WSOP 2010 Thread. Feed your wild side revisited

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Gulp, incoming..............

[TightEnd]

Official Report
 
Event #57
 
Day 2-A
 
No-Limit Hold’em World Championship
 
Buy-In:  $10,000
 
Number of Entries:  7,319
 
Number of Players Entering Day Two (Total):  5,146  
 
Number of Players (Day 2-A Only):  2,412  
 
Number of Survivors (Day 2-A Only):  1,200
 
Total Net Prize Pool:  $68,798,600
 
Number of Places Paid:  747
 
First Place Prize:  $8,944,138
 
July 5th to November 9th, 2010

HEADLINES

Day 2-A Complete
 
2010 World Series of Poker Main Event Championship Continues

Boulos Estafanous (Darien, IL) is the Chip Leader at End of Day 2-A

Johnny Chan Currently Ranked in Top Ten

2,412 Players Begin Day 2-A – Only 1,200 Survive

Friday’s Survivors Return on Monday, July 12th for Day Three

Out of 7,319 Total Starters – 3,936 Dreams Remain Alive

OVERVIEW
 
The 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event continued on Friday with the play and conclusion of Day 2-A.  This session included the first of two flights of players who survived past the first round of competition.  The first round of competition consisted of four starting days, classified as 1-A through 1-D.

Day 2-A began with 2,412 players.  After four levels of play (8 hours), 1,200 players survived.  They will combine with all Day 2-B survivors for Day Three, which is to be played on Monday, July 12th.

The end of Day 2-A chip leader is Boulos Estafanous, from Darien, IL.  He has two previous WSOP cashes.  Estafanous has performed quite well in many poker tournaments, which were mostly played in the Midwest.  He won the first two poker tournaments where he cashed – including the first Bayou Poker Challenge (Harrah’s New Orleans) in 2004.  He also won the Chicago Poker Open in 2005.  However, Estafanous has yet to cash in the WSOP Main Event and will be in unfamiliar territory in the days ahead.  Then again, names from the past like Cada, Eastgate, Yang, and so forth were in unfamiliar territory at one time, and managed to do quite well.  

Also of note were the fine performances of two former gold bracelet champions who are among the top ten.  Two-time world champion and poker legend Johnny Chan ended the day ranked in tenth place.  Two-time gold bracelet winner Jesper Hougaard, from Denmark, enjoyed an even better day and is currently ranked in third place.

The Main Event continues through July 17th when the final table players will ultimately be determined, otherwise known as the “November Nine.”  

THE PLAYERS

Former world champions who participated on Day 2-A included:
 
Joe Cada (2009)
Johnny Chan (1987/1988)
Tom McEvoy (1983)
Berry Johnston (1986)
Jim Bechtel (1993)
Scotty Nguyen (1998)
Chris Moneymaker (2003)
Carlos Mortensen (2001)

Carlos Mortensen was the first former champ to bust out on this day.  He came into the second day of competition on life support, with only about a quarter of the average stack size.  He was eliminated about midway through play.  Ironically, he walked just beneath his movie-screen size banner showing a photo of his 2001 Main Event victory, as he exited the tournament.

Joe Cada put up another strong performance and will continue his title defense on Day Three.  Cada ended the day with an above-average stack size (see interview with Cada in this report).

Johnny Chan appears ready to make a deep run in the Main Event.  He ended Day One ranked second among his group of Day 1-C starters.  He posted another strong day, ending up with 281,000.  This places him in tenth place out of the 1,200 players still alive from this flight.

Tom McEvoy played on this day, but he was eliminated.  The four-time gold bracelet winner hung around for a few levels with a short-stack, before hitting the rail.

Berry Johnston arrived on Day Two with a healthy stack, but busted out on a tough beat.  He took pocket aces up against pocket queens on what turned out to be his final hand of 2010.  A queen flopped, eliminating the former champion some fondly and rightly call “The First Gentleman of Poker.”

Jim Bechtel is arguably the quietest and least noticeable of any former Main Event champion.  In fact, he is often not recognized at tables where he plays.  This suits the calm rancher from Arizona quite well.  One humorous moment took place during a break when a younger player was standing near his table and saw someone ask Bechtel for an autograph.  “Who is that old guy?” the younger man asked.  “That’s Jim Bechtel, who won the event back in 1993.”  A few seconds passed and the young man snapped, “What?  Why didn’t you tell me earlier?  If I had known that, I would not have tried to blow him out of pots and I’d now have more chips in my stack.”  Bechtel remains alive in the Main Event and will play on Day Three.

Scotty Nguyen played on this day and survived to Day Three.  Nguyen was once burdened with flashbacks of a brutal meltdown in the 2007 Main Event, when he disintegrated from being the chip leader to an 11th-place finish.  He came back the next year and won the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship, and is now determined to make another strong showing in this year’s competition.

Chris Moneymaker endured a roller coaster ride most of the day.  He began play ranked in the top ten percent, then slid back to an average stack when he lost a race.  Unshaken by the defeat, Moneymaker played aggressively during the final hour and will return on Day Three with a slightly above-average stack (see interview with Moneymaker in this report).

Notable non-pros who played on Day 2-A included:

Rene Angelil (Celine Dion’s husband/entertainment executive)
Shane Warne (world famous cricketer)
Gabe Kaplan (actor and comedian famous for being TV’s “Kotter”)
Sarah Underwood (Playboy model)

Poker Hall of Fame members who played on Day 2-A included:

    Johnny Chan
    Mike Sexton
    Dewey Tomko

Mike Sexton (Class of 2009) hit the rail about an hour into play.  He arrived short-stacked and pushed with pocket nines, which ran into pocket queens.  Sexton will continue to rest in a second-place tie for most career cashes in the Main Event (with 7), at least for another year.

Dewey Tomko (Class of 2008) survived and will play Day Three, with a slightly below average stack size.  

The ESPN Main Stage hosts the feature table.  The star of Day 2-A was Daniel Negreanu, who had a relatively unremarkable day.  He survived the day, but comes back on Day Three with a short stack.

Current Status of Former WSOP Main Event Champions:

1975/1976:  Doyle Brunson – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
1978:  Bobby “the Owl” Baldwin – Eliminated Day 2-A  
1983:  Tom McEvoy – Eliminated Day 2-A
1986:  Berry Johnston – Eliminated Day 2-A
1987/1988:  Johnny Chan – Survived Day 2-A, 10th in chips….still alive
1989:  Phil Hellmuth – Eliminated Day 1-C
1993:  Jim Bechtel – Survived Day 2-A….still alive
1995:  Dan Harrington – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
1996:  Huck Seed – Eliminated Day 1-C
1998:  Scotty Nguyen – Survived Day 2-A….still alive
2001:  Carlos Mortensen – Eliminated Day 2-A
2002:  Robert Varkonyi – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
2003:  Chris Moneymaker – Survived Day 2-A….still alive
2004:  Greg “Fossilman” Raymer – Eliminated Day 1-A
2005:  Joe Hachem – Eliminated Day 1-D
2006:  Jamie Gold – Eliminated Day 1-B
2007:  Jerry Yang – Eliminated Day 1-C  
2009:  Joe Cada – Survived Day 2-A….still alive

Current Status of Last Year’s November Nine:

Joe Cada – Survived Day 2-A….still alive
Darvin Moon – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Antoine Saout – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Eric Buchman – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Jeff Shulman – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Steven Begleiter – Eliminated on Day 1-C
Phil Ivey – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Kevin Schaffel – Eliminated on Day 1-B
James Akenhead – Eliminated on Day 2-A

Six of last year’s November Nine remain alive in the Main Event.  Joe Cada is in above-average chip position.  Eric Buchman is in the best chip position of last year's finalists.  However, Darvin Moon is also nursing a healthy stack size and sits in the upper third of the field.
 
Current Status of former WSOP “Players of the Year”:

Daniel Negreanu – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (low on chips)
Allen Cunningham – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Jeff Madsen – Eliminated on Day 1-C
Tom Schneider – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Erick Lindgren – Eliminated on Day 1-B
Jeffrey Lisandro – Eliminated on Day 1-D

Current Status of Non-Poker Celebrities:

Ray Romano – Eliminated on Day 1-A
Rene Angelil – Survived Day 2-A….still alive
Orel Hershiser – Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Shanna Moakler – Eliminated on Day 1-C  
J-Kwon, a.k.a. Jay Kwon – Eliminated on Day 1-C
Scott Ian – Eliminated on Day 1-C
Anthony Rapp – Eliminated on Day 1-C
Shane Warne – Eliminated on Day 2-A
Emmitt Smith – Eliminated Day 1-D
Jason Alexander -- Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Bruce Buffer -- Playing Day 2-B….still alive
Gabe Kaplan – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (low on chips)
Sara Underwood – Eliminated Day 2-A

Historical Footnote:  The highest Main Event finish (and cash) by a celebrity was actor and comedian Gabe Kaplan, who finished 13th in the 1991 championship.  The highest Main Event finish for a (non-poker) celebrity was actor Telly Savalas, who finished 21st in the 1992 championship.

DEFENDING CHAMPION – JOE CADA

Defending world champion Joe Cada is the youngest WSOP Main Event winner in history.  Cada stunned the world by winning $8,547,044 and the most coveted title in poker.  Yet, Cada has not done so well in his sophomore year.  He played more than a dozen events in 2010, failing to cash a single time.  Cada insists he is now focused in the Main Event.  He is ranked 259th among the 1,200 players still alive from this group – which is top quarter of the field.  Cada was interviewed following play on Day 2-A

Question:  How did it go today?
Cada:  It went well.  I chipped up nice and slow.  I went from 73,000 early up to 122,000.

Question:  How are things differently for you this year since you are the defending champ, versus last year when you were relatively anonymous?
Cada:  Things are a little different this year, versus last.  People play back at me a little more (now).  But it all depends on how I play.  Not everyone does that.  But the fact is, poker is the same game.  It does not matter who you are.  You have to adjust to the situation.  

Question:  So, is it better to be known or unknown when it comes to a tournament like this?
Cada:  I don’t think it really matters.  There are different variables and what matters is how you adjust to your table and how your table is playing.  So, there is no difference.

Question:  What are your plans and expectations for Day Three?
Cada:  I just hope to avoid playing in big pots.  I want to chip up slowly.  Play small pots and position.  

Question:  You played at the ESPN feature table on the first day.  You were in the middle of the room on day two.  Which do you prefer?
Cada:  It does not matter much.  I guess if I have to pick, I would prefer a non-TV table.  That way you get more hands in.  You get to see more hands.  So, I would prefer being off the TV table.

2003 WORLD CHAMPION – CHRIS MONEYMAKER

Chris Moneymaker was the sonic boom who lit the fuse of poker’s modern era.  But since his epic 2003 triumph, he has posted less than stellar WSOP results.  Moneymaker has cashed only three more times since.  His last in-the-money showing at the WSOP was three years ago.  However, he is now positioned to become a factor in this year’s championship.  He is ranked 359th among the 1,200 players still alive from this group – which is the top third of the field.  Moneymaker was interviewed following play on Day 2-A:

Question:  How did it go today?
Moneymaker:  It went terrible.  I played A-level poker.  I played really, really well.  But I lost every race.  I did make a mistake with aces.  I lost the maximum with them when I should have lost less.  But other than that, I played really well.  I lost one really big race, but I have to move on.

Question:  Let’s talk about races.  How important is it to win them in a huge tournament like this?
Moneymaker:  You have to win the races.  But you do not have to win a lot of them.  I had at least two races, and one was a big one.  I’ve lost them all, and I do have chips – so maybe it is not that important at the earlier stages.  I think you have to win them later, for sure.  You do not have to win the races on Day One and Day Two so much.  But later on, you have to win them.

Question:  Some people are already starting to associate the word “comeback” with you.  Does that bother you at all?  Or, are you not concerned about public perceptions of your life and what you do in tournaments?
Moneymaker:  (Laughing) Comeback?  Hey wait a minute, where did I go?  Did I get lost somewhere?  The truth is, when I won the WSOP in 2003, I was an amateur player.  I got very fortunate in a lot of spots.  I played decent, but I also won all of my races.  The stars aligned for me that year.  Then, after that – I did not take the game seriously for the next few years.  I did not put in the time like so many others did.  And, I fell behind to be quite honest.  I did not play very good poker.  Then, I started taking the game more seriously and started studying again.  So, if you want to call it a ‘comeback,’ then you have to go back to when I started to think differently about this and take the game more seriously and start to learn again.  I would go up to people and ask them what I was doing wrong.  I had to swallow my pride to improve my game.  I think it has gone a long way towards helping me and I hope it will continue.

Question:  You are playing on Day Three, with an above-average stack.  What are your thoughts about that and your expectations?
Moneymaker:  I just approach it like any other day.  This tournament is so good because you are so deep stacked.  There is no need to push anything at this point.  In the past, when I had a larger stack I used to try and play more and force every hand and bully the table and play crazy.  I ended up blowing a lot of chips that way.  Now, I play a little more solid and let things come to me, instead of forcing things.  I’m going to go in, take my seat, watch how everyone else plays and then pick my spots.

THE TOURNAMENT

All players began the tournament with 30,000 in chips.

Tables began ten-handed.  The reason play was ten-handed instead of nine-handed was primarily to be able to accommodate a large number of registrants if need be.  Once Day Two began, play went to nine-handed, which is expected to remain in effect until play reaches the final ten players, and then one player is eliminated – thus making the “November Nine.”

Day 2-A played four full levels.  Each level is 2 hours long.  Play ended at 11:00 pm.

The average stack size is currently about 90,000 in chips (Day 2-B pending, for players entering Day Three).

When players return for Day Three, blinds will be 600-1,200 -- with a 200 ante.  There is one hour remaining in Level 9.

Day 2-A began with 2,412 players.  There were 1,200 survivors.  This means 49.8 percent of Day Two starters survived round two.

With this day now complete, there are 3,934 total players are still alive in the Main Event.  This is the sum of Day 2-A survivors (1,200) combined with 2-B starters (2,734), playing tomorrow.

Players who survived Day 2-A will return to continue their quest for the 2010 world poker championship on Monday, July 12th, at 12 noon.  On Monday, every player still alive in the tournament will be in the tournament facility as the same time, for the first time.

THE LEADERBOARD

This chip leader from this day is Boulos Estafanous, from Darien, IL.  He has two previous WSOP cashes.  However, Estafanous has performed quite well in many poker tournaments played mostly in the Midwest.  He won the first two poker tournaments he cashed – which were the first Bayou Poker Challenge (Harrah’s New Orleans) in 2004.  He also won the Chicago Poker Open in 2005.  However, Estafanous has yet to cash in the WSOP Main Event and will be in unfamiliar territory in the days ahead.  Estafanous currently has 340,100 in chips.

Ranking second in chips from this day is Randy Dorfman, from Miami, FL.

Only seven of 1,200 players from this group have in excess of 300,000 in chips.

Only 46 of 1,200 players from this group have in excess of 200,000 in chips.

Here is how the chip leaders from each day have fared, thus far:

1-A:  Corwin Cole, from Las Vegas, NV – Survived Day 2-A (currently at 186,000 – 75th place)
1-B:  James Danielson, from LaPlata, MD – Playing Day 2-B
1-C:  Mathieu Sauriol, from Laval, Quebec (Canada) – Survived Day 2-A (175,100 – 97th place)
1-D:  Steve Billirakis, from Bourbonnais, IL – Playing Day 2-B
2-A:  Boulos Estafanous – To Be Determined

THE NATIONS

There are 92 nations and territories represented among all players who entered this year’s WSOP Main Event. (The 2010 WSOP attracted participants from 117 different locales).

This year’s Main Event is comprised of 67.9 percent Americans.  In other words, 32.1 percent of all participants are from other nations and territories.

The top-ten nations by participation in the Main Event are:

United States – 4,973 players
Canada – 482
Great Britain – 292
France – 176
Germany – 176
Australia – 110
Sweden – 99
Russia – 89
Italy – 81
Netherlands – 78

THE DAYS

In 2009, at the conclusion of Day Two, the eventual champion Joe Cada ranked in 2nd place.

In 2008, at the conclusion of Day 2, the eventual champion Peter Eastgate ranked in 484th place.

In 2007, at the conclusion of Day 2, the eventual champion Jerry Yang ranked in 26th place.

In 2006, at the conclusion of Day 2, the eventual champion Jamie Gold ranked in 155th place.

Based on WSOP figures (2006 to present), seven of the eight Day Two chip leaders have cashed.  The previous results are as follows:

2009 2-A – Amir Lehavot finished in 226th place
2009 2-B – Peter DeBaene finished in 398th place

2008 2-A – Brian Schaedlich finished in 456th place
2008 2-B – Peter Biebel finished in 273rd place

2007 2-A – Jeff Banghart finished in 41st place
2007 2-B – Gus Hansen finished in 61st place

2006 2-A – Yuriy Kozinskiy did not cash
2006 2-B – Dmitri Nobles finished in 76th place

During the mega-era (2003 to present), the eventual WSOP champions and their chip positions at the conclusion of Day Two were:

2003 – Chris Moneymaker, 60,475 in chips (ranked 11th)*
2004 – Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, 74,400 in chips (ranked 7th)
2005 – Joe Hachem, 67,350 in chips (not in top 25)
2006 – Jamie Gold, 100,125 in chips (ranked 23rd)
2007 – Jerry Yang, 99,700 in chips (not in top 25)
2008 – Peter Eastgate, 62,325 in chips (not in top 25)
2009 – Joe Cada 187,225 in chips (ranked 99th)

*NOTE:  2003-2005 started with 10,000 in chips.  2006-2008 started with 20,000 in chips.  2009 starts with 30,000 in chips.

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ODDS AND ENDS

Based on the birthdates of all 7,319 players, the average age of all participants in the Main Event is 37 years and 4 months. 

Husbands/Wives Still Playing in the Main Event:

Chip Jett/Karina Jett – Both playing Day 2-B

The most common phrase heard on Day 2-A?  “All-In and a Call, Table X!”  Any all-in bet which is called in the Main Event elicits a vocal auto-response from dealers who are instructed to call attention to the table, both for tournament staff to monitor more closely and for ESPN television cameras to (possibly) film.

The second most common phrase heard on Day 2-A?  “Seat Open, Table X!”  As players are eliminated, tables are consolidated one by one, and the tournament gradually becomes smaller.  Dealers call attention to open seats to tournament staff can re-fill the seat as quickly as possible.

Irony of Ironies:  Three of the most famous poker commentators on television were seen playing in one section on this day.  Mike Sexton (WPT), Vince Van Patten (WPT), and Gabe Kaplan (High Stakes Poker) all played on Day 2-A.

Mark Marcellus, from Jacksonville, FL played on this day.  He brought along 14 of his supporters who watched most of the day from the rail.  Marcellus’ “Crew” wore identical blue t-shirts to support their friend in the tournament.  He did not survive Day Two.

Dennis Phillips enjoyed staggering success as the third-place finisher in 2008 and roared back in 2009, ending up in 45th place.  This year, there will be no deep-run trifecta from the jovial everyman from St. Louis.  Phillips was eliminated late in the day.

In what has to be one of the most bizarre ironies of any poker ruling ever, former WSOP Tournament Director (2002-2004) Matt Savage was issued a penalty on this day.  He was forced to sit out for one full round.  Savage, who has played in several WSOP events this year including the Main Event, enjoyed a strong run on Day One.  He returned for Day Two and was seen walking towards the rail very early in the competition.  Seeing Savage walking across the floor, a WSOP staffer went over and asked him what was going on.  Savage appeared somewhat dejected, but also flashed a slight grin.  “I just got my first penalty, ever!” Savage barked.  When pressed for more details, Savage explained that he had exposed his hand during the middle of play (somewhat innocently), enticing the other player to fold.  Since showing cards is not permitted, Savage was issued the standard penalty.  “I can’t believe it,” Savage quipped.  “It’s ironic, because I’m the one who made that rule.”  Savage is one of the founders of the Tournament Directors Association (TDA).

This is the 57th and final event on the 2010 WSOP schedule which is played in Las Vegas.  Five more gold bracelet events will take place in London, England at the Empire Casino, to be held in September 14 through 28th as part of the Fourth Annual World Series of Poker Europe.   

This marks the sixth consecutive year the WSOP has been held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.  Prior to 2005, the WSOP was held at Binion’s Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas.  As a testament to the expansion of the WSOP since Harrah’s Entertainment assumed ownership and control of the world most prestigious poker event, more than three quarters of the $1.2 billion in prize money has been awarded to winners within the Rio – three times the amount awarded during the entire 35-year period at the Horseshoe.

This is the 885th gold bracelet event in World Series of Poker history.  Note:  This figure includes every official WSOP event played, including tournaments during the early years when there were no actual gold bracelets awarded.  It also includes the 11 gold bracelets awarded to date at WSOP Europe.

In the 41-year history of the WSOP, the total combined amount of prize money that has been awarded amounts to $1,228,375,121.

The total number of entrants in the WSOP Main Event (all years combined) is 50,756.

The WSOP title sponsor the last two years has been Jack Link’s Beef Jerky.  As part of a fun promotion, Jack Links gives away large quantities of their product to Main Event players who make big hands.  This year’s key hand is four jacks.  About six hours into play on Day 1-B Brian Kim was the first to hit the magical hand – making four jacks with one hook in his hand to go along with the three on board.  34 players have made the hand in the first four days.

THE WOMEN IN THE MAIN EVENT

Special Note:  The WSOP recognizes that player characteristics such as gender, race, etc. do not typically warrant special mention.  However, since many members of the media wish to know details about female participation and status, the staff is providing this information for media use.

The unofficial total number of females who participated in this year’s Main Event was 216.  There is no official record since entrants are not designated by their gender.  However, it has been customary to count every player at the start of Day One and take an unofficial head-count of female players.  This figure represents about 3 percent of the field.

Here are the highest-female finishers (by year) in the WSOP Main Event (Note:  Only players who finished in-the-money were recorded):

No female cashed in the Main Event between the years 1970-1985.

1986 – Wendeen Eolis (25th)
1987 – None
1988 – None
1989 – None
1990 – None
1991 – None
1992 – None
1993 – Marsha Waggoner (19th)
1994 – Barbara Samuelson (10th)
1995 – Barbara Enright (5th)
1996 – Lucy Rokach (26th)
1997 – Marsha Waggoner (12th)
1998 – Susie Isaacs (10th)
1999 – None
2000 – Annie Duke (10th)
2001 – None
2002 – None
2003 – Annie Duke (47th)
2004 – Rose Richie (98th)
2005 – Tiffany Williamson (15th)
2006 – Sabyl Cohen-Landrum (56th)
2007 – Maria Ho (38th)
2008 – Tiffany Michelle (17th)
2009 – Leo Margets, a.k.a. Leonor Margets (27th) 

WSOP MAIN EVENT ALL-TIME RECORDS

Most Main Event Wins (Career):

3 – Johnny Moss (*first win was by vote)
3 – Stu Ungar
2 – Doyle Brunson
2 – Johnny Chan

Most Main Event Cashes (Career):

10 – Berry Johnston
7 – Bobby Baldwin
7 – Humberto Brenes
7 – Doyle Brunson
7 – Jay Heimowitz
7 – Phil Hellmuth
7 – Mike Sexton
6 – John Bonetti
6 – Johnny Moss
6 – Jason Lester
6 – Steve Lott
5 – 14 players tied with 5 cashes each

Most Main Event Final Tables (Career):

5 – Doyle Brunson
5 – Jesse Alto
4 – Johnny Chan
4 – T.J. Cloutier
4 – Dan Harrington
4 – Berry Johnston
4 – Johnny Moss
4 – Stu Ungar
3 – 6 players tied with 3 final tables each

Youngest Winner

Joe Cada (2009) -- 21 years, 11 months, 22 days

Oldest Winner

Johnny Moss (1974) – 66 years, 11 months, 24 days

Oldest Participant

97 years -- Jack Ury (2010)

Most Consecutive Years Played

37 – Howard “Tahoe” Andrew (1974 to present)

Most Main Events Played (Career)

38 – Doyle Brunson (did not play 1999 through 2001)

Most Consecutive Years to Cash (Main Event)

4 – Theodore Park (2005 – 2008)
4 – Bo Sehlstedt (2004 – 2007)
4 – Robert Turner (1991 – 1994)

2010 WSOP STATISTICS (INCLUDING MAIN EVENT)

Tournament attendance is up significantly from last year when there were 60,875 entries (then, a record).  This year, there were 72,966 total entries -- an increase of 20 percent.  Hence, this is the biggest WSOP of all time, measured by total participation. 

Prize money increased from 2008, when the total money awarded was a record $180,774,427.  This year, the total amount of prize money awarded was $187,109,850 – an increase of 3.5 percent.

This year, there were 57 gold bracelet events – which is the same number as last year.

Through the conclusion of Event #56, the nationalities of gold bracelet winners have been:

United States (38)
Great Britain (5)
Canada (5)
Hungary (2)
New Zealand (1)
France (1)
Russia (1)
Norway (1)
Holland (1)
Israel (1)

Through the conclusion of Event #56, the national origin (birthplace) of winners has been:

United States (31)
Great Britain (5)
Canada (5)
Vietnam (2)
China (2)
Hungary (2)
New Zealand (1)
France (1)
Lebanon (1)
Russia (1)
Mexico (1)
Bangladesh (1)
Norway (1)
Holland (1)
Israel (1)

Through the conclusion of Event #56, the breakdown of professional poker players to semi-pros and amateurs who won gold bracelets is as follows:

Professional Players (39): Michael Chow, Michael Mizrachi, Praz Bansi, Josh Tieman, Peter Gelencser, James Dempsey, Men “the Master” Nguyen, Matt Matros, Yan R. Chen, Steve Gee, Carter Phillips, Jason DeWitt; Eric Buchman, David Baker, Richard Ashby, Dutch Boyd, Sammy Farha, David Warga, Will Haydon, Matt Keikoan, Mike Ellis, Luis Velador, Ayaz Mahmood, Phil Ivey, Luigi Kwaysser, Scott Montgomery, Steven Kelly, Steve Jelinek, Dean Hamrick, Ian Gordon, Gavin Smith, Jesse Rockowitz, Chris Bell, Shawn Busse, Sigurd Eskeland, Chance Kornuth, Ryan Welch, Brendan Taylor, Daniel Alaei

Semi-Pros (: Frank Kassela, Tex Barch, Miguel Proulx, Jeffrey Papola, Frank Kassela, Mike Linn, Dan Kelly, Tomer Berda

Amateurs (9): Duc Pham, Aadam Daya, Pascal LeFrancois, Simon Watt, Vanessa Hellebuyck, Jeff Tebben, Konstantin Puchkov, Harold Angle, Marcel Vonk


Through the conclusion of Event #56, here is the list of repeat WSOP gold bracelet winners:

Praz Bansi
Men “the Master” Nguyen
Russ “Dutch” Boyd
Sammy Farha
David Warga (* his first WSOP win was in a non-open event)
Matt Keikoan
Luis Velador
Phil Ivey
Frank Kassela (two wins this year)
Daniel Alaei

Through the conclusion of 2010 World Series of Poker -- Event #56:

Youngest Winner – Steven Kelly (21), Dan Kelly (21)
Oldest Winner – Harold Angle (78)
Female Winners (open events) – None
Multiple-Event Winners (this year) – Frank Kassela

[TightEnd]

2010 World Series of Poker
Event #57: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship

Collopy's late charge gave him about 300,000 for Day 3.

After eight hours of play, the second of the two Day 2 flights has come to an end. It was a comparatively short day in WSOP terms but it produced plenty of action.

Perhaps the most talked-about hand to emerge from Day 2b was a hand between Prahlad Friedman and Ted Bort. As was related to us after the fact, Bort shoved against Friedman, then eventually called a clock when Friedman was slow to decide what to do. With a floor person counting down the final ten seconds of the clock, Friedman appeared to call all in at the count of "One." Neither the dealer nor the floor heard him, however, and immediately killed his hand at the zero count. The entire table protested that Friedman had called, especially Bort -- who tabled what was the best hand. Friedman would have been eliminated. Instead Friedman remains alive heading into Day 3, as does Bort.

Otherwise the theme of the day was the elimination of many of the notable names. George Danzer. Phil Ivey. Todd Brunson. David Baker. John Phan. Gavin Griffin. J.C. Tran. Doyle Brunson. Jon Little. The list of eliminations goes on and on.

There were a few well-known name making waves near the top of the counts. Bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst was zeroing in on 300,000 chips before settling at 265,000 chips to end the day. The same was true of Gabriel Walls, who spent large portions of the day as the chip leader with 400,000 before falling back to 241,000 by the end of the night. The opposite was true of Jon van Fleet and Jim "Queso" Collopy, who both chipped up at the end of the night to settle just south of 300,000.

The overall leader for the day appears to be David Assouline, who bagged up 387,800. So far we haven't seen any bigger end-of-Day 2b stack. If that count holds, it will make Assouline the overall leader heading into Day 3 on Monday, when the entire field will consolidate for the first time.

Tomorrow is a day off for the World Series of Poker, the first and only day off the entire seven weeks of the festival. Survivors will spend the day trying their best to rest and relax in preparation to re-join the fray on Monday. It's unlikely that we'll hit the money by the end of the day Monday. All of these players are going to have to go through another full day of play without being assured a return on their $10,000 investment.

[TightEnd]

Top Chip Counts
1    David Assouline    387,800
2    Ricardo Fasanaro    380,000
3    Matt Reed     337,800
4    Jim Collopy     305,100
5    Jon Van Fleet    295,600
6    Charles Sylvestre    292,300
7    Sasha Rosewood 279,500
8    Vanessa Selbst    265,000
9    Marc Sander    265,000
10    Gabriel Walls    241,000

Phil Galfond 203,000
Jason Mercier 186,000
David Benjamine 173,000
Allen Cunningham 156,000
Johnny Lodden 128,000
Ross Boatman 120,000
John Kabbaj 100,000
Dan Harrington 80,000
Stephen Chidwick 75,000
Roland De Wolfe 60,000
Paul Parker 46,000
Kara Scott 40,000
Roberto Romenello 36,000

[TightEnd]

2,619 left for Monday's Day 3

blinds 500-1000 average 80,000


747 are paid at least $19,000

top prizes are

(USD)
1          8,944,138
2          5,545,855
3          4,129,979
4          3,092,497
5          2,332,960
6          1,772,939
7          1,356,708
8          1,045,738
9          811,823
10          635,011
11          635,011
12          635,011
13          500,165
14          500,165
15          500,165
16          396,967
17          396,967
18          396,967
19          317,161
20          317,161
21          317,161
22          317,161
23          317,161
24          317,161
25          317,161
26          317,161
27          317,161
28          255,242
29          255,242
30          255,242
31          255,242
32          255,242
33          255,242
34          255,242
35          255,242
36          255,242
37          206,395
38          206,395
39          206,395
40          206,395
41          206,395
42          206,395
43          206,395
44          206,395
45          206,395

[outragous76]

Top Chip Counts
1    David Assouline    387,800
2    Ricardo Fasanaro    380,000
3    Matt Reed     337,800
4    Jim Collopy     305,100
5    Jon Van Fleet    295,600
6    Charles Sylvestre    292,300
7    Sasha Rosewood 279,500
8    Vanessa Selbst    265,000
9    Marc Sander    265,000
10    Gabriel Walls    241,000

Phil Galfond 203,000
Jason Mercier 186,000
David Benjamine 173,000
Allen Cunningham 156,000
Johnny Lodden 128,000
Ross Boatman 120,000
John Kabbaj 100,000
Dan Harrington 80,000
Stephen Chidwick 75,000
Roland De Wolfe 60,000
Paul Parker 46,000
Kara Scott 40,000
Roberto Romenello 36,000

dan carter on 70k

[Royal Flush]

Top Chip Counts
1    David Assouline    387,800
2    Ricardo Fasanaro    380,000
3    Matt Reed     337,800
4    Jim Collopy     305,100
5    Jon Van Fleet    295,600
6    Charles Sylvestre    292,300
7    Sasha Rosewood 279,500
8    Vanessa Selbst    265,000
9    Marc Sander    265,000
10    Gabriel Walls    241,000

Phil Galfond 203,000
Jason Mercier 186,000
David Benjamine 173,000
Allen Cunningham 156,000
Johnny Lodden 128,000
Ross Boatman 120,000
John Kabbaj 100,000
Dan Harrington 80,000
Stephen Chidwick 75,000
Roland De Wolfe 60,000
Paul Parker 46,000
Kara Scott 40,000
Roberto Romenello 36,000

dan carter on 70k

Dave Jones on 115,million

[GreekStein]

is James Keys still in anyone know?

[810ofclubs]

is James Keys still in anyone know?

20k told my the great man himself

[GreekStein]

is James Keys still in anyone know?

20k told my the great man himself

Such a sick 'I speak to Keys' brag.

[Simon Galloway]

Irony of Ironies: 

I always sigh, someone explain it to them pls...

[titaniumbean]

is James Keys still in anyone know?

20k told my the great man himself

Love the avatar Toby



Gogogo luckbox Ellwood!

[TightEnd]

DAY 3 STARTS MONDAY WITH 2,557 PLAYERS WHO HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS ALIVE

by: Nolan Dalla - Photo by Jesse Nabers

DAY 3 STARTS MONDAY WITH 2,557 PLAYERS WHO HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS ALIVE
Official Report
 
Event #57 Day 2-B
 
No-Limit Hold’em World Championship
 
Buy-In:  $10,000
 
Number of Entries:  7,319
 
Number of Players Entering Day Two (Total):  5,146  
 
Number of Starters (Day 2-B Only):  2,734  
 
Number of Survivors (Day 2-B Only):  1,357
 
Total Players Remaining:  2,557
 
Total Net Prize Pool:  $68,798,600
 
Number of Places Paid:  747
 
First Place Prize:  $8,944,138
 
July 5th to November 9th, 2010

DAY'S HEADLINES

Day 2-B Complete
 
2010 World Series of Poker Main Event Championship Continues

David Assouline is the Chip Leader at End of Day 2-B

Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey Hit the Rail

2,734 Players Begin Day 2-B – Only 1,357 Survive

Saturday’s Survivors Return on Monday, July 12th for Day Three

Out of 7,319 Total Starters – 2,557 Dreams Remain Alive (35%)

Canadian First and Brazilian Second in Current Overall Standings

Note:  For the tournament portal page for this event, including the day’s chip counts, click HERE.

DAILY DIARY
 
The 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event continued on Saturday with the play and conclusion of Day 2-B.  This session included the second of two flights of players who survived past the initial round of competition.  The first round of competition consisted of four starting days, classified as 1-A through 1-D.

Day 2-B began with 2,734 players.  After four levels of play (8 hours), only 1,357 players survived.  The remaining players will combine with Day 2-A survivors.  Day Three is to be played on Monday, July 12th.  There will be 2,557 players when play commences, which also means for the first time in the tournament all players will be competing together at the Rio.

The end of Day 2-B chip leader is David Assouline, from Hampstead, Quebec (Canada).  He has 387,800 in chips, which leads all players at this point in the championship.  Assouline has never been in this spot before.  His sole recorded cash in a live tournament took place in a 500 Euro buy-in event in France where he won about $4,000.  Assouline has never cashed at the WSOP, to date.

Also of note were the fine performances of former gold bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst (Brooklyn, NY), who finished the day ranked in eleventh place.  Former world champions who survived included Robert Varkonyi and Dan Harrington.

Among those who did not fare as well on Day 2-B were Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey.  In fact, this was a brutal day for last year’s November Nine players.  Four of the nine players from last year’s final table busted out on this day -- with Phil Ivey, Darvin Moon, Antoine Saout, and Jeff Shulman walking the plank.

The Main Event continues through July 17th when the final table players will ultimately be determined, otherwise known as the “November Nine.”  

THE PLAYERS

Former world champions who participated on Day 2-B included:
 
Doyle Brunson (1976/1977)
Dan Harrington (1995)
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson (2000)
Robert Varkonyi (2002)

Doyle Brunson nursed a smaller than average-sized stack during most of the day.  He finally busted out following the dinner break at about 9 pm.  He lost holding pocket sevens – which ended up being quite unlucky for the poker legend.  Brunson is the only player in the game who elicits a unique response in what has become a WSOP custom.  At the moment he has been eliminated in recent years, players in the immediate area around Brunson begin to applaud spontaneously.  Then, as players at other tables look over to see Brunson standing up and walking away, the entire room begins applauding – entirely out of respect for the ten-time gold bracelet winner.  Brunson’s elimination, while not necessarily anticipated, has certainly been one of the most moving emotional moments each year at the WSOP.  

A decade after winning the Main Event, 2000 world champ Chris “Jesus” Ferguson was eliminated when holding A-7 suited against A-K suited.  He had been ground down to just 6,000 or so in chips when the fateful hand took place, and shoved with the hand hoping to regain some chips.  Ferguson missed and departed late in the day.

Dan Harrington enjoyed a good day.  He currently stands in the top third of the field -- ranked 351st out of 1,357 who finished the day.

Robert Varkonyi enjoyed a great day.  He currently stands near the top five percent of the field -- ranked 67th out of 1,357 who finished the day.

Notable non-pros who played on Day 2-B included:

Jason Alexander (actor – “Seinfeld)
Hank Azaria (actor/voice – “The Simpsons”)
Bruce Buffer (announcer -- UFC)
Orel Hershiser (former Major League Baseball player)
Shannon Elizabeth (actress – “American Pie”)
Sam Simon (producer – “The Simpsons”)

Baseball great Orel Hershiser was eliminated early in the day.  He (and another player) suffered brutal beats when Hershiser was dealt playing card: Ah playing card: and called an all-in re-raise by an opponent who had shoved with playing card: playing card: .  A third player named Sam Haddad (Westwood, MA) had initially made a small initial raise and was next to contemplate his decision.  Haddad had playing card: playing card: , about as bad a hand as possible against two all-in opponents.  Haddad did have both opponents covered and decided to make the call.  Haddad was way behind since one opponent held two tens.  Even a ten on board would not help his hand.  Haddad became slightly more optimistic when the flop came playing card: playing card: playing card: .  He was basically drawing to a two-outer (a three).  The turn was a blank playing card: .  But the playing card: on the river made trip-threes for Haddad and left everyone shaking their heads.  Hershiser was a good sport and tossed a nice bustout gift to Haddad.  It was a signed baseball from the former Cy Young award winner and World Series (of Baseball) MVP.  Haddad raked in a nice-sized pot, and a baseball.

This was actor/comedian Jason Alexander's fourth straight year to compete in the Main Event.  He has also competed all four years at Ante Up for Africa (the WSOP's annual charity event).  Alexander was eliminated on this day.  Note:  A short interview with Alexander can be read in this report.

Jack Ury (Terre Haute, IN) broke his own record (set last year) as the oldest player ever to play in the WSOP Main Event.  Ury is 97-years-old and is competing in his fourth straight world championship.  Ury remains alive in the Main Event although he is quite low on chips, with 8,500.  Ury will need to make a major move on Day Three.

Nikolay Evdakov (Moscow, Russia), who holds the record for most cashes within a single year at the WSOP (with 10), is also expanding his record for most cashes ever within a three-year period.  Evdakov was eliminated on this day.

Poker Hall of Fame members who played on Day 2-B included:

Barbara Enright -- Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Lyle Berman – Eliminated on Day 2-B

The ESPN Main Stage hosts the feature table.  The star of Day 2-B was initially Maryland lumberjack and last year’s Main Event runner up, Darvin Moon.  Following Moon’s exit, 1995 world champion Dan Harrington became the primary focus of coverage and interest.

Current Status of Former WSOP Main Event Champions:

1975/1976:  Doyle Brunson – Eliminated Day 2-B
1978:  Bobby “the Owl” Baldwin – Eliminated Day 2-A  
1983:  Tom McEvoy – Eliminated Day 2-A
1986:  Berry Johnston – Eliminated Day 2-A
1987/1988:  Johnny Chan – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (among chip leaders)
1989:  Phil Hellmuth – Eliminated Day 1-C
1993:  Jim Bechtel – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (average chips)
1995:  Dan Harrington – Playing Day 3….still alive (average chips)
1996:  Huck Seed – Eliminated Day 1-C
1998:  Scotty Nguyen – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (average chips)
2000:  Chris “Jesus” Ferguson – Eliminated Day 2-B
2001:  Carlos Mortensen – Eliminated Day 2-A
2002:  Robert Varkonyi – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
2003:  Chris Moneymaker – Playing Day 3….still alive (average chips)
2004:  Greg “Fossilman” Raymer – Eliminated Day 1-A
2005:  Joe Hachem – Eliminated Day 1-D
2006:  Jamie Gold – Eliminated Day 1-B
2007:  Jerry Yang – Eliminated Day 1-C  
2009:  Joe Cada – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)

Current Status of Last Year’s November Nine:

Joe Cada – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Darvin Moon – Eliminated Day 2-B
Antoine Saout – Eliminated Day 2-B
Eric Buchman – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Jeff Shulman – Eliminated Day 2-B
Steven Begleiter – Eliminated on Day 1-C
Phil Ivey – Eliminated Day 2-B
Kevin Schaffel – Eliminated Day 1-B
James Akenhead – Eliminated Day 2-A

Only two of last year’s November Nine remain alive in the Main Event.  Joe Cada is in above-average chip position.  Eric Buchman is in the best chip position of last year's finalists.  All other former finalists have now been eliminated.

Phil Ivey was eliminated on this day.  His disastrous hand involved Q-Q against K-K.  Ivey has the queens and was nearly all-in.  Things look bleak for the eight-time gold bracelet winner, until the turn when a queen fell – giving trip queens to Ivey.  The river was even more dramatic.  A king rained down on the river, crushing Ivey and creating an uproar inside cavernous Pavilion tournament room.  Ivey was left with a paltry 1,900 in chips and exited a short time later.  The player who officially eliminated Ivey was Yuji Masaki.  

Darvin Moon, who was last year’s runner up to winner Joe Cada, exited during the middle of the day.  He lost most of his stack holding pocket jacks against A-Q after a queen hit the board.  He then busted out holding ten-nine, after he flopped a pair of tens.  The opponent had pocket aces which held up, and Moon hit the rail.
 
Current Status of former WSOP “Players of the Year”:

Daniel Negreanu – Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Allen Cunningham – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Jeff Madsen – Eliminated Day 1-C
Tom Schneider – Eliminated Day 2-B
Erick Lindgren – Eliminated Day 1-B
Jeffrey Lisandro – Eliminated Day 1-D

Current Status of Non-Poker Celebrities:

Ray Romano – Eliminated Day 1-A
Rene Angelil – Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Orel Hershiser – Eliminated Day 2-B
Shanna Moakler – Eliminated Day 1-C  
J-Kwon, a.k.a. Jay Kwon – Eliminated Day 1-C
Scott Ian – Eliminated Day 1-C
Anthony Rapp – Eliminated Day 1-C
Shane Warne – Eliminated Day 2-A
Emmitt Smith – Eliminated Day 1-D
Jason Alexander – Eliminated Day 2-B
Bruce Buffer -- Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Gabe Kaplan – Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Sara Underwood – Eliminated Day 2-A
Shannon Elizabeth – Eliminated Day 2-B

Historical Footnote:  The highest Main Event finish (and cash) by a celebrity was actor and comedian Gabe Kaplan, who finished 13th in the 1991 championship.  The highest Main Event finish for a (non-poker) celebrity was actor Telly Savalas, who finished 21st in the 1992 championship.

JASON ALEXANDER (ACTOR) -- ELIMINATED

Jason Alexander will forever be known as the lovable loser on the smash hit television series, “Seinfeld.”  But Alexander is a much deeper thinker and a far more generous man with his time and interests than seen in any fictional television character or stage role.  He has performed countless acts of charity over the past two decades.  He’s also a highly-committed social and political activist.  Alexander also loves poker passionately, demonstrated this year by playing in his fourth consecutive WSOP Main Event.  He survived Day One, but was eliminated about midway through the second round of competition.  Alexander was interviewed a short time after he exited the tournament.

Question:  Does your profession, being an actor, help you as a poker player?
Alexander:  It may help a little bit, but not against the pros.  Against some novice players, it can create a bit of an edge.  I can create a kind of impression during a hand.  But frankly, if I have time to spend thinking about how I am going to perform, I’m probably in the wrong hand.  There may be a couple of times where an actor can have an edge, such as when you are bluffing.  It can help there.  But if you are trying to hide a hand that’s really good, there is no actor in the world that can pull that off.  Because the minute anyone sees where a guys goes (mimics comic face), the other guy is going to say ‘he’s got a monster.’

Question:  This is the fourth straight year you have played the WSOP Main Event.  What is it that attracts you to this tournament?
Alexander:   I make time to come here, no matter what else I am doing.  This is the dream maker.  This is the place where you can say, ‘if the planets align, I can actually win this.’  It’s also very exciting.  I also happen to enjoy the game of poker.  I like the people who play it, for the most part.  Every year that I have been here, if you take every table I have been at, I have met nothing but great people.  We’ve had a good time.  It’s a social game.  I meet people here at the WSOP from all over the world.  This is one of the few tournaments where all of those things are true.  If you are a people person and you love the game of poker, and if you are crazy enough to dream then dream, then this is the place you want to be.  

Question:  What about next year?  Will we see Jason Alexander at the 2011 WSOP?
Alexander:  You bet!  Absolutely!

DUEL GOLD BRACELET WINNER (2010) – FRANK KASSELA

Frank Kassela, the winner of two gold bracelets at this year’s World Series of Poker appears headed for the 2010 WSOP “Player of the Year” honor.  His lead in the annual points-based race makes him a virtual lock to win the coveted title, which signifies the best all-around player performance over the entire course of the WSOP, including all open bracelet tournaments -- 54 in all.  Kassela is a 42-year-old professional poker player from Las Vegas, NV.  He enjoyed a fabulous breakthrough year at the WSOP, earning two gold bracelet wins, three final table appearances, and five in-the-money-finishes.  His combined earnings total $1,233,987 – not counting results in the Main Event which is presently ongoing.  Kassela finished Day 2-B still alive, with 127,000.  This ranks 280th out of the 1,357 who survived the day.
 
Question:  How did it go today?
Kassela:  Today was a little more up and down than I wish it had been.  I started the day at 87,000 and ran that up to 148,000 and then finished the day at 127,000.  Unfortunately, I went card dead for about two hours.  I don’t think I played two pots in that entire time.  

Question:  Talk about how important momentum is in tournament poker.  You now have two kinds of momentum on your side – the self-confidence in your own game where you can trust your own instincts, as well as the momentum that other players now know you, and in some cases fear you.  Talk about momentum.
Kassela:  The momentum that I feel right now is really valuable.  Internally, it helps me to manage all the ups and downs that come with playing in the Main Event.  The recognition and all the attention I am getting actually helps, I think.  I am getting more lay downs from people than I would have otherwise, so getting a bit of a taste of what it’s like to be Daniel Negreanu is pretty good, I guess.

Question:  Do you like the attention?  Some players do not like the cameras or being famous.  
Kassela:  I do like it.  I mean its lots of fun.  I enjoy poker a lot more than most people for the sport of the game itself.  And, I enjoy all the stuff that goes on around it.  I love it and so far I have had a blast.

Question:  It appears you are about as close to winning the 2010 WSOP Player of the Year race as possible, without an official declaration.  What does possibly winning the Player of the Year honor mean to you?
Kassela:  As a poker player, I do not think there is anything you can be more proud of than being the WSOP Player of the Year.  This is where all of the best poker players come to play.  There is nothing that anyone holds back here at the World Series of Poker.  So, if you can come here not just for a few days but for a month and a half and be the Player of the Year, nothing beats it.

Question:  You survived Day Two.  Next, you come back for Day Three.  Are there any adjustments you will make or changes in strategy over the next day or two versus what you have done the previous two days?
Kassela:  Right now, I’m sitting at 125 big blinds.  So, I have a stack size that does not require a whole lot of alteration in my basic strategy.  I’m just playing solid hands right now.  I’m focusing on my opposition.  I’m just practicing the fundamentals of solid poker.  I think that’s the right thing to do at this stage of the tournament.

Question:  Hypothetically, if you were to be offered you a Faustian deal, where a giant magic wand is waved and you automatically receive ninth-place prize money ($811,923), which means you made the final table but are the first player to bust out, would you accept the offer?
Kassela:  (Laughing) Wow, that’s tough.  I mean, I want to win the Main Event.  I want to win the whole thing.  My final answer?  The answer is no.

[TightEnd]

THE TOURNAMENT

All players began the tournament with 30,000 in chips.

Tables began ten-handed.  The reason play was ten-handed instead of nine-handed was primarily to be able to accommodate a large number of registrants if need be.  Once Day Two began, play went to nine-handed, which is expected to remain in effect until play reaches the final ten players, and then one player is eliminated – thus making the “November Nine.”

Day 2-B played four full levels.  Each level is two hours long.  Play ended at 11:00 pm.

The average stack size is currently about 87,000 in chips.

When players return for Day Three, blinds will be 600-1,200 -- with a 200 ante.  There is one hour remaining in Level 9.

Day 2-B began with 2,734 players.  There were 1,357 survivors.  This means 49.6 percent of Day Two starters survived round two.

With this day now complete, there are 2,557 total players are still alive in the Main Event.  This is the sum of Day 2-A survivors (1,200) combined with 2-B survivors (1,357).

Players who survived Day 2-B will return to continue their quest for the 2010 world poker championship on Monday, July 12th, at 12 noon.  On Monday, every player still alive in the tournament will be in the tournament facility at the same time, for the first time.

THE LEADERBOARD

This chip leader from this day is David Assouline, from Hampstead, Quebec (Canada).  He currently has 387,800.  Incredibly, Assouline was reported to have made a potentially disastrous miscalculation.  During one of the breaks (for a chip color up), Assouline assumed the break was for dinner.  He departed the tournament area for more than an hour, impervious to the fact that his giant stack was slowly being blinded off.  When Assouline returned from his unscheduled dinner, he discovered he had missed a full hour of play.  Nevertheless, Assouline managed to end the day as the chip leader.

This chip leader from the previous session (Day 2-A) was Boulos Estafanous, from Darien, IL.  He has two previous WSOP cashes.  However, Estafanous has performed quite well in many poker tournaments played mostly in the Midwest.  He won the first two poker tournaments he cashed – which were the first Bayou Poker Challenge (Harrah’s New Orleans) in 2004.  He also won the Chicago Poker Open in 2005.  However, Estafanous has yet to cash in the WSOP Main Event and will be in unfamiliar territory in the days ahead.  Estafanous currently has 340,100 in chips.

Ranking second in chips from this day is Ricardo Fasanaro, from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Only four of 1,357 players from this group have in excess of 300,000 in chips.

Only 77 of 1,357 players from this group have in excess of 200,000 in chips.

Here is how the chip leaders from each day have fared, thus far:

1-A:  Corwin Cole, from Las Vegas, NV – Survived Day 2-A (currently at 186,000 – 75th place)
1-B:  James Danielson, from LaPlata, MD – Survived Day 2-B (currently at 130,00 -- 261st place)
1-C:  Mathieu Sauriol, from Laval, Quebec (Canada) – Survived Day 2-A (175,100 – 97th place)
1-D:  Steve Billirakis, from Bourbonnais, IL – Survived Day 2-B (currently at 158,800 -- 155th place)
2-A:  Boulos Estafanous – To Be Determined
2-B:  David Assouline – To Be Determined

A Canadian player leads the overall standings (all players remaining).  In fact, Canadians currently hold 3 of the top 14 spots.  A Brazilian player is ranked second -- which is the best showing ever by any South American player at the end of Day Two, or beyond.  Here are the nations currently represented in the top 25:  Canada, Brazil, United States, Denmark, Netherlands, Great Britain