After 15 levels of play, the second flight of the $1,100 East Chicago Main Event has seen its starting field of 177 entrants reduced to just 19. Each one of the surviving players will join the 12 from yesterday’s flight and the players from the future flights on Monday, September 2nd to play for the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Leading the way of the final 19 is Michael O’Neill who ended his day with the overall chip lead of 592,000. O’Neill has been playing with the MSPT since at least last year, as his Hendon Mob consists of only cashes at MSPT Firekeepers, the biggest tournament of the year. O’Neill started the day raking in big pots and he never stopped, the momentum carrying him to the very top. With this massive stack today, he looks to make his fourth MSPT cash a big one as he looks to add more to his burgeoning resume.

End of Day 1B Chip Counts

Nipping at his heels at day's end was Kurt Fraser (531,000). 14 years ago, Fraser took home his biggest lifetime score after winning an HPT in Tama for $75,091. He looks to take down another big title here at East Chicago. Rounding out the podium is Chicago regular Justin Hankinson (444,000) who secures his first MSPT cash to add to his already decorated resume.

Fortune did not smile on all as MSPT champions Kyna England, Lee Rzentkowski, Aaron Johnson, and Mark Sandness all fell by the wayside and joined others on the rail like Joe Batterman, Gary L Vick, Anthony Babic, and Shiva Dudani. They will have ample opportunity to play the following two flights over the next two days.

Play ended with 11:04 left in level 15 with blinds at 3,000/6,000, and a 6,000 big blind ante. They will return to the level reached on Day 1a unless one of the following flights ends earlier. Stay tuned to MSPTPoker.com for all updates on the $1,100 Main Event at East Chicago.