The bustling atmosphere of Las Vegas was electrifying as the second edition of the PokerStars North American Poker Tour Las Vegas festival kicked off today with the highly anticipated Day 1a of the $550 NAPT Mystery Bounty. With a robust field of 232 players crowding the luxurious card rooms of the Resorts World Las Vegas, the stakes were high from the outset, with only the top 35 players advancing into Day 2 to compete for a chance at the grand prize.
A Day of Surprises and Strategy
As the players settled in, the action heated up quickly. Among the contenders was Chris Shebat, who made a significant mark by ending the day as the chip leader with an impressive stack of 570,000 chips. Shebat’s pivotal moment came when he masterfully played a large pot against Eric Molina, flopping a nut straight that ultimately cracked Molina’s set of aces. This hand proved crucial in establishing Shebat’s commanding lead as the day went on.
Not to be outdone, Justin Young made headlines by bursting the bubble with a dramatic win in a coin flip against Jimmy Setna. With two sevens in hand, Young triumphed over Setna’s ace-queen, propelling him to a solid bag of 522,000 chips. Earlier in the day, Young also showcased his prowess after hitting a flush that led to the elimination of Young Sik Eum, further solidifying his place as a formidable competitor in the event.
The top five chip counts were rounded out by Victor Paredes with 479,000, Matthew Lambrecht at 363,000, and Ekrem Bozkurt at 266,000—each player showcasing impressive skills in this high-stakes environment.
Top Chip Counts – Day 1a
Here’s a snapshot of the top 10 chip counts at the conclusion of Day 1a:
| Rank | Player | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Shebat | 570,000 |
| 2 | Justin Young | 522,000 |
| 3 | Victor Paredes | 479,000 |
| 4 | Matthew Lambrecht | 363,000 |
| 5 | Ekrem Bozkurt | 266,000 |
| 6 | Yi Lin | 255,000 |
| 7 | Brian Battistone | 250,000 |
| 8 | Chris Vickrey | 240,000 |
| 9 | Quinn Lowry | 218,000 |
| 10 | Ky Nguyen | 203,000 |
Notable Survivors and Heartbreaks
Several notable players managed to survive the day’s intense battles, including David Docherty, the Irish Open champion, who collected 186,000 chips, as well as Spencer Champlin with 181,000 and Team PokerStars Pro Barny Boatman, who finished the day with 164,000. Meanwhile, Ben Ludlow wrapped up Day 1a with 106,000.
However, it wasn’t all smiles. Fans of the game witnessed some heart-wrenching eliminations, including poker personalities such as Jeff Platt, who had to rebuy after running into quad kings, along with Frank Lagodich, Terrance Reid, Joshua Remitio, and others. Their endeavor will resume in future flights, as the tournament atmosphere becomes more competitive with each passing day.
What Lies Ahead
The excitement isn’t over yet! There remain four more starting flights for players eager to make the money, with Day 1b currently in action. Players can look forward to additional flights on Saturday and the final Day 1e flight on Sunday at noon. All surviving players will reconvene for Day 2 on Monday at noon, where the mystery bounties will add an extra layer of thrill to the contest.
As Day 1a concluded with 15 minutes left in Level 17, the blinds stood at 3,000-6,000 with a 6,000 big blind ante. The poker world will be eagerly watching as the events unfold—who will rise and who will fall as the 2024 NAPT Las Vegas heats up?
Stay connected with PokerNews, who will be providing live updates and in-depth coverage as this thrilling tournament progresses. With high stakes and emotional highs and lows, the NAPT promises to be a spectacle no poker enthusiast would want to miss!
