There’s nothing fairly like trying down at pocket aces and getting all of it in preflop—particularly in a three-way all-in. It’s the dream spot each poker participant hopes for, and Simone Pascucci discovered himself dwelling it early on Day 1a of the WPT Prime Cyprus $1,100 Championship at Chamada Status Resort and On line casino.
However as any seasoned participant is aware of, poker could be a merciless recreation. Pascucci’s aces have been up towards Onur Unsal’s suited ace-king and Dory Saade’s pocket eights, and with each opponents in danger, he was in prime place to scoop a monster pot.
Then got here the rollercoaster. Saade flopped a set, Unsal made his flush on the flip, and simply when it appeared like Unsal had sealed it, the seller dropped the case eight on the river. Quads for Saade. Unsal hit the rail, and Pascucci was left questioning how on earth his dream spot had was a nightmare. A minimum of he might take solace within the $19,460 he’d received simply days earlier within the NLH Outdated Faculty facet occasion.
That wild hand set the tone for an action-packed Day 1a in Cyprus, the place the chips have been flying and gamers have been combating for a shot at WPT glory. Right here’s the way it all went down…
Kyprianos Kyprianou Luggage Finest in Day1A
Of the three gamers in that wild hand, solely Unsal managed to outlive the day—albeit with a a lot smaller stack than he had hoped. He bagged 239,000, a good rely however removed from the highest of the leaderboard.
In the meantime, on the high of the charts, Kyprianos Kyprianou was busy stacking chips all day lengthy. By the point the mud settled, he had constructed an unlimited 1,286,000 stack, placing him effectively forward of his closest rivals, Ali Fikh (853,000) and Mehdi Yazdanpanah (789,000). It was a dominant efficiency from Kyprianou, who discovered himself within the driver’s seat heading into Day 2.
Day 1A of the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship drew 356 entries. By the point the chips have been bagged, solely 45 gamers remained, all securing a minimal money.
Different notable names shifting on to Day 2 embrace Laurent Vauquelin (526,000), Ioana Apostol (315,000), Fabian Rolli (254,000), and Philippe Souki (196,000), who has already banked a trophy on the pageant. These gamers can now take pleasure in a well-earned break whereas the remaining Day 1 flights play out. Day 2 is about to start at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.
The day wrapped up in becoming trend when Pascal Foged shoved his last few large blinds with suited jack-ten, solely to run straight into Irakli Gavasheli’s pocket aces. Not like Pascucci’s earlier heartbreak, Gavasheli’s aces held up, bringing an finish to the opening flight.
Day 1A Prime Ten Chip Counts
Joseph Haddad Sprints Via to Day 2
Day 1B introduced a special form of power, working as a pace flight with fast-paced motion from the soar. The sphere attracted 113 entrants, and simply 15 gamers had survived the rapid-fire play to guide their seats in Day 2.
Main the best way is Joseph Haddad, who bagged 966,000, placing himself in a powerful place shifting ahead. Not far behind him is Oliver Bosch with 722,000, who introduced Day 1B to a detailed, eliminating Mustafa Simsek on the bubble. Simsek moved all in with ace-jack, Bosch appeared him up with ten-five. A full home on the flip for Bosch sealed the deal, securing his spot because the second-largest stack of the flight.
Cenk Nigbolu rounds out the highest three with 568,000, whereas different notable names making it via embrace Dan Charlton (418,000), who has already made three last tables at this collection, Scotland’s Richard Hare (295,000), Man Gorelik (240,000), and Koray Korkmaz (234,000).
A complete of 60 gamers from the 469 entries have efficiently cleared the primary hurdle. With the prize pool already nearing the midway mark and three extra Day 1 flights remaining, the $1 million assure is effectively on monitor to be surpassed. Day 1C is about for Friday, March 14, adopted by Day 1D and 1E on Saturday, March 15.
Day 1b Prime Ten Chip Counts
WPT Prime Cyprus Outcomes
Photos courtesy of World Poker Tour/Chamada Poker
Calum Grant
Senior Editor & Reside Occasions Govt
