3:30am: Play concludes; Huitong Cao predicted chip leader

After any such big field today there is a slight delay on getting official numbers tonight. We'll have everything up once possible.

From the appearance of it Huitong Cao is the top of the day chip leader.

Keep your browser locked to the PokerStars Blog for chip counts, survivors and the Day 2 draw!

Presumed Day 1c chip leader - Huitong Cao

3:20am: Six hands remaining

PokerStars LIVE Macau's Rex Cheong has just announced that there'll be six more hands before the realization of Day 1c.

It won't be long until we discover out who emerges as our end-of-day chip leader and the way lots of our 512 runners qualify for Day 2.

Stay with us!

3:05am: Suzuki saved from elimination

Takuya Suzuki just scored a double up in spectacular fashion to stick alive within the final level of the day.

After an opponent raised to 4,500 Suzuki moved his short stack of 10,200 all in and was snapped off when it folded back to the unique raiser.

Suzuki: Q♠Q♥Opponent: A♣A♦

Suzuki had to improve to maintain his tournament alive however the 5♣2♣J♣ was a nasty start. The Q♣ turn improved Suzuki to a collection but his opponent pointed to his own ace of clubs as he turned the nut flush. Needing the board to pair to bypass elimination Suzuki was gifted the 2♥ river to take down the pot with queens full.

2:50am: Level 12 begins, blinds are 1,000/2,000 with a 300 ante

2:40am: The house stretch

We're only 10 minutes from the general level of the night here.

It's been a wild day with this record field sending the poker site right into a frenzy.

For something different within the closing stages we thought we'd breakdown the Red Dragon's 1075 players into their countries.

Of the 41 nations represented on this tournament it's China way sooner than some other contender with 585 players for a 54.4% majority. A FAR OFF second and third are Taiwan and Hong Kong with 93 (8.7%) and 75 (7.0%) respectively.

Will a Chinese player prepared the ground on the conclusion of play? We'll discover soon here for Day 1c.

2:25am: No opt for Lo

Jason Lo has just been eliminated by the hands of James Chen who looks to be our current chip leader.

We arrived on the table to look the board reading 9♦8♥A♣2♥J♥. It was on Chen to behave and after a moment of deliberation he slid out 48,000 which was enough to place Lo to a call for his tournament life.

Ultimately Lo did call to look that Chen had made a runner-runner flush holding K♥Q♥. Lo tossed his cards within the muck but because it was an all-in situation he was told he needed to reveal his hand, and retrieved the 9♥8♠ to turn the table. The flopped two pair was no good after all and Lo was sent packing.

"Nice hand" Lo said as he patted Chen at the back during his exit from the tournament area. Chen is now dominating with just shy of 200,000 in chips.

2:10am: Level 11 begins, blinds are 800/1,600 with a 200 ante

2:00am: Bye bye Bryan

Well, while one in every of our only two Team PokerStars Pros scored herself a double up, unfortunately the similar can't be said for Bryan Huang.

He moved all in over an opponent's opening raise before a 3rd party pushed in excessive for more. The verdict was back at the initial raiser and despite the action he also referred to as after a moment to make it a three-way all in situation.

Huang: A♣J♣Opponent 1: T♠T♣Opponent 2: A♥T♥

A 10 within the window at the J♦7♦T♦ flop meant the Team Pro was almost dead to a chop.

"Wow! That's crazy" Huang said on the sight of the board.

The 4♥ turn signalled the tip of Huang's tournament before the inconsequential K♦ landed at the river.

"Good luck, the entire best" Huang said, gracious in defeat as he leaves us within the later a part of the day here.

1:45am: Yaxi Zhu doubles through

Team PokerStars Pro Yaxi Zhu was right down to 13 big blinds when she moved all in from under the gun for her last 15,800.

It folded to a different player who asked for a count before moving all in excessive with enough to hide Zhu. The remainder of the table threw their hands away and the 2 players exposed their hands.

Zhu: A♣K♥Opponent: A♦Q♦

Zhu was in great shape to double through and she or he faded any danger at the 6♥3♣2♣K♠2♥ run out.

With only two more levels left within the night we'll be maintaining a tally of Zhu to peer if she will make it through to Day 2.

1:30am: Level 10 begins, blinds are 600/1,200 with a 200 ante

1:20am: Final break of the night

Our remaining players have begun the last dawn 1c. Play resumes in 10 minutes.

1:10am: Records fall!

Coming into the beginning of Day 1c tonight we were optimistic that we might eclipse the 1000-player mark and the sphere here in Macau went above and beyond.

When late registration was locked out it was a complete of 1,075 runners signalling not one but several new records. Not just does that make this the most important Day 1 starting flight and the biggest-ever MPC Red Dragon event, this iteration of the tournament now boasts a record field for any freezeout around the Asia-Pacific!

With the player numbers so too comes the prize pool information. This record field signifies that we're playing for a share of a HK$11,261,700 prize pool with the winner taking home HK$2,360,000 worth of money and prizes.

While everyone still within the running might be hunting the highest prize, it is going to be our top 135 finishers that receive a payout.

12:55am: Double for Davies

Scott Davies was getting short but he just scored a pleasing boost to his stack after doubling up.

The hand began with a player raising to 2,500 before the action folded around to Davies. He opted to transport all in for 9,000 in chips and the verdict was back at the initial raiser.

As the player was thinking, a tournament official informed the table that they play would change from 10-handed to 9-handed from then on.

"We may well be eight-handed in a second" Davies quipped as he waited for the opposite player to behave. After a couple of minute the latter did commit the chips and Davies saw he was in a dominant position preflop.

Davies: K♠Q♠Opponent: Q♥T♥

Davies improved further at the K♠A♠A♣ flop and would just wish to fade a jack to stick alive. He did just that, creating a full house at the end because the 9♦ turn and K♥ river completed the board.

12:40am: Level 9 begins, blinds are 500/1,000 with a 100 ante

12:30am: Lim loses a little

First-time ever two-time APPT champion Aaron Lim is in attendance today. He's had a fair start but just encountered a minor setback.

Lim brought it in for a raise from under the gun to 1,800 and when it folded around to the player within the small blind, he moved all in for 6,200. After a handy guide a rough call from Lim the 2 of them turned their hands up.

Lim: T♦9♦Opponent: K♠Q♠

Lim was behind but still had an even shot at eliminating the opposite player, and that only improved at the 9♠7♥7♦ flop. The 6♠ turn meant a king, queen or non-seven spade would save Lim's opponent, and the 4♠ river confirmed that may be the case.

Despite losing the hand Lim still sits with a healthy 32,000 in chips.

12:15am: Alner doubles

Englishman Tom Alner won the Red Dragon back in 2013 and he's back in Macau this week to take a look at and do it again.

He was considering a up to date hand that we caught at the turn where Alner bet 4,000 with the board reading 9♥9♣9♦2♥. His opponent called and the dealer flipped over the J♦ river.

Alner moved all in for 8,600 and exposed A♥J♠ after he was called for a rivered full house. The opposite player leaned over the table to get a more in-depth have a look at the cards before nodding with resignation.

With that double up Alner climbs to 28,000 in chips.

Tom Alner

12:00am: Level 8 begins, blinds are 400/800 with a 100 ante

11:50pm: Raiden Kan eliminated

Raiden Kan was sent reeling to the rail after he found himself at the wrong end of a battle of the blinds.

It folded around to Kan within the small blind and he raised it as much as 1,800. His opponent within the big blind played back at him for 4,800 and with the verdict back on Kan, he installed a four-bet for all his last 16,800. The jam was snapped off and players tabled their cards.

Kan: K♣T♣Opponent: A♠A♦

Kan needed some help and the 7♥J♦8♦ brought him a gut shot straight draw and just a little hope. The 4♥ turn and 2♠ would never complete it, however, as Kan got up from his seat and left the tournament area.

11:35pm: Trips hurt Huang

After a player limped within the cutoff, the small blind called and Team PokerStars Pro Bryan Huang checked his option within the big blind.

The flop landed 4♦8♠9♥ and players checked around before the 4♣ arrived at the turn. The small blind led for 1,000 and when Huang and the cutoff called, the dealer revealed the 5♠ river.

It was checked to Huang and he fired for 2,000. The player within the cutoff moved all in excessive for 6,350 and with the small blind out of the way, Huang asked for a count.

Eventually Huang made a crying call to peer that his opponent had made a straight at the river with 7♥6♥. The Team Pro flashed the 4♠ to turn he'd turned trips as his stack was knocked backtrack to under starting stack.

Team PokerStars Pro - Bryan Huang

11:20pm: Level 7 begins, blinds are 300/600 with a 75 ante

11:10pm: Take a break

It's time again for a 10-minute break. Back soon!

11:00pm: Chen chipping up

Play went four-handed to a flop of Q♥3♠9♠ and after the player first to behave led out for 675, the person to his direct left called before the action was on James Chen. The player to behave after Chen folded out of turn, after which Chen installed a large raise to 4,000.

The initial bettor folded however the caller called all over again to look the 6♣ arrive at the turn. It was checked to Chen and he continued for 6,600. His opponent counted his stack and gave it some thought but ultimately folded.

"It was a perilous board for my hand" Chen said because the pot was pushed his way.

"I had an up and down straight. If an eight comes you're dead" the opposite player responded.

That hands brings Chen's stack as much as over the 40,000 mark.

10:45pm: Salter shoves

UK Pro Jack Salter is on the town for the Red Dragon this week and he just moved all after the flop in a hand against Australia's Benjamin Ridgway.

The flop showed 9♠8♥5♦ and Ridgway had bet what seemed to be 2,000 in chips.

Salter responded with an all-in jam for 8,950 before Ridgway let the hand go.

Despite the clash there looked to be no animosity because the international visitors embarked on a talk about travel arrangements and living situations.

10:30pm: Level 6 begins, blinds are 200/400 with a 50 ante

10:20pm: Team Pro update

We have two PokerStars Team Pros trying their luck here at the final opening flight of the Red Dragon - those are after all Yaxi Zhu and Bryan Huang.

While we've not caught any hands from the 2 yet, we did happen to peer APPT President Danny McDonagh profit from Huang's unattended water bottle as Huang slipped to the toilet between hands.

Huang can have returned to his seat with rather less chance of hydration than when he left, however the Team Pro has managed to climb from the starting stack of 15,000 to 25,400 within the early stages here.

Zhu may be off to a fair start. She's currently got 19,800 in front of her.

Team PokerStars Pro - Yaxi Zhu

10:05pm: Record field and a few more familiar faces

We did it!

Late registration remains to be open and we've already made sure that is the largest ever freezeout within the Asia Pacific. The whole entrant count these days sits at 1,059 and with over an hour left for players to still join the action that number could climb even higher.

Joining our record field are three other notables that we've spotted - prominent US pro Scott Davies, Macau regular Weiyi Zhang and APPT 9 Macau champion Yat Wai Cheng.

We'll be on the lookout to look how they fare here tonight, and keeping track of the registration desk to look if our field can get even bigger.

9:50pm: Level 5 begins, blinds are 150/300 with a 25 ante

9:40pm: Lucky river sees Hsu double

Leon Hsu opened the action preflop with a raise to 450. The player to his direct left called before the following to behave three-bet to 1,625.

Hsu came back excessive for 5,300 leaving himself 10,125 behind. The initial caller mucked his hand however the three bettor called because the two went to a flop of 8♠7♣9♦.

It was then that Hsu moved all in to send his opponent into the tank. After studying Hsu, leaning back in his chair, checking the tournament clock and depending on his fingers, the player decided to name and put Hsu at risk.

Hsu: A♣K♥Opponent: J♣J♦

Hsu needed an ace or king to stay within the tournament. He bricked the 4♥ turn but spiked a king because the K♠ rolled off to maintain his Red Dragon hopes alive.

Slamming the table and jumping from his seat, Hsu's opponent didn't like what he saw. Hsu collected the pot and is now well above average stack.

9:25pm: Luo takes one from MPC23 High Roller champ

James Chen had a really perfect run here in Macau last year, finishing runner-up in February's Baby Dragon event before following that up with a victory within the September Macau Poker Cup 23 High Roller.

Tonight though it hasn't been all smooth sailing. Chen lost a up to date pot to Xixiang Luo.

The hand went four-way to the 6♣J♠Q♥ flop where after the players within the blinds checked, Chen bet 750. The button folded, Luo called from the small blind and the massive blind folded before the dealer turned the 7♣.

Luo checked again and Chen continued for 1,300. Raising his hand within the air Luo motioned to look Chen's chip stack. After assessing what he had behind, Luo called the bet.

The river went check-check and Luo showed Q♠T♥ which was enough to win the pot.

9:10pm: Level 4 begins, blinds are 100/200 with a 25 ante

9:00pm: First break

The first break of the night has just commenced. Coverage will commence shortly.

8:50pm: Lo KOs Ho

We arrived on the table with the board reading 8♦7♦7♥J♥ and Jason Lo had made a chance of 1,300 after opponent Collin Ho had checked to him. Ho desired to play for more and reraised it to 3,850.

Lo eyed Ho's roughly 8,000 stack and made the decision to look the 5♥ river.

Ho shrugged and tossed the remainder of his stack in but Lo almost beat him into the pot, slamming in a choice and flipping 7♠7♣ for quads. He chips as much as 36,000 while Ho leaves us in here in Level 3.

8:35pm: Chan chips up with a jam

Justin Chan hasn't had an excellent start here but he's fighting back after winning a up to date hand.

The action started with a raise from Kazuma Tanaka in early position, before Chi Han Hsien made the decision from the hijack seat.

Next-to-act Justin Chan squeezed all in for 4,400 and it folded back around to Tanaka. He only took a moment to throw his cards into the muck, and when Hsien followed suit, Chan collected some much-needed chips.

8:20pm: Level 3 begins, blinds are 100/200

8:10pm: Heung hits the river

Raiden Kan, Chun Kong Ken Heung and Lante Zhang went to a flop of 9♦4♥9♠ and all three checked their option. The 2♥ turn prompted Kan to guide out from the small blind for 400 and he was called in two spots.

The A♣ river saw the 3 players check again and Kan tabled 6♠6♥ optimistic that his pocket pair was good. Heung tabled A♦Q♥, however, for the next two pair and took down the pot after Zhang mucked.

Raiden Kan

7:55pm: Zhang flushes Patni

On a flop of 2♣5♦6♦ Yong Zhang led for 350 and was called in two spots by Kunal Patni within the cutoff and Leonidas Alexopoulos at the button.

The turn brought the Q♦ and Zhang bet again, this time for 650. Patni stuck around but Alexopoulos gave it up before the 3♦ river appeared.

Zhang fired a 3rd time for 1,150 and Patni didn't take long to name it off. Holding the ace-high flush with A♦9♦ Zhang had good enough to say the pot. Patni took a handy guide a rough glance at his own cards before relinquishing the hand.

7:40pm: Level 2 begins, blinds are 50/100

7:30pm: Early hit to HotDog

Taiwanese rap artist MC HotDog is within the building but he recently sent a couple of chips over to tablemate Rong Xia.

HotDog raised to 125 from the cutoff before Xia next to behave reraised to 350. HotDog called and players went to the T♠7♠2♦ flop.

The action went check-check and the dealer turned the 6♣. HotDog then led for 275 which was met with a decision before the 8♠ arrived at the river.

After a check from HotDog, Xia made of venture of 900. The rap star called it off but saw the bad news as Xia tabled 9♣9♠ for a rivered straight.

7:15pm: A stellar line-up

Scanning the tournament floor it's become apparent that a whole host of notable names waited until the largest opening flight of the week to make an appearance.

We have two Team PokerStars Pros within the building. Bryan Huang and Yaxi Zhu have registered and can be on the lookout for a large score this week in Macau.

Joining them might be almost too many familiar faces to count. Sparrow Cheung, Kunal Patni, Iori Yogo, Thomas Ward, Raiden Kan, Aaron Lim, Raymond Wu, Takuya Yamashita, Jack Salter or even MC HotDog are in attendance.

It's a star-studded field already and we'll be looking for anyone else we recognise.

7:00pm: Play is underway!

Just as Day 1a and Day 1b kicked off, things just began here with PokerStars LIVE Macau's Fred Leung taking to the microphone to welcome tonight's players and announce that it was time to get the cards within the air.

We're in for 12 40-minute levels here tonight. Including breaks that implies things are set to wrap up around 3:30am.

Registration can be open until 11:20pm and with over 350 players already registered, and a line on the booth, we glance well on target to eclipse the 1000 mark.

Players will start with 15,000 in chips and the blinds at 25/50.

It's go time!

MPC24 Red Dragon Day 1c able to go

It's almost time for the Red Dragon's third and final opening flight!

Today is predicted to be easily the most important yet and with 563 combined entrants from Days 1a and 1b we'll be hoping the sphere can reach the 1000-player milestone.

Those taking their seats today might be chasing yesterday's chip leader Kamel Mokhammad. The Ukrainian set the pace last night bagging up 210,600.

Play kicks off at 7:00pm tonight and with the later start we'll be playing until the early hours of the morning. Stay tuned to the PokerStars Blog for everything it's a must to know from here in Macau!

All photos by Kenneth Lim Photography courtesy of PokerStars LIVE Macau

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