Day 1b is upon us as the Florida World Championship of the Bar Poker Open (BPO) here in West Palm Beach continues it's 2024 event.

The Palm Beach Kennel Club is where the action will take place as the last flight of the invite-only $365 Championship Event which begins today at 11 a.m. ET.

Day 1a's 264 entries created a prize pool of $76,500, and will be combined with today's prize pool to make up the total purse. The victor of the event will receive least $30,000 for their efforts.

Patrick Martorella Leads the pack from Day 1a as the chip leader with 732,000.

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

Those who fire in both days of this event are gifted a free entry into Event #8 Bar Poker Open Vegas sattelite worth $150 that begins play tomorrow night.

Players in today's flight will start with 30,000 chips and blinds of 100/100 with a 100 ante. Levels increase every 30 minutes and play will continue until 10% of the field remains with all players in the money from the start of Day 2. Registration is open until the start of Level 9, and players have a single $365 re-entry available to them until then.

Players who bagged yesterday's flight may play again today with the 'best bag forward' for Day 2 at 11 a.m. on Monday. These players will also receive a $1,000 double bag bonus, with their shortest stack being forfeited.

Stay tuned as PokerNews continues to keep you updated at the BPO Florida World Championship here at Palm Beach Kennel Club.

A dramatic and action packed first day of play in the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship left just 27 players from the original 264 entries. John Oneill was the unlucky player to bubble. The remaining players will return Monday for Day 2.

O'neill found himself forced all in with not enough chips to cover the big blind and ante. His suited nine fell to a similar hand with a higher kicker.

Patrick Martorella found himself as the chip lead while playing on the feature live stream table with 732,000. Rounding out the top five chip counts are Gerald McKinney Jr. (728,000), Brandon Strickland (698,000), Albert Harris (673,000) and Bill Sandiford (478,000).

The day's 264 entries created a prize pool of $76,500, with Day 1b still to come Sunday. The winner is guaranteed at least a $30,000 first prize.

Play ended late in Level 18 with 17:15 remaining at blinds of 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 big blind ante.

Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

Among other notables surviving the day is Kenny Goff, who was contending for a chip lead position late into the day. Among the many female players in attendance, Kandace Knichel bagged a large stack after hitting a set with queens earlier in the day.

The day was full of spectacular hands, one of which belonged to last year's winner Ian Auvil. The former champion managed to make a quad kings with a video crew present. Unfortunately his luck ran out later in the day as he fell around 50th place. He did mention that he would return to fire the 1b and that he wouldn't go "quietly into the night."

Next up is Day 1b on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET where players will be able to take another $365 shot at advancing to Mondays Day 2. With at least $30,000 up top for the winner, many players are sure to contend for their chance to make the final day.

Stay close to PokerNews for continuing coverage of the Bar Poker Open Florida World Championship from here at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

An all in and call were made between Johnny Hernandez from under the gun and Domenic Armano in the big blind. Both players revealed their hands.

Johnny Hernandez:
Domenic Armano:

The board ran out to burst the bubble and send the remaining players into the money.

Domenic Armano	447,000	447,000
Johnny Hernandez	0	0

One elimination stands between the remaining players and the money. Play is hand for hand until the bubble bursts.

Under the gun called and Brandon Martinez raised to 30,000 from middle position. His opponent made the call.

The flop came and both players checked their option.

After the peeled off on the turn, under the gun checked. Martinez fired for 20,000 and was rewarded with the pot.

Brandon Martinez

230,000

188,000

The button raised to 25,000 and Kevin Cronin moved all in from the small blind. The small blind called for 90,000 total and both players revealed their holdings.

Button:
Kevin Cronin

The board ran out for Cronin's cowboys to take the pot.

Kevin Cronin

290,000

222,000

Players are headed on a 15 minute break.