Epic Final Numbers
The final hours before late registration closed on Day 2B were among the busiest. On that last possible day, an additional 360 entries joined, bringing the final registration count to 2,891. This boost increased the prizepool to $72,275,000, making this tournament a record-setter outside of the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas.
During Day 2B, 673 entries vied for advancement, but only 94 players bagged chips for the next day.
A total of 202 players continue in the tournament, with the dream of a massive win for the champion. The top six players will earn seven-figure payouts, with a special bracelet and a $5,700,000 prize awaiting the champion.
Thorel Leads with a Strong American Trio on His Heels
By the end of Day 2B, Frenchman Jean-Noel Thorel led the pack, bagging an impressive 20,950,000 chips. Thorel, who has spent much of his career on European tours, is in a strong position to contend for his first WSOP bracelet. Close behind him is an American trio, all WSOP bracelet holders: Faraz Jaka (17,100,000), Jesse Lonis (16,800,000), and Chad Eveslage (16,725,000).
High up on the leaderboard are Charles Hook (11,200,000) and Michael Moncek (13,550,000), who clashed in a heads-up the day before in the $50K PLO. Others advancing include Koray Aldemir, Kayhan Mokri, Nick Schulman, and Benny Glaser.
From the Czech players, Zdeněk Žižka and Roman Hrabec were in action. However, their journey in the tournament concludes here, and they will now follow the proceedings as spectators. As a consolation, both took home a prize of $50,000.
It's worth noting that while Thorel emerged as the Day 2B chipleader, the overall tournament leader heading into Day 3 is Czech player Martin Kabrhel.
Top 10 Chip Counts of Day 2B:
|
Position |
Player |
Country |
Stack |
|
1. |
Jean-Noel Thorel |
France |
20,950,000 |
|
2. |
Faraz Jaka |
USA |
17,100,000 |
|
3. |
Jesse Lonis |
USA |
16,800,000 |
|
4. |
Chad Eveslage |
USA |
16,725,000 |
|
5. |
Ravid Garbi |
Israel |
15,025,000 |
|
6. |
Amirpasha Emami |
Canada |
15,000,000 |
|
7. |
Orpen Kisacikoglu |
Turkey |
14,625,000 |
|
8. |
Chanracy Khun |
Canada |
14,550,000 |
|
9. |
Leonard Herrmann |
Austria |
14,500,000 |
|
10. |
Erik Eisen |
Germany |
14,125,000 |
Dramatic Twists and the Bubble Burst
Day 2B featured several contentious moments, most notably the bursting of the second money bubble. The bubble lasted nearly two hours, eventually resulting in a double elimination. Robert Cowen and Aylar Lie split the minimum payout, each pocketing $25,000.
Among those who advanced to the money but were eventually eliminated was Daniel Negreanu. The Canadian pro secured his spot on his tenth attempt during Day 1D but was eliminated in 134th place, earning $55,000 when his "favorite hand," 10-7, couldn't hold against Jun Obara's K-K.
Despite using ten re-entries, Negreanu did not even rank in the top five for most registrations. The highest count went to Michael Moncek, who made 14 entries, splitting them between Day 2A and Day 2B. His final attempt proved successful.
The day was not without controversy. During one hand, Ryan Depaulo tripled his stack, while James Caputo (who finished in the money in 175th place) was left fuming when his hand was declared a fold.
All 202 remaining players will meet for the first time in Day 3 today at 12:00 local time. The play will continue until the final three tables are reached. With the record-breaking $72,275,000 prizepool and the coveted WSOP bracelet on the line, the action promises to be thrilling.
Sources: WSOP, PokerNews, The Hendon Mob, YouTube
