Day 1a witnessed 164 entries getting into the mix with 50 players surviving after 12 blind levels of 40 minutes each. Tomorrow will feature the final two opening flights in Day 1b and Day 1c. Players can re-enter not only throughout both of those opening flights but we will see more players coming in early on Day 2 with late registration still open during Level 13.

By the end of the day, many of the big stacks were randomly on Table 2. Ant Gokcek had the lead at that table but lost a big hand to Paulius Zilinskas (pictured below) near the end of the night to finish still in the top third with 127,500. Paulius Zilinskas managed to finish in the top five players of the day with 228,000 but two players at the same table still performed better in Day 1a chip leader Aurimas Stanevicius (270,500) and Lithuanian poker crusher Paulius Vaitekunas (245,500).

Meanwhile, Marek Zigel (251,000) and Edgaras Truskauskas (238,000) also advanced with more than 200,000 in chips. Below is a look at all of the Day 1a survivors and we will be back on the floor when cards are in the air for Day 1b at 12 p.m.

Level 12: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 53/164

The tournament staff stopped the clock with 9:26 left in Level 12 and announced that each table should finish the hand they are on and then play three more hands.

Surviving players will then bag their chips. We should have the final Day 1a chip counts posted in about 30 minutes. Stay tuned to see who advanced to Thursday's Day 2.

We will be back on the floor on Wednesday at 12 p.m. to cover from start to finish Day 1b. The turbo Day 1c taking place tomorrow evening won't be heavily covered but we will post vital stats along with the final chip counts of this flight as well before sharing the Day 2 seat draw on Wednesday evening as soon as it is available.

Level 12: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 60/163

Jonas Lapinskas got his 13,000 in the middle with about the same in the pot with the already on the flop against Rolandas Aglinskas.

Jonas Lapinskas:
Rolandas Aglinskas:

Lapinskas's top pair held after the turn and river completed the board to double his short stack near the end of Day 1a.

Level 12: 1,000/2,000 (2,000)
Entries: 63/163

The final 40-minute blind level of Day 1a just kicked off with blinds at 1,000/2,000 along with a big blind ante of 2,000.

The clock will stop with a few minutes left on the clock at which point the tournament staff will select a random amount of hands to end the evening with. Players surviving those final few hands will then be instructed to bag and tag their chips in preparation for Thursday's Day 2.

Level 11: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 68/162

Ant Gokcek checked from the small blind on the flop before Paulius Zilinskas (pictured below) bet 10,500 into a pot of a bit more. Gokcek raised to 23,000 and Zilinskas paused for a short while before he called.

Gokcek fired out for 25,500 on the turn and Zilinskas quickly called. The river put four hearts on the board. Gokcek paused before he checked. Zilinskas quickly checked his cards before he checked behind.

Gokcek tabled the and was outmatched by the by Zilnskas, who breathed a huge sigh of relief that his read was correct.

"Nice call," Gokcek said while tapping the table before counting out his remaining stack. Although Gokcek is no longer the chip leader, he is still among the bigger stacks around the room with Level 11 winding down.

Level 11: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 68/162

Marius Maciukas opened from middle position, Edgaras Kausinis three-bet from one seat over before Maciukas four-bet jammed for 31,000. Kausinis found a quick call and had an outside chance at earning the coveted Ace Breaker cocktail after Maciukas turned over pocket rockets.

Marius Maciukas:
Edgaras Kausinis:

The flop was safe for Maciukas and Kausinis began counting out his chips after he was drawing dead on the turn. The case river improved Kausinis to two pair but this also improved Maciukas to aces-full to double his stack with less than an hour left on Day 1a.

Level 11: 1,000/1,500 (1,500)
Entries: 72/162

Laurynas Vaitkevicius three-bet jammed his short stack from the small blind and was looked up by Dominykas Chrypa (pictured below) from the hijack.

Laurynas Vaitkevicius:
Dominykas Chrypa:

Chrypa's big slick was good on the board to grow his stack to six-figures while sending Vaitkevicius to the rail on the penultimate blind level of Day 1a.

Here is a look at some of the biggest stacks at the final break of Day 1a of the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker at Olympic Casino Lietuva.

Ant Gokcek lost some chips after the last break but got them back and then some to hold the lead with just two blind levels remaining on the day.

Players are on their final break of Day 1a. Blinds will increase to 1,000/1,500 (1,500) before moving onto 1,000/2,000 (2,000).

Those surviving these two blind levels will bag their stacks into Thursday's Day 2. 

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 71/158

Dangiris Kuzulis earlier doubled up Rolandas Aglinskas. Shortly after, he was awarded an Ace Breaker cocktail after his big slick got there for a flush against the aces held by Vytautas Laurusevicius.

Kuzulis got to experience both the highs and lows of the Ace Breaker as he recently hit the rail after his aces were unable to hold against the kings held by Aglinskas.

While Kuzulis's day appears to be done today, he will have two more chances to build a stack tomorrow for the final two opening days in Day 1b and Day 1c. If that doesn't work out, there is still a last chance saloon with late registration remaining open during the first blind level of Thursday's Day 2.

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 76/158

Eimantas Adomavicius just won a true coin flip. By this, we mean an actual coin was flipped to determine his move.

Adomavicius bet 12,000 into a pot of around 20,000 with the Vilius Zabarauskas raised to 50,000. Adomavicius went into the tank before he asked for a coin at the table so he can flip it. A player obliged, Adomavicius flipped the coin, and quickly called afterward.

Zabarauskas turned over the and was good until the river. Adomavicius flipped well in real life away from the table when it counted as he doubled his stack after he tabled the .

Meanwhile, Arturas Dauksevic hit the rail recently at another table. He shared that he tried to power through with cowboys with an ace, two fives, and two other low cards on the board and was hero-called all the way by a player with ace-six.

Level 10: 600/1,200 (1,200)
Entries: 80/157

Patrikas Aglinskas opened for 2,500 from middle position and was called by Sergej Babincev from the cutoff. Mantas Stikelis (pictured below) three-bet shoved for about 20,000 from the button before Karolis Jancauskas four-bet shoved for about 40,000. Aglinskas and Babincev both folded and it appeared likely that Stikelis would wind up on the rail after the cards were turned over.

Mantas Stikelis:
Karolis Jancauskas:

Despite improving to top set on the flop, this wasn't a flop that could have made Jancauskas comfortable as Stikelis had the nut flush draw along with a back door straight draw. The turn was a brick, however, it did add a Broadway draw for Stikelis. 

Stikelis improved to a flush to win the hand after the river completed the board. Instead of hitting the rail, he was awarded a special Ace Breaker cocktail for cracking Jancauskas's pocket rockets.

We noticed Dangaris Kuzulis with the second Ace Breaker cocktail in front of him and we learned after the fact that he earned this by doubling through Vytautas Laurusevicius when his queens got there against aces.

Laurusevicius was low on chips after the hand and dusted off his stack shortly after, while Kuzulis was able to relax and enjoy his cocktail instead of being on the rail.

Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 88/154

Two players checked before Robertas Sakinis bet 5,000 into a pot of a bit more on the flop. Kazimieras Ramaska (pictured below) raised to 12,000.  Jose Costa called off his short stack of 6,500 before Sakinas three-bet jammed for 30,100. Ramaska asked for a count before he eventually called.

Jose Costa:
Kazimieras Ramaska:
Robertas Sakinis:

Sakinis was ahead but had to fade some outs for a flush on the main pot and a king on the main and side pots. The turn was safe for Sakinis but Ramaska hit his three-out after the river completed the board to eliminate Costa and double through Ramaska

Level 9: 500/1,000 (1,000)
Entries: 91/154

Sirak Oganisian was down to half a starting stack after losing a hand against Ant Gokcek just before the break.

Ogansian got many of those chips back straight after the action resumed. He got his half a starting stack in the middle with and was flipping against Ant Gokcek who turned over the .

Gokcek bricked the board and Ogansian doubled his stack after winning the flip.

Vilnius resident from Turkey Ant Gokcek (pictured below) had the lead at the break.

"I plan to get to 200,000, and then take it easy," Gokcek shared with us at the first break.

Check out some of the biggest stacks at the break and best of luck to Gokcek and the rest of the Main Event field.

Day 1a has blossomed to 150 entries with 90 players remaining in their seats. This guarantees it to be at least the second-biggest Day 1a witnessed during an official international event in Lithuania, only behind the 198 entries attracted during Day 1a of the inaugural Vilnius Ace Breaker Main Event in January 2023.

Meanwhile, players went on their third break. Blinds will increase to 500/1,000 with a 1,000 big blind ante when the action resumes.

Level 8: 400/800 (800)
Entries: 95/149

There wasn't much in the pot when Edvinas Grimalis checked the flop. Titas Gancierius bet 1,100. Aurelius Sipavicius raised to 3,800. Grimalis folded while Grancierius called to see the turn.

Gancierius check-called a bet of 6,000 before both players opted to quickly check the river. Gancieras turned over the for a pair of fives after bricking his flush draw. It would have been big trouble if another spade hit for Sipavicius as he also had two spade with . Instead, Sipavicius won the pot with the better pair.

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 98/144

Vladas Tamasauskas (pictured below) has earned the praise of many over the years for being one of Lithuania's strongest players. He now has praise for a different reason as he was the first player to crack another players rockets to double his stack and earn himself a tasty Ace Breaker cocktail that is only available during the Vilnius Ace Breaker.

We asked for details and we at least learned one thing.

"I earned this drink after cracking my friend's aces," Tamasauskas shared as he pointed on over to Paulius Kostickis.

Congrats to Tamasauskas and best of luck to all players in earning a free drink of their own.

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 100/144

Aurelius Sipavicius opened the button for 1,200. Paulius Zakas three-bet to 4,200 from the small blind and Sipavicius called. 

Zakas continued for 6,000 on the flop. Sipavicius tanked for about 45 seconds before he jammed for 17,000. Zakas quickly called and the players turned over their cards.

Aurelius Sipavicius:
Paulius Zakas:

Sipavicius's flopped two pair held after the turn and river completed the board to double through Zakas.

Level 7: 300/600 (600)
Entries: 99/138

Patrikas Aglinskas was just left shaking his head after a cooler he just suffered by Game of Gold's Olga Iermolcheva (pictured below).

Iermolcheva jammed for 19,200 into a pot of slightly more with the on the board the big-stacked Aglinskas snap-called.

Iermolcheva immediately tabled the for the nuts with a straight. Despite not losing much of his stack Aglinskas appeared in disbelief by the cooler as he had a very strong hand with top set after tabling .

Day 1a is on its second 15-minute break. We will update some of the biggest stacks from around the room shortly after the break.

Level 6: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 101/135

Rolandas Aglinskas is off to a hot start on his second bullet. There was more than 25,000 in the pot with the on the board after the turn when his stack of 23,200 went into the pot against Dangiras Kuzulis.

Rolandas Aglinskas:
Dangiras Kuzulis:

Alginskas needed to fade a four-outer on the river to not meet the same fate he met not too long ago. A blank river wasn't one of those outs and Aglinskas doubled up early into his second bullet.

Level 6: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 103/132

Rolandas Aglinkas checked before Dangaris Kuzulis jammed the river with a bit in the pot and the on the board. Aglinskas tanked for a short while before calling off for about half a starting stack.

Kuzulis rivered a straight and got paid after turning over the . Aglinskas shook his head in frustration as he turned over the  before heading to the cashier to re-enter.

Level 6: 200/500 (500)
Entries: 106/131

Kestutis Jungevicius checked with about 12,000 in the pot and the on the board before Paulius Kostickis (pictured below) fired out for 8,000. Jungevicius tanked for about 30 seconds before he called.

Kostickis turned over the for Broadway. Jungevicius shook his head in frustration before tossing his hand into the muck.

Level 5: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 108/126

We caught up with a hand developing on Table 6 when Dangiras Kuzulis had a four-bet in front of him for 8,500 from the small blind over a 3,000 three-bet. Jonas Lapinskas tanked for close to a minute before he five-bet to 18,000. Kuzulis quickly five-bet to 33,500, which was about the stack his opponent had remaining and Lapinskas quickly called.

Jonas Lapinskas:
Dangiras Kuzulis:

No four-card flush was on the menu. Instead, both players appeared to appreciate the chop and exchanged fist bumps after the completed the board.

Level 5: 200/400 (400)
Entries: 107/122

Linas Petruskevicius (pictured below) opened for 1,200 from early position before Dalius Ulevicius called from one seat over. Edvinas Grimalis three-bet to 3,400 from the hijack and both Petruskevicius and Ulevicius called.

The trio all checked the flop before Petruskevicius and Ulevicius checked the turn. Grimalis bet 3,400. Petruskevicius called before Ulevicius raised to 8,700. Grimalis folded and Ulevicius called to see the river complete the board.

Petruvicius checked. Ulevicius bet 12,700 and Petruvicius tanked before he laid down his hand. Ulevicius showed it was a fortuitous river as he opted to show the table he took down the hand with a set of snowmen after tabling the .

Level 4: 100/300 (300)
Entries: 107/113

Ant Gokcek was one deuce away from being the first player to crack another player's aces in the Vilnius Ace Breaker Main Event. However, instead of getting a free Ace Breaker cocktail, he doubled Ridas Bitauskas (pictured below).

Bitauskas four-bet jammed from middle position for 9,500 and Gokcek called.

Ridas Bitauskas:
Ant Gokcek:

Bitauskas had a small sweat with Gokcek snagging a small piece of the flop. The turn and river put four clubs on the board but with neither player holding a club for Bitauskas to double his stack.

Players are on their first 15-minute break. Blinds will increase to 100/300 with a 300 big blind ante when the action resumes.

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 106/111

Rytis Kriunas checked with close to 10,000 in the pot and the on the board after the turn. Irmantas Kaulakis bet 2,000 and Kriunas called. Kriunas quickly check-called a bet of 6,000 on the river by Kaulakis.

Kaulakis turned over the for a flush and won the hand after Kriunas tabled the .

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 102/106

There wasn't much in the pot when Matas Kubilius check-raised Mantas Stikelis from 1,2,00 to 3,300 on the flop. Stikelis called and Kublius kept his foot on the gas with a bet of 4,500 after the paired the board on the turn.

Stikelis quickly called before the river completed the board. Kubilius didn't waste too much time before betting 11,500. Stikelis paused no longer than 20 seconds before he called.

Kubilius got his hand caught in the cooke jar with and perhaps this hand would have played out differently if Stikelis didn't catch a king on the river after he turned over the to win the hand.

Meanwhile, Armandas Zrelskis also lost his chips but has yet to buy back in. Nestor De La Torre, who hit the rail last blind level, got back into the action for his second bullet.

Level 3: 100/200 (200)
Entries: 103/106

Bernardas Mazeika (pictured below) fired out for 7,200 with the on the board into a pot of more than double this. Mindaugas Kriauciunas tanked for a short while before he announced a call.

Mazeika turned over the for the top pair and top kicker and left his opponent short on chips after Kriauciunas mucked his hand.

Meanwhile, last year's Main Event winner Vasilij Barna was the latest to hit the rail and will need to re-enter for a shot at repeating his success this year.

Level 2: 100/100 (100)
Entries: 101/103

Olga Iermolcheva was known for poker streaming back in the day and became a household name throughout the poker universe after her recent appearance on GGPoker's Game of Gold. Iermolcheva is now battling it out in the Main Event.

We wish her the best of luck in finding glory again, this time in the majestic Lithuanian capital of Vilnius during the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker.

Level 2: 100/100 (100)
Entries: 98/100

The century mark has already been reached during Level 2 of the Main Event with 100 entries.

Nestor De La Torre (pictured below), who has been battling it out in the side events leading up to the Main Event, recently hit the rail. He lost most of his stack as we shared during a hand where he ran into the rockets held by Titas Gancieras.

Level 2: 100/100 (100)
Entries: 96/97

The OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker €555 Main Event lost its first player in Adomas Juozapavicius. 

Rokas Barzdzius (pictured below), who ousted Juozapavicius recapped the hand. Barzdzius shared he opened to 300 before Juozapavicius three-bet to 1,100. Another player four-bet to 3,100. Barzdzius flatted before Juozapavicius four-bet jammed for around 16,000. The other player in the hand folded with Juozapavicius at risk.

Rokas Barzdzius turned over cowboys, which held against Juozapavicius's ace-jack despite a sweat with the nine-ten-queen rolling out on the board.

Juozapavicius not only became the first player to hit the rail on Day 1a, but also became the first player to re-enter.

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 91/91

Vladas Tamasauskas and his brother Vincas are both well-known Lithuanian beasts. Tamasauskas is off to a hot start. He recently fired out a pot-sized bet of 3,200 with the on the board. 

Mantas Ramanauskas found a call before getting the bad news and mucking his hand with Tamasauskas turning over for a flush.

Level 1: 100/100 
Entries: 87/87

Tadas Gancierius (pictured below) wasn't the first player to have his aces cracked. Instead, he won a decent early pot with the best-starting hand against Nestor De La Torre.

De La Torre bet 2,200 into a pot of nearly triple that with the on the board. Gancierius paused for a moment before he jacked it up to 8,000. De La Torre tanked for less than a minute before he called.

De La Torre turned over the for the top set. 

"Nice hand," De La Torre said as he showed the table he had the top pair with the before the pot was awarded to Gancierius.

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 76/76

Arnoldas Eiza (pictured below) over-bet the pot with  for 3,000. Edas Cimbolas paused for a few moments before he found a call.

Eiza turned over the for the nut-flush. Cimbolas could have mucked but appeared he wanted to show he was good until the river as he turned over the for two pair.

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 68/68

Last year's inaugural Vilnius Ace Breaker champion Vasilij Barna is back early in an attempt to defend his title. Many others will have their say including Ant Gokcek, Tomas Bassus, Andrius Bielskis, Dominykas Chirpa, Dominykas Jezeryz, Jonas Lapinskas, Aurelius Sipavicius, and Justina Andriukeviciute.

Level 1: 100/100
Entries: 68/68

Cards are in the air after some preliminary announcements by the tournament staff. Blinds will go up every 40 minutes with the first break taking place after the third blind level.

A total of 68 entries were in their seats with their 30,000 starting stack to start the action. This figure will increase in leaps and bounds with late registration open until the final hand is dealt and will remain open during the first blind level of Thursday's Day 2.

Welcome to the second edition of the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker at the luxurious Olympic Casino Lietuva located in the heart of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius just steps away from the UNESCO-listed Old Town from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4, 2024.

The festival boasts 26 numbered events highlighted by the three-day €555 Main Event and the €1,100 High Roller. Both of these events allow players to get in for a fraction of the cost via €30 satellites.

The Ace Breaker not only provides tons of action at the table with plenty of tournaments and cash games running on demand around the clock but also adds a bit of fun. The event was introduced as the first international poker event in Lithuania with players coming from many countries throughout Europe.

A special buzz took place whenever aces were cracked in the Main Event as the player who delivered the bad beat or cooler was awarded a special cocktail only available during the festival that others could purchase for approximately €20. Expect even more excitement this year with the tradition continuing for a second straight year and bigger attendance expected.

Lithuania's Vasilij Barna will forever be known as the first Vilnius Ace Breaker Main Event champion after navigating through a field of 470 entries to win the €45,575 top prize. Jason Glatzer managed to take 15th place in this event but instead of playing this year, he will do what he is best known for and pick up his pad and pen to report both the Main Event and High Roller here at OlyBet.tv and Main Event Travel for the first-ever English live reporting in Lithuanian poker history.

About the Main Event

The Main Event is a deep-stacked affair with players starting with 30,000 chips, good for 300 big blinds during the first two blind levels. 

Players will have plenty of chances to build a monstrous stack with unlimited re-entries not only permitted during all three opening flights on Jan. 30-31 but also during the first blind level of Day 2 on Feb. 1. Players will battle for a dozen blind levels during the opening day with the first two opening flights boasting a dozen levels of 40-minute each. The final opening flight is a turbo-charged affair but still provides plenty of play with 25-minute blind levels. Players will enjoy an even deeper structure after that with one-hour blind levels until a winner is crowned on Day 3 on Feb. 2.

Our coverage will commence when cards are in the air on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. Stay tuned for the biggest hands, bad beats, and fun stories until a winner is crowned before we move onto covering the High Roller on Feb. 2-3.