Just 99 players remain in the 2022 World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Main Event, down from the 414 that began Day 2. Corey Wade is the chip leader going into Monday’s Day 3, holding 1.945 million chips.
With 1,165 total entries (which, as noted over the weekend, was the exact same number as last year), a total of 147 players were going to make the money. Make that 148, actually, as both Bobby Buckingham and Matthew Wantman were eliminated at the same time just before hand-for-hand play began, resulting in them splitting the 147th place payout.
Both players ended up in bad situations. Buckingham was all-in pre-flop for 98,000 chips with A-2 and was called by Nicholas Davidson, who had A-K. No surprises showed up on the board and Buckingham was out. As that was happening, Wantman, a former WPT champ, had pocket tens, but ended up seeing his last few chips go to his opponent, who had pocket Kings.
Both players received $2,975, which doesn’t quite cover the $3,500 buy-in, but at least it’s better than nothing.
Corey Wade’s journey to the top of the leaderboard was helped greatly by a big hand just as the money bubble was approaching. He raised pre-flop to 22,000 chips (blinds were 5,000/10,000 with a 10,000-chip ante) and Arian Stolt re-raised to 65,000. Wade four-bet to 150,000 and Stolt moved all-in for 530,000. I think we all know some form of what’s coming.
Wade made the call, showing pocket aces against Stolt’s pocket queens. The board came out all low cards and that was it for Stolt, while Wade grew his chip stack to 1.810 million.
Day 3 of the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Main Event begins at noon ET Monday. All blind levels will last an hour. The plan, according to the tournament’s structure sheet, is to play down to 24 players before calling it a night. Day 4 will play down to the six-handed final table, which leaves Wednesday’s Day 5 to determine the next person to have their name inscribed on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
2022 World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Main Event – Day 2 Chip Leaders
- Corey Wade – 1,945,000
- David DiBernardi – 1,545,000
- Frank Weigel – 1,460,000
- David Sciacqua – 1,395,000
- Grant Wang – 1,225,000
- Steven McKoy – 1,195,000
- Viet Vo – 1,190,000
- Brad Owen – 1,150,000
- David Gaskin – 1,150,000
- Daniel Clemente – 1,105,000
