Turns out only 91 players made it through day 1b. Here they are with their chip counts:

	Blair Hinkle - end of day 1B chip leader

The bell has rung signalling the end of play. Matt announced a hand in progress with Blair Hinkle, who was among the chip leaders. Blair lost that pot, which may mean the difference in who the end of day chip leader is. Since that person earns $10,000 in cash, that last hand may cost Blair $10k in real money.

Clonie Gowan had 163,300 in chips and when counted down, Blair finished the day with 170,800, earning the $10,000 bonus after all.

It looks like 94 players remain, but until I get the end of day counts, I cannot be sure. When that list is available, it will be posted here.  11 Shooting Star bounty players have made the cut.

Day 2 will begin at 10:30am PDT Wednesday with the combined day 1A and 1B surviviors.

	Phil Ivey - iced

With just 3 minutes left in the day, Matt Savage gave us the play-by-play: Phil Ivey was all-in pre-flop with pocket 9s. He got called by a player with pocket Aces. Phil would need help to make it to day 2, but the board came J J 7 6 K and yet another Shooting Star has burned up in the atmosphere.

	Amir Vahedi - vanquished

More SS announcements:

Phil Ivey got all in on the flop with top pair versus Neil Ho's flush draw. Phil managed to dodge all the outs and double up again.

Amir Vahedi got all in with action from Isabelle Mercier and another player who checked down the board of Q 9 4 8 2. Amir held A5 off for Ace-high; Isabelle showed A2 for a pair of ducks on the river to take the pot and collect Amir's bounty.

Antonio Esfandiari got his chips in with multi-way action.  At the river, the board read 9 5 3 K T and Paul Wasicka showed T9 for two pair to take the pot.  The others all mucked and Antonio hit the rail as Paul collected his bounty.

Oliver Tse reports that Van 'Mrs. Master' Nguyen ran pocket Queens into pocket Aces and has been eliminated.

Level 10: Blinds 400/800 with 100 antes. Play has resumed for the final time today.

105 players remain, among which are 14 Shooting Star bounties.

Blair Hinkle is out in front of the pack with about 170k.  Ralph Perry is sitting on about 135k.

End of level 9 and they are taking a short break to color up the green 25 chips.

Just before the break, Matt announced that Amir Vahedi was all-in with A8 against A7. Board came 9 9 5 4 J and Amir nearly quadrupled his short stack.

Matt Savage has announced two more Shooting Star confrontations:

	Mimi Tran - tossed

Phil Ivey got all in for his last 4,900 and got two callers, who were involved in a side pot. On the flop of T 9 5, one player bowed out (folding AQ face up) and the other showed K9 for middle pair. Phil turned over AJ (two overcards) and he would need help in order to stay alive. The turn was a 7 and changed nothing. Then the ubiquitous Ace on the river gave Phil the bigger pair. Phil tripled up, thanks to the third player folding the better Ace.

Mimi Tran moved her last ~4 in utg and got action from both Steve Sung and Lee Markholt. They checked down the board of A Q 7 J A. Mimi held pocket 6s; Lee held KJ (pair of Jacks) and Steve took the pot with Q8 (pair of Queens). Mimi was busted and Steve also collected the $5 bounty.

	TJ Cloutier - tackled

PokerPages' own TJ Cloutier was all in on a board of A A 4 4 5. TJ had an Ace for Aces-full-of-4s, but Armando Palomo held A5 for Aces-full-of-5s to notch him with full house over full house. Armando collects the $5,000 Shooting Star bounty and the "I busted TJ Cloutier" autographed T-shirt.

Level 9: Blinds 300/600 with 75 antes. Play has resumed.

End of level 8 and players are on a 15 minute breather -- or smoker. 117 players remain.

	Dan Harrington - dumped

Another fallen Shooting Star, according to the PA. Dan Harrington got all in on the turn with the board showing T 9 4 K. Dan's 96 was way behind Hasan Habib's pocket Aces. Dan would need a 9 or 6 to avoid elimination, but the river was a Queen and Dan was done. Hasan collected the $5,000 bounty.

122 players remain. Average is over 37,700.

Just spent another exciting 15 minutes on the tournament floor. The action is heating up as the field thins down.

In a virtual flexing of muscles, Joe Hachem raised to 1k from the cutoff and then Huckleberry Seed jacked him up to 4,100 from the button. Joe came over the top enough to put Huck all in. After about a minute, Huck surrendered.

Level 8: Blinds 250/500 with 50 antes. Play continues

On the turn with the board reading A Q 3 6 Tuan Le checked, seat 8 bet 4k and after a couple of minutes, Tuan called. River was the A and again Tuan checked. Seat 8 fired 6k and Tuan gave it about a minute, then tossed in the chips to call. Seat 8 tapped the table, turning over J 9 (zip, nada, zilch). Tuan showed KQ offsuit for two pair and pulled the pot.

	Eli Elezra - ejected

The flop was J 9 5 and John Phan checked (hijack) to Eli Elezra (cutoff) who bet 4,500. John thought about it for a bit, then made the call. Turn was the Q and again John checked. Eli thought a bit, counted out his chips, then moved all-in for a bit over 17k. John insta-called, showing KT off for the straight and the current nuts. Eli held pocket 5s for the flopped set. John said "I don't want to see" and walked away from the table. Eli would need the board to pair or he was done. River was the K and not what Eli needed. When John came back to the table, Eli said "Nice guthshot". After Eli was given the T-shirt to sign, he walked by John and said "Good luck getting this from me" and walked out of the tournament area. John called after him "I want my shirt! Give me my shirt! Laughing all the time. I still don't know if Eli ever brought back the "I busted Eli Elezra" T-shirt. With that pot, John was sitting on about 60k.

Blair Hinkle is way out in front with ~152. I could not find any other player over 100k. Some other random counts on "players of interest": Maureen Feduniak - 51k; TJ Cloutier - 41k; Ralph Perry - 91k; Matt Brady - 9k; Eric Cloutier - 68k; Van Nguyen - 50k; and Robert Cheung - 55.

More Shooting Star announcements:

Mike Gracz got all in with AK against Steve Bilirakis holding pocket 5s. Mike needed help to survive. Although a Jack and Ten on the flop gave him more outs, he couldn't catch a break and was busted.

Eli Elezra was all-in on a flop of A 6 3 rainbow. John Phan made the call showing 54 for the open-ended draw. Eli's AK (top pair, top kicker) was ahead, but he had to fade the 7s and 2s. Last two cards came 8 K and Eli doubled up again.

	Ralph Perry

It was just announced that Mike Matusow was once again all-in for his tournament life. This time he held QJ and was up against AT. The board came Q 6 3 6 J and Mike 'the Mouth' sucks out again to survive and double up.

Card Player is reporting that Ralph Perry is the current chip leader with ~94k. Here are the top 10:

Level 7: Blinds 200/400 with 50 antes. Play has resumed. According to the board, 151 players remain, making the average around 30k.

Another Shooting Star announcement: Eli Elezra was all in with pocket Tens and called by Anna Wrobelwski who held pocket 6s. The board bricked out and Eli doubled up.

The dinner bell has rung, signaling the end of level 6. Players will be on dinner break for one hour. Play will resume at about 6:15pm PDT.

Robert Cheung stopped by to tell me about his double-up right before dinner:  He limped from middle position and the button raised to 1,100.  The small blind called, as did Robert.  The flop was 7 5 4 with two hearts.  The small blind and Robert checked, the button bet 1,200 and the small blind check-raised to 6k.  Robert moved all in for 23k and the button folded (pocket Aces).  The small blind called, showing 7 6  for top pair with open-ender.  Robert held Q 7  for the same pair with a better kicker and a flush draw.  Turn was an offsuit deuce.  River was the K  giving Robert the flush and the double up to about 70k.

	Phil Hellmuth - fizzled

Matt Savage is keeping busy with the bust-out announcements now:

Shooting Star Tom McEvoy was all-in with pocket Tens and crushed by Clonie Gowan's pocket Aces. The board came Q 9 4 2 K and Clonie's Aces held up to win her the pot and the $5,000 bounty.

On the turn with a board of A 9 6 5 Phil Hellmuth moved all in facing two opponents. Eric Cloutier opted out, but after a little thought, Kent Washington made the call. Phil held pocket 6s for a set and was ahead. Kent held T 8 for a flush draw with a gutshot, needing a or 7 to send the Poker Brat packing. River was the 4 and just like that, Phil hit the rail. Kent collected a cool $5k.

On the river, Ralph Perry bet 20k with the board showing Q 8 7 J 3 .  Gavin Smith called all-in holding two pair, but Ralph held T9 for the straight. Gavin Smith is the latest Shooting Star to get snuffed out.

On a flop of K J J, Josh Arieh was all-in and called by three players who checked down the last two cards of J 8. Josh held a King for Jacks-full and he quadrupled up to about 6k.

Josh Arieh got his short-stack all-in a short time later and was eliminated.

TD Matt Savage announced that Mike 'the Mouth' Matusow was all in with pocket 8s. His opponent rolled over pocket 9s and had Mike in bad shape. From across the room I could see Mike stand up and put on his jacket in preparation to leave. The flop came 3 3 2 and changed nothing. Then the turn card landed: an 8! The Mouth caught his miracle 2-outer to fill up and double up.

The Shooting Stars are doing much better today than they did yesterday. Of the 27 in today's field, only three have busted out through the first five levels: Robert Williamson III, Kristi Gazes, and Jennifer Tilly. Yesterday it only took two levels to bust the first three bounties.

Level 5: Blinds 150/300 with 50 antes. Play continues.

The payouts have finally been posted on the board. Total player count for both starting flights is 376. The final 45 players will get paid as follows:

* Includes $25,500 for WPT Championship seat.

The TD announced a short while ago that Shooting Star Dan Harrington was all in with AK against Brandon Schafer's pocket Kings. Dan would need an Ace or he was headed for the door. The board rolled out 7 7 5 A J and Dan caught the card he needed on the turn to survive and double up.

We also just heard over the PA that Shooting Star Jennifer Harman tripled up her short-stack when all-in against two players.

The board says 180 players remain in today's heat.

Level 5: Blinds 100/200 with 25 antes. Play has resumed.

On the break, Matt Brady came over and reported that he's just holding steady at about 20k.  His table is playing "Kill Phil" poker where the are open-shoving for amounts over 10k (with a 200 big blind).  His plan is just to be paitient and hope to catch a big hand.

End of level 4 and players are on break.

Before the bell, the TD announced that Shooting Star Eli Elezra was all in on a board of 7 3 3.  Noah Jefferson made the call, showing pocket 9s.  Eli held A3 for trips and was looking to double up.  Last two cards came 5 4 and Eli survived and chipped up.

Lots of action during my last 15 minutes on the floor:

	TJ Cloutier, Gavin Smith, Jean-Robert Bellande, and Maureen Feduniak

Table 22 has gotten way more interesting. Starting in seat 5 are TJ Cloutier, Gavin Smith, Jean-Robert Bellande, Maureen Feduniak, and Ralph Perry. I don't think the rest of the players get to talk much since J-R never shuts up.

Gavin Smith got all in on a flop of J 9 3 and Jean-Robert looked him up. Gavin held A 5 for the flush draw with one overcard. J-R was ahead with A 9 for middle pair. The Q on the turn changed nothing. J-R was anticipating collecting the $5,000 bounty for busting Gavin, then the K landed on the river, completing Gavin's flush and double up. "F*ck! Every Time! F*ck!" said Jean-Robert as Gavin stacked his chips. J-R was left with ~8k.

Maureen Feduniak is up to about 36k. TJ Cloutier has about 23k.

Antonio Esfandiari fired 5,100 on the river with the board showing 8 7 4 Q 6 . Paul Wasicka jacked it on up to 13k smooth. Antonio tanked for a couple of minutes, then let it go.

Robert Williamson III moved in on the river with the board showing K Q 7 9 3. His opponent called, showing J9 suited for third pair. It was good, since RW3 only held pocket 4s. Another bounty collected.

Level 4: Blinds 100/200. Play continues.

Latest news from the player board: Peter 'nordberg' Feldman has busted out and been replace by alternate Haralabos Voulgaris. Tuan Le also entered the field late as an alternate.

The player count has finally started to drop. The board now shows 217 players remain, so they must have finished seating all the alternates.

According to the latest announcement, Phil Hellmuth has finally arrived and taken his seat.

Level 3: Blinds 75/150. Play has resumed.

The board now says 229 players remain, which means more alternates have been seated. It may be a while before we know the final player count in today's flight.

End of level 2 and players are on break for 15 minutes.

	Kristi Gazes - Aces cracked

The bounties have lasted longer today. Matt Savage announced the first two Shooting Star bustouts in level 2:

Jennifer Tilly was all-in on the turn with the board showing 5 4 2 K. Her pocket Aces were behind John Murphy's 54 (two pair). Jennifer needed another Ace, King, or deuce or she would be busted. River was a 5 giving John the full house, the pot, and Jennifer's $5,000 bounty.

Kristi Gazes got all in on the turn with the board showing 9 4 3 Q . Her pocket Aces (with the ) were trailing John Phan's made-flush with the K 8 . She needed another on the river to survive, but it was the Q and she was busted. Young collected the $5k bounty.

The pocket Aces were holding up well yesterday, but today they appear to be the kiss of death.

Play began today with 22 tables, 10-handed, so 220 players. They are seating alternates now, so the player count is currently up to 227.

Level 2: Blinds 50/100. Play continues.

On the river the board showed J T 5 K T and Mike Gracz lead into two opponents for 3,400. The first player folded, but then Nasser Hamedani moved all in. He had Mike covered, so it would have been a call all-in and his bounty was at risk. Mike decided to fold.

Tom Dwan opened for 150 and the cutoff called, then the button and big blind both came along for the ride.  On the 9 9 2 flop, the big blind lead for 1,100, Tom kicked it up to 3,400, and only got the cutoff to bite.  Turn was an 8 and Tom fired 5,700 and was again called.  River was a Ten and Tom moved all in.  His lone opponent called, showing pocket Aces.  Tom rolled over J9 suited for trip 9s to double up to almost 40k, good for the chip lead.

	Phil Ivey

On the river with the board showing A 4 3 8 K, Phil Ivey became the first Shooting Star to get all in. After a bit of thought, his opponent called and Phil showed him pocket 4s for a set to win the pot and double up to over 30k.

Level 1: Blinds 25/50. Cards are in the air! Today will be a re-run of yesterday, with a different bunch of players and Shooting Star bounties. Players are starting with 20,000 chips and levels last 60 minutes. Any player busting a Shooting Star bounty player will earn a $5,000 cash bounty.

Day 1B of the Bay 101 Shooting Star championship will get underway at 10:30am PDT Tuesday with a fresh batch of players and bounties.

Kaelaine Minton Reporting

Kaelaine is one of the hardest working reporters on the tournament cicruit, and she can play poker, too!  She won the 2007 World Poker Open Media Tournament at the Goldstrike in Tunica, besting a field of 50 to win the event and the WPO gold bracelet!   Her motto is "will do anything poker-related for money".

Contact Kaelaine