^

3:20pm Level 3 begins, blinds 100/200

3:10pm: Ticherfatine takes a hit

We arrived at the table in time to see a bloated pot and the board reading [5s][9s][7c][qs][ah].

France's Cecile Ticherfatine had a bet of 3,400 sitting out in front of her and it was on her opponent to act. He reached for chips and Ticherfatine went to prematurely turn her hand over.

The movement caused her opponent to hesitate for a moment but he ultimately opted to call with [as][ac] for a rivered set. He had way the best of it against Ticherfatine's [6d][5d] for a lowly pair of fives.

The hand knocked Ticherfatine down a peg but she still has a healthy stack of around 12,000.

2:55pm: Bad start for reigning APOY

After an early position raise to 200, reigning Asia Player of the Year Alan King Lun Lau three-bet to 650 from the cutoff. With the player on the button cold-calling, the initial raiser also came along to see a flop of [kd][4s][2c].

It was checked to Lau who continued for 950. The button threw his hand away but the player in the early position called before the [2s] turn paired the board. It was then that he led into Lau with a bet of 1,450. Lau called and when the [9c] river arrived his opponent snap-checked. After a moment's thought Lau checked behind to see he was beat by [kh][tc].

Lau mucked his hand and dropped down to around 11,000 in chips.

2:40pm: Level 2 begins, blinds 50/100

2:30pm: Lin loses a little

It folded around to Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin on the button and she raised it up to 150. It got to the player in the big blind and he put in a reraise to 400. Lin didn't want to relinquish the title of aggressor as she put in a four-bet to 1,050.

Her opponent made the call and they saw a flop of [8s][7d][4s]. It checked to Lin who continued for 1,350. The bet was met with a quick call before the dealer turned the [8d].

The action then went check-check and the [9c] completed the board. It was checked to Lin for a third and final time and she flicked out a bet of 2,100. She was called and tabled [qd][9s] for a rivered two pair but it was no good against her opponent's [tc][td] for slightly better.

Lin falls to a little below the 15,000 starting stack.

2:40pm: Level 2 begins, blinds 50/100

2:30pm: Lin loses a little

It folded around to Team PokerStars Pro Celina Lin on the button and she raised it up to 150. It got to the player in the big blind and he put in a reraise to 400. Lin didn't want to relinquish the title of aggressor as she put in a four-bet to 1,050.

Her opponent made the call and they saw a flop of [8s][7d][4s]. It checked to Lin who continued for 1,350. The bet was met with a quick call before the dealer turned the [8d].

The action then went check-check and the [9c] completed the board. It was checked to Lin for a third and final time and she flicked out a bet of 2,100. She was called and tabled [qd][9s] for a rivered two pair but it was no good against her opponent's [tc][td] for slightly better.

Lin falls to a little below the 15,000 starting stack.

2:15pm: Team Pros and Players of the Year

Things have only just begun but already we've spotted some notable names at the tables here.

Among those are Team PokerStars Pros Celina Lin and Chen-an Lin. Also at the felt are 2014 Asia Player of the Year Pete Chen, and the reigning Asia Player of the Year Alan King Lun Lau.

Also making an appearance fresh off an eighth place finish in the Aussie Millions Main Event is 2015 Asia Player of the Year runner up KC Wong. So too is the man who won this very event this time last year (as well as the High Roller!) Yuguang Li.

We'll keep our eyes out for any other familiar faces as Day 1a continues.

2:00pm: Cards in the air

PokerStars LIVE Macau's Fred Leung just took to the microphone to welcome players before announcing shuffle up and deal - and with that the MPC24 Red Dragon is officially underway!

The plan for today is to play through 12 level of 40 minutes apiece. That means we're in for eight hours of play and including breaks the action will wrap up around 10:30pm.

Registration is open for the first six levels so we won't know Day 1a's exact player count until after 6:20pm. Opening flights are notoriously the smallest but the poker room is buzzing at the moment so time will tell how big the field will grow.

Starting stacks are 15,000 and the blinds begin at 25/50.

Now it's time to head to the tournament floor and catch the action.

MPC24 Red Dragon Day 1a set to start

Welcome once again to PokerStars LIVE Macau for our coverage of the Macau Poker Cup 24 Red Dragon!

We're kicking things off with the first of three opening flights as Day 1a is set to commence shortly. In the meantime you can read all about the week to come right here - MPC24: The Red Dragon fires up.

Players will take their seats at 2:00pm local time in a bid to win the best looking trophy in poker and the lion's share of a HK$8,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Stay with us for all the action!

All photos by Kenneth Lim Photography courtesy of PokerStars LIVE Macau

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