GOP Main Event - Flight A - Plays to ITM (120/120/40 Mins) - USD 500,000 GTD

Lai Muk Pin

Down to just 11 big blinds, Lai Muk Pin went all in from early position, and a few spots over, Alfie Adam shoved as well. With no other takers, they flipped them over. 

Lai Muk Pin: K ♠️ J ♠️

Alfie Adam: A ♥️ Q ♦️

Lai was in trouble but hope was alive with live cards. Zilch on the flop 2 ♠️ 2 ♦️ 4 ♥️ for Lai and no change on the turn 4 ♣️. Looking bleak, the river 3 ♠️ sealed his fate to burst the bubble.

Lei Zhang opened from middle position and went to the flop with big blind Takuma Terada. The bets continued on a board of 8 ♠️ K ♣️ Q ♦️, and Terada check-called to head to the turn 10 ♠️. 

After Terada checked, Zhang slowed down as well for a free river card 5 ♠️. Terada checked for the last time but no more freebies from Zhang who announced a 110,000 bet. Terada called then mucked to Zhang's A ♦️ J ♣️.

Still on the bubble as Level 10 gets underway with blinds of 10,000-16,000 ante 10,000. Only 8 players left out of the 48 entry field. One bust needed to wrap up the flight.

Just before the new level, Lei Zhang won a pot against Alfie Adam who first raised to 52,000 on the small blind. Zhang defended his big blind, throwing it back with a 160,000 reraise. Adam folded.

Lei Zhang

Lei Zhang opened 35,000 at cutoff then called Gustavo Campos's 82,000 three-bet out of the small blind. 

Both players checked it to the turn 10 ♥️ 7 ♠️ 6 ♣️ 4 ♣️. Campos sent out a delayed continuation bet of 50,000 and again Zhang called to complete the board with the 6 ♥️ on the river.

Campos fired again, just a light 50,000. Zhang called. Campos showed Q ♥️ 7 ♥️ pair, Zhang had the same pair with a superior kicker A ♣️ 7 ♣️ to earn the pot. 

David Vining and Gustsavo Campos

Gustavo Campos and David Vining went head-to-head in consecutive hands. At under the gun, Campos raised to 35,000 and big blind Vining defended. 

Campos continued for 30,000 on a flop of 2 ♣️ 3 ♣️ 4 ♠️ and Vining check-called. Both players passed up the turn A ♣️ then Campos jammed on the river A ♥️ Vining check-folded. 

Immediately following that hand, Vining limped on the small blind and got to see the flop cheap with Campos checking on the big blind. 

On a flop of 8 ♣️ 7 ♦️ 3 ♦️, Campos test-bet 16,000 and vining check-called to bring the turn 10 ♥️. No bets landed for a free peek at the river 6 ♣️. 

Vining checked once more while Campos resumed betting for 30,000. Vining called then mucked to Campos's 10 ♦️ 4 ♦️ pair. 

Alfie Adam opened from middle position, Gustavo Campos three-bet 90,000 on the button, then Adam answered with a four-bet but before the count, Campos folded.

Apoorva Goel

First hand after the break and Apoorva Goel went all in for his last 224,000. Down the orbit, Takuma Terada joined with a much larger stack to successfully isolate. Upon showdown, Goel was ahead and needed only to dodge an ace.

Apoorva Goel: Q ♣️ Q ♥️

Takuma Terada: A ♠️ Q ♠️

No ace landed on the flop instead J ♠️ 8 ♠️ 6 ♠️ for a flush to Terada. Slim chance for Goel to overtake, needing a runner runner boat but it was not to be. The turn 10 ♦️ sealed his fate just two spots from ITM. The river 3 ♥️ was inconsequential. 

Down to 8 players. It's now bubble time. 

Level 9 is underway with blinds of 8,000-16,000 ante 10,000. Only 9 players left out of the 48 entry field. They play down to ITM of 7 players.

Marte Sandberg

Marte Sandberg has shoved multiple times and getting it through without a caller. This time, she was all in and had a challenger in Lei Zhang to put her on the ropes. 

Marte Sandberg: A ♠️ J ♦️

Lei Zhang: A ♥️ K ♣️

Dominated, Sandberg hoped for a jack and maybe even a chop but it was not to be as the board completed 8 ♣️ 6 ♣️ 7 ♠️ 4 ♦️ 6 ♣️. 

Down to 9 players. Only two spots to ITM and end of play. 

Kapil Garg

On a board 10 ♦️ 7 ♥️ 3 ♠️ K ♦️ 4 ♦️ and 136,000 in the pot, Alfie Adam and Kapil Garg decided to check it. 

Adam turned over K ♣️ 2 ♦️ top pair, Garg out-kicked with K ♥️ 9 ♥️. 

Siavasch Dastmalchi

Siavasch Dastmalchi flipped for his tournament life holding A ♠️ Q ♦️ against Takuma Terada's 9 ♦️ 9 ♣️.

The board produced none of his outs running seven-high to fall just four spots to ITM. 

Ten players remaining. ITM at 7 players. 

Miyoung Cho

From under the gun, table leader Miyoung Cho opened and only small blind Lai Muk Pin gave her action. 

Cho continued for 25,000 at the flop 10 ♥️ 6 ♦️ Q ♥️ and Lai check-called. Lai open checked again on the turn 9 ♥️ and this time, Cho checked back for a free river card 7 ♥️. 

With four hearts showing, Lai checked, Cho bet 75,000, Lai showed frustration then open-folded 10 ♦️ 10 ♠️ set. Cho dragged in the pot without revealing. 

Level 8 is underway with blinds of 6,000-12,000 ante 10,000. Only 11 players left out of the 48 entry field. They play down to ITM of 7 players.

Gustavo Campos and Kaito Nishio

Gustavo Campos has brought the field down to 11 players after knocking out Nobuaki Sasaki and Kaito Nishio in separate hands. 

Sasaki was first on the chopping block, going all in preflop with A ♣️ J ♣️ and was up against Campos's K ♣️ K ♠️. The board finished 10 ♥️ Q ♥️ Q ♠️ J ♠️ 8 ♥️. 

A few hands after, short stacked Nishio was all in holding A ♠️ 3 ♦️ and was outdrawn by Campos's Q ♦️ 10 ♥️ when the board fully favored the Brazilian, 10 ♣️ 6 ♠️ 7 ♠️ Q ♣️ 10 ♦️. 

On a nine-high rainbow board, Alfie Adam was seen firing a bet and Lei Zhang let it go while showing Ace-King. Adam returned the gesture, revealing Queen-Eight bluff.

David Vining

Out of the big blind seat, David Vining called a min-raise by under the gun Takuma Terada and went hunting at the flop.

On a spread of 4 ♥️ 2 ♣️ Q ♥️, Terada continued for 16,000 and Vining check-called to head to the turn 6 ♣️. 

Another check from Vining gave Terada the green light to continue which he did for 27,000. This time Vining answered back with a raise to 127,000. Terada was restless in his seat then opted to fold. 

Nobuaki Sasaki

Lei Zhang raised 25,000 out of hijack only to be repopped to 60,000 by Nobuaki Sasaki on the button. Zhang called to take them to the flop. 

After the dealer laid out 5 ♥️ 8 ♠️ 10 ♠️, Zhang bet 55,000, Sasakin tank-jammed, Zhang quickly folded. 

Lai Muk Pin

On a board of Q ♥️ 8 ♠️ 3 ♦️ 10 ♣️ 7 ♣️ and 210,000 in the pot, Lai Muk Pin fired 150,000 out of the big blind seat and hijack player Miyoung Cho tanked. 

Cho eventually let go to send Lai the pot. As he was stacking up, he asked Cho,

“Ace Queen?” 

Cho nodded saying, “yes.”

Lai said back, “good fold. I have two pair. You push I call.”

Level 7 is underway with blinds of 5,000-10,000 ante 10,000. Only 14 players left out of the 48 entry field. They play down to ITM of 7 players.

Lei Zhang

With around 110,000 in the pot, and a board showing 10 ♦️ K ♥️ 7 ♠️ 3 ♦️ 5 ♥️, Nobuaki Sasaki bet 64,000. This sent Lei Zhang tanking then raised to 140,000. Sasaki snap-called then grunted when seeing Zhang's K ♠️ 5 ♠️ two pair. 

Miyoung Cho

Dakota Anderson opened 16,000 and two players called before it reached Miyoung Cho who squeezed for 100,000. Action jumped back to Anderson who tanked then shoved after spending three time extensions. The two callers folded and Cho called, putting Anderson on the ropes for his tournament life. 

Dakota Anderson: 8 ♥️ 8 ♣️

Miyoung Cho: J ♦️ J ♣️

No help arrived for Anderson on the board 5 ♣️ 5 ♦️ 10 ♦️ 2 ♠️ A ♦️ to pack up and leave. 

Birger Larsen

Birger Larsen went all in bringing Q ♥️ 10 ♠️ to battle. He was called by Siavasch Dastalmachi with 5 ♥️ 5 ♦️.

Larsen was flipping and in an instant, he improved to a straight on the flop 8 ♠️ J ♦️ 9 ♦️. But as quick as it came, his lifeline vanished with the turn 4 ♦️ and river 7 ♦️ improving Dastmalchi to a flush. 

Level 6 is underway with blinds of 4,000-8,000 ante 8,000. Only 22 players remain out of the 48 starting field. They play to ITM of 7 remaining.

Takuma Terada

Takuma Terada cleaned out Somasekhar Sanampuri to surge to 600,000. It was all in preflop with Sanampuri holding Q ♣️ 10 ♠️ and Terada ahead with A ♠️ J ♠️.The board was 6 ♣️ 3 ♠️ 2 ♥️ K ♠️ J ♣️. 

Alfie Adam

Alfie Adam raised 13,000 preflop from middle position, button player Gustavo Campos three-bet to 31,000, and Adam called. 

Both players proceeded to check it to the river 10 ♣️ J ♥️ 5 ♦️ J ♣️ J ♦️ where Adam fired 47,000. Campos tanked, using up four time extensions before making the call. 

Adam flipped over 10 ♦️ 9 ♦️ full house and raked it in with Campos flicking his cards to the muck.

Birger Larsen

Apoorva Goel opened from lojack, then hijack Kaito Nishio three-bet to 27,000, button Birger Larsen called, and Goel joined for a three-way.

At the flop Q ♣️ 7 ♣️ 4 ♥️, it was checked to Larsen who bet 30,000 and only Goel called. On the turn K ♣️, Goel jammed, Larsen tanked using up eleven time banks before open-folding.

Larsen showed A ♠️ A ♥️, Goel said “good fold” but did not show. Larsen is down to one time bank.

Adrien Berger

Adrien Berger was all in for 111,000 and Bo Su protected with a jam that pushed out the rest of the players. 

Berger was ahead with K ♦️ K ♥️ over Su's 9 ♣️ 9 ♦️. No bad beats on the jac jack-high board to ship a double. 

Lei Zhang

Benigno Ledina is all in preflop holding 10 ♦️ 10 ♥️ and is flipping for his tournament life against Lei Zhang's A ♥️ K ♥️. 

The board was unkind to Ledina with an ace quickly showing up, and is it ran out 8 ♦️ 6 ♥️ A ♦️ 9 ♦️ Q ♣️, he was eliminated from the field. 

Apoorva Gael

Facing a min-raise from Siavasch Dastmalchi, hijack player Apoorva Goel three-bet 35,000. Dastmalchi called to take the bout to the flop. 

After the dealer spread out 10 ♦️ 6 ♥️ 8 ♥️, Dastmalchi checked, Goel shoved 115,000, Dastmalchi tank-folded.

Artur Akhmetzianov

Artur Akhmetzianov three-bet all in tor 111,000 and Dakota Anderson could not find a fold with his ace-rag.

Artur Akhmetzianov: 6 ♦️ 6 ♣️

Dakota Anderson: A ♦️ 6 ♠️

Akhmetzianov only needed to dodge an ace, and with the board running 2 ♦️ Q ♦️ 8 ♠️ J ♣️ 7 ♥️, he did just that to doulbe through.

Level 5 is underway with blinds of 3,000-6,000 ante 6,000. Only 24 players remain out of the 48 entry field. They play down to ITM of 7 remaining.

Dylan Cechowski

Gustavo Campos's 12,000 raise found two callers then the big blind Dylan Cechowski squeezed for all of his chips amounting to 141,000. 

Action back on Campos who tanked until he burned one time-bank then called. Two folds followed for heads up. When they flipped them over, Cechowski's kicker was ahead. 

Dylan Cechowski: A ♠️ Q ♥️

Gustavo Campos: A ♦️ J ♥️

The flop was brutal to Cechowski with a jack turning up and with the rest of the board finishing 9 ♥️ J ♠️ 7 ♠️ K ♥️ 6 ♥️, Campos's lucky catch eliminated Cechowski from the field.

Takuma Terada and Seongho Lee

Takuma Terada finished 3rd at the GOP Olympians and he is back in hopes of landing the Main Event title. He is well on his way having eliminated Seongho Lee in one of the biggest pots so far.

The hand opened with a 10,000 raise from Terada that was called by Seongho Lee at hijack. Big blind Kaito Nishio defended for three-way action.

On a flop of 9 ♠️ 9 ♣️ 7 ♣️, action was checked to Lee who bet 22,000, Nishio folded while Terada raised to 65,000. Lee flat to bring the turn 7 ♦️. 

Again Terada checked, Lee shoved 167,500. Terada had more behind and after a bit of consideration, he called, and Lee knew he was beat.

Seongho Lee: 5 ♣️ 5 ♦️

Takuma Terada: Q ♠️ Q ♦️

Lee still had outs however it didn't materialize on the river which was 7 ♥️ to send him out of the field.

Benigno Ledina opened 10,000 at cutoff and found two callers in the button Firat Basbaydar and big blind Linh Tran. 

When the flop arrived 8 ♠️ 5 ♥️ 4 ♦️, Tran led for 12,500 and only Ledina continued to the turn 6 ♥️. Tran continued to control with a bet of 25,000 and still Ledina stuck around for the board to complete 6 ♦️ river. 

Tran barreled a third time for 110,000, Ledina quickly risked his covered stack and when they opened, Ledina had A ♦️ 7 ♦️, Tran with 5 ♠️ 7 ♥️ for the straight to both to split the pot. 

Level 4 is underway with blindds of 2,500-5,000 ante 5,000. Only 28 players remaining out of 48 total entries. They play down to ITM of 7 players.

Alfie Adam

Alfie Adam has been swinging all day and has now swung upwards on a double up through Hoa Thinh Nguyen. With Adam holding 10 ♠️ 8 ♠️, he paired up the ten to survive Nguyen's 9 ♣️ 9 ♠️. 

Karen Talamayan

Nobuaki Sasaki

Karen Talamayan min-raised from under the gun, Nobuaki Sasaki called at cutoff and big blind Hema Rao Nandipati defendon his big blind. 

Action erupted at the flop Q ♦️ J ♥️ K ♥️ with Nandipati and Talamayan all in and covered by caller Sasaki. 

The cooler was revealed. 

Karen Talamayan: Q ♥️ J ♣️

Hema Rao Nandipati: K ♣️ J ♦️

Nobuaki Sasaki: K ♠️ Q ♠️

The turn 5 ♥️ gave Talamayan hope for the flush while Nandipati was drawing dead. The river 4 ♠️ was not one of her outs to join Nandipati to the rail. 

Firat Basbaydar

Dale Townsend risked his last chips with 2 ♣️ 2 ♦️ only to miss the board and fall to Firat Basbaydar's 7 ♦️ 7 ♥️. 

Marte Sandberg

Catching the action on a board of 5 ♥️ 9 ♥️ 2 ♠️ J ♥️ 3 ♥️ with four hearts showing and 67,000 in the pot. Alfie Adam bet 33,000 only to give it up without a fight to Marte Sandberg who jammed 112,500. 

Seongho Lee

Heavy preflop action began with a raise from Daniel Neilson that Somasekhar Sanampuri called. Small blind Seongho Lee answered with a three-bet, then big blind Xiameng Wang four-bet all in. Only Lee topped up with a covering stack. 

Wang was in trouble with 5 ♦️ 5 ♥️ against Lee's 8 ♠️ 8 ♦️. The board brought no help 6 ♠️ 7 ♦️ 10 ♥️ 2 ♦️ 6 ♣️ to end Wang's day at the Main Event as Lee shipped in a good pot. 

Xiaomeng Wang

Adrien Berger

Level 3 is underway which means, registration for Flight A is closed. A total of 48 entered with 38 remaining. They now race for a spot at ITM of 7 players. 

Blinds now increase every 40 minutes.

Break time before Flight A closes. Currently 46 entries with 36 players remaining. We will be right back.

Birger Larsen

Birger Larsen was dealt his favorite hand at late position and raised it up to 4,000. Big blind Yingmeng Li liked his hand as well and three-bet 16,000. Larsen answered with a four-bet shove and Li snap-called with a covered stack. 

Birger Larsen: 9 ♣️ 7 ♣️

Yingmeng Li: A ♦️ Q ♣️

Larsen's hand was favored by the board as well as running 9 ♠️ 3 ♣️ 7 ♠️ K ♥️ 5 ♥️ to give Li the boot. 

Gustavo Campos

Four players in on a single raised pot all check it to the turn 5 ♠️ J ♦️ 6 ♣️ 5 ♥️. Lai Muk Pin takes a stab for 6,000 and only Gustavo Campos keeps him honest. 

On the river J ♣️, Lai fires again for 12,000 and Campos tests him with a 25,000 raise. Lai snap-folds. 

Anton Iakimenko

New arrival Anton Iakimenko was looking for a quick boost when he opened A ♦️ K ♣️ and was ahead of David Vining's A ♥️ Q ♣️. 

He nearly got there when the board ran 8 ♠️ A ♣️ 8 ♣️ 5 ♦️ until the river Q ♥️ denied him, to instead award Vining a double up. 

On the next hand, Iakimenko was all in again, this time with 9 ♥️ 9 ♠️ and was in dire need of a miracle against Dakota Anderson's 10 ♠️ 10 ♦️. 

Luck quickly shined on Iakimenko with a flop landing 7 ♥️ 5 ♦️ 9 ♦️, and with the rest of the board A ♣️ turn and river 2 ♦️, Iakimenko doubled up. 

Kapil Garg

One hand after losing a pot against Benigno Ledina, Kapil Garg joined Lei Zhang in calling a min-raise by Alfie Adam to boost the pot to 15,000. 

After they all checked the flop, action ignited on a turn board Q ♠️ 10 ♠️ 9 ♥️ 9 ♦️. Out of the small blind, Garg kicked it off with a bet of 12,000, Adam raised to 27,000, Zhang folded, then Garg jammed. Adam folded. 

Benigno Ledina and Kapil Garg

Kapil Garg opened 5,000 from under the gun and both Lei Zhang on the button and big blind Benigno Ledina joined to the next round.

On the flop 2 ♦️ 9 ♦️ 7 ♠️, Garg continued for 8,000 and only Ledina called to the turn 4 ♠️. 

Ledina open-checked again then called Garg's 20,000 bet to complete the board with the K ♠️ river. No more checking for Ledina who took the reins for 60,000. Garg tanked then folded after burning through one time-bank. 

Jacopo Eutizi

Catching the action with Jacopo Eutizi all in for 65,000 and Dale Townsend calling. 

Eutizi turned over Q ♦️ Q ♥️ and was in prime shape to scoop it against Townsend's A ♣️ Q ♣️. 

The board ensured it after running out 5 ♥️ 6 ♠️ 7 ♠️ 2 ♥️ 4 ♣️. 

Dakota Anderson

Patrik Selin

Out of the cutoff seat, Dakota Anderson opened for 4,000 and got one caller in button player Patrik Selin. Two spots over, big blind Dylan Cechowski three-bet to 30,000 to send the decision back to Anderson.

After tanking, Anderson announced all-in. Selin gave it a bit of thought then risked his tournament life, and Cechowski snap-called, also behind in chips. 

Dakota Anderson: 7 ♦️ 7 ♥️

Patrik Selin: 6 ♣️ 6 ♦️

Dylan Cechowski: A ♠️ K ♦️

When a king found the window, slight scare for Anderson until the flop was spread in full K ♥️ 7 ♣️ K ♣️ for a full house to the leader and trips to Cechowski. The turn 3 ♠️ and river 5 ♣️ kept Anderson ahead to ship it and boot two players simultaneously. 

Immediately after, Selin re-entered and now sits at a new table with a fresh stack. 

Siavasch Dastmalchi

At two separate tables, two players successfully pushed for the pot. 

At table 5, with a pot of 112,000 brewed and a board showing 10 ♠️ 10 ♥️ 6 ♠️ 8 ♥️, Siavasch Dastmalchi shoved on Hema Rao Nandipati  who tanked before surrendering his hand. 

At table 4, Lai Muk Pin was also all in on the turn 5 ♠️ 6 ♥️ 4 ♣️ 2 ♣️ and shorter stacked Kayne Dewhurst opted to preserve his chips for a better spot. After he folded, Lai said “good fold, I had flush draw". 

Daniel Neilson

On the previous level, Daniel Neilson dropped to 33,500 in a hand against Siavasch Dastmalchi who increased to 172,000. Neilson was then moved to a new table where he nurtured his short stack to reach this next level. 

Still with the same stack, he three-bet shoved holding A ♣️ J ♦️ and Adrien Berger called with 8 ♦️ 8 ♥️. 

The board ran empty until the river 7 ♣️ K ♣️ 10 ♦️ 5 ♠️ J ♣️ for Neilson to avoid re-entering. 

The first 15-minute break has completed and cards are in the air for Level 2. So far there are 28 entries with 26 players seated. 

For those looking to jump in, this is the last level to join this flight, closing at the start of Level 3 at 5:00PM. If you enter this level your starting stack of 120,000 gives you a deep 60 big blinds.

David Vining

Kanghoon Lee

After a failed bluff, Kanghoon Lee was down to 3,500 and managed to double up through Patrik Selin who commented after the hand that Lee had done the same to him at an earlier event. 

Lee was all in with 9 ♠️ 8 ♠️ that completed a straight on the board 6 ♠️ 2 ♥️ 10 ♣️ 7 ♥️ 7 ♦️ to survive Selin's K ♦️ 6 ♥️.

Despite the boost, Lee proceeded to fall on the next hand. Selin initiated the opening action with a raise to 2,000, small blind David Vining called, then Lee went all in on the big blind for his last 8,500. Selin tanked then four-bet 27,500, Vining still called for a side pot. 

At the flop A ♥️ J ♦️ 10 ♠️ Selin continued for 20,000 and Vining shoved, Selin called. 

Kanghoon Lee: 10 ♥️ 8 ♠️

Patrik Selin: 10 ♦️ Tc:

David Vining: A ♣️ Q ♥️

Selin's set dominated and stayed ahead on the turn 6 ♣️ until the river K ♦️ gave Vining broadway sending a shock to the players at the table. 

Vining shipped the big pot while Selin plunged and Lee was the first to exit the Flight A field. 

Another double up for Tom Eady however this time he tanked before making the hero-call for his tournament life. 

Action opened with a 2,500 raise from Kanghoon Lee that was called by Kapil Garg, then Eady three0bet 11,500. Lee and Garg stuck around to see the flop come 10 ♠️ J ♥️ 6 ♥️. 

Eady continued for 15,000 and only Lee tossed in the call to head to the turn 5 ♣️. Eady barreled again for 28,000 however this time he was met with a shove for 83,500. After using up a time extension, Eady called for his tournament life. 

Tom Eady: A ♥️ J ♦️

Kanghoon Lee: K ♣️ 6 ♣️

The river 8 ♦️ was no help to Lee to pay off the rest of Eady's stack and plunge to just 3,5000. 

Patrik Selin

Following a raise from under the gun Dakota Anderson, next door neighbor Patrik Selin called then beside him, Tom Eady three-bet 9,500. Anderson and Selin were unfazed, both making the call.

After dealer proceeded to spread a flop of Q ♦️ 8 ♥️ 6 ♥️, they all checked until the turn 7 ♦️ where Selin moved all in for 35,500. No one challenged and Selin dragged in the pot. 

Three hands after, with a pot of 32,000 brewed, Selin jammed on a flop of 7 ♣️ 10 ♣️ 6 ♣️ and it was enough to push out David Vining and Kanghoon Lee. 

Tom Eady

All in preflop with Tom Eady at risk holding A ♦️ K ♥️ against David Vining's made Q ♦️ Q ♣️. The classic flip went Eady's way after the board ran out J ♥️ A ♣️ 8 ♦️ 10 ♥️ 10 ♠️. 

Alfie Adam

Alfie Adam opened and got action from the small blind and Siavatsch Dastmalchi and big blind Lei Zhang for a flop of K ♥️ Q ♦️ Q ♣️. Adam continued for 4,000, Dastmalchi check-folded, Zhang tested with a check-raise to 8,500, Adam punched back with a 23,000 three-bet and it was enough for Zhang to believe. 

Dakota Anderson bumped it up to 2,000 then called Tom Eady's three-bet out of the cutoff seat. Both players went at it on the flop 5 ♠️ 2 ♣️ 4 ♥️ with Eady continuing for 5,000 which Anderson answered with a check-raise to 25,000. Eady let it go. 

Cards in the air for the Main Event! For all the latecomers, there's plenty of time to sign up with registration running for four hours, closing at the start of Level 3 at 5:00PM.

After five days of pre-games, the wait is finally over. Welcome to opening day of the Gods of Poker Main Event! As the brand's crown jewel, the spotlight now shines on the Black-and-Gold Gauntlet, which has been on full display since the start of the series. 

Kicking off today inside the Grand Ballroom of world-class NagaWorld Integrated Resorts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the GOP Main Event launches with Flight A starting at 12:30PM. Backed by a $500,000 guarantee, this is the first of five entry flights offered. 

• Buy-In: $1,540
• Starting stack: 120,000
• Opening blinds: 500-1K ante 1K
• Registration: closing at start of Level 3 at 5:00PM

If this is your first GOP experience, the GOP Main Event features one of the best structures in the world and it stands unique with its signature Cronus Structure that sees registration close after two levels. While that may seem fast, it's a misperception. 

Flight A runs a total of 240 minutes of registration with both Level 1 and Level 2 running 120 minute blinds. 

As for starting stack, players receive 120,000, which is a very deep 120 big blinds based on the opening level of 500-1K ante 1K. 

For those that enter at Level 2 (1K-2K ante 2K), that's still a deep 60 big blinds; and for players that sign up at the very last second, that's a decent 30 big blinds once registration closes at the start of Level 3 (2K-4K ante 4K).

For all the info on the GOP Main Event, click here.

Want to follow the action? Live updates will run throughout the day right here. 

Players Expected

The first days of the series has already provided a glimpse of who to expect at the GOP Main Event. At the scene are Kyle Bao Diep who won the festival's GOP Olympians event, Kaoru Kishimoto who finished 21st at the GOP Jeju Main Event, Alfie Adam who leads the Player of the Series leaderboard, Martijn Gerrits - the series triple trophy winner, Daniel Neilson, Linh Tran, and Somashekar Kurkhepally Mahadeva to name a few. 

Past Two GOP Main Events

Taking a brief look back at the first two GOP Main Events, the inaugural run in Jeju, South Korea drew 481 entries with China's Tian Zhi Kong emerging as the first ever champion. Kong hoisted the black-and-gold gauntlet and a payout of KR₩ 187,290,000 (~USD 127,000).  

In January, the Main Event drew 556 entries in Taipei, Taiwan, reflecting the growing interest in the brand. Local star Chih Wei Fan captured the gauntlet along with a top prize of NT$ 4,323,180 (~US$ 136,864). 

Through fire, cunning, and cards, the time has come. Who will rise and wield the next black-and-gold gauntlet?