Day 1b Recap of the €350 International Poker Open Main Event
The atmosphere at the Bonnington Dublin Hotel was electrifying as the second of six opening flights of the €350 International Poker Open Main Event drew to a thrilling close. As the final hands were played out on Day 1b, a total of 160 entries had entered the fray, with 22 players successfully navigating through the challenges of the day to secure their spots for Day 2, scheduled for Sunday, October 27. This exciting first half of the tournament has now brought the cumulative total of entries in the Main Event to a promising 240, with four additional flights still on the horizon.
John Vogelaar Takes the Lead
Emerging as the chip leader at the conclusion of Day 1b was Ireland’s own John Vogelaar, who bagged an impressive stack of 410,000 chips, equating to 82 big blinds. His journey to the top was marked by a pivotal moment during the penultimate level of play, where an ill-timed squeeze play by Daryl Mcaleenan with ace-five led to a confrontation that resulted in Vogelaar holding pocket tens, significantly bolstering his chip count. This flourish of luck solidified Vogelaar’s position as one of the main contenders heading into the next phase of the tournament.
Top Ten Chip Counts at the End of Day 1b
The intense competition saw several players making substantial gains as they vied for supremacy. Below are the top ten chip counts from 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
While John Vogelaar commanded the leaderboard, he wasn’t the only player making waves. Lithuania’s Audrius Daugvilavicius was close behind with 392,000 chips, bolstering his status as a formidable contender. Daire Burke, yet another Irish player, concluded the day with 345,000 chips, showcasing Ireland’s strength in this tournament.
Stephen Leahy, boasting over $160,000 in live tournament earnings, ended the day with 206,000 chips, putting him well within reach of advancing in the competition. Despite only having one recorded cash in Ireland, the amount of chips he has amassed gives him the opportunity to change that narrative with a solid performance on Day 2.
One of the standout stories of the day came from the United Kingdom’s Leo Worthington-Leese, who wrapped up Day 1b with 175,000 chips. His stack grew significantly after eliminating Conor McCrossan with a rivered Broadway. Worthington-Leese is no stranger to success, with a lifetime total of over $1.6 million in tournament earnings.
What’s Next?
Looking forward, Day 1c kicks off at 2 p.m. local time tomorrow, adhering to the same structure as its predecessors. Players are permitted to enter up to two times per flight, presenting another opportunity for ambitious players to build a robust stack and secure a place among the remaining contenders.
Don’t miss a moment of the action—it’s an exhilarating time at the Bonnington Dublin Hotel, and PokerNews will keep you updated on all the unfolding drama as players aim to progress to Day 2 and beyond. The excitement is palpable, and with so much still at stake, stay tuned to see who rises to the top in this thrilling poker event!
