If this keeps up, the audience for the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event final table on ESPN will be tremendous. Day 2C of the Main Event, the largest of the three Day 2’s, took place Wednesday with 2,571 players looking to make it to Thursday. 1,047 survived led by none other than Phil Ivey, who will enter Day 3 as the overall chip leader with 505,000 chips.
Poker fans always hope that a big name, famous player will make the Main Event final table, but with a field in the 6000’s year after year, the chances of that happening are pretty slim. We’ll often get an internet pro (or pros) at the final table, but they are known to a small portion of poker fans. The viewing audience wants a name they know. There is still a long, long way to go in this tournament and things can change with the deal of one card, one hand, but hoo boy, if Phil Ivey can keep going, the ratings that final table will get could be through the roof (well, through the roof for poker).
Ivey has already had a successful 2014 World Series of Poker, winning the $1,500 Eight Game Mix Event for $167,332 and his tenth career WSOP bracelet. That ties him for second with two poker legends, Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan, behind only Phil Hellmuth, who has won thirteen bracelets.
Speaking of Hellmuth, he will not be earning his fourteenth bracelet in this Main Event, as he was eliminated on Wednesday. Joe Cada and Joe Hachem, two other former Main Event winners, also fell on Day 2C.
One of Phil Ivey’s biggest hands of the day proved that even the best players in the world need a little luck. Thanks to WSOP.com, we know the story. With a flop of T-9-6, Ivey bet 14,000, Lazaro Hernandez called, and Fabian Scherle went all-in for 44,000. Ivey moved all-in over the top for 130,000 (effective), and after saying, “I guess I’m going home,” Hernandez committed all of his chips. Interestingly, though, Hernandez had the best hand, holding 8-7 for the nut straight. Ivey had pocket Sixes for bottom set, while Scherle had an overpair in pocket Kings.
“Why did you say you’re going home?” Ivey asked.
Knowing he couldn’t escape his Ivey fate, Hernandez just said, “Because you’re Phil Ivey.”
Sure enough, a Ten on the river (preceded by a 5 on the turn) gave Ivey a full house, eliminating both of his opponents. Ivey was up to about 400,000 at that point on his way to the day-end chip lead.
A total of 1,864 players will come together today as for the first time at the this World Series, everyone in the tournament will be playing at the same time.
2014 World Series of Poker Main Event – Day 2 Chip Leaders
1. Phil Ivey – 505,000
2. Timothy Stansifer – 481,500
3. Raul Mestre – 477,900
4. Thomas Cannuli – 407,800
5. Morgan Popham – 407,600
6. Tony Ruberto – 402,700
7. Joe Kuether – 401,200
8. Peter Neff – 389,200
9. Isaac Baron – 387,200
10. Steve Tripp – 380,400
