Main Event
Day 1a Completed
Main Event
Day 1a Completed
Day 1a of the PokerStars Festival Uruguay $1,650 Main Event is in the books and leading the way after the first ten levels is Halysson Sala. Sala got off to a hot start early in the day and was one of the first players to have more than double his starting stack. He would ride that wave into the chip lead and he held onto it for most of the way. Sala only has roughly $30,000 in recorded live tournament cashes, so a victory here in Uruguay could definitely be his largest cash ever.
Near the end of the night, Francisco Araujo, who finished second in chips, cracked WSOP bracelet winner Andres Korn's pocket aces when he flopped a set and the two got it all in to take the tournament chip lead. Araujo has recorded live tournament earnings of over $300,000 with results from the WSOP and all over Latin America, with his biggest cash being for $112,724 two years ago in a WSOP side event. Araujo will advance to Day 2 with 226,00 chips and will look to carry that lead to a victory here in Uruguay.
In total, 104 players came out to play Day 1a of the Main Event and of those 104, only 33 survived. Several notable players and entered, fell, rebought, and fell again. Some of those who didn’t advance from this starting flight include Brett Trevillian, Mark Scacewater, Ezequiel Ferretty, Matias Scaffo, and Marcelo Blanco.
There are however several stars returning to continue their quest for the trophy. One of those is rising Brazilian star Hugo Marcelo. Marcelo recently earned accolades as the Brazilian Series of Poker player of the series, which earned him a package for this event. He’ll look to continue that hot run here in Uruguay as he bagged up 121,600 chips and has a chance heading into Day 2. Also surviving the first flight were the likes of Nicholas Malandre, Homar Rassi, Jesse Rosen, and Marcelo Cudos. They will return along with the rest of the field and the survivors from Day 1b on Saturday, September 20th at 12:00 p.m. local time.
Friday begins Day 1b of the Main Event and players will play through 10 levels starting at 12:00 p.m. The survivors will rejoin with the survivors from Day 1a on Saturday where Day 2 will begin. PokerNews of course will be here covering all the action through the entire tournament so make sure to stay tuned!
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Halysson Sala | 240,000 | |
Francisco Araujo | 226,000 | |
Hugo Marcelo | 121,000 | |
Hector Valenzuela | 114,500 | |
Nicolas Malandre | 110,400 | |
Andres Infante
|
106,500 | |
Matias Ruzzi | 105,700 | |
Diego Aro |
104,500
104,500
|
104,500 |
Renan Toniolo | 104,100 | |
Francisco Salazar | 96,400 | |
Jesse Rosen | 86,900 | |
Adnan Kader
|
86,800 | |
Juan Guillenea | 84,600 | |
Ernesto Panno | 82,600 | |
Mario Niciforo
|
73,600
6,600
|
6,600 |
Gerardo Ruzo |
71,500
1,500
|
1,500 |
Lukas Soucek | 67,600 | |
Gustavo Santucci
|
66,700 | |
Ivan Balzano |
62,400
-5,300
|
-5,300 |
Jorge Cantos | 62,200 | |
Endre Sagstuen |
60,500
40,500
|
40,500 |
Favio Gandelman | 58,900 | |
Milton Desal
|
55,600 | |
Homar Rassi
|
54,100
-37,900
|
-37,900 |
Hector Fadul
|
47,700 |
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Halysson Sala |
240,000
53,000
|
53,000 |
Francisco Araujo |
226,000
-4,000
|
-4,000 |
Hugo Marcelo |
121,000
46,000
|
46,000 |
Andres Infante
|
106,500
17,500
|
17,500 |
Jesse Rosen |
86,900
-5,100
|
-5,100 |
Juan Guillenea |
84,600
21,600
|
21,600 |
Ivan Balzano |
67,700
24,700
|
24,700 |
The clock has been paused and each table will play six more hands before players bag chips for the evening.
Homar Rassi opened to an unknown amount preflop before Hugo Marcelo three bet him in position to 10,000. Rassi called and the took headed to a flop.
On the board, Rassi checked over to Marcelo who bet 9,000. Rassi thought for a second, asked the dealer to spread the pot, then shoved all in for 62,900. Marcelo tanked for several minutes but eventually decided to release his hand, allowing Rassi to take down the pot.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Homar Rassi
|
92,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
Hugo Marcelo |
75,000
-32,000
|
-32,000 |
With about 8,000 chips already in the pot on a flop of , Marcelo Cudos checked from the small blind, Francisco Araujo checked from the big blind, and Andres Korn bet 3,800 from middle position. Cudos folded and Araujo check-raised to 10,400. Korn moved all-in and Araujo called to put Korn at risk.
Korn:
Araujo:
Araujo was way ahead with his flopped set and Korn needed help from the deck in order to preserve his tournament life. The turn and river changed nothing and Araujo took the pot to send Korn to the rail.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Francisco Araujo |
230,000
118,800
|
118,800 |
Andres Korn | Busted | |
|
With about 8,000 chips already in the middle on a flop of , Andres Infante checked from the hijack to his lone opponent in the cutoff who bet 2,500. Infante check-raised to 5,000 and the cutoff called.
The turn brought the and both players checked.
The fell on the river and Infante bet 8,000. After a bit of thought, the cutoff called, and Infante tabled for trip eights. The cutoff mucked and Infante took the pot.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Andres Infante
|
89,000
-2,000
|
-2,000 |
A player moved all in from the button leading to an all in from Marcelo Blanco from the small blind. Everyone else folded so the two headed to a showdown.
Blanco:
Opponent:
The board ran out and that made Blanco's opponent's hand best and eliminated Blanco from the tournament just before the close of the night.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Marcelo Blanco
|
Busted |
Jesse Rosen raised to 2,700 from middle position, the player in the cutoff called, and the button called, as well.
The flop came and Rosen bet 3,800. The cutoff called and the button folded.
The turn brought the and Rosen checked. The cutoff bet 6,500, and Rosen went into the tank briefly before folding.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jesse Rosen |
92,000
-26,000
|
-26,000 |