Day 2c of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event is in the books as some 900 players move onto Day 3 and a step closer to the money. No one could match Gaelle Baumann’s stack from Day 2a/2b with Michael Hack getting closest with a chip count of 457,000. Snapping at his heels was Marco Bognanni with 452,100.
This day will be known more for the players that didn’t make it through. Phil Ivey’s 2012 WSOP bracelet attempts ended up as fruitful as a chocolate teapot after he was eliminated early in the day. Oh well, just have to console himself with one of the highest cashes of a player not to have won a bracelet.
Viktor Blom was another that failed to make it to day 3 as his trademark up and down play didn’t last the day out and he’ll go home from his first WSOP with no gold. Also going home on day 2c were former Main Event champions Jamie Gold, Joe Cada, Tom McEvoy and Doyle Brunson as well as Andy Frankenberger, Gus Hansen and Matt Affleck.
Bodog sponsored Jay Tan was another to bust out early, admitting via Twitter: Busted #wsopme got it all in on flop w a flopped J high flush n the guy rivers a higher flush w his AQ. GG. Thx @Bodog 4 my 1st WSOP.
Making it through to Day 3 were Sorel Mizzi, John Racener, Freddy Deeb and Johnny Chan with impressive British pair Sam Holden and Jake Cody also coming back tomorrow. Antonio Esfandiari will be looking to weave some more magic as he comes back in the middle of the field on Day 3. In total 1,761 will be back.
After days of no bracelets being handed out there was a coronation on Thursday as Ryan Eriquezzo won the WSOP National Championship and with it a $416,051 payday. The story goes that Eriquezzo was ready to quit poker after one last tournament – the WSOP Circuit Atlantic City Main Event. Through winning that $1,600 buy-in event he got a back-door entry in the National Championship and outlasted 156 other players to win through. After his win, he told Bluff Magazine: “The field was so hard, it was all elite players, I was really able to focus and get it done. I ran well and had a lot of support from people, it’s just incredible”. Nikolas Stone took home $257,119 for second place with Huy Nguyen third with $186,265.
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