WPT Mandalay Bay Poker Championship – Shawn Buchanan Takes Early Lead

As the World Series of Poker gets ready to begin, the fields at World Poker Tour events get smaller.  It is probably less of a statement about the WPT as it is of the size and importance of the WSOP, as players are most likely worrying about shoring up their bankrolls and hopping on planes for the WSOP, rather than playing in another WPT event. 

That said, the Mandalay Bay Poker Championship kicked off Tuesday down on the south end of the Strip in Las Vegas with 228 players battling for a prize upwards of three quarters of a million dollars.  For fans, this tournament is a great one to watch because, like the Mirage Poker Showdown, the smaller field means a higher concentration of big name pros at the tables.  Woe is the amateur finds himself at a stacked table. 

When the day ended after about eight hours, 110 players remained, still a long way from the money bubble.  Six players built their chip stacks to the six-figure level, led by Shawn Buchanan with 158,075.   

Day 2 will begin at noon Pacific on Wednesday. 

Day 1 Chip Leaders 

1. Shawn Buchanan -- 158,075
2. Timothy Hebert -- 155,175
3. John Juanda -- 112,325
4. David Benyamine -- 110,375
5. John Racener --108,550
6. Matthew Graham -- 103,900
7. Jamie Gold -- 93,000
8. Brian Rast -- 92,925
9. Ryan Daut -- 91,925
10. Thayer Rasmussen -- 86,075  

Prize Structure 

1. $768,775 

2. $459,080

3. $229,549 

4. $131,170

5. $98,375 

6. $76,515 

7. $54,665 

8. $43,720 

9. $34,980 

10-12. $26,235

13-15. $21,860 

15-18. $17,490 

19-27. $13,115