The Bar Poker Open brings together thousands of poker-loving individuals around the world to play together with Bar Leagues. A staggering 1,164 entrants, made entirely up of qualifiers from these Bar Leagues around the country, made their way to the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas to become the next BPO Champion. With the massive prize pool created of $349,200, the lion's share is still up for grabs with the final 8 players, with $100,000 ready for the victor.

Patrick Martorella is holding a commanding lead over the field with 7,125,000. Martorella came into the Day 2 one of eight stacks that were over 1 million chips. He managed to survive all day, then when the feature table started he began to pull away from the pack. Peaking out at over 9 million chips, Martorella put on a show for the audience, putting massive pressure on the field as it dwindled and the pay jumps increased. The Long Island, NY, resident looks to add to his already massive $194,811 Hendon Mob and collect his first BPO title.

Sitting behind him is Miguel Medrano, who bagged 4,370,000. Medrano found himself all in quite a few times yesterday, with a key double up through Steven Morey (3,780,000) saving him towards the end of the night. Medrano had flopped top pair on a five-high board and needed to crack Morey's kings to survive, which he did and the young man celebrated with his rail. Now guaranteed his biggest career score, he looks to add another couple of figures to his own burgeoning resume.

Rhode Island's Steven Morey sits in third place with 3,780,000. With plans to play the WSOP main event later in the summer, he looks to better an already career-best cash to carry the momentum into the end of the summer. He sits neck and neck with Massachusetts' Jake Dennehy (3,720,000).

Antonio Tufato (3,140,000), Jamie Neftzinger (2,630,000), Tim Dancy (2,620,000), and Jordan Teague (1,370,000) round out the pack, each one of them looking for their first BPO title.

The final 8 players will return to play at 2 p.m., each one of them guaranteed a minimum of $5,000, but eyeing a first place prize of $100,000. Play ended with 38:41 left in the 26th level of play with blinds at 80,000/160,000 with a 160,000 ante. They will continue to play 45-minute levels for the remainder of the tournament until a winner is crowned. There will be a livestream to follow the action on Bar Poker Open's YouTube channel.

Stay tuned to PokerNews to read all of the updates on the Bar Poker Open Championship. Updates will be on a 30-minute delay as to sync up with the stream.