Online Poker -- Day 1 of the WCOOP Main EventJason 'TheMasterJ33' Dewitt Leads Remaining Field of 178 |
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The WSOP Europe has kicked off in London and the WPT is currently underway in Atlantic City, but that didn’t stop 2,144 players from entering the $5,000 main event in the 2009 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). Despite the tournament’s “virtual” status, the champion of this event will take home more than both of the previously mentioned live tournaments winner’s payouts combined.
The two-day event saw a field stuffed to the brim with satellite winners, but a who’s who of online superstars still remain in the hunt for the lion’s share of the prize pool and $1,715,200. PokerStars put up a lofty $10 million guarantee for the event, but that number was surpassed, bringing the total amount of cash up for grabs to $10,720,000.
A total of 306 players were paid, though it took nearly 12 hours to get to that point. Once the tournament clock was finally paused at the 13 hour and 42 minute mark, only 178 remained.
Leading the way is all-around tournament pro Jason “TheMasterJ33” Dewitt. (pictured left) The young gun dominated throughout the day and ended with a stack of 925,921, good for nearly four times the average. His nearest opponent is hindered with a 150,000 chip deficit.
Also sitting in the top five is David “SexSeen” Sands. (pictured below right) The Card Player Online Player of the Year front runner spent some time at the tables with another OPOY candidate, Shaun Deeb. Deeb got the best of Sands in a decent sized pot, but some bad luck and an ill-timed semi-bluff sent the pro to the rail, just shy of the money. Without Deeb to stand in his way, Sands rolled to a stack of 696,659, good enough for fourth place overall.
Notables joining him in the top ten include Hunter “HEMIpowerSWT” Frey (Fifth), Yevgeniy “Jovial Gent” Timoshenko (Seventh) and Daniel “djk123” Kelly (Tenth).
Kelly not only put himself in great position for day two, but simultaneously took down the High-Roller H.O.R.S.E. event for not only $252,350, but also his second win of the series.
The current Card Player Player of the Year criteria states that any online tournament with a prize pool of $5 million or higher qualifies and this tournament certainly met that requirement. POY leader Eric “basebaldy” Baldwin is still alive and well in the tournament, sitting with a healthy stack of 321,812 in 46th place. Should he take down this event, it would be nearly impossible for anybody to catch him. As it is, a final table appearance alone would make him an overwhelming favorite to be crowned “Player of the Year” for 2009.
Isaac “philivey2694” Haxton, J.C. “area23JC” Tran, Mark “newhizzle” Newhouse, Steven “PiKappRaider” Burkholder and Joe “BUTCH ACIDY” Cassidy are all still in the running as well, but have work to do in the bottom half of the pack.
All remaining players are now guaranteed at least $11,792 and will return Monday at 2 p.m. EST to play the tournament to its conclusion.
Here’s a look at the top 10 stacks:
1. Jason “TheMasterJ33” Dewitt — 925,921
2. pakd650 — 776,413
3. 5902838181 — 734,682
4. David “SexSeen” Sands — 696,659
5. Hunter “HEMIpowerSWT” Frey — 695,540
6. GIVE_IT2 — 654,843
7. Yevgeniy “Jovial Gent” Timoshenko — 632,010
8. reddeevil — 611,559
9. GtRealGtOut — 580,712
10. Daniel “djk123” Kelly — 555,410
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