The World Poker Tour is back in action this week as the 2014 WPT Caribbean Main Event has gotten underway at Casino Royale in St. Maarten. This is a very small WPT event, as just 57 players registered for Day 1A with 25 advancing to Day 2. It won’t set any records and won’t move the needle much in the poker world (especially with the WSOP Main Event concluding next week), but it is still a World Poker Tour event and those in the competition are driven to win. Leading the way after the first flight is Bruce Kramer, proud collector of 183,800 chips.
Kramer does not have much of a live tournament record; based on his resume at TheHendonMob.com, it appears that he has focused on small, low buy-in events in Southern California. His largest cash was his most recent one, coming in the WPTDeepStacks Los Angeles Main Event in May, where he placed fourth for $26,955. His one other five-digit cash also came this year, when he finished 38th in the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star Main Event for $20,890.
This is the second year for the WPT Caribbean stop. In the inaugural run last year, WPT television host Tony Dunst won the Main Event in a field of 191.
Despite the diminutive size of the tournament, a number of recognizable names dot the leader board. After Kramer, some of those making it to Day 2 include Ben Wilinofsky, Mike Leah, Allyn Shulman, Jan Fisher, and CardPlayer Magazine founder Barry Shulman. Two former WPT champs are still alive. Mike Linster won the WPT bestbet Open in Season XI while Marvin Rettenmaier was the first player to win back-to-back titles, taking the Season X WPT World Championship and then the first event of Season XI, the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic.
Day 1B is currently underway in St. Maarten as a new batch of players try to make it to Wednesday’s Day 2. This is a single re-entry event, so players who were knocked out on Monday can put down another $3,500 to try again today. Anyone who wishes to play on Day 1B has until the end of level six to register.
2014 World Poker Tour Caribbean Main Event – Day 1A Chip Leaders
1. Bruce Kramer – 183,800
2. Mike Linster – 146,400
3. Alain Medesan – 133,300
4. Ben Wilinofsky – 128,500
5. Mike Leah – 121,000
6. Allyn Shulman – 107,700
7. Barry Shulman – 105,500
8. George Griffith – 95,400
9. Myriam Mehnana – 90,500
10. Ziga Janwikar – 84,400