In a week where the whole of poker, let alone the World Tour is in mourning for the passing of Mike Sexton, it is perhaps befitting the man that the game of poker, and in particular in the WPT World Online Championships, piushes ever forward.

As recently as July this year, the WPT Champions Cup was renamed in honour of the late, great Mike Sexton, and Day 1a of the World Poker Tour World Online Championships Main Event kicked off yesterday in fine style.

Taking place on partypoker, for whom Sexton was the Chairman until his passing, the first flight of the Main Event attracted 521 entries in total, with each player’s buy-in of $10,000 ensuring a prize-pool of $5.2 million was already reached.  

Just 80 players remained at the close of play, and those six dozen and spare players will advance to a Day 2 which already looks like it will be packed with superstars from the game we all love.