As two tournaments determined their champions on Wednesday at the 2012 World Series of Poker, three other events were in various stages of their play.
Event #36 – $3000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout – Day Two
Of the 587 players who started the tournament on Tuesday, sixty would return yesterday with everyone in the money ($9086). Ten six handed tables were set up to determine the players who would come back on Thursday to vie for this championship.
It would take only eight hours for the ten tables to play to a single man and several top pros were among the fallen. European Poker Tour champion Max Silver, Jean-Robert Bellande, Melanie Weisner, two time WSOP bracelet winner Steve Billirakis, 2012 WSOP bracelet winner David Baker, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Saul, Justin Bonomo, James Akenhead and Nicolas Levi were just a few of the fifty casualties that would walk away from the Amazon Room with just the min-cash to their credits.
The ten men who come back this afternoon to determine a champion do have some panache, however. Two time World Poker Tour champion and WSOP bracelet holder Antonio Esfandiari leads the names that will be in action on Thursday, with 2011 WSOP bracelet winner Athanasios Polychronopoulos and Joe Tehan also taking their tables down to join in the fray today. A dangerous player to watch, though, will be EPT champion Roberto Romanello, who will be looking to complete poker’s “Triple Crown” with a win today.
Seat 1: Antonio Esfandiari, 538K
Seat 2: Joe Tehan, 529K
Seat 3: Jeremiah Fitzpatrick, 539K
Seat 4: Anthanasios Polychronopoulos, 528K
Seat 5: Alessandro Longobardi, 512K
Seat 6: Jonathan Lane, 509K
Seat 7: Sardor Gaziev, 527K
Seat 8: Craig McCorkell, 539K
Seat 9: Roberto Romanello, 530K
Seat 10: Thiago Nishijima, 510K
Although a Shootout normally starts with players equal in chips, the disparity between stacks is due to some players having started on nine-handed tables on Day One. The cards will fly at 1PM (Pacific Time) in the Amazon Room, with the eventual champion taking the WSOP gold and $368,593 in first place money.
Event #37 – $2500 Eight Game Mixed – Day Two
27 players will come back to the tables on Thursday, with a leaderboard that reads like a “Who’s Who” of poker.
Although such names as Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Gavin Smith and Daniel Negreanu couldn’t make the money, Chris Bjorin, 2012 WSOP bracelet winner Ylon Schwartz, Max Pescatori, Gavin Griffin and Daniel Idema all took home some cash. If that list wasn’t impressive enough, the contenders back today might draw some awe.
Leading the way on Day Three will be Joseph Couden, although he can’t feel great about who is in pursuit of him. Rep Porter holds down the second place slot, while the 2009 winner of this tournament, Jerrod Ankenman, rides in third. Add in such names as Jennifer Harman, Donnacha O’Dea, Scott Seiver, Greg Mueller, Freddy Deeb, Chris Viox, Matt Hawrilenko, Steve Zolotow, Barry Greenstein, Chris McClung, Jeff Madsen and David Baker, and it promises to be a thrilling day around the Eight Game tables.
It is hoped that the champion will be crowned tonight, with the winner taking down the $271,312 bounty and the WSOP bracelet for their three days of work.
Event #38 – $1500 No Limit Hold’em – Day One
By the time the late registration bell rung on this latest $1500 NLHE event, 2534 players had turned out for action. As typical for these large field events, there were several top pros who couldn’t navigate the minefield they stepped in. Some of those players included the 2010 World Champion Jonathan Duhamel, Joanne “J. J.” Liu, John Racener, and two contenders in the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year race, Phil Hellmuth and Phil Ivey.
Leading the 277 survivors to the line on Thursday will be six time WSOP bracelet winner Layne Flack, with his 229,700 chips vastly outpacing second place H. Borovetz’ 146,900. Continuing the strong run by women at this year’s WSOP, Lauren Kling has put herself in contention in fourth place (123,300), while Jim Collopy, Anthony Ruberto, Dan Smith, David “The Dragon” Pham, Jason Lester and Tommy Vedes lurk in the Top Fifty.
The first seven players eliminated today will wonder why they came back as they will get nothing for their efforts. 270th place will earn someone the minimum cash of $2771, while everyone has their eyes on the top prize of $607,200.
Event #39 – $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship and Event #40 – $2500 Six Handed Limit Hold’em – STARTING TODAY
As if there isn’t already enough going on at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, two more tournaments will open up their play today. At noon, the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha World Championship takes the stage, looking to best last year’s 361 player field. This was one of the events that helped Ben Lamb capture the 2011 WSOP POY award after he defeated Finnish Omaha ace Sami Kelopuro in heads up play.
At 5PM, the $2500 Six Handed Limit Hold’em tournament takes to the felt. 354 players appeared in the tournament last year, with Darren Woods eventually knocking off Stephanie Nguyen to take the WSOP bracelet and the $213,431 first place check.
There are only 21 events left on the Las Vegas leg of the 2012 WSOP following today’s action. Some big events – including the $50,000 Poker Players’ Championship, the Ladies Championship, the million dollar buy in “Big One For One Drop” and the $10,000 Championship Event – are still forthcoming, however, promising the next month will be entertaining for poker’s ardent fans.