Day 1b Highlights from the €350 International Poker Open Main Event
The glamour and excitement of the €350 International Poker Open (IPO) Main Event continued unabated as the second of its six opening flights concluded on Saturday, October 26. Out of a stunning 160 entries, only 22 players emerged victorious at the end of the day, making their way to the next stage of the competition. These survivors will now join the 12 players who successfully navigated through Day 1a, all gearing up for an exhilarating Day 2 set to unfold on Sunday, October 27. With the cumulative total of entries rising to an impressive 240, the anticipation builds as four more flights are still yet to be played.
John Vogelaar: The Chip Leader
Coming out on top of Day 1b was Ireland’s own John Vogelaar, who amassed a staggering 410,000 chips, the largest stack of any player thus far. His ascendance to the top of the leaderboard was aided by a fortuitous hand involving an ill-timed squeeze play executed by Daryl Mcaleenan, who, holding an ace-five, pushed all in during one of the day’s penultimate levels—only to find himself up against Vogelaar’s pocket tens. This pivotal moment not only boosted Vogelaar’s stack dramatically but also demonstrated the high-stakes drama that poker players thrive on.
Top Ten Chip Counts at the End of Day 1b
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Vogelaar | Ireland | 410,000 | 82 |
| 2 | Audrius Daugvilavicius | Lithuania | 392,000 | 78 |
| 3 | Daire Burke | Ireland | 345,000 | 69 |
| 4 | Davide Raschella | Ireland | 316,000 | 63 |
| 5 | Duane McDonnell | Ireland | 297,000 | 59 |
| 6 | Kyle Rafferty | Ireland | 293,000 | 59 |
| 7 | Shawn Morales | United Kingdom | 287,000 | 57 |
| 8 | Kamil Maslowski | Poland | 239,000 | 48 |
| 9 | Ivan Tononi | Italy | 231,000 | 46 |
| 10 | Stephen Leahy | United States | 206,000 | 41 |
Notable Players and Their Performances
In addition to Vogelaar, several other players made their mark during Day 1b. Audrius Daugvilavicius from Lithuania finished closely behind the chip leader with a solid stack of 392,000, while Ireland’s Daire Burke closed the day with 345,000. Among the notable players to advance was Stephen Leahy, who holds over $160,000 in live tournament earnings and finished with 206,000 chips. Despite having only one cash registered in Ireland, he now holds considerable potential as he heads into the second day of the IPO Main Event.
Another player of interest is Leo Worthington-Leese from the United Kingdom, who closed the day with 175,000 chips. His stack was significantly bolstered after a dramatic hand where he rivered Broadway to eliminate Conor McCrossan in one of the closing levels of the day. With over $1.6 million in live tournament earnings and a recent career-best score of $437,918, Worthington-Leese is definitely a player to watch as the tournament progresses.
What to Expect Next
Looking ahead, Day 1c will commence at 2 p.m. local time, following the same structure as its predecessors. Players will again have the chance to enter up to two times per flight, creating an intriguing opportunity to enhance their stacks and re-join the hunt for Day 2. With four more flights left in the €350 international poker open, every player vying for success will be keenly watching the competition unfold.
As the action continues at the Bonnington Dublin Hotel, be sure to stay tuned into PokerNews for all the latest updates and to follow your favorite poker stars on their journey through the rest of this highly competitive Main Event. Who will emerge successful, and who will secure their place in poker history? The excitement is palpable as we gear up for the next chapter in this thrilling tournament!
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