It is very unusual to see the chip leader after Day 1 of a major live poker tournament retain his spot atop the leaderboard at the end of Day 2. Scott Blackman did that, leading the 2014 World Poker Tour (WPT) L.A. Poker Classic Main Event after each of the first two days. It must have been too much to ask, though, to have him keep up that incredible run. Not only is Jesse Yaginuma now the chip leader after Day 3 with 804,000 chips, but Blackman, after cruising along over the weekend, is now out of the tournament completely.
The plan on Monday was to either play five 90-minute levels or play down to the final 63 players, whichever took longer. It was the latter, so not only did Gordon Vayo bubble Day 4 by getting knocked out in 64th place, but he was also the money bubble boy, as the payout structure went down to 63 players. Not a fun way to end a long three days for Mr. Vayo.
Jesse Yaginuma is not a name that would ring a bell in most casual poker fans minds, but the Silver Spring, Maryland resident has seen his share of success on the live tournament circuit. With almost $1 million in earnings to his credit, Yaginuma has cashed three times on the World Poker Tour and fifteen times at the World Series of Poker. His greatest achievement, by far, came last April when he finished third in this same exact tournament, winning $429,810. Yaginuma currently ranks 317th on the Global Poker Index.
Another developing story of the tournament is the emergence of actress and semi-pro poker player Jennifer Tilly amongst the leaders. Currently sitting in third place with 639,500 chips, it seems that a little post-Oscars mojo may have found its way to the 1994 Academy Award nominee. One of her bigger hands actually came against the chip leader when she flopped two pair and was able to snatch around 150,000 away from Yaginuma. Were it not for a late double-up of Jeremy Kottler, Tilly would have been in even better shape than she is.
Among the other notables to have made the money at the L.A. Poker classic are Bryn Kenney, Dan O’Brien, Joe Tehan, Chris Moorman, Dan Heimiller, Matt Waxman, Eric Buchman, Hasan Habib, Greg Merson, Jason Mercier, Eugene Katchalov, the voice of the WPT Mike Sexton, David Paredes, Jonathan Duhamel, Andy Frankenberger, and Joe Serock.
The tournament will resume at noon local time from the Commerce Casino in California and will continue until just 18 players remain.
2014 World Poker Tour L.A. Poker Classic Main Event – Day 3 Chip Leaders
1. Jesse Yaginuma – 804,000
2. Glenn Lafaye – 760,000
3. Jennifer Tilly – 639,500
4. Bryn Kenney – 602,000
5. Michael Rocco – 588,000
6. Allen Pock – 574,500
7. Adam Friedman – 520,500
8. Huy Lam – 499,000
9. Dan O’Brien – 450,000
10. Mukul Pahuja – 429,500
