Event 1: They’re in the Money

$350 Deep Stack NL Hold’em (Re-Entry)
Level 18: 3,000/6,000 with a 1,000 ante
Players Remaining: 72 of 721

It took just 10 minutes of play in Level 18 for Tom Nguyen to pick up pocket jacks and scoop the last 183,000 chips of his opponent’s ace-king all-in preflop. The hand left 73 players remaining and sent the tournament into hand-for-hand play.

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Tom Nguyen sends the tournament to the money bubble

Lana Nester took care of business on the bubble just one hand later spiking an ace on the river holding As4s against the 9c9d of her opponent.

Lana Nester hits an ace to burst the money bubble
Lana Nester hits an ace to burst the money bubble

Still on the bubble but at an adjacent table, Len Nhoung — who we mentioned earlier in the day — was shortstacked and all-in as well. She held ace-rag versus kings and hit an ace on the river to stay alive. With that, the remaining 72 players, including Nhoung who started the day near last in the counts, were in the money.

Len Nhoung celebrates after tournament staff officially announces the field is in the money
Len Nhoung celebrates after tournament staff officially announces the field is in the money

Here’s a look at some of the notables counts in the money:

Tom Nguyen – 820,000 (136 bb)
Brandon Byars – 600,000 (100 bb)
Lana Nester – 105,000 (17 bb)
Len Nhoung – 100,000 (16 b)