Day 1a of Event #3 is now complete with 14 players still with chips for Day 2. See the Payouts tab for the players who picked up a payday today, and check out the chip counts tab for a look at the Day 1a stacks advancing to Sunday's Day 2.

Level 15: 3000/6000/6000
Entries: 31/280

They are down to 31 players left in Day 1a of the 4-Flight. Prizes will be updated shortly in the payouts tab.

Level 13: 2000/4000/4000
Entries: 42/280

Day 1a of the 4-Flight is now in the Day 1 money with 42 players left. There was no hand-for-hand tonight as the bubble bust happened while they were prepping to pause the clock.

Level 10: 1000/2000/2000
Entries: 75/280

The Day 1a numbers are official at 280 total entries for a solid increase over last year. That means 42 players will be getting a piece of the prize money out of tonight's flight, but at least 14 of them will have to wait for Day 2 on Sunday while players from 42nd to 15th place tonight (assuming they play down to 5%) will get paid tonight.

Level 9: 1000/1500/1500
Entries: 108/280

Entries are now closed for the opening flight of Event #3 and it was a huge one. Last year, Day 1a saw 252 entries on the way to almost 1,550 in total. This year, 1a topped out at 280 entries for more than $90k in prizes so far.

That means this year's opening flight was more than 10% bigger than last year and if that holds through the rest of the flights it could mean a total field of more than 1,700 entries.

Level 7: 500/1000/1000
Entries: 260/260

The 4-Flight is looking like it's going to be another record-breaker this year. Las January, Day 1a of the 4-Flight got 252 entries and today's flight is already up to 260 entries with more than a level to go in entries. The total prizes so far are just over $85k and with the current numbers, 39 players will make the money with at least 13 making it through to Day 2, but there is still lots of time for more entries so those numbers are likely to grow.

Level 3: 200/400/400
Entries: 191/191

Day 1a of the 4-Flight game is closing in on 200 entries now with 191 entries currently. Last year, when there was a record field of more than 1,500 entries, Day 1a ended up with 252 so today's flight is on pace to match that number or possibly beat it.

Level 2: 200/300/300
Entries: 145/145

There are 145 entries in the 4-Flight in Level 2 putting the prizes at $47,850 right now. Entries are open until the end of the break following Level 8 today and should close around 8:30.

Remember, this is a day 1 pay event that will play down to 5% of the field on Day 1 but players who finish from 15% down to 5% today will pocket cash on their way out the door. Also, players who cash in early flights can continue to play later flights if they choose ... once a player bags for Day 2 they will no longer be allowed to enter remaining Day 1 flights.

Level 1: 100/200/200
Entries: 89/89

The opening flight of the 4-Flight game is now underway with 89 entries to start the day. The Day 1a action is running in the Chrome Room in the Main Casino while the PLO event is playing out in Sundance.

I'll likely not be spending too much time on this flight today as my attention will be on the four-card event but I'll get the results up at the end of the night and try to update numbers throughout the day as well.

Event #3: $400 4-Flight
Jan 11-14
Day 1a/c: Jan 11/12 4 pm
Day 1b/d: Jan 12/13 11 am
Start Stack: 20k
Blinds: 30/45 Minutes
Entries: 8 Levels (~8:30 pm)
Day 1: 20 Levels or 5% of Field

It's time for the first flight of the ever-popular 4-Flight game. There were more than 1,500 entries in this one last year when the dust settled but with Event #1 falling about 10% shy of last year's numbers it remains to be seen if Event #3 will cap last year or not.

Flights a and c run at 4 pm on Jan 11 and 12 while flights b and d run on Jan 12 and 13 at 11 am. Players sit down with 20k in chips and play 30-minute levels on Day 1. Players can enter until the start of Level 9 which should be at about 8:30 pm for flights a/c and about 3:30 pm for flights b/d.

Day 1 action will last 20 levels at most, but they'll end early if they hit 5% of the starting field first.