Boika Leads Day 1a of WPT Prague, Ruzicka Not Far Behind
Day 1a of the partypoker.net World Poker Tour Prague Main Event saw 60 players show up, and Belarusian pro Aliaksei Boika bagged the chip lead with 99,500 among the 38 survivors. Boika was trailed closely by American Brian Senie (97,200) and local favorite Vojtech Ruzicka (93,000).
The first of two starting days had a slow start, but in the end every table was filled with top names. Plenty of WPT Champions Club members showed up, and some, like Giacomo Fundaro and Tony Dunst, busted out while others such as WPT Player of the Year Anthony Zinno (50,500) and Matas Cimbolas (70,900) made it through.
Dylan Linde and Stephen Chidwick were among the players that showed up for the first hand of play, but neither benefited from it. Chidwick was knocked out during the last level while Linde bagged up just 17,200. WSOP Millionaire Maker winner Jonathan Dimmig bagged up a comfortable 77,500, followed closely by Gaelle Baumann who ended on 77,100.
Late entrants Steve O'Dwyer (65,700) and Kevin MacPhee (67,500) had great starting days, as despite only playing a few hours they managed to double the 30,000 starting stack.
Play will resume tomorrow as Day 1b kicks off at 2:00 p.m. local time. Eight levels will be played, after which the field will combine for Day 2 with 90-minute levels on Thursday.