Day 1a of Event #86: $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha was attended by 2,171 players at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, with only 325 players remaining after 12 levels were completed. The biggest survivor is Punnat Punsri, who was able to secure a top 10 stack.
More than $25 million in live poker tournament earnings have been accumulated by the Thai legend. Six cashes this summer have been recorded by the 25K Fantasy Draft pick, including third-place finishes in both the $1,500 Shootout No-Limit Hold’em and $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha events.
A seven-figure stack was accumulated by only two players, with Washington State’s Casey Wassell (1,135,000) leading the way. The second large stack was amassed by recent $1,500 Big O event winner Igor Zektser (1,087,000).
Who are the top 10 chip leaders after Day 1a?
Countries represented in the top 10
The United States dominates with six players:
- Casey Wassell (1st)
- Igor Zektser (2nd)
- Nelson Braga Chelini Per (3rd)
- Shen Liang (5th)
- Mykyta Pohorielov (7th)
- George Medrano (9th)
The United Kingdom secured two spots:
- James Cheung (4th) – 831,000 chips
- Jack Moore (6th) – 791,000 chips
Thailand has one representative through Punnat Punsri (8th). Mexico’s Luis Vargas rounds out the top ten (10th).
Which poker pros advanced with strong stacks?
Several established professionals secured strong positions after Day 1a. The field includes multiple bracelet winners and respected veterans.
Michael Moncek and Brandon Shack-Harris among top 40
Two-time bracelet winner Michael Moncek accumulated 655,000 chips. Known as “Texas Mike,” he has career WSOP earnings exceeding $3.7 million.
Brandon Shack-Harris bagged 648,000 chips. The PLO specialist enters Day 2 with significant ammunition.
Both players hold over 200 big blinds. Their tournament experience makes them dangerous opponents.
Other notable players in the top 40:
| Player | Chip Count |
| Mark Radoja | 547,000 |
| Richard Alsup | 533,000 |
| Sascha Wilhelm | 520,000 |
| Thomas Skaggs | 520,000 |
Additional professionals who advanced
Several other notable players survived Day 1a:
- Xixiang Luo (401,000)
- Ryan Hughes (375,000)
- Yuval Bronshtein (320,000)
- Shawn Buchanan (262,000)
- Jason Somerville (234,000)
- Robert Mizrachi (230,000)
- Andrew Kelsall (205,000)
- Patrick Leonard (181,000)
- Adam Owen (47,000)
Find the best PLO action and rakeback deals here:
WPT Global
Free Tournament tickets up to $480
Free Casino Coin up to $100
30% Rakeback
Network: Independent
Phenom Poker
up to 35% Rakeback
Soft Action
Network: Independent
Juicy Stakes Poker
36% Rakeback
Spin & Gos with up to 12,000x your Buy-in
Network: Horizon Poker
Champion Poker
Network: iPoker
Do you want to become the next WSOP bracelet winner? If your answer is yes, head over to the best Pot Limit Omaha training site, PLOMastermind, now and sign up for free:
FAQs
The Mystery Bounty format adds an exciting twist to the tournament. Players can win random cash prizes for eliminating opponents once the field is reduced to 15% of the total entrants. These bounty rewards are in addition to the regular prize pool.
Casey Wassell from Washington State led Day 1a with 1,135,000 chips, followed by Igor Zektser with 1,087,000 chips. Punnat Punsri from Thailand secured a top-ten stack with 760,000 chips.
Out of 2,171 initial entrants, only 325 players (about 15% of the field) survived Day 1a and advanced to Day 2 of the WSOP PLO Bounty event.
Day 2 of the tournament is scheduled to start on Friday, July 10, at 11:00 a.m. local time at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. It’s planned to continue until a champion is crowned.
Several well-known pros advanced with strong stacks, including Michael Moncek (655,000 chips), Brandon Shack-Harris (648,000 chips), and Craig Varnell (630,000 chips). Established players like Robert Mizrachi, Jason Somerville, and Patrick Leonard also survived Day 1a with smaller but workable stacks.
As a PLO enthusiast with nearly 12 years of experience, I’m passionate about breaking down the complexities of Pot Limit Omaha, helping you sharpen your strategy and grow your bankroll – no matter your current level. I also share exclusive bonus and rakeback deals, along with discounts on poker courses and tools, so you can get an extra edge. When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me online, playing PLO cash games and turbo MTTs.
