Marcus Abadi opened to 7,000 in middle position and called when Ryan Nishizaki moved all in for 36,000 on the button.
Ryan Nishizaki: A♦Q♠ 
Marcus Abadi: Q♦J♦
"I don't know why I put you on nines," explained Abadi as the 4♣3♥9♠7♦3♦ runout was clean for Nishizaki.
Level: 10
Blinds: 1,500/3,000
Ante: 3,000
Chad Holloway moved all in for 12,000 in the cutoff, and Nero Chualong made the call on the button.
Chad Holloway: 7♠7♥
Nero Chualong: Q♥J♥
Chualong picked up additional outs after the 10♥6♥9♠ flop, but Holloway held through the 2♣ turn and 5♣ river to earn the double-up.
Steven Jackson bet 7,000 in early position, and action folded around to Martin Bates in the big blind. Bates moved all in, putting the pressure back on Jackson.
After taking some time, Jackson opted to let his hand go and tossed his Q♠Q♣ face up into the muck. Bates started collecting the pot, and turned over A♣A♦ before sliding his cards to the dealer.
Adam Avitia opened to 4,000 from the cutoff, and Michael Riddle made the call on the button. Both players checked the 4♥5♥7♣ flop, while Avitia led out for 6,500 on the 8♠ turn.
Riddle quickly let his hand go, and Avitia picked up the pot.
The second flight drew 204 entries, bringing the overall total to 342.
The top 26 places will earn at least $700, while the last 20 players remaining will earn a spot in Day 2.
Level: 9
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
When looking over the history of the PokerNews Cup, what becomes instantly clear is that adaptability is the tournament’s true defining trait.
While the tournament first took place 2007, it has since transformed from a traveling international festival into a headline feature of massive destination events, continually reshaping its identity to match the shifting landscapes of both live and online poker.
That legacy of evolution continues into its latest chapter at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. To understand how the tournament found its newest home in California, look at how the PokerNews Cup has consistently broken boundaries and re-established its footprint since its post-pandemic resurgence.
Players have been sent on an extended 30-minute break. Late registration will close when action resumes on Level 9.
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