Event #18

Tight Race After 14 Levels

Level: 15
Small Blind: 1.5K
Big Blind: 3K
BB Ante: 3K
Chip Average: 93K
Remaining: 27
Entries: 126

February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 | 3:09pm | Playground

Play has just resumed following the second break of the day. Only 27 players are still in contention, of which the top 13 will reach the money and advance to Day 2.

The action has been unrelenting. From the first level of play to the latest break, tournament lives have been on the line on virtually every hand. But that trend will likely subside in the levels ahead, as the field is less than 20 eliminations away from the end of play.

Here are the top stacks currently in play:

First Name	Last Name	Stack
Simon	Beaulieu	151,000
Babak	Forozandeh	149,000
Jean-Pascal	Gauthier	148,000
Daniel	Gennings	143,500
Mitchell	Proctor	132,500
Joshua	Myers	125,000

39 Players Remain After 12 Levels

Level: 13
Small Blind: 1K
Big Blind: 2K
BB Ante: 2K
Chip Average: 66K
Remaining: 38
Entries: 126

February 4, 2020 | 2:26pm | Playground

As Day 1E nears the end of the thirteenth level of play, only 39 players are still in contention. The turbo format has made short work of the field so far. Everyone has embraced the accelerated format and put their chips to work early and often. But now that the chip average provides more than 30 big blinds, we may see things slow down, at least for a short while.

Check out the action from level 12:

10 Levels Played; Less than Half the Field Remains

Level: 11
Small Blind: 600
Big Blind: 1.2K
BB Ante: 1.2K
Chip Average: 46K
Remaining: 55
Entries: 126

February 4, 2020 | 1:48pm | Playground

The action is slowing no signs of slowing down, as the 15-minute levels zoom by in this turbo flight. The players realize that they must stay active to keep ahead of the blinds this afternoon, a dynamic that has helped reduce the field to less than half of the total entries before the end of the tenth level of play. As was the case before the break, the all-in card is being put to use often, producing a steady stream of bustouts.

The top 14 players will reach the money and return this evening at 7:00pm for Day 2. Given the pace of play and dramatic swings in this flight, it may produce the overall chip leader. For the time being, the biggest Day 2 stack belongs to Sebastien Drolet-Poitras, who bagged 472,000 in chips. To see the combined Day 1 results, click here.

Check out the action from level 10:

Hussein Takes the Early Lead; End of Late Registration

Level: 7
Small Blind: 250
Big Blind: 500
BB Ante: 500
Chip Average: 29K
Remaining: 86
Entries: 126

February 4, 2020 | 12:56pm | Playground

As expected, the first six levels of play on Day 1E were action packed, as players brought a “boom-or-bust” approach during the late registration and re-entry period. The result was 32 re-entries, which helped put 2.5 million in chips in play. This flight took in a total of 125 entries, and 86 players are still in contention. Today’s turnout will allow 13 players to advance to Day 2, which will be held this evening at 7:00pm.

For the time, this flight is led by Dilo Hussein, who profited from a huge, multi-way preflop all in just prior to the break to multiply his stack. When play resumed in level 7, Hussein’s stack of 170 big blinds puts him miles ahead of most in the field, but this is a turbo flight, after all, so even what seems like an insurmountable lead at this point may prove to be fleeting.

First Name	Last Name	Stack
Dilo	Hussein	85,000
Mohammed	Abdulkadir	74,000
Jean-Pascal	Gauthier	50,000
Gary	Irvine	47,000

Last 20 Minutes of Late Registration

Level: 6
Small Blind: 200
Big Blind: 400
BB Ante: 400
Chip Average: 27K
Remaining: 80
Entries: 110

February 4, 2020 | 12:26pm | Playground

Players have turned out in droves for Day 1E Turbo. This abbreviated flight has already taken in over 100 entries, with only 20 minutes remaining in the late registration and re-entry period.

Day 1E has received 22 re-entries up to this point, a testament to the fast, aggressive action that only a turbo flight can produce. This is your last shot at the Playground 100. Don’t miss out!

Day 1E Begins!

Level: 1
Small Blind: 50
Big Blind: 100
BB Ante: 0
Chip Average: 20K
Remaining: 43
Entries: 43

February 4, 2020 | 11:10am | Playground

The final starting flight, Day 1E Turbo, is now underway. This is your last chance at the Playground 100! So far, 64 players have qualified for Day 2, which will be held at 7:00pm this evening. Click here to see the combined Day 1 results.

For Day 1E, as with all other starting flights, players will start with 20,000 in chips. This turbo flight will play through as many 15-minute levels as needed to reduce the field to 10% of the total entries. The top 10% will advance to day 2. Play will begin 10-handed but move to 9-handed play as soon as possible.

The Playground 100 is an unlimited re-entry event with unlimited re-entries permitted until the end of the late registration period on each Day 1, which will arrive when level 7 begins at 12:45pm. Players may play additional Day 1s even if they have 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, but players would receive the associated cash prize for any forfeited stack.

Good luck to all!

Ozor bags the lead in Day 1D to take 20 more qualifiers into Day 2

February 4, 2020 | 3:01am | Playground

Day 1D was the largest of the first four starting flights of Event #18 of the World Cup of Cards, the $100 + $10 Playground 100, attracting a total of 194 entries. There have now been a total of 617 entries between four starting flights, with still one more flight, Day 1E (turbo) which plays out tomorrow morning at 11:00am. The prize pool has swelled well beyond the $50,000 guarantee, outstanding value for sure in this modest priced buyin multi-day event!

By the time the first break came around, Tom D. had built up a monster stack but he failed to make it to the top 20. Michel Leblanc took the lead at the second break but unfortunately he busted out on the bubble when he put his chips in with king-jack and was called by Andy D’Alessandro holding pocket queens. At the second break Hamzah Ozor was sitting on the leaderboard right behind Leblanc and he stayed on the leaderboard all night long. By the time the third and last break of the evening came to be, it was Maxim Suszec-Guerin in the top spot followed by Guillaume Lincourt.

When it was all said and done, the top three stacks of the night were:

Hamzah Ozor, 431,000 chips
Maxim Suszec-Guerin, 367,000 chips
Guillaume Lincourt, 362,500 chips

To see the combined Day 1 results, click here. (NB: tonight’s Day 1D results will be added to the list on Tuesday morning)

The last chance to join the action takes place at 11:00am on Tuesday with Day 1E.

Day 2 will play out tomorrow evening at 7:00pm, and Day 3 will take place on Wednesday at 7:00pm.

The tournament is 3 away from bagging

Level: 19
Small Blind: 4K
Big Blind: 8k
BB Ante: 8K
Chip Average: 168.7K
Remaining: 23
Entries: 194

February 4, 2020 | 2:00am | Playground

The tournament now is down to 23 players with the final 20 bagging and tagging to move on to Day 2.

Suszeck-Guerin way out on top in the final stretch

Level: 17
Small Blind: 2.5K
Big Blind: 5K
BB Ante: 5K
Chip Average: 114.1K
Remaining: 35
Entries: 194

February 4, 2020 | 1:21am | Playground

The tournament is now in level 17 and with only 35 players left on the tables, play is now in the final stages. The top 20 will move on to Day 2 so moves are expected to be made by the short stacks as they try to secure double-ups.

The average stack is at 114,100 chips, and one player has built a stack north of 300K; Maxim Suszek-Guerin leads with 313,000 chips, equal to 63 big blinds.

The leaders are:

First Name	Last Name	Stack
Maxim	Suszek-Guerin	313,000
Guillaume	Lincourt	232,000
James	McDermott	173,000
Hamzah	Ozor	168,000
Ricky	Campanelli	167,000
Glenn	Duncan	159,000
Richard	Sysko	155,500

Lincourt hits the river

Level: 16
Small Blind: 2K
Big Blind: 4K
BB Ante: 4K
Chip Average: 99.5K
Remaining: 39
Entries: 194

February 4, 2020 | 12:58am | Playground

With the blinds at 2,000/4,000, action folded to Guillaume Lincourt seated in the cutoff position, who bumped it to 9,000. With action on Christopher Lau in the small blind, he moved all in for 32,900. The big blind folded and Lincourt, looking a bit uncomfortable, but with only 23,900 more to make the call, he threw in a chip and the hands were opened.

Lincourt:
Lau:

Lau was way ahead until the flop when both players hit a pair. The turn gave Lau two pair but also brought some sweat as now Lincourt had a straight draw. The river sealed the deal for Lincourt as he made his Broadway straight while sending Lau to the rail.

A break is coming up and a new leaderbaord will be posted.

Duncun making moves and chipping up

Level: 15
Small Blind: 1.5K
Big Blind: 3K
BB Ante: 3K
Chip Average: 79.1K
Remaining: 49
Entries: 194

February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 | 12:28am | Playground

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Glenn Duncan has been playing a slightly below average stack but has just been able to pick up two back-to-back pots to add to his stack.

With the blinds at 1,500/3,000, he opened under the gun to 9,000 and found a call from Hamzah Ozor seated on the button as well as from Eric Trottier in the big blind. The flop fell and he continued out for 9,000. Ozor gave it some thought before deciding to release his hand. Trottier also folded.

On the very next hand, there were five limpers and Duncan was now in the big blind. On his option, he paused briefly and then raised it up to 17,000. Tom Demarinis had just arrived at the table and he was the only caller. When the flop came , Duncan moved all in. Demarinis folded and Duncan showed that he had the goods, opening up .