Day 1a of the 2019 WSOP $400 Colossus continues to grow, so much so that it has now eclipsed the high-water mark of last year's six starting flights.
In 2018, Day 1e attracted 3,202 entrants and the tournament clock today currently shows in excess of 3,300 entrants.
Nível: 5
Blinds: 200/400
Ante: 400
Back in 2015, the inaugural 'Colossus' became the largest tournament in live poker history, attracting 22,374 entrants creating a staggering $11,187,000 (the largest in any live poker event under $5,000 buy-in).
By the time the tournament had reached the final table, Aditya Prasetyo was the chip leader with around a third of the chips in play, with Kenny Hallaert and Ray Henson also part of the final nine.
However, in the end, it was Cord Garcia who took down the tournament, winning his first WSOP bracelet and a cool $638,880 to go with it.
"I feel accomplished. I feel satisfied. Obviously, you can't ever picture winning a 22,000 person tournament," he told PokerNews at the time. "It is my breakthrough, but at the same time I know I'm capable of doing as good, better or bigger things."
Since 2015, Garcia has added a second WSOP Circuit ring to his collection and has already had a deep run here at the 2019 WSOP, finishing third in the $10,000 Heads-Up Championship.
There was three-way action with 20,000 in the pot and a board showing 
.
Frida Anderson bet out 7,000 and was called by her opponent sitting to her left along with Anthony Stabile from the cutoff.
Anderson check-folded the 
river after the hijack player bet 10,000 and Stabile three-bet shoved for 31,300. Stabile was called by the hijack player.
Anthony Stabile: 
Opponent: 
Stabile was able to hit running fours to hit quads and he eliminated his opponent, whose full house was shot down in flames.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
110,000 | 110,000 |
A player opened and was three-bet by Naseem Hussain to 3,500.
Bryan Fowler four-bet all in for 18,500 and the initial raiser five-bet jammed for 40,400. Hussain folded and the cards were turned over.
Player 1: 
Bryan Fowler: 
There was no help for Fowler on the 
board and he was eliminated.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
Eliminado |
There was three-way action after the flop and 4,000 in the pot with a board showing 
.
Sitting under the gun was Kiarash Hamadani lead out with a 15,000 bet, Ben Alloggio three-bet jammed for 35,400 from middle position. Dimitry Agrachov called for less and Hamadani folded his hand.
Dimitry Agrachov: 
Ben Alloggio:
Alloggio was ahead with his pocket jacks but needed to dodge a lot of outs with two cards still to come.
The turn came the 
and Agrachov needed a club to hit the river to stay alive.
The river came it brick as it fell the 
and Agrachov exited the playing field.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
75,000 | |
|
|
25,000 | |
|
Eliminado |
With almost five full levels played here on Day 1a, the big names are slowly trickling into the Colossus field.
One of the latest we've spotted is French player Gaelle Baumann. With over a $1m in lifetime earnings - $700k of which came at the WSOP - she is perhaps most famous for her tenth place finish in the 2012 WSOP Main Event.
Baumann cashed five times at the 2018 WSOP, but it was a hand against Vanessa Selbst in the Main Event that attracted the most headlines, hitting a one outer to bust Selbst in Level 1!
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000 |
Nível: 6
Blinds: 300/500
Ante: 500
Mattia Festa opened for 800 from early position and had four callers headed to the flop.
The flop came 
and Festa fired out 3,000. His opponent sitting directly on his left called along with the big blind player.
Festa continued with a 5,000 bet on the 
turn and the opponent to his left jammed for his remaining stack. The big blind folded and Festa snapped him off.
Mattia Festa:
Opponent:
Festa was far behind the flopped set of nines by his opponent until the dealer peeled off a on the river giving him quad two's to eliminate his opponent.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
85,000 |
On a 
board a player in the cutoff bet 10,000 and James Ditter raised all in for 32,900 from the button. His opponent didn't look too pleased but called from a stack of 35,000.
James Ditter: 
Opponent:
The turn was the 
and the river the 
as Ditter's tens held to double up and leave his opponent with just 2,000 behind.
| Jogador | Fichas | Oscilação |
|---|---|---|
|
|
80,000 |
