Day 1B Ends with 221 Remaining; 362 Return for Day 2 on Sunday

Level 12: 800-1,600, 200 ante

The players have bagged and tagged their chips and 221 players made it through Day 1B at WPT Montreal. The total size of the field today was a massive 695 players, one of the largest singe tournament days in WPT history. When combined with the 478 players on Day 1A that made for a total field of 1,173 players, which destroyed the old record for a WPT Canadian event of 504 players. It also set the record for the largest big buy-in tournament ($1,000 minimum) in Canadian poker history, topping the field of 1,032 at the World Series of Poker Circuit event that was contested earlier this month in Vancouver. It is also the largest non-U.S. WPT event in history.

The total survivors numbering 362 from Days 1A and 1B will return to the Playground Poker Club tomorrow at noon ET for Day 2 at the WPT Montreal Main Event. The plan on the tournament schedule is to play down to the final 27 players, but that is likely not going to happen without many added levels due to the huge turnout that has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

The official prize pool was released today and the total prize pool is $3,387,930. The top prize is $754,162, which includes a $25,500 seat in the WPT World Championship in May. The top 117 players will take home at least $5,421 in prize money, and all six players at the final table are guaranteed a six-figure payday.

The chip leader at the end of Day 1A is Kalpesh Raichura with 314,200. Here's a look at the seven players with more than 210,000 in chips on the unofficial leaderboard:

1. Kalpesh Raichura - 314,200
2. Jeff Gross - 284,000
3. Glen Cymbaluk - 270,700
4. Everol Davis - 243,900
5. Louis Rousseau - 236,200
6. Daniel Ricci - 231,900
7. Josh Kimmel - 210,000

Notables that made it through with healthy stacks include Isabelle Mercier, John Racener, Gavin Smith, Erik Cajelais, Timothy Adams, Dan Smith, Mohsin Charania, Bruce Buffer, Christian Harder, Amanda Musumeci, Andy Frankenberger, and Trishelle Cannatella. They will all return for Day 2 on Sunday.

Return to WPT.com at 12:00 noon ET tomorrow for Day 2 action from the Playground Poker Club in Montreal. It will be a long one, but the money bubble will burst tomorrow and we will play deep down into the money so there will be a lot of action on the felt.

Bruce Buffer Chats with Diana Cox about the UFC, Thanksgiving and More

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

UFC Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer stopped by to chat with Diana Cox about his recent travels, Thanksgiving, WPT Montreal and a possible second WPT final table.

Three More Hands

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

The tournament clock has been stopped and the field was informed that they will play three more hands. There are 225 players that have survived according to the tournament clock.

Stay tuned as we will be collecting chip count information from the bag and tag and catching the final hands of the night, which will be posted soon.  

Jeff Gross Gets Paid Off With Aces

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

A player raises under the gun, and Jeff Gross reraises from the hijack to 15,800. His opponent calls. 

Both players check to the turn on a board of 962Q6, his opponent bets 12,000, and Gross calls.

The river pairs the board with the 6, and the UTG player checks. Gross tanks for a while before betting 39,000, and his opponent quickly calls. Gross flips over AA for two pair, aces and sixes, and his opponent mucks. Jeff Gross wins the pot.

Jeff Gross  -  196,000  (122 bb)

The Twitternet: Trishelle Doubles Late in the Day

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

got pretty lucky to double up w/ kk vs a9 on a j99 flop. rivered a k for full house. lets go. @worldpokertour #WPTKahnawake @playgroundpoker

— Trishelle (@TrishelleC) November 25, 2012

The Twitternet: Vinny Pahuja Eliminated

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

Busto KK < AA AIPF for my last 50k at 6/1200. Bummed but not much I can do there. GL rest still in @worldpokertour MTL

— Vinny Pahuja (@vinpahuja) November 25, 2012

Bust Bus

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

WPT Season X Player of the Year Joe Serock and recent WPT Borgata Poker Open champion Ben Hamnett have both busted out of the tournament late on Day 1B. There are 252 players left from the 695 that entered today. 

Todd Terry Busts One

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

A player on the big blind gets the last of his chips into the middle preflop and Todd Terry calls UTG+1. Their cards:

Terry: AK
UTG+1: JJ

Board: A527A

Terry wins the hand and he is now up to 141,000.

Todd Terry - 141,000 (117 bb)

UFC Announcer Bruce Buffer

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

WPT Reporter Diana Cox interviewed UFC announcer Bruce Buffer during the break, and the video will be posted a little later this evening.

Even though he's a celebrity, Buffer has legitimate cred as a poker player, with two WPT cashes (including a televised WPT Final Table) and two WSOP cashes.

The Twitternet: Duhamel Done in by Gavin Smith

Level 11: 600-1,200, 200 ante

Again best hand on flop but lose at the end vs @olegsmith and im out of #WPTmontreal , should of folded i guess...Tough day today #hicorona

— Jonathan Duhamel (@JonathanDuhamel) November 25, 2012