The inaugural PGT True Classic Rags To Riches $3,300 No-Limit Hold’em event has reached a pivotal stage at the PokerGO Studio inside ARIA Resort & Casino. Day 1B brought a fresh wave of contenders to the felt and ended with a tie at the top of the leaderboard. Daniel Maor and Calvin Anderson crushed the competition on the second starting flight to bag identical stacks of 1,935,000.
This performance vaults both players past the Day 1A leader, Michael Rossitto, who previously held the benchmark with 1,840,000. Maor and Anderson now sit atop the combined chip counts as the field merges for Day 2.
Anthony Hu Finds Redemption While Pros Build Stacks
Day 1B attracted 110 entrants to Las Vegas and saw several notable professionals secure their advancement. Terry Fleischer bagged up 1,700,000 for the third-largest stack of the flight. He is trailed closely by Sam Laskowitz with 1,610,000 and Doug Lee with 1,550,000.
One of the day’s most compelling storylines belonged to Anthony Hu. After the heartbreak of bursting the money bubble on Day 1A, Hu returned to the tables determined to change his fate. The second attempt proved far more fruitful as he spun his stack up to 1,205,000. This effort places him sixth on the Day 1B leaderboard and comfortably into the money rounds.
Prize Pool Set and Bubble Burst
The total field for this debut event finalized at 161 entrants. The structure ensured that the bubble burst at the conclusion of Day 1B, leaving just 24 players remaining. Everyone returning for Day 2 has locked up a minimum payout of $6,000.
The stakes climb rapidly from here. Players reaching the final table will secure at least $15,000, but the ultimate goal remains the $110,000 top prize. In addition to the six-figure cash, the winner will take home the PGT True Classic Rags To Riches trophy and 110 PGT points.
Giveaway Winners and Satellite Qualifiers Survive
The “Rags To Riches” theme held true for several qualifiers. Among the field were 15 “True Classic Giveaway” winners, and two have successfully navigated their way to a guaranteed cash. James Anderson advanced with 485,000 in chips, joined by Mark Anthony DiBello who finished the night with 475,000.
Dustin Iannotti also turned a small investment into a Day 2 appearance. After winning his seat through a PGT satellite, he bagged 280,000 to keep his tournament hopes alive.
Top 10 Day 1B Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-1 | Calvin Anderson | United States | 1,935,000 |
| T-1 | Daniel Maor | United States | 1,935,000 |
| 3 | Terry Fleischer | United States | 1,700,000 |
| 4 | Sam Laskowitz | United States | 1,610,000 |
| 5 | Doug Lee | Canada | 1,550,000 |
| 6 | Anthony Hu | United States | 1,205,000 |
| 7 | Anze Smajd | Slovenia | 1,065,000 |
| 8 | Craig Mason | United States | 1,045,000 |
| 9 | Gab Yong Kim | South Korea | 925,000 |
| 10 | Michael Wang | United States | 860,000 |
Day 2 Schedule and Broadcast
The 24 survivors will return to the PokerGO Studio on Thursday, December 4, at 1 p.m. Action resumes with 21 minutes left in Level 15, featuring blinds of 15,000/25,000 and a 25,000 big blind ante.
The plan is to play down to the final table on Thursday before crowning a champion on Friday, December 5. Poker fans can catch the action as the entirety of Day 2 will be livestreamed on PokerGO.com.
