Friday, July 28, 2023 2:25 AM Local Time
2-time WSOP Ring Holder Will Berry Bags Massive Chip Lead
A very long Day 1A is in the bag and Will Berry's chips could barely fit inside of one.
From the first level of the day when Berry stacked up over 100,000 in chips to the end of the bubble when he bagged 1,280,000, it was Berry's day and everyone else was just along for the ride.
A number of notable players started the day, including Berry who already has two Circuit Rings, though only a few survived into the money and the top 21 players on Day 1A.
Among them we saw 15-time ring holder Maurice Hawkins dispatched twice in the early levels. Another notable player with $4 million dollars in live cashes who was seeking his first Circuit Ring, Andrew Moreno, lost a stack early before a roller-coaster of a second bullet ended in heartbreak with about 25 players remaining.
We'll see if either player returns this week for a second flight.
Those weren't the only familiar players in the Choctaw Main Event field. Also surviving to Day 2 were Ring winners Kami Hudson, and Danny Marx who won this same event last year and hopes to defend the title.
All 21 remaining players will join those who advance from Days 1B and 1C on Sunday at 12pm CT and all players are now in the money and guaranteed at least a portion of the million dollar or larger prize pool.
Top Chip counts after Day 1A:
1 - Will Berry - 1,280,000
2 - John Lee - 519,000
3 - Danny Marx - 512,000
4 - Babak Belgham - 467,000
5 - Tommy Townsend - 465,000
6 - Songpyng Twu - 456,000
7 - Archie Van Horn - 430,000
8 - Jason Moyer - 375,000
9 - Jared Ingles - 349,000
10 - Lumil Novak - 339,000
Day 1B will begin on Friday at 11am PT.