WPT: Jason Potter Leading at World Poker Finals; Phil Ivey Second

Jason Potter took control on Day 1a of the World Poker Finals, the World Poker Tour stop at Foxwoods Resort and Casino, on Wednesday and then Phil Ivey did the same to the Day 1b field on Thursday to make the early going a two-horse race.

Potter finished play Wednesday night with 183,825 chips and his nearest competitor was Vadim Trincher who bagged up 163,600. Then Ivey showed up on Day 1b and made every attempt at catching Potter.

Finishing Day 1b with 183,675 Ivey came within an eyelash of the chip lead. Ivey will be looking to continue his strong season on the WPT. Along with winning his first WPT title at the L.A. Poker Classic in February Ivey also had a 10th place finish at the World Poker Challenge in February.

The rest of the top ten is not without star power. Jonathan Jaffe, who made the semi-finals of the $10,000 heads-up event at the World Series of Poker this summer, is in sixth with 141,000. Kevin “BeL0WaB0Ve” Saul has 135,250 good enough for eighth; Jonathan “FieryJustice” Little is right behind Saul in ninth with 131,400 and Will Failla rounds out the top ten with 124,800.

But the news was not as good for a number of big names and former WPT winners. TJ Cloutier, Scott Seiver, Joe Sebok and defending champion Mike Vela were all eliminated on Day 1b while Howard Lederer, Nenad Medic, Jimmy Fricke, Eli Elezra, John Phan and Chau Giang all saw their tournament end on Day 1b.

1. Jason Potter - 183,825
2. Phil Ivey - 183,675

3. Richard Dabal - 169,150

4. Vadim Trincher - 163,600

5. Steve Gross - 145,025

6. Jonathan Jaffe - 141,000

7. Dimitri Haskaris - 136,325

8. Kevin Saul - 135,350

9. Jonathan Little - 131,400

10. Will “The Thrill” Failla - 124,800

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