Russia’s Alexander Lakhov started the 2014 partypoker WPT National Prague Main Event in scintillating form, ending the first of two starting flights with colossal stack of 182,900 chips, almost 44,000 more chips than anyone else in the field.
Lakhov was fast out of the blocks and already had a sizeable stack when he had a flush paid off by Georges Khoury who couldn’t lay down a set of sixes despite there being four spades on the board. That hand gifted Lahkov a massive pot and he continued to build right until the tournament director called time on proceedings.
If Lakhov’s name is ringing bells for you it is probably because he was the runner-up at WPT Prague in 2012 and more recently he took down the 2014 partypoker WPT Merit Classic North Cyrpus Main Event. Now that Lahkov has a monster stack in this tournament we would not bet against him repeating one of those excellent results.
Swedish superstar Anton Wigg got the closest to Lakhov on Day 1a, bagging up an impressive stack of 139,000 chips at the close of play. Wigg is a phenomenal player and one who has been a constant threat to those who face him for several years. Wigg’s best result in a WPT event came in 2012 when he finished 11th in Vienna and will be looking to go 10 places better in picturesque Prague.
Stephen Chidwick progressed to Day 2
Among the 24 players who made it through to Saturday’s Day 2 include British star Stephen Chidwick (111,400), online grinder Chris Hunichen (99,100), Marvin Rettenmaier (62,400), Dylan Linde (41,400), Seth Berger (39,100), and Champions Club member Jonathan Little (25,100).
Bad day for Shannon Shorr who busted twice on Day 1a
It wasn’t a great day at the felt for Sam Cohen, local hero Martin Staszko, David Peters, Giacomo Fundaro, Sergio Aido, Alex Goulder, 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event runner-up Felix Stephensen or Shannon Shorr who all crashed out before Day 1a finished. In fact, Shorr managed to bust twice having re-entered earlier in the day.
204 partypoker WPT National Prague Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Lakhov | 182,900 |
| 2 | Anton Wigg | 139,000 |
| 3 | Stephen Chidwick | 111,400 |
| 4 | Chris Hunichen | 99,100 |
| 4 | Jean-Philippe Piquette | 78,600 |
| 5 | Lee Taylor | 63,700 |
| 6 | Marvin Rettenmaier | 62,400 |
| 7 | Jakob Karlsson | 61,500 |
| 8 | Ka Kwan Lau | 60,900 |
| 9 | Andy Seth | 57,900 |
| 10 | Phillip McAllister | 47,500 |
Picturesque Prague
Day 1b kicks off at 13:00 CET and should a much larger field than the 47 who chose Day 1a as their starting flight. Lots of big name players are in the Czech Republic right now and most of them, plus those who busted on Day 1a, should be heading to the Kings Casino at the Corinthia Hotel for some juicy Day 1b action.
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