World Poker Tour (WPT) Caribbean has reached the final 32 players in the wonderful setting of St. Maarten and it’s Thomas Laviano who has the chip lead with 402,000 of the things.
From a poker perspective this summer was an unforgettable one for Thomas Laviano, as his deep run in the inaugural World Series of Poker (WSOP) $1,500 Millionaire Maker event saw him cash in 15th place for a career best $64,736 in prize money.
There is heat in Vegas, there is heat in St. Maartens and there is obvious heat in this guys play, as he eliminated the WPT Borgata Poker Open champion, Anthony Zinno and the rising starlet Jamila von Perger, late in the day to take the chip lead with just 32 players remaining.
Here is a brief run down of the major talking points of Day 2.
The day started with 107 players left from a field of 191 and Ebony Kenney was at the head of the chip counts.
The total prize pool was $592,864, 24 places are to receive a paycheck and $145,000 is reserved for the top dog.
For once, a six-figure sum will not be going into the pocket of Igor Kurganov. The German High Roller was eliminated very early by Mike Linster, and he was accompanied on the sidelines by the man who has more Hendon Mob flags than anyone alive – Casey Kastle.
The WPT Raw Deal presenter is going to be one of the talking points of this great competition. Tony Dunst doubles up nice and early against Paul Benichou when his top pair morphed into a straight on the river to tip the crowns off the head of a pair of pocket kings. Benichou was eliminated shortly after by Micah Raskin.
The WPT Champions Club member Will Failla doubled through Fabian Quoss when he got it in with bottom two pair on 8h4c3s versus the top pair of Quoss holding [Kc] [8c]. The [4s] on the turn gave Failla a boat and a short while later Quoss was left to paddle in the Caribbean sea without an oar.
Julian Thomas eliminated the Winamax pro and French rap star Bruno Lopes. The latter moving all-in on AA28 (two clubs) holding [Qc] [Tc] for the club flush draw and Thomas calling with AJ for trip aces. The aces held and the bad boy rapper was left in the cold.
There are many horrible ways for your tournament life to be extinguished of breath and Steve Gee met one before dinner; the WSOP Main Event final tablist getting it in with Edouard Teddy. Both players held ace-jack, but Teddy had two hearts, which connected lovely with the three hearts that flew out of the dealer’s deck.
Steve Gee was left heartless in more ways than one.
Tony Dunst started to figure amongst the top spots when he eliminated Joshua Tucker. Dunst delivering his own personal ‘raw deal’ when his jack high flush beat a seven high straight when the club draw got there on the river; and Ebony Kenney made a Royal Flush to soar into the 200k territory.
After dinner, Edouard Teddy eliminated Will Failla: JJ v AK, when Teddy’s jacks hit a straight on the turn, and Mihai Manole doubled through the Day 1A chip leader, and all round WPT lucky talisman, Marvin Rettenmaier AA v QJdd on a low two diamond board that never matured into a flush.
Ebony Kenney won a huge flip to take the chip lead but Thomas Laviano snatched it back when he eliminated WPT Champions Club member Anthony Zinno: AJ v KK when an ace appeared on the flop
Tony Dunst maintained momentum with the elimination of Jordan Cristos. The latter moving all in on Ts7s6c with [Ks] [Tc] for two pair and Dunst calling with 9c8c for the straight; and Laviano continued trouncing people when he eliminated the unfortunate Jamila von Perger set over set.
High Stakes player Paul Newey ran pocket queens into the pocket kings of Sean Jazayeri to end his Caribbean experience, and Ben Warrington damaged any chance Ebony Kenney had of retaining her chip lead when he six bet jammed with ace-queen, was called by Kenney’s queens only for an ace to appear on the flop.
So after all that Thomas Laviano leads the final 32 players with 402,000. Other notables who all have a chance of winning this thing include: Tony Dunst (282,000), Ebony Kenney (258,000), Sean Jazayeri (251,000), Giacomo Fundaro (237,500), Bobby Oboodi (236,500), Ben Warrington (214,500), Marvin Rettenmaier (153,000), Byron Kaverman (89,000) and Mihai Manole (80,500).
For a look back at the Day 1A recap click here and for the Day 1B recap click here.
Photo courtesy of WPT.com Flickr
