Noeung Troeung Finishes with Overall Lead After Day 1b of WPT Montreal Main Event

A new overall chip leader has emerged from the Season XVI WPT Montreal Main Event following the completion of Saturday’s Day 1b. Noeung Troeung (pictured) finished atop the group of 81 survivors from Day 1b’s 200-entry field with a stack of 280,900 in chips.

On his way to bagging the chip lead, Troeung busted Will Molson in Level 9 with the blinds at 400-800 with a 100 ante, and he talked to WPT.com about the hand.

“There was a big hand with Will Molson,” Troeung said. “He raised under the gun, and I flatted with queens. We went heads up, and the flop came . He led out, I called. The turn was a queen, so a full house for me. He led out again, I raised him, [and he called]. River was the , so a flush came. He checked, and I put him all in for around 20K. He checked, I jammed, and he snap-called with .”

When he called with a lower full house, Molson likely thought he was trapping Troeung, but he was the one being trapped and hit the rail.

That pot put Troeung up to more than 200,000 in chips and he padded his lead from there.

“Tomorrow I’m just gonna play hockey,” Troeung said of having Sunday off now that he advanced to Monday’s Day 2. “I didn’t want to bust today.”

Troeung plays in a local hockey league that has its games on Sundays, so if he did happen to bust it could’ve been a decision whether or not to play in the WPT Montreal Main Event again or go play the hockey game.

“It would’ve been a tough decision, but it would’ve depended on my day,” Troeung said. “If I feel like I played well or not.”

Troeung has $244,648 in career live tournament earnings and is a local player in Montreal. On the World Poker Tour, Troeung has cashed three times in WPT Main Tour events, with two of those coming at Playground Poker Club. Most recently, Troeung took 33rd in the Season XVI WPT Playground Main Event.

Behind Troeung on the Day 1b leaderboard was a pair of WPT Champions Club members, with Brian Altman finishing on 239,700 and Asher Conniff on 210,800.

“Today was definitely a good day,” said Altman. “Very tumultuous at first — I was playing a lot of pots, then I started to make hands, things started to work, coolered a few people, and ended up with a lot of chips. So all in a day’s work I guess (chuckles).”

Altman, who won his WPT title in Florida in the Season XIII WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open, used to live in Montreal.

“I used to live here, so I’m very familiar with Montreal,” Altman told WPT.com. “I love the venue, and am very comfortable playing here.”

WPT commentator Tony Dunst, another WPT Champions Club member, finished fifth on Day 1b with a stack of 155,600 in chips.

Included in the bunches of players to bust on Day 1b was defending champion Mike Sexton, making Sexton zero for two tries in the Season XVI WPT Montreal Main Event. He’ll have one more shot to advance to Day 2 with the third and final starting flight on Sunday, but his luck will have to turnaround if Sexton wants to become any sort of a repeat threat.

Day 1b will take place starting at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, and the action will be fast and furious at Playground Poker Club. Be sure to stay tuned right here to WPT.com for continued coverage of the event.

Photography by Joe Giron / PokerPhotoArchive.com

Looking to win your way to a World Poker Tour event for your shot at becoming a WPT champion? Play for your chance on ClubWPT.com, where eligible VIP Members can play for over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, including seats to WPT events, no purchase necessary.