Day 2 of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe Event #3: Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold’em was an important one on Tuesday, as the field was narrowed from 72 to just 16. That 16-player mark was a milestone in the tournament; it both signaled a shift in table size and marked the beginning of the payouts. Leading the final 16 players, all of whom are guaranteed €14,905, is Noah Schwartz, proud owner (or renter, as it may be in poker) of 262,000 chips.
It is a very close race at the top in what has turned out to be one heck of a tough field. Shannon Shorr is just 10,000 chips behind Schwartz, while Jason Mann is only 20,000 behind Shorr. Also still in the running for the final table are the chip leader going into Day 2, Ville Mattila, Marc Newhouse, and Phil Ivey.
The two chip leaders reached those positions largely due to two late hands. The first actually hurt Shorr as the 17 remaining players were trying to make it into the money. Up against Schwartz, Shorr bet 6,500 on a flop of K♣-6♠-9♥. Schwartz check-called and the dealer laid out the 3♥ on the turn. Schwartz started by checking again and again called when Shorr bet 14,500. Schwartz checked the K♥ on the river and called one more time when Shorr bet 34,500, but not until after a couple minutes of thought. It appeared that Shorr was bluffing, as he told Schwartz he made a good call before even seeing Schwartz’s Q♦-9♦. Shorr mucked and saw his stack fall to 118,000, while Schwartz was up to 266,000.
Just before the end of the night, though, Shorr made it back. On a board of 3♥-Q♦-7♥-9♣, Shorr went all-in for his final 91,200. Wai Kin Kong tanked…and tanked…and tanked…for a good five minutes, according to WSOP.com, before finally making the call with K♣-Q♠. He had no chance to win the hand, though, as Shorr held 7♦-7♣ for middle set. The river made no difference whatsoever and Shorr eclipsed 200,000 chips.
During that hand, the money bubble burst, marking the end of Day 2. Marcin Wydrowski was all-in against both Mark Newhouse and Nikolaus Teichert. The latter two players checked it all the way down and sat there looking at a board of 2♣-K♠-Q♣-8♦-Q♦ while waiting for Shorr’s hand to finish. Because Shorr’s hand was still going on, nobody was allowed to turn over their cards, thus possibly affecting how Shorr’s hand played out. Wydrowski asked Newhouse what he had; Newhouse responded that he had pocket Threes. Teichert’s lips were sealed. When the hands were finally allowed to be shown, Newhouse did flip over 3♦-3♣, while Teichert showed T♠-T♦. Wydrowski knew he was finished and had already left by the time the tournament director turned over his 5♥-5♠.
Today’s play is four-handed in the unique mixed-max format as the players attempt to make it down to the final four.
World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe Event #3: Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold’em – Day 2 Chip Counts
1. Noah Schwartz – 262,000
2. Shannon Shorr – 252,000
3. Jason Mann – 232,500
4. James Dempsey – 193,500
5. Joe Kuether – 179,500
6. Dan O’Brien – 162,000
7. Ville Mattila – 160,000
8. Marc Newhouse – 143,000
9. Nikolaus Teichert – 110,000
10. Phil Ivey – 90,500
11. Jake Schwartz – 72,500
12. Jeremy Joseph – 72,500
13. Wai Kin Yong – 63,500
14. Marc Trijaud – 53,000
15. Darko Stojanovic – 42,000
16. Marc-Etienne McLaughlin – 25,500
