ACOP breaking records already |

If the early numbers are anything to go by, this year’s Asia Championship of Poker could prove to be yet another record breaking event in the PokerStars LIVE room at City of Dreams.

The previous record for any ACOP event was 358 runners for the 2012 ACOP warm-up event but that figure was well and truly crushed overnight with 429 players taking part in the HK$2 million Guaranteed Spadie. Incredibly, the guarantee was almost met in Thursday’s first flight alone when 181 players hit the tables with another 248 joining the field last night.

It bodes well for the main event which, depending on who you listen to, is hoped to reach either the 250 or 300 mark. Given last year’s figure was 2013 starters, either would be a significant increase.

Hong Kong’s Kelvin Cheng currently leads the 66 survivors heading into today’s Day 2 and is the only player sitting above 200,000 in chips, with Aussie duo Brian McAllister and Alexander Lynskey looming up behind in second and third respectively.

However, much of the focus today will be on the start of the HK$500,000 Super High Roller event which is predicted to attract a field of at least 50 players based on current registrations – a huge turnout for an event of this magnitude.