The highly anticipated Day 1 of the $10,300 High Roller event at the prestigious PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Festival has officially concluded. The inaugural day of this intense three-day tournament at the luxurious Resorts World Las Vegas attracted a competitive field of 138 entrants, with 64 players successfully bagging chips to return for Day 2.
Heading into Day 2, Robert Borick has emerged as the commanding chip leader, amassing an impressive total of 241,000 chips. Following closely behind him in second place is Jon Kyte, who has accumulated 235,000 chips, while Tauan Naves secures the third position with a respectable 231,000 chips.
Day 1 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
Among the other notable players advancing to Day 2, James Collopy holds a chip count of 156,500, while Bill Klein has 147,500. Prominent veteran players such as Erik Seidel (123,500), Gal Yifrach (114,000), Jonathan Tamayo (93,000), Scott Seiver (68,500), Jonathan Little (61,000), Jeremy Becker (49,500), Shannon Shorr (46,500), and Sam Soverel (40,000) also made the cut.
Day 1 Action
The action ignited early on Day 1, with an explosive five-bet preflop pot showcasing the clash between Patrick Leonard and Shundan Xiao. After a thrilling sequence of raises, Leonard found himself all-in on a queen-high flop with his set of queens overpowering Xiao’s pocket kings. The river brought no respite for Xiao, marking a heartbreaking exit as the first player eliminated.
In another noteworthy clash later in the day, Leonard found himself embroiled in a significant pot against Elias Gutierrez. On the turn of an ace-high, three-spade board, Leonard executed a daring check-raise, but ultimately fell victim to Gutierrez’s nut flush, leaving Leonard’s nine-high flush in the dust and leaving him with dwindling chips.
Thomas Eychenne delivered a stunning blow to Vlastimil Pustina after they went all-in pre-flop. Pustina’s pocket kings came up against Eychenne’s pocket aces in a massive pot exceeding 135,000 chips, and unfortunately for Pustina, he was unable to improve his position, leading to his elimination.
With late registration still open until the start of Day 2, a surge of new entrants are expected. This tournament allows for one re-entry, giving players like Jeremy Ausmus, David Peters, Isaac Kempton, Michael Liang, and Martin Zamani the chance to take a second shot tomorrow.
Notably, a handful of players are set to sit out Day 2 after using both re-entries on Day 1. This includes heavy hitters such as Justin Saliba, Bin Weng, Maria Ho, Dan Shak, and Patrick Leonard.
Action will resume on Saturday, November 9 at 12:30 p.m. local time, kicking off with Level 11 and blinds returning at 1,000/1,500, complete with a 1,500 big blind ante. Players will navigate through a series of 10 levels, accompanied by 15-minute breaks every two levels and a well-deserved 75-minute dinner break following Level 16.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates and in-depth coverage of this thrilling event as it heads towards its conclusion on Sunday, November 10.
**Interview with Chip Leader Robert Borick at NAPT High Roller Event**
**Editor:** We have an exciting scene unfolding at the Resorts World Las Vegas during the PokerStars North American Poker Tour. Joining us today is Robert Borick, who currently leads the chip count heading into Day 2 of the $10,300 High Roller event. Robert, congratulations on an impressive Day 1! How are you feeling about your chip stack and your position in the tournament?
**Robert Borick:** Thank you! I’m feeling great right now. Having the chip lead is always a good feeling, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. It gives me some leverage, but I know I need to stay focused and play smart as the competition gets tougher.
**Editor:** You ended Day 1 with 241,000 chips, narrowly ahead of Jon Kyte and Tauan Naves. What strategies or adjustments did you make during the day to maintain that lead?
**Robert Borick:** I think patience was key for me. I tried to selectively pick my spots and not overextend myself early on. When the opportunities came, I made sure to capitalize on them without getting too aggressive. It’s important to maintain a balance — aggression has to be calculated, especially in a field like this.
**Editor:** The first day had some notable hands, especially with an explosive five-bet pot featuring Patrick Leonard. Did you witness that action, and how do you feel it affects the dynamics of the table?
**Robert Borick:** Yes, that hand was incredible! It was a real reminder of how quickly things can change in poker. Patrick played powerfully, and seeing him go all-in with a set of queens right off the bat set a tone for the day. It shows everyone that, despite having a good stack, you can’t take any hand lightly. Everyone at this level is capable of making big moves.
**Editor:** Speaking of big moves, there are some veteran players in this event. How do you prepare yourself mentally to compete against well-respected names like Erik Seidel and Scott Seiver?
**Robert Borick:** I try not to get overly intimidated by anyone’s reputation. Instead, I focus on my game and my strategy. Sure, they have a wealth of experience, but that also means they might make mistakes. I respect their game but remember that every player has vulnerabilities. I just have to find the right spots.
**Editor:** As you head into Day 2, what will be your primary focus to ensure your continued success?
**Robert Borick:** I’ll definitely keep working on my focus and staying disciplined in my decision-making. I want to avoid any unnecessary risks and build my stack gradually. I find that staying patient and aware of the changing dynamics at the table is crucial as we move deeper into the tournament.
**Editor:** Thank you, Robert! We wish you the best of luck going into Day 2 and hope to see you continue to dominate!
**Robert Borick:** Thank you! I appreciate it!