Following an exciting three starting flights in which the largest-ever field was seen for a World Poker Tour (WPT) event, Day 2 of the 2014 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event took place on Sunday. 673 Day 1 survivors took their seats knowing that it was still going to be a long, hard slog to the money, but that money was certainly within reach. After about 500 eliminations, the bubble did finally burst, and now just 114 players remain to battle it out for spots at the final table.
Leading the remaining field is Richard Kirsch with 1,734,000 chips, over 300,000 more than the next two players, Matt Stout (1,403,000) and Daniel Navarrete (1,400,000). Three more players – Julian Thomas (1,199,000), Barry Hutter (1,120,000), and Glenn Becker (1,105,00) – have eclipsed the one million chip mark.
Kirsch is a local to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, just a few miles from the casino’s location in Hollywood. His live tournament resume, courtesy TheHendonMob.com, certainly reflects this, as it is filled with modest cashes in local and regional tournaments. His biggest cash came in 2007, when he finished fourth at the WPT Mirage Poker Showdown for $172,912. That was Kirsch’s fourth cash in WPT Main Events and also his last until now. He also has five cashes at the World Series of Poker, including a 67th place finish in the 2005 Main Event.
Though everyone left in the tournament has made the money, the serious cash is yet to come. Payouts are currently at only the $8,073 level, and while that is nothing to sneeze at for the vast majority of people in this world, most players are likely seeking a bit more for their $3,500 buy-in. Five-digit payouts will come once 81 players remain, while the top nine will cash for at least six-figures. The winner will receive $1,081,184.
Today’s plan is to play down to the final three full tables, 27 players. If things go quickly enough, tournament organizers may opt to knock down one more table before calling it quits, ending the day with just 18 runners.
A number of recognizable names are still in action, including Matthew Jarvis, Blake Purvis, Ayaz Mahmood, Rep Porter, Shawn Cunix, Noah Schwartz, Ylon Schwartz, Matt Glantz, and Eugene Todd.
2014 World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event – Day 2 Chip Leaders
1. Richard Kirsch – 1,734,000
2. Matt Stout – 1,403,000
3. Daniel Navarrete – 1,400,000
4. Julian Thomas – 1,199,000
5. Barry Hutter – 1,120,000
6. Glenn Becker – 1,105,000
7. Ryan Eriquezzo – 969,000
8. Josh Kay – 870,000
9. Elliott Zaydman – 852,000
10. Alan Percal – 841,000