Fortunately for tournament organizers, Day 1B of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Caribbean Main Event was much larger than Day 1A, though the total Day 1 field of 270 still left WPT Caribbean as one of the smaller stops of the Tour. Jean-Luc Adam emerged as the Day 1B chip leader, finishing with a stack of 123,200 chips, though that still puts him well behind the Day 1A leader, Roberto Vahlis, who has 145,700 heading into Day 2.
We noted the size of Day 1A yesterday, but let’s touch on it again. Only 60 players registered on Saturday. I think I could fit that many people in my garage. At the outset of the tournament, there were only 27 players – three tables-worth – seated. That sounds like a party where the hosts are standing around the punch bowl wondering what in the hell happened. Sunday was not a good showing. When you can see the entire list of remaining players without scrolling down, that’s a problem.
But at least a couple hundred played on Sunday and registration was still open through about 8:00pm on Day 2, so the total field will end up to be on the low-end of respectable.
A number of past World Poker Tour champs made it through Day 1B with stacks intact, including Marvin Rettenmaier, Alexander Lakhov, Aaron Mermelstein, former WPT Player of the Year Anthony Zinno, Dylan Wilkerson, Kevin Eyster, and Roberto Romanello. The newest WPT title holder, Mike Sexton, was unable to make it back-to-back championships, as he was eliminated on Sunday. He could still re-enter on Day 2, though, but for now, he is just a spectator.
The chip leader of Day 1B, Jean-Luc Adam, is looking for what could be the biggest cash of his career. According to his profile on TheHendonMob.com, he has just $57,616 in lifetime live tournament earnings. Nearly half – $27,240 – came just this month, as he scored a victory in a ring event at the WSOP Circuit Caribbean stop as well as a fifth place finish in the WSOP Circuit Caribbean Main Event. So while he doesn’t have an extensive history of big cashes, he is on the upswing right now.
Day 2 starts at 5:00pm local times and, as mentioned, registration will stay open until around 8:00pm.
2016 World Poker Tour Caribbean – Day 1B Chip Leaders
1. Jean-Luc Adam – 123,200
2. Gustavo Mastelotto – 118,200
3. George McDonald – 107,950
4. Seth Berger – 105,975
5. Frank Romanello – 104,525
6. Jorge Ellena – 98,000
7. Noeung Troeung – 95,600
8. Benjamin Lamprecht – 70,000
9. Marvin Rettenmaier – 66,350
10. Alexander Lakhov – 62,000
2016 World Poker Tour Caribbean – Combined Day 1 Chip Leaders
1. Roberto Vahlis – 145,700
2. Jean-Luc Adam – 123,200
3. Gustavo Mastelotto – 118,200
4. George McDonald – 107,950
5. Seth Berger – 105,975
6. Frank Romanello – 104,525
7. Jorge Ellena – 98,000
8. Luiz Duarte – 97,000
9. Noeung Troeung – 95,600
10. Ryan Yu, 86,125
