list of the Day 1B chip counts and Day 2 seating assignments will be posted on the PNIA blog shortly. – Will OC

1:40 AM: Last Level Of The Night
Level 18 – Blinds (1,500/3,000/500)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 116

It’s been a long grind but for the players in this Day 1B flight, it’s almost over, as just 40 minutes stand between them and tomorrow’s Day 2 session. A table broke right before the end of Level 17, meaning that there are close to 115 players remaining that will now play through the final level of the night.

If our estimations from earlier today stand true, another few tables will be sent to the rail before tonight is done and with a handful of short stacks in this field, that estimate could become reality. Regardless of how many players come out of this flight, the PNIA blog will bring you all the action from the final level, including big stacks at the end of the night.

A complete list of Day 1B survivors will be posted after the completion of Level 18 and a complete Day 2 seating chart will be posted when the counts and redraw is finalized. – Will OC

1:26 AM: Big Stacks In Close Quarters
Level 17 – Blinds (1,200/2,400/400)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 122

After Phylis Blanton moved herself up the leaderboard earlier in one of the final hands of Level 16, her table now looks like the feature table, as a few players are working over 200,000 chip stacks. Blanton is still near the top of the leaderboard but she’s joined by Pedro Rios, below, who is playing the better part of 280,000.

The Texan notched a few scores during the last major tournament series at Choctaw, in January when the WSOP Circuit came to town, and has over $325,000 in career earnings to his credit. Rios will now head into the final break of the night and try to continue to build through the last 40 minutes of play, as he could be one big pot away from taking control of the clubhouse lead.

Rios will have to contend with Jacob Heiller, above, though, who is a few seats to Rios’ left. He’s working just over 220,000 and with a few other players over the century mark, there could be some chips to be had at this stacked table. – Will OC

1:10 AM: Carr Catches The Perfect River
Level 17 – Blinds (1,200/2,400/400)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 126

While the majority of our updates over the last few levels have centered the focus around the bigger stacks in the room, the short stacks deserve their share of credit as well. One of those short stacks is now playing over the 100,000 chip mark for the first time today, after winning a sizable pot by hitting the perfect river.

Action was picked up with two players all-in and at risk, with a short stack holding A♣Q♦. That player had 22,000 in front of him, with Eric Carr holding double that amount with 8♣8♦. Both needed to hit to stay alive though, as a bigger stacked player, with close to 125,000, had 9♦9♣ tabled in front of him.

After the Q♠10♣10♥ flop, both players with pocket pairs would need to improve and the J♥ gave each some outs to the river. Those outs were already held by the other player and after the 8♠ completed the board, Carr didn’t react right away. After a reexamination of the board, he realized he rivered a full house and when the dust settled, the short stack hit the rail, the player with pocket nines was left short and Carr was stacking up an above average stack.

A few hands later, Carr took in another decent pot, one that moved him over 150,000. That’s a good stack to be working heading towards the end of Level 17, after which there will be a break to color up chips before the bags come out at the end of Level 18. – Will OC

12:47 AM: Blanton Sets Herself Near Top
Level 16 – Blinds (1,000/2,000/300)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 135

In one of the final hands of Level 16, another player moved themselves up near the 300,000 chip mark, as Phylis Blanton, pictured, flopped a set and got her opponent to move in by the turn. Action was picked up on a board of Q♥9♦8♥, after Blanton and her opponent called a 5,000 chip pre flop raise from a player in middle position.

That opener checked the flop and Blanton, in the hijack, bet 15,000. Her opponent, one to her left, called to leave himself close to 85,000 behind and the pre flop raiser folded to send two to the turn. The 6♠ fell and Blanton continued for 40,000, which was a solid portion of her opponent’s remaining stack.

Eventually, after some thought, he shoved and Blanton snap called before turning over 8♣8♠. The short stack paused before he tabled his Q♣9♣ and with one card to come, he’d have to hit to stay alive. He didn’t, as the 2♠ completed the board and scored Blanton the knockout while winning her a sizable pot.

When the dust settled, she was playing the better part of 290,000, which puts her second on the Day 1B leaderboard heading into the final two levels of the night. – Will OC

12:26 AM: The Last Of The Late Reggers
Level 16 – Blinds (1,000/2,000/300)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 145

During the post-Level 12 break, there was a rush to the registration cage for some players that wanted to max late register this $1,000,000 GTD Poker Night in America Main Event. Those players were jumping into an event that boasted an additional $500,000 in the prize pool and one of the last players to get in the action, and one of the few still alive, was 14 time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth Jr.

Phil’s son, also named Phil, was in the action last night and while he wasn’t able to navigate his way to a bag during Day 1A, the elder Hellmuth has fared well since he entered after his PNIA cash game session. He’s yet to get much traction with his 20,000 chip starting stack but while Hellmuth might be most known for his record breaking bracelet count and nearly $20,000,000 in career earnings, he’s also the only former PNIA Main Event champion in this field.

Hellmuth won the PNIA Pittsburgh Poker Open Main Event in November of 2014, besting a stacked final table that included David Baker and, yesterday’s chip leader, Matt Glantz. Whether Hellmuth is able to find the bag or not tonight, we’re sure that he’s going to be a player throughout this weekend, either in Day 2 of the PNIA Main Event or headlining more PNIA cash game action. – Will OC

12:18 AM: Nguyen New Leader, First To Break 300K
Level 16 – Blinds (1,000/2,000/300)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 150

Just an hour ago, we were crowning Eric Bunch the chip leader of this Day 1B flight but at this stage of a tournament, things can change in a hurry. Through that 60 minute period, they have, as Bunch is now playing less than six-figures while another player has shot himself to the top of the leaderboard.

Hien Nguyen is not only the current 1B chip leader but also the first player to eclipse 300,000. Only two players, Matt Glantz and Dan DiZenzo, were able to break that number through yesterday’s Day 1A session. If Nguyen is able to continue to climb, he could contend with Glantz’s clubhouse lead of 449,000 but with three levels left to play, no stack is guaranteed. – Will OC

11:50 PM: Quarter Of Field Still Alive, Three Levels Until Bags
Level 16 – Blinds (1,000/2,000/300)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669
Players Remaining: 159

This Day 1B field has just returned from their final break of the day and as it stands, just under 160 players are still working towards the bags. The plastic will come out after the completion of Level 18 and if the math stays true from our opening Day 1A flight, we should see just shy of 100 players advance to tomorrow’s Day 2 restart.

That means that we still have to lose a sizable amount of this field and the PNIA blog will continue to track this field through the final three levels. – Will OC

11:16 PM: Bunch Breaks 200K, Leads Into Final Break
Level 15 – Blinds (800/1,600/200)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669

While this Day 1B flight heads into Level 15 and towards the final few levels of the night, the leaderboard is starting to become even clearer. While there is still a log jam of chip stacks right below the 200,000 chip mark, Eric Bunch is the only player that has seemed to eclipse that number so far, as he’s playing close to 215,000.

Bunch’s last reported tournament score was his biggest, as he notched a podium finish in February’s WSOP Circuit Main Event at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida. Bunch earned just shy of $90,000 for that 3rd place run and he’s now looking like a series contender to add another sizable score to his tournament resume as the late 1B chip leader.

There are some players right on his tail though, including Noy Ratsaphangthong who is also coming off a deep WSOPC Main Event final table finish. She finished 5th at Choctaw in January and is currently playing close to 160,000. That’s good for a top stack heading towards break, with a complete rundown of those top stacks listed below:

Eric Bunch – 215,000
Mohammad Arani – 185,000
Tim O’Keefe – 180,000
Kelly Rising – 180,000
Brad Tucker – 175,000
Noy Ratsaphangthong – 160,000

– Will OC

10:50 PM: Official PNIA Main Event Payouts, 108 ITM
Level 14 – Blinds (700/1,400/200)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669

After a short wait at the end of the late registration period, the numbers have been compiled and an official Poker Night in America Main Event payout structure has been produced. In total, just under 1,065 entrants built up a nearly $1,550,000 prize pool and while we are a ways away from the money bubble, 108 players will cash in this event.

There is a nearly $2,850 min-cash awaiting those players but we imagine everyone in this event will be looking to the top of the pay scale. That is where $286,000 awaits the eventual champion and three players will be making a six-figure score this weekend.

Those payouts won’t be distributed until Monday’s five-handed final table but until then, the official PNIA Choctaw Main Event payouts are listed below:

1. $286,402
2. $177,074
3. $131,590
4. $98,925
5. $75,223
6. $57,869
7. $45,035
8. $35,452
9. $28,238
   10-12. $22,757
   13-15. $18,546
   16-18. $15,280
   19-21. $12,726
   22-24. $10,713
   25-27. $9,118
   28-30. $7,849
   31-33. $6,827
   34-36. $6,007
   37-45. $5,341
   46-54. $4,799
   55-63. $4,350
   64-72. $3,979
   73-81. $3,654
   82-90. $3,359
   91-99. $3,096
   100-108. $2,849

– Will OC

10:36 PM: Henson Goes For Bag, Thomson Goes For Cash
Level 14 – Blinds (700/1,400/200)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669

If there is one thing we like more than good tournament updates, it’s a good story and while the PNIA blog’s focus over the next two days will be on the PNIA Main Event, we can afford to step away to check on some of the other events running in the Choctaw Grand Theater. While Day 1B of that $1,000,000 GTD Main Event plays into Level 14, Event #61 $240 NLH is playing into the money and while Ray Henson wants to sweat that bubble, he unfortunately has a 100,000 chip stack to take care of on one side of the room.

On the other, his girlfriend Megan Thomson is working an average stack, trying to get a piece of an over $25,000 prize pool. Thomson has recorded a handful of smaller tournament scores over the last year and while she’s still waiting for that real breakthrough score, Henson says, confidently, that she is the “next big thing”.

Henson knows a thing or two about big tournament scores, as the Texan has built up a lengthy resume over his career, amassing over $2,000,000 in earnings. His two best career scores have come in WSOP events, including a 12th place finish in the 2007 Main Event and a 3rd place finish in this summer’s ‘The Colossus’ event for an over $308,000 score.

But, his third best career finish came at Choctaw in 2015, as Henson won the 4,050 player re-entry event of that series, good for his 4th WSOPC ring, and a nearly $200,000 result. While he’s keeping an eye on his phone and the other side of the Grand Theater to see if Thomson can notch a score tonight, Henson will try to continue to build his stack en route to another deep Choctaw run this weekend. – Will OC

10:11 PM: Turner Top, Stacks Building Into Homestretch
Level 13 – Blinds (600/1,200/200)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669

With a massive, nearly 700 player field coming together throughout the day, it’s been hard to pin down a very concise leaderboard through the last few levels. Now that late registration has closed, we’re able to do just that and, midway through Level 13, Frederick Turner, pictured, looks like he’s top of the Day 1B charts with just over 185,000.

The Texan won a nightly tournament earlier in this Choctaw PNIA series but he’s now poised to notch an even bigger score if he’s able to continue to build. While Turner is leading, there are nearly a handful of players over the 150,000 chip mark, with those players listed below:

Frederick Turner – 185,000
Tim O’Keefe – 180,000
Jason Royman – 175,000
James Traver – 170,000
Kelly Rising – 165,000
Venkat Chivukula – 155,000

– Will OC

9:50 PM: Late Reg Closed, Field Frozen At 1,064
Level 13 – Blinds (600/1,200/200)
Total Entries: 1,064
Total Day 1B Entries: 669

The end of the late registration period has come and gone, meaning that this Poker Night in America Main Event field is officially frozen at 1,064 players. Nearly 670 of those participants came from today’s Day 1B flight, pushing the total prize pool just shy of $1,600,000.

While we know that kind of money is up for grabs, we don’t know a few things. One being how many players will cash in this PNIA Main Event. That information will be coming from the tournament staff shortly and the next piece of vital information that we don’t know, is how many players will survive this Day 1B session.

The PNIA blog will track this field through the next six levels, bringing you the first real look at the 1B leaderboard shortly. – Will OC

9:24 PM: The Perfect ‘Warm Up’ Before DeSilva Goes For More Gold
Level 12 – Blinds (500/1,000/100)
Total Entries: 1,051
Total Day 1B Entries: 656

As is the case every year the world comes together in Las Vegas to crown bracelet winners, plenty of players burst onto the scene during the World Series of Poker. Unfortunately for many of those breakout stars, they come close to wins, only to have to wait their, metaphorical, turns.

Upeshka DeSilva did just that in 2013, when he finished 7th in the ‘Millionaire Maker’ event for an over $175,000 score. The Texan returned to the series a summer later to notch a handful of moderate scores but 2015 was his year. DeSilva opened the series with another deep ‘Millionaire Maker’ run before notching his first WSOP win in a $1,500 NLH event.

That win was good for a nearly $425,000 score and a few weeks later, DeSilva was at it again, notching a 30th place finish in the WSOP Main Event. That added another $211,000 score to his summer haul and since then, DeSilva has pushed his career earnings over the $1,000,000 mark.

He’ll now hope that this Poker Night in America Main Event can be the perfect warmup heading through the spring, before DeSilva heads back out to Las Vegas in search of more WSOP gold. – Will OC

8:58 PM: Half Hour To Get In The Action
Level 12 – Blinds (500/1,000/100)
Total Entries: 1,048
Total Day 1B Entries: 653

The first ten minutes of Level 12 are in the books, meaning that we are just a half hour, and a short break, from the end of the late registration period. So far, just shy of 1,050 players have joined the action, ballooning this prize pool just shy of $1,600,000.

With that large of a prize pool up for grabs, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a slight rush to the cage over the next 30 minutes, especially when players are going to receive a full 20,000 chip starting stack. That’s good for 20 big blinds and if players are able to spin up those relatively short stacks, they could be turning those late buy-ins into deep runs and big scores.

The PNIA blog will continue to track this field up to and through the end of the late registration period and a finalized number of entrants will be posted when play resumes after the next break. – Will OC

8:42 PM: Green Growing Into Last Level of Late Reg
Level 11 – Blinds (400/800/100)
Total Entries: 1,043
Total Day 1B Entries: 648

This Day 1B flight is heading through the final few minutes of Level 11 and that means we are moving into the last level of late registration for this $1,000,000 GTD Poker Night in America Main Event. While short stacked players might be starting to look for chances to double or bust to get a fresh 20,000 chip starting stack, we imagine Brian Green doesn’t have that on his mind.

The Texan is playing the better part of 125,000 and that’s good for a top stack heading into the final level of late registration. That early advantage might also have Green trending towards his best career Choctaw finish, as the majority of his $1,150,000 in career tournament earnings have come from other venues around the country.

His best career score came a year ago, when Green final tabled a WPT event in Florida for nearly $270,000. The year before, Green final tabled a WSOP ‘Mix Max’ event for an over $85,000 score and while he’s recorded a few podium runs in Winstar based events, he’s still looking for that breakthrough Choctaw cash.

Green will hope that his early big stack can turn into just that this weekend, as he’s hoping to notch a deep run and walk away with the lion’s share of what should be a nearly $1,500,000 prize pool. – Will OC

8:15 PM: Araya Already In The Rafters, Going For Third Title
Level 11 – Blinds (400/800/100)
Total Entries: 1,039
Total Day 1B Entries: 644

If you are in the Choctaw Grand Theater, just look up to the rafters to see the coolest thing in the world of poker. That’s where banners hang to honor each Choctaw Poker Main Event champion since the casino started hosting WSOP Circuit series in 2011.

While there are nearly two dozen banners, only one players has recorded two victories at Choctaw since that tradition began, Abraham Araya. The first of those wins came in October of 2011, in the TJ Coutier Choctaw Poker Challenge Main Event. Araya earned a modest $84,000 score for that win but his second, which came early the next year, was for over three times that amount.

Araya claimed the second WSOP Circuit Main Event at Choctaw and back to back titles in January of 2012, with that victory good for an over $270,000 score. Since then, the Texan has pushed his career earnings up and over the $650,000 mark and while he’s short stacked heading into Level 11, he’ll try to run up a stack en route to an unprecedented third Choctaw Main Event title. – Will OC

7:50 PM: Run Good Gear Pros Looking for a Little Run Good Themselves
Level 10 – Blinds (300/600/100)

There are multiple brands of clothing and gear made for the poker community, but one thing we couldn’t help but notice today was how many of the Run Good Gear Pro players took their seats in our Poker Night in America Choctaw Main Event.

Bryan Campanello (above) has over $800,000 in live tournament earnings.  The native Texan is used to playing the southern casinos and his most recently victory took place just last month in the $675 Oklahoma State Championship.  He took home $26,760 for that victory.  He also cashed in two World Series of Poker Circuit events here at Choctaw in January of this year.

Jonathan Gaviao (above) also cashed in a WSOPc event here at Choctaw in January.  Since then he has been traveling across the country cashing in various events throughout.  Gaviao has just over $550,000 in lifetime earnings under his belt, and is hoping to add to that with a PNIA cash here in Durant.

Mina Greco started her year off strong with three cashes here at Choctaw in January, the highest of which was a 2nd place in the $365 No Limit Hold’em Ring Event.  Greco also hails from Texas, and is right at home playing not only larger buy in events, but here in the state of Oklahoma.

In addition to these three players in flight B, Michael Sanders managed to find a bag last night in Flight A of this tournament.  He will be starting Day 2 tomorrow with 88,000 in chips.  Stay tuned to find out which of his team mates will be joining him tonight. – Molly Mossey

7:30 PM: Back From Dinner Break, Nine Levels Remain
Level 10 – Blinds (300/600/100)

Players are now back from dinner break with nine more 40-minute levels remaining before bag and tag for the night.  Any player wishing to enter/re-enter has until the start of level 13 to do so, just a bit over two hours from now.

The current total players from this second flight is up to 614, 405 of which still remain.  Once registration draws to a close we will post the full prizepool and payout schedule as soon as it’s available. – Molly Mossey

6:20 PM: Anthony Spinella Leading Pack of “Notables” Going Into Dinner Break
Level 9 – Blinds (250/500/75)

Players have almost reached the dinner break of flight 1B in the Poker Night in America $1,675 Main Event here at Choctaw.  With over 400 players still remaining in the field, it’s difficult to pick out a front runner at the moment.  Players still have three more levels (2 hours) after the dinner break to buy in, so it’s our guess that after dinner, and closer to end of registration, is when we will start to see bigger stacks emerge from the pack.

For now, we have scoured the room for a few notable players and upon inspection, it appears that Anthony Spinella is the top of our notable chip counts with just under 100,000.  Spinella is probably most recognized as the winner of the inaugural WSOP.com Online Bracelet event last summer. Spinella bested a field of 905 players to win his first WSOP bracelet and take home the $197,743 top prize.  Spinella has just under $1,200,000 in live earnings, but prior to Black Friday he had won at least an additional $4.6 million playing online, most of which took place between 2008 and 2009.

Here are a few other chip stacks of note heading into the dinner break:

Nick Pupillo – 50,000
Maxx Coleman – 39,000
Cate Hall – 30,000
Ray Henson – 23,000
DJ MacKinnon – 20,000
Norm Michalek – 17,000
Upeshka Desilva – 13,000
Mina Greco – 10,100
Lauren Bunch – 10,000

Play will resume around 7:30pm.  – Molly Mossey

5:35 PM: Paul Henderson Missing His “Poker Buddy”
Level 8 – Blinds (200/400/50)

Paul Henderson won his first ever World Series of Poker Circuit ring right here at Choctaw casino in the 6-Handed Event.  That was back in January of this year, and 82-year-old Henderson shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.  We caught up with the Texas native a few minutes ago to check in on how he was doing in our $1,675 Poker Night in America Main Event.  Henderson told us that he is doing well and is above the starting stack.  He just hopes to keep gaining momentum throughout the day and make a strong finish to head into Day 2.  

“My daughter is my poker buddy, I taught her how to play.  She recently took some time off to have a baby though so I am here playing by myself today.”  

Henderson went on to tell a story of his daughter playing one of her first tournaments.  Apparently Henderson gave his daughter advice on how to make it to the final table.  He went on to bust a few levels later and headed to play a little cash while he waited for his daughter.  The next thing he knew, his daughter was standing behind him in the cash room.  He asked her if she was on break, and she told him that the tournament was finished and she took fourth place.

It’s clear that Henderson is a great teacher of the game. It’s also clear that Henderson really knows how to play. If you take a look at his Hendon Mob, you will see he only has a total of six cashes, but upon further inspection you will also see that two of those are first places, and one is a second place.  So while he may insist that he is still, “learning the game,” it’s clear that Henderson is erring on the humble side.

Today, he is making a run in this $1,000,000 tourney for his “poker buddy” who is home taking care of her new four month old little baby.

– Molly Mossey

4:40 PM: Jim Carroll Up to His Old Tricks
Level 7 – Blinds (100/300/25)

Those that have played at the same table with Jim Carroll (pictured above), or have had the pleasure of watching him on the Poker Night in America cash game streamed live yesterday, know that he has an interesting “capped blind strategy,” meaning he plays the hand without looking at his cards first. The TV personality has made a real name for himself in the poker world, having amassed over $1,300,000 in winnings.

Carroll played in yesterday’s live streamed cash game and unfortunately, his strategy didn’t bode well for him.  He net a $7,000 loss yesterday in the cash game, but is back at the table today focusing on tournament play in our $1,000,000 guarantee Main Event.

Right before the last break a table across the room called the PNIA blog staff over and said they had a real story to share, “one for the books.”  Apparently, action folded to Jesse McVicker (pictured above) who raised to 800 in the cutoff, and Carroll called on the button. Both players checked the A,10,8 flop.  When the turn came a queen, McVicker bet 300 and Carroll called.  The river came another ace.  McVicker bet 1,200, and Carroll decided now was the time to look at his cards.  After taking a peak, Carroll announced that he was all in for 14,000.  McVicker quickly called the shove. Carroll had a huge smile on his face as he turned over pocket queens for queens full.  But that smile faded when McVicker turned over A,8 for the bigger full house. McVicker had Carroll covered, sending him to the cage to rebuy.

On our way back to the PNIA media table we walked by Jim Carroll, already seated at his new table.  Just about to pass the table we saw Carroll put a chip on top of his cards and say, “blind six hundred”.

– Molly Mossey

3:45 PM: DJ MacKinnon – One to Watch
Level 6 – Blinds (100/200/25)

DJ MacKinnon has taken his seat to the right of Cate Hall.  MacKinnon is a superstar from the East Coast looking for his first score in the Poker Night in America series. Earlier in the day we half-jokingly presented the idea that the East Coast may be taking over Oklahoma.  MacKinnon’s presence in this event only perpetuates our hypothesis further. With nearly $625,000 in live tournament earnings, MacKinnon has proved time and time again that he is a force to be reckoned with.  Comfortable with larger buy in events, MacKinnon likely feels right at home in our $1,675 Main Event.

MacKinnon is also not a newbie to the PNIA series.  Just last month he cashed in the $340 No Limit Hold’em Pittsburgh Open/PNIA Event.  MacKinnon hails from New York but he is definitely no stranger to Choctaw.  MacKinnon cashed four times here in Durant, OK in January of this year alone. MacKinnon also recently won a 1-Day trophy event at the Poker Night in America Sugarhouse poker room located in Philadelphia.  In addition to his great start to 2016 here in Durant, MacKinnon had the most cashes of any poker player in the world in 2015.

You’ll want to stay tuned to our PNIA blog as we follow MacKinnon throughout the day.  He is surely “one to watch” as we move forward.

– Molly Mossey

3:00 PM: Internet Connection Issues, Please Stay Tuned
Level 5 – Blinds (100/200)

Choctaw is currently experiencing Internet connection issues throughout the casino.  While they are working on restoring the connection, we will continue to watch the action and bring you updates whenever possible.  Please note that the high stakes cash game is still going, and will be streamed live as soon as the Internet gets restored.

We will keep you updated, so please stay tuned here at the PNIA blog.

2:25 PM: The Prettiest Table in the Room?
Level 4 – Blinds (75/150)

Two of poker’s most beautiful women from the South happen to be seated right next to each other in today’s Flight 1B of the Poker Night in American $1,675 Main Event.  Jacqueline Gonzalez-Higgins (left) is originally from California, but recently relocated to Texas with her husband David (also playing today).  Higgins tends to spend most of her “poker time” in front of a camera as a spokeswoman for various poker series across Las Vegas.  When she has time, she does enjoy playing a little poker as well.  She is hoping to make her PNIA cash debut this weekend.

Lauren Bunch is a physical therapist, mom, and part time cash player that specializes in Pot Limit Omaha.  While Bunch has spent a lot of time focusing on cash, she recently got into the tournament scene and has started to make a name for herself across the country as a well respected tournament player. Her husband Eric also players poker and is in the field today. 

Perhaps these two can organize a couples last longer to see who can go the furthest both individually, as well as with their partners.  Regardless, these two beauties are proof that women can play just as hard, and just as well, as their male competitors.

– Molly Mossey

1:50 PM: Field Continues to Climb Into First Break
Level 3 – Blinds (50/100)

Yesterday 395 runners came out to take their shot at the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool here at Choctaw Casino.  We anticipated today’s second and final flight would exceed yesterday’s total, but we didn’t realize how fast it would occur.  We are just heading into the first break of the day and we already have a confirmed 417 runners.  With registration and re-entry open up until the start of Level 13, this number is only going to climb throughout the day.

Players will head out on their first 15 minute break of the day and will return to 75/150 blinds.  Given the 20,000 starting stack for this event, there is still a lot of room for play and we anticipate quite a few players to jump in over the course of the middle levels throughout the day. – Molly Mossey

1:30 PM: Is the East Coast Taking Over Oklahoma?
Level 2 – Blinds (50/75)

With the large buy in, Main Event structure, and the awesome guarantee, it’s really not too big of a surprise to see players come from all around the country to take their shot at a piece of the $1,000,000 guaranteed prizepool and the televised final table.

We’re just about to start level 3, and on a walk through the room we found Norm Michalek (pictured) tucked away in the corner of the room.  Michalek isn’t necessarily someone that everyone would recognize, but the PNIA blog staff knows him as a prominent face from the East Coast poker scene.  The WSOP Circuit ring winner has over $225,000 in live earnings, and is looking to make his first Poker Night in America score here at Choctaw this weekend.  So why did we take note of the New Jersey native this morning among the other 385 runners?  We couldn’t help but wonder if the East Coast is taking over Oklahoma?

Last night 57 people found bags to end flight 1A, and three of the top five chip stacks hail from the East Coast.  Upon further examination of last night’s bagged players, we found that over 50% of them hail from Texas. When you add in the other Southern states to that total it’s almost 75% of the remaining field.  The next most prominent region?  You guessed it…THE EAST COAST. 

Perhaps this second and final starting flight will show more Mid-westerners come out on top?!?  Perhaps the East Coast will take over the top chip counts once again.  The one thing that’s certain is that people from all over the United States are starting to really take note of this amazing PNIA tour.

– Molly Mossey

12:27 PM: Biggest winners from yesterday’s PNIA cash game action
Level 1 – Blinds (25/50)

We’re barely a half hour into this Day 1B flight and we’re already approaching the 300 player mark, meaning this PNIA Main Event field is getting big and getting big fast. While these 1B players are all looking to book a win this weekend in this $1,000,000 GTD Main Event, two players have already scored sizable wins.

Cate Hall and Dennis Phillips each booked solid cash game sessions yesterday, as they were the two biggest winner’s from Saturday’s action, and they’re now trying to keep that run going into today’s 1B session.

Hall is coming off a stellar 12-month stretch of poker and earlier this week, made her third World Poker Tour final table of Season XIV. That was a 9th place finish in the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event, following two 5th place finishes in the Five Diamond World Poker Classic and the MarylandLive! Main Event.

The former Washington DC lawyer, who finished 2nd in the WPT Player of the Year race for Season XIV, has amassed over $500,000 in career earnings over the last year and she’ll now try to add to that number, and her cash game winnings, in this PNIA Main Event.

While Hall has burst onto the poker scene over the last year with her deep runs on the WPT, Dennis Phillips has been a mainstay in the poker world over the last few years. Phillips final tabled the WSOP Main Event in 2008, finishing 3rd for a $4,500,000 score and since then, he’s notch two other podium finishes in WSOP events.

Phillips has recorded tournament scores from across the country over the last decade and he’s now going to try to notch another here in Choctaw, in this $1,000,000 GTD event.

12 PM: Cards in the air for Day 1B
Level 1 – Blinds (25/50)

The players are seated, the tournament staff has made their pre-play announcements adn that means that we are ready to go for Day 1B of the Poker Night in America Main Event. This $1,620 buy-in Main Event’s second starting flight will follow the same structure as yesterday, with players starting with 20,000 tournament chip and playing 40 minute levels played throughout.

Late registration and unlimited re-entry will be available through Level 12, which is around 9:30 PM and this starting flight should last until around 2:30 AM, with play concluding after Level 18. Just under 15% of yesterday’s 395 entrant field bagged up chips and we imagine a similar number should survive today’s flight.

We’ll be bringing you updates from this $1,000,000 GTD Main Event starting flight throughout the next few hours, with our first update from the field coming shortly. – Will OC

11:30 AM: Half hour until second flight

After nearly 400 players took their seats for the opening Poker Night in America Main Event starting flight yesterday, it remains to be seen how big this Day 1B flight will get. While we won’t know that finalized number until registration closes around 9:30 PM, we do know that the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool that this event boasts likely won’t last very long.

Nearly $600,000 made it’s way into the prize pool yesterday and with an even bigger crowd expected today, we should have no problem blowing by the original guarantee. The PNIA blog, Will OC and Molly Mossey, will keep you up to date on all those pertinent figures throughout the day, as we’ll be providing updates from this PNIA Choctaw Main Event as soon as cards get in the air at 12 PM. – Will OC