Records set as players return at the hunt for the largest prize in ANZPT history.

A cool quarter of one million for the one that reaches the highest of the rostrum this week. First place prize is ready at $261,200 and it's serious business here because the action gets back underway.

Yesterday we saw records broken as a complete of 520 players pulled up seats to set the prize pool at $1,066,000 for the last-ever ANZPT event. With an all-time high for field size and money up for grabs we're certainly ending the ANZPT's seven-year legacy in fine form.

It's been a frantic start as players found their newly allocated seats for the 12:30pm start. The plan is to minimize to the money tonight, with no less than seven levels of poker guaranteed. That implies the 241 Day 2 qualifiers might be whittled all the way down to 63, with those lucky enough to make it locking up a minimum of a $3,200 payday.

Leading the best way as play began was South Korea's Hyeong Wook Choi who started with an outstanding 131,100 in chips. Choi emerged because the chip boss into Day 1b yesterday and continued scooping pots to cement that lead before play concluded.

Choi already has four live cashes on Australia soil but his biggest score up to now came last year with an APT Manila Main Event appearance. Ultimately finishing fourth Choi pocketed $35,300 and appears well on his approach to potentially besting that here at ANZPT Melbourne.

Following the chip leader is fellow South Korean and Day 1A end-of-day chip leader Min Jae Park. Currently second in chips Park began with 118,500. Just behind him is Danny Boxell with a stack of 107,100. Son of Australian Poker Hall of Famer Leo Boxell, he'll be seeking to follow in his father's footsteps and discover a deep run.

Others still in contention include Team PokerStars Pro Chen-an Lin (60,900), James Obst (22,100), Tristan Bain (85,200), Billy 'The Croc' Argyros (33,500), James Rann (40,100), Raiden Kan (17,300), Anthony Legg (21,300), Luke Brabin (94,200), Sam Razavi (11,700) Michael Kanaan (25,800), Stevan Chew (58,700), Jackie Glazier (10,100), Manny Stavropoulos (59,800), Dean Blatt (43,800) and Tony Hachem (30,100).

Team PokerStars Pro Chen-an Lin remains to be within the running

We'll see who can survive here as we approach the bubble this afternoon. We're expecting another great day of action at Crown Melbourne and we'll be following every minute of it.

You can find all of the stories from the day here at the PokerStars Blog while the team at PokerNews have all of your live reporting needs!

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Australia New Zealand Poker Tour]