WSOP: Norm 'slystyle012' Michalek Leads Colossus; Chris Ferguson Returns
When WSOP organizers announced that the $565 buy-in Colossus event that was such a huge success in 2015 would be back on the 2016 schedule, the expected to break their own record for largest live tournament ever held. To accommodate they added two more starting flights on a third starting day.
Saturday saw the the final two Day 1 flights attracted big numbers, but not quite enough to top the size of last year’s field. Flight 1E brought in 4,855 players and Flight 1F brought in 4,487 to put the total field size at 21,613 – 761 players short of last year’s 22,374 players.
The packed hallways at the Rio weren’t the only big news on Saturday though. After a five year absence from the WSOP, Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson made his return to the felt, playing in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship event. Ferguson, of course, was one of the key figures in the downfall of Full Tilt Poker and had stayed away from the WSOP since Black Friday.
Hai Nguyen Climbs to Top of Largest Colossus II Starting Flight
Saturday morning’s 10 AM start time for Colossus II didn’t deter anybody it seems from making their way to the Rio. A grand total of 4,855 players packed the tables and Hai Nguyen bagged the biggest stack with 397,000.
Even with the largest starting flight of the six, the top 10 chip counts still include some well known players including http://www.pocketfives.com/profiles/dlr413/“>Darren Rabinowitz. Other notables among the 219 players to finish Flight 1E with chips include Tyler Patterson (207,000), Asher Conniff (168,000), Jeff Gross (147,000), Billy Pappas (130,000) and Jamie Kerstetter (90,000).
Greg Raymer, who had taken a shot in every starting flight of Colossus, finally found his way to the cashier cage after cashing in this flight. Ronnie Bardah and former WSOP Main Event runner up Martin Staszko also cashed.
Flight 1E Top 10 Chip Counts
- Hai Nguyen – 397,000
- Mark Babekov – 354,000
- David Vamplew – 325,000
- Clausing Johannes – 323,000
- Austin Buchanan – 303,000
- Darren Rabinowitz – 298,000
- Michael Clark – 295,000
- Andrea Buonocore – 257,000
- Quan Zhou – 247,000
- Errol Massey – 244,000
PocketFiver Norman ‘slystyle012’ Michalek Bags Biggest Opening Flight Stack
As registration closed on Flight 1F all eyes were on the final number of 4,487 players. That put the total Colossus II field size at 21,613 and pushed the total prize pool to $10,806,500. From the 4,487 players emerged Norman ‘slystyle012’ Michalek. The PocketFives member bagged up 531,000 and not only leads the player from his starting flight, but also sits on top of the remaining 846 players still in the hunt.
And former PocketFives writer and PokerNews Podcast co-host Rich Ryan bagged up 289,000 to sneak into the top ten. Ryan now works for the World Poker Tour. Other notables to advance to Day 2 include Joseph Cheong, Ralph Massey, Jack Salter and Melanie Weisner.
Zo Karim, David Tuthill, Cate Hal, Eric Baldwin and Shannon Shorr were among the 3,833 Flight 1F casualties.
The remaining 846 players will combine into one field on Sunday at 2 PM PT.
Day 1F Top 10 Chip Counts
- Norman Michalek – 531,000
- Ryan Hoberg – 439,000
- Scott Tiedeman – 387,000
- David Lopez – 348,000
- Robert Gill – 340,000
- Penh Lo – 323,000
- Sandeep Pulusani – 295,000
- Richard Ryan – 289,000
- Christopher Renaudette – 272,000
- Christopher Spillane – 272,000
Steve Weiss Leads $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship After Day 1
For many of the game’s top players, the WSOP doesn’t start until the first $10,000 buy-in event. That means Saturday was starting day for many of the biggest names in the game as the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship kicked off with 87 players vying for the bracelet.
One of those players was none other than Chris Ferguson. The former Full Tilt Poker pro and executive failed to advance to Day 2. His Full Tilt co-hort Howard Lederer was not in the field.
At the end of Day 1 it was Steve Weiss who finished on top. Weiss bagged up 301,500 to edge out Jean-Robert Belannde (282,500) and George Danzer (274,000). Only 33 players survived the 10 levels of play including
Not defending my title in the 10k Stud. Flying to Vegas Monday, WSOP grind starts Tuesday with the 1500 HORSE — Brian Hastings (@brianchastings) June 5, 2016 Top 10 Chip Counts
