Day 2 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Five Diamond World Poker Classic saw a healthy flock of new players enter before the deadline, creating the second largest Five Diamond of all time. There were about 430 players or thereabouts who participated on Monday’s Day 1, but by the time registration closed prior to Level 9 of Day 2, the total field added up to 639 players. The total prize pool is $6,198,300 with $1,587,382 going to the winner. The final 63 players will make at least the minimum cash of $21,074.
With 244 players remaining, it is a neck-and-neck battle between poker pros Matt Glantz and Paul Volpe for the top spot. Glantz has the tiniest of leads with 239,700 chips compared to Volpe’s 239,100. A number of players with extensive poker success are at the top of the leader board, including Curt Kohlberg, Keven Stammen, Alan Keating, Brian Rast, and Kevin Saul.
The chip leader, Glantz, is one of the most accomplished live tournament players of all time. In October, he won a $300 + $30 event at the Parx Casino Big Stax XIII festival to eclipse the $6 million mark in career earnings. He has 37 World Series of Poker cashes, including numerous final tables, and a dozen WPT cashes. He recently stepped down as ambassador for the Parx Casino poker room after three years.
Glantz is also one of the more outspoken players out there, never afraid to speak his mind on important poker issues. This summer, he found himself embroiled in a mild controversy when he took to Twitter and wrote an op-ed for Bluff to lodge complaints about several things at the 2015 WSOP. He said the new Modiano cards were garbage (echoing the sentiments of many players), the new structures for the low buy-in events were bad for players, the new in-house coverage of the tournaments was mediocre, and the food was sub-standard. He also suggested that the WSOP create a panel of players to help address issues and improve the WSOP. WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel actually blocked him on Twitter, but after receiving heaps of criticism from the poker community, unblocked Glantz and said that he is open to hearing all players’ voices.
Day 3 of the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic is currently underway at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and should run for about another hour or so. Expect to see around 100 players return for Day 4.
2015 World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic – Day 2 Chip Leaders
1. Matt Glantz – 239,700
2. Paul Volpe – 239,100
3. Curt Kohlberg – 216,700
4. Keven Stammen – 214,400
5. Edward Ochana – 213,200
6. Michael Aron – 212,600
7. Steve Foutty – 202,400
8. Alan Keating – 199,800
9. Brian Rast – 198,700
10. Kevin Saul – 192,400
