PokerStars.net NAPT Mohegan Sun Day 1: Williams Leads the Way
The inaugural PokerStars.net NAPT Mohegan Sun kicked off on Wednesday and drew 716 players to the felt. After Day 1, 443 players remain with hopes of claiming the top prize of $750,000. David Williams emerged as top stack of the day, finishing with 230,900 in chips.
Williams built his stack to over 100,000 by level 7 and won a huge pot to catapult to the 200,000 mark. With the board reading 9?6?2?3?, Williams' opponent went all-in for about 54,000 and gave Williams a pretty big decision for much of his stack. He ultimately decided to make the call with Q?Q? and was trailing his opponent's 2?2?. Williams, however, found just what he was looking for as the Q? landed on the river, vaulting him to the top of the counts.
Vanessa Selbst had a great Day 1, as well. In the middle of the day, though, she found herself all-in and at risk. She four-bet in position preflop and was called by one opponent. The flop came down 3?K?10? and it was checked to Selbst. She shoved and her opponent snap-called with A?K?, ahead of Selbst's drawing Q?J?. However, Selbst got there on the river when the 9? fell and she was well on her way to finishing the day second in chips with 214,200.
Lars Bonding finished the day third in chips. He was at the top of the counts most of the day before sliding back. However, toward the end of level 8, Bonding picked up A?A? and was involved against an opponent with 7?7?. Bonding bet enough on the turn of a 2?4?9?10? to cover his opponent and was paid off, dodging a two-outer river and finishing the day with 177,100.
Among those making it through to Day 2 were Team PokerStars Pros Gavin Griffin, Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Rousso, Jason Mercier, Angel Guillen, and Dennis Phillips. Joining them will be Phil Ivey, Gavin Smith, Cliff "JohnnyBax" Josephy, Sorel Mizzi, and NAPT Venetian winner Tom Marchese.
Failing to make it past Day 1 were Team PokerStars Pros Joe Cada, Chad Brown, Greg Raymer, Pay Pezzin and Barry Greenstein. Others who won't be returning on Thursday include Tom "durrrr" Dwan, Nenad Medic, and Carter Phillips.
Play resumes at 12 p.m. EST Thursday. Our Live Reporting Team will be back on the floor to keep you up to date on everything that happens, and as always, follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.
