9:20pm: Play concludes with Kamel Mokhammad leading

That's all folks!

We're just awaiting numbers before we finalise everything.

We currently believe Kamel Mokhammad had risen to the highest again today. We'll have everything you have to know soon within the end-of-day wrap.

Stay with us!

Day 2 chip leader Kamel Mokhammad

9:10pm: Four more hands

PokerStars LIVE Macau's Rex Cheong has just announced that only four more hands remain on Day 2.

Let's see who edges their approach to the highest of the pack and the way lots of today's 259 starting players can scrape through to Day 3.

Stay with us!

8:55pm: Fu finished

Li Fu was just eliminated by the hands of Wayne Zhang in a battle of the blinds.

On a board of 7♣8♥J♦6♦ Fu checked from the small blind before Zhang moved all in from the large. Fu had approximately 70,000 behind and decided to name off for her tournament life.

Zhang: K♦J♠Fu: Q♣8♠

Fu's second pair was no good against Zhang's top pair and he had to discover a queen or eight to maintain her tournament alive.

The 6♦ turn and 5♣ river couldn't save her and Fu was sent home within the final level of the night.

8:40pm: Alner at risk

Tom Alner put himself in harm's way after a preflop three-bet for all his chips.

When the player to his right opened for 18,000, Alner moved in excessive for his last 171,000. It folded back to the initial raiser and he gave the verdict some thought.

After confirming the volume and rechecking the cards, after a minute or so Alner's opponent relinquished the hand and sent pot over to the united kingdom pro.

8:25pm: Level 18 begins, blinds are 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante

8:15pm: Zhang vs Zhang

Yubo Zhang just put Wayne Zhang to the test and added some chips to his stack.

On a 4♦6♠K♠ flop Wayne Zhang check-called a big gamble of 28,000 before the dealer turned the 3♥. It wbecause then that Yubo Zhang moved his whole stack in to the tune of 83,000 sending Wayne Zhang into the tank.

The latter ultimately gave the hand up and Yubo Zhang collected the pot.

8:05pm: Cao caught out

Huitong Cao was the chip leader when proceedings began today and he hasn't let up as the day progressed. He's have been on a rampage during the last few hours and while he appears to still be our chip leader here, he encountered a minor setback in a hand just gone.

We arrived to peer the board unfolded 9♠6♣T♦2♠7♣ with Cao and another player left within the hand. Cao's opponent had bet 30,000 at the river but Cao decided to lift things as much as 70,000.

The move was met with a decision and Cao sheepishly turned over K♣J♦ for an air ball before the opposite player showed T♥9♥ for a flopped two pair.

Despite the setback Cao still sits atop the sector with a monstrous 610,000 in chips.

Maintaining the chip lead - Huitong Cao

7:50pm: Players flying out the door

Things was hectic within the poker site here for the reason that bubble burst.

It seems after players locked up a payday they lost their inhibitions and were happy to gamble as we've lost almost a player a minute within the hour or so since we reached the money.

We currently have only 76 runners still in contention for this Red Dragon, with just one level left to play after this one finishes.

7:40pm: Kamel catches a foul beat

The Day 1b end-of-day chip leader Kamel Mokhammad continues to be with us here tonight, however the Ukrainian was just slapped by a foul beat to lose a small pot.

Action went three-way to a flop of 6♣K♠5♥ where once it was checked to Mokhammad who led with a big gamble of 22,000. The player at the button with only 3,000 behind committed to position himself in danger and when the third party threw their hand away the opposite two turned their hands face up.

Mokhammad: K♦9♦Opponent: A♠Q♠

Mokhammad's top pair was way in front and the 2♦ turn didn't change that. Just needing to dodge an ace to send a player packing Mokhammad couldn't do it because the A♦ appeared at the river.

"Yes!" cried the player on the sight of his lucky break before the chips were shipped his way.

7:25pm: Level 17 begins, blinds are 3,000/6,000 with a 1,000 ante

7:15pm: Scheduled break

It's time for one more 10-minute break. Coverage will resume momentarily.

7:00pm: Guo still going

Dong Guo just scored himself a double up after ending up at the right side of a flip.

He got his last 64,500 in preflop before a tablemate called to place Guo at risk.

Guo: 7♠7♥Opponent: A♦K♠

Guo would fade danger because the board came down 9♦Q♠9♠3♦8♥ and now sits with very as regards to the 147,935 average.

6:45pm: Bubble bursts! 135 remain

The bubble burst only moments ago with Wing Cheong Chong leaving the tournament in a brutal fashion.

After one player opened to 15,000, Chong moved all in for his last 65,000 in chips. His opponent announced call and a crowd of players from adjacent tables swarmed the realm to sweat the action.

When the 2 players within the hand got the all clear by tournament officials they revealed their hands.

Chong: A♣J♣Opponent: A♦4♥

Chong was in great shape to double up and avoid donning the unlucky title of Bubble Boy. Things looked even better for him as he improved to top two pair when the dealer presented the J♠A♥6♥ flop. Needing to simply fade running hearts or running fours the 9♥ turn brought the flush draw and the group let loose a communal gasp.

The 8♥ river prompted a cheer around the tournament floor as Chong was sent packing one shy of the money.

Red Dragon Bubble Boy - Wing Cheong Chong

6:30pm: Play slowing down

As is normally the case at the bubble, things have bogged down dramatically here with 136 players remaining. Only one spot from a guaranteed payday of HK$22,300 it sort of feels players became somewhat gun shy as they are trying and lock up a return on their investment.

We have had a couple of small double ups to this point but nothing major to report. There are still numerous players nursing short stacks and we're estimating the bubble to burst by the top of this level.

6:15pm: Level 16 begins, blinds are 2,500/5,000 with a 500 ante

6:00pm: Team Pros terminated

Since reporting on Kosei Ichinose's elimination earlier, it seems that the one remaining Team PokerStars Pro Chen-an Lin has also made his solution to the exit this afternoon.

While we didn't catch the action, Lin is not any longer in his seat and his absence marks the tip of the PokerStars contingent.

The last eliminated Team PokerStars Pro Chen-an Lin

5:50pm: Hand for hand play as bubble approaches

Our remaining 137 players has been instructed that the tournament will now play hand-for-hand until the bubble bursts. With 135 places paying dividends and some short stacks across the room we won't must wait too long.

Those 135 lucky players will guarantee themselves no less than HK$22,300 for his or her efforts, and can be chasing the $HK2,360,000 first-place prize.

Let's discover who may be this season's bubble boy or girl.

5:30pm: Salter swinging

Louis Salter just won some then lost some in two recent hands.

The first saw Valentyn Shabelnyk open to 8,000 before Salter moved all in from the small blind for his last 56,000. Shabelnyk decided against calling it off and the pot was shipped Salter's way.

In the second one hand Salter raised to 8,000 at the button and the player within the small blind came along to a flop of J♦9♠3♥. It was checked back to Salter who continued for 11,000.

His opponent began depending on his fingers before shuffling his chips, after which moving all in excessive. Salter snap folded and forfeited the pot.

5:15pm: Level 15 begins, blinds are 2,000/4,000 with a 500 ante

5:05pm: First break

Players have commenced their first break of the day. The action will resume in 10-minutes' time.

4:50pm: Alner scoops one

Tom Alner was within the big blind and called an early position raise of 6,000 before the flop came down 2♠5♠4♦. He then check-called a raffle of 8,000 and the dealer turned the 8♦.

The action went check-check and the 2♦ arrived at the river. Alner took the chance to guide out at this point, betting 20,500. Alner's opponent counted out his own stack but decided to throw his hand away.

Alner adds that pot to the 72,000 he had behind.

Tom Alner

4:35pm: Shabelnyk sends Wan home

Meilin Wan opened the action with a 54,000 chip all-in move and it was folded around to the player at the button. He confirmed the count and went into the tank momentarily but ultimately folded. Valentyn Shabelnyk, however, aroused from sleep with 9♠9♦ within the big blind and called to place Wan at risk.

Wan was holding A♣J♥ and had to improve to stick alive. The K♠7♥4♦ didn't bring much help and while the Q♠ brought some additional gut shot out, the 4♥ river couldn't deliver as Shabelnyk collected the pot and Wan was eliminated.

4:20pm: Reigning APOY blazing a trail again

Asia Player of the Year Alan King Lun Lau is within the field today and chipping up nicely.

We caught a up to date hand he was in at the turn with the board showing T♥2♣3♦9♦. Lau was first to behave within the small blind and put his opponent to the test with an all-in jam for 65,000.

The player considered the verdict for arout 30 seconds before relinquishing his hand.

Lun clocked an excellent 16 live cashes here in Macau last year and with the bubble fast approaching he looks set to fasten up another one here on Day 2.

4:05pm: Level 13 begins, blinds are 1,500/3,000 with a 400 ante

3:55pm: Jacks for Shabelnyk

The Ukraine's Valentyn Shabelnyk just sent a tablemate packing after picking up J♠J♣. The 2 got it in preflop and with Shabelnyk's opponent holding K♦3♦, the latter wouldn't improve on a runout of 3♥A♦6♥6♠7♣.

That knock out brings Shabelnyk's stack as much as 159,000.

3:45pm: Davies done

It seems US pro Scott Davies has also been eliminated within the early stages here today. He took to Twitter to tell his followers.

3:35pm: Ichinose out the door

One of only two Team PokerStars Pros in today's field has just left us. Kosei Ichinose found himself all in and in danger after a preflop confrontation.

It folded around to Weichun Jiang at the button and he installed a raise to 5,800. Ichinose moved all in from the small blind for his last 37,800 and was quickly called when it folded back to Jiang.

Ichinose: K♠T♠Jiang: A♣J♥

Ichinose was behind but he still had a good shot at staying alive holding live cards. The 5♥6♦2♣4♣2♦ would bring him no help, however, and the Team Pro headed for the exit.

Recently eliminated - Team PokerStars Pro Kosei Ichinose

3:20pm: Chen loses a chunk

James Chen started the day as one among our chip leaders here but just took a large hit within the first level.

Chen opened the action with an under the gun raise to 4,800 and the large blind opted to defend. The flop landed 5♠9♦7♦ and when checked to, Chen continued for 6,000. The player within the big blind check-raised to 13,500 causing Chen to pause for a moment.

After eyeing the massive blind's stack Chen installed another raise for a complete of 50,000. His opponent quickly moved in for 86,400, Chen quickly called, and the cards went on their backs.

Chen: K♦J♦Opponent: A♦T♦

Both with flush draws but Chen the inferior one he'd want to discover a king or a jack to eliminate the player within the big blind. The board didn't cooperate because the 4♥ turn and 4♣ runout bricked off.

Chen falls go into reverse to around 96,000 after that hand.

3:05pm: Shuffle up and deal!

Cards are within the air here for Day 2 of the MPC24 Red Dragon.

Blinds commence at 1,200/2,400 with a 400 ante and the typical stack currently at 62,258.

The returning 259 could be hoping to have another great day on the felt and make it through to Day 3 within the quest for the HK$2,360,000 top prize and the spectacular Red Dragon trophy.

Let's go!

MPC24 Red Dragon Day 2 starting soon

It's time for Day 2!

We have 259 players returning today from a complete starting field of 1,075.

Leading the pack is China's Huitong Cao. He emerged as chip boss last night and can bring 232,600 to the table today.

We're in for 6 levels of play this afternoon. Those may be an hour each so things wrap up just in time for the Macau Poker Cup Welcome Party.

We'll have more details for you once cards are within the air. Stick with us!

All photos by Kenneth Lim Photography courtesy of PokerStars LIVE Macau

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Asia Pacific Poker Tour]