Event #2

Day 1F starts now!

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 | 4:58pm | Playground

Event #2 of the MILLIONS North America, the $1,000 + $100 Montreal Open is on it’s last two Day 1 flights. In a few minutes, at 5:00pm, Day 1F gets under way. Only one other Day 1 flight is available after tonight, and that’s Day 1F, which is a turbo (blinds increase every 15 minutes) and is tomorrow at 10:00am.

The Montreal Open has a massive prize pool guarantee! There will be at least $1,000,000 in cash awarded, as well as $10,000 + $300 seats to the Main Event given to the top 15 finishers when Day 3 play concludes on May 21. With four starting flights already in the books, there have been 754 Day 1 entries, and 209 players have advanced stacks to Day 2. This afternoon’s Day 1E is still in full swing and received 336 entries (with 44 re-entries), so expect the entries tonight to be big too.To see the combined Day 1 results, click here.

Players start each Day 1 with a stack of 1,000,000 in tournament chips and play 16 30-minute levels before bagging chips for Day 2. This is a re-entry event with unlimited re-entries permitted until the end of the late registration period at the beginning of level 9 on each Day 1. A player may play additional Day 1s even if he/she has survived a previous Day 1 with chips. Players who qualify for Day 2 more than once will resume play on Day 2 with their largest qualifying stack; all other qualifying stacks will be forfeited.

This event showed its popularity even before the first card was pitched, as the $150 + $15 turbo re-entry satellites for this event consistently surpassed their guarantees. The final satellite was held last night and more than doubled its 15-seat guarantee to put 33 more qualifiers into the Montreal Open. In all, 142 players qualified via satellite.

So get down to the tournament hall and get a piece of the action. Late registration is open until roughly 9:15pm.

Late registration closed; Minkin leads after eight levels

Level: 9
Small Blind: 10K
Big Blind: 20K
BB Ante: 20K
Chip Average: 1.44M
Remaining: 233
Entries: 336

May 19, 2019 | 4:52pm | Playground

The late registration and re-entry period has just ended on Day 1E. This flight has been the most popular yet, by a significant margin, with 336 entries. There are 233 players still in the running at the mid-point of this flight.

The pace of play has been gradually slowing since the first break, so expect things to tighten up even more now that players can no longer re-enter. The current chip leader, Kelly Minkin, has a healthy lead on her nearest rival, but she will need to stay sharp to maintain the top stack in play.

The current chip leader:

First Name \| Prénom	Last Name \| Nom	Stack \| Tapis
Kelly	Minkin	4,380,000
Salvatore	Polletta	3,450,000
David	Quang	3,320,000
Danny	Park	3,090,000
Matt	Paiva	2,910,000
Patrick	Quinn	2,885,000
Nicholas	Blanchard	2,825,000
Maxime	Cloutier	2,820,000

246 players left as the second break approaches

Level: 8
Small Blind: 8K
Big Blind: 16K
BB Ante: 16K
Chip Average: 1.35M
Remaining: 246
Entries: 331

May 19, 2019 | 4:12pm | Playground

Although new players joined Day 1E at a slower rate during the last two levels, there remains a huge field of 246 players left in contention. The wild action seen before the first break has given way to a steadier tournament grind, even though we are still seeing more multi-way pots than one might expect; the players are considering each decision carefully and only very strong hands are being seen at showdown.

The late registration and re-entry period is winding down, but a handful more entries are likely to join this flight before time runs out. The next break is only a few minutes away, stay tuned for a leaderboard update.

Here are some photos from level 7:

320 entries and counting….

Level: 6
Small Blind: 6K
Big Blind: 12K
BB Ante: 12K
Chip Average: 1.2M
Remaining: 266
Entries: 320

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 | 3:18pm | Playground

New players keep arriving and the re-entries continue to pile up on Day 1E. As play continues in level 6, the field stands at 266 players out of 320 entries. The huge number of chips in play has encouraged players to stick with this flight, even if they got off to an unlucky start, bringing in 32 re-entries so far. There is still over an hour left in the late registration and re-entry period, leaving plenty of time to get in on the action.

Here’s a look at the field from the early levels:

Over 300 entries through four levels; Cloutier leads at the first break

Level: 5
Small Blind: 5K
Big Blind: 10K
BB Ante: 10K
Chip Average: 1.11M
Remaining: 278
Entries: 310

May 19, 2019 | 2:38pm | Playground

Day 1E of the Montreal Open has proven to be the most popular flight yet, with 309 entries after only four levels of plays. That figure includes 23 re-entries and shows the aggressive approach that has been adopted by many in the field. The players showed no hesitation to put chips in the middle, and the pace of play is not likely to slow down before the end of the late registration and re-entry period.

The early levels created a number of big stacks in the field, but at this point in level 5, they all trail Maxime Cloutier who has managed to more than quadruple his starting stack.

The current chip leader:

First Name \| Prénom	Last Name \| Nom	Stack \| Tapis
Maxime	Cloutier	4,298,000
Joshua	Manuge	2,775,000
Francis	Sabourin	2,590,000
Marco	Caza	2,565,000
Cristian	Muset	2,305,000

Over 200 entries in the first level

Level: 2
Small Blind: 3K
Big Blind: 6K
BB Ante: 6K
Chip Average: 1M
Remaining: 217
Entries: 220

May 19, 2019 | 12:37pm | Playground

Day 1E of the Montreal Open has attracted a huge field of players, with over 200 runners before the end of the first level of play. The players have come out of the gate flying with three- and four-bets coming into play from the very first orbit. The fast action has already produced two re-entries so expect many more to follow throughout the afternoon.

Late registration and unlimited re-entries will be available until 4:30pm. This flight is shaping up to be the biggest one yet. Don’t miss out!

Day 1E starts soon!

May 19, 2019 | 11:43am | Playground

Event #2 of the MILLIONS North America, the $1,000 + $100 Montreal Open, is now in full swing. Day 1E will be the fifth of seven starting flights for the Montreal Open, an event that boasts a massive prize pool guarantee! There will be at least $1,000,000 in cash awarded, as well as $10,000 + $300 seats to the Main Event given to the top 15 finishers when Day 3 play concludes on May 21. With four starting flights already in the books, there have been 754 Day 1 entries, and 209 players have advanced stacks to Day 2. To see the combined Day 1 results, click here.

Some of the Montreal Open satellite qualifiers:

Day 1E starts today at noon and will be followed by two more starting flights. Day 1F runs today at 5:00pm, and Day 1G, the turbo flight, will be held tomorrow morning at 10:00am. Day 2 will get underway tomorrow at 3:30pm.

33 more players win seats to the Montreal Open

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 | 3:45am | Playground

The last $150 + $15 satellite to Event #2, the $1000 + $100 Montreal Open, attracted 242 entries (including 43 re-entries), generating a prize pool with 33 seats to the target event.

The tournament had all kinds of typical MTT coolers, and in the end, there were 33 smiling faces who are looking forward to playing a Day 1 flight of Event #2, featuring a $1,000,000 guarantee (plus 15 seats to the MILLIONS North America $10,000 + $300 main event).

Here are some of winners from tonight’s satellite:

Day 1D: Hamel bags 13,865,000 heading to Day 2

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 | 3:30am | Playground

51 players bag for Day 2

There were 187 players in total (including 24 re-entries), bringing the Day 1 totals to 754 players, with two more Day 1 flights on Sunday (Day 1E @ 12:00pm, and Day 1F at 5:00pm) and a turbo Day 1G on Monday at 10:00am. Day 2 plays on Monday at 3:30.

Tonight’s flight had all kinds of action, and when it was all said an done, the chip leader at the last break of the night, Dave Bolduc Hamel, bagged huge, and will be bringing 13,865,000 chips into Day 2.

Late bustouts include: Mark Bradley, Ryan Hall, Helder Junior, Niall Farrell, Claudemir De Oliveira, Louis-Patrick Lecvros, Endrit Geci, and Luigi Fantigrossi, to just name a few.

The top five stacks of the night were:

Dave Bolduc Hamel 13,865,000
Zoe Yuan 9,000,000
Tomas Larivee Magni 8,855,000
Diego Palma Valencia 8,135,000
Adil atif Morkos 8,000,000

The combined Day 1 chip counts will be updated late on Sunday morning, to see them, click here

On the final hand of play tonight, Francois Tarrab woke up with and got his chips in, expecting either a double-up or a fold. To his dismay, Mauricio Ferreirra Pais snap called once he looked down at his , which held, sending Tarrab to the rail.

David Bolduc Hamel, Day 1D chip leader with 13,865,000:

Hamel is the new chip leader at the final break

Level: 13
Small Blind: 20K
Big Blind: 40K
BB Ante: 40K
Chip Average: 2.2M
Remaining: 84
Entries: 187

May 19, 2019May 19, 2019 | 1:16am | Playground

Stacks are building and a few players are now way ahead of the 2.2M average. After having one a huge pot after flopping a set of 9’s and being taken all in by Jonathan Cameron, Dave Hamel is the one sitting in the drivers seat, with a cool 8,000,000.

Grant Ellis, from Whitby, Ont, is a friend of Playground who likes to come in to play all of the large events and is now in second place with a stack of 7,245,000.

With still four levels left to go this evening before the remaining players bag for Day 2, there will certainly be a lot of changes as large swings always take place in the last few levels.

Here are the players now on the leaderboard:

First Name \| Prénom	Last Name \| Nom	Stack \| Tapis
Dave	Hamel	8,000,000
Grant	Ellis	7,245,000
Kevin	Boesel	6,145,000
Tomas	Larivee Magni	5,900,000
Placide Junior	Sanon	5,160,000
Florian	Duta	4,530,000
Steven	Warbuton	3,845,000
Diego	Palma Valencia	3,800,000
Niall	Farrell	3,780,000

Dave Hamel is the new chip leader:

Grant Ellis is in second place:

Hamel scoops a big one

Level: 11
Small Blind: 15K
Big Blind: 30K
BB Ante: 30k
Chip Average: 2.03M
Remaining: 92
Entries: 187

May 19, 2019 | 12:56am | Playground

Dave Hamel, a very experienced local Playground regular, opened with a bet of 80,000, only to be 3-bet to 280,000 by Jonathan Cameron on his immediate left. Hamel thought it about it for just a little bit before making the call.

The flop came , and Hamel checked. Cameron put in a bet of 150,000, only to be met by a 3-bet 350,000 by Hamel, which Cameron called.

Turn was the and this time Hamel led out for 300,000. Cameron called.

River was the , and after a pause, there was a check by Hamel. Cameron tanked for over a minute, and then announced “all in”, and was snap called by Hamel.

Cameron:
Hamel:

Hamel had flopped a set of nines and scooped a huge pot, and is now sitting on a very solid stack. There is a break coming up shortly so we will update the leaderboard and report back in a little bit.

Farrell is here to play poker and have some fun

Level: 12
Small Blind: 15K
Big Blind: 30K
BB Ante: 30K
Chip Average: 1.88M
Remaining: 99
Entries: 187

May 19, 2019 | 12:41am | Playground

Walking by Niall’s table throughout the evening, you can hear the laughter as he is not just in Montreal to play poker, he is here to also have some fun. The Heineken’s have been flowing and although he started off a bit slow, and had to fire a second bullet early on, he has now been chipping up nicely.

When we arrived at his table, he check called a bet on a J high board, and again check called on the turn. When the board paired with a 10 on the river, he once again checked, only to have a check back by his opponent. Niall laughed as he opened his hand: he had flopped a set of Jacks and then boated up, and was hoping for a bet on the river that he could check raise. Niall kept smiling while listening to a player tell him “buddy, you must bet the river, why did you not bet, you need to bet”! Niall just smiled and laughed as he pulled in the chips.

The very next hand he opened in early position, and when action folded to Kevin Javier, Javier shoved his stack, only to receive a snap call by Farrell. Javier had a pair of 9’s, and Farrel had Big Slick (AK). The flop came K high, sending Javier to the rail.