Main Event Day 1A Update: Ryan shoots into lead

African Ace Poker Desk · 2026-11-02

The Main Event: Day 1A

Ryan James leads the top stacks as we pass Level 8 on Day 1A of The Main Event, with 52 players remaining in the field.

After 105 entries, we see 52 players remain in the room as with blinds at 600-1200-1200 late on Main Event Day 1A. The prize pool currently sits on R1.24M.

Ryan James has established the chip lead with a stack of 285K, which is 238 big blinds.

Stephen Courtney leads the immediate chase on 226K, while Alexandre Blanc rounds out the top three on 218K.

Frank Chilchik on 195K and A.K. on 178,000 complete the five deepest stacks in the room.

Chip Counts

| # | Player | Chips | Big Blinds | | ---: | :--- | ---: | ---: | | 1 | Ryan James | 285,000 | 238 | | 2 | Stephen Courtney | 226,000 | 188 | | 3 | Alexandre Blanc | 218,000 | 182 | | 4 | Frank Chilchik | 195,000 | 163 | | 5 | A.K | 178,000 | 148 |