Inevitably, Day 2 saw an 18 percent increase in numbers from the previous day as 2,490 crammed themselves into the Rio Convention Centre. On this occasion, it was time for the survivors of Day 1B and D to combine for another 10 levels of poker fun and frolics and whatever other delights the Main Event brings.
With five members of the Vegas 11 already through to Day 3, Day 2B played host to our online qualifiers, as well as Brown Belt Nik Persaud, all of whom had emerged from the final starting day with their tournament life in tact.
The success story of the day has to be Sean Fennessey, who is being heavily supported on the Black Belt Poker boards after kindly pledging a percentage of any winnings to the Vegas Prize Fund.
He got off to a frustrating start ("can't hit a set and have lost with kings three times"), but enjoyed a rush of cards at the tail end of the day to bag up an impressive 168,300. The key hand saw his Q-Q hold firm on a 9-Q-x-K two-club board against Ac-Kc, the 9 river giving him the full house.
Fellow qualifier, Jeremy Rickard, meanwhile, endured a frustrating day in which he failed to gain any momentum. He kept his head above water for most of the day, but post-dinner lost the majority of his stack with A-K on a king high board versus a flush draw which got there. He ended proceedings with chip/s and a chair: 13,600.
Greg Moore, meanwhile, was moderately content at the final whistle, despite being forced to endure a rollercoaster day. His stack fluctuated frequently, starting on 57K, rising to 72K, dropping to 27K, then 15K, 28K, 75K, 85K and finally the 67,500 he has now - a kangaroo on a bungee has fewer ups and downs!
Short-stacked, he doubled up twice, the first with T-T versus 7-7, and then the same hand against 4-4, this time making quad tens. At 85,000, he found K-K in the big blind, and duly three-bet a raise of 2,500 to 8,500. His opponent four-bet to 17,500 and Greg flat-called, but, sadly, was dealt a nightmare A-Q-x flop where he opted to check-fold.
Just a few tables down from Greg, sat WSOP superstar Hasmukh Khodiyara. Despite this being his first WSOP (he won a $20,000 package via the WSOP Warrior Master League), Hasmukh has surprised everyone with two cashes, including 34th in a $1,500 event for $18,346. Like Sean, he's also donating to the Vegas Prize Fund.
Orange Belts will be pleased to know that he's playing well, and was unlucky not to end the day with more. At one stage, he boasted 110,000 following a number of hands, one of which saw him extract three streets of value with A-Kh on a A-x-x-K-x four hearts board. However, it didn't last, Hasmukh card dead and unable to hit flops, before eventually zipping up a disappointing, but respectable 70,700.
"I thought I played well," commented Hasmukh. "There were some good players on my table, but luckily they were playing pretty tight. I played Eric Mizrachi, but, apart from that, I didn't come across any famous players."
Nik Persaud endured a similar day to Hasmukh, although finished on a more modest figure. "I was on 110,000 at one point," he reported. "Got a gift from a lady who shipped it all in with Q-J on a K-J-4 board after I'd check-raised with 4-4." Unfortunately, the gifts were discontinued when he lost a big flip with A-K versus 9-9, and ran A-5 into 2-2 on an A-2-9-5-4 board. Nevertheless, he was still alive at closing time with 21,200.
Nik and Jeremy may be struggling, but for all five players to once again dodge the Main Event minefield is a great result and hopefully a sign of things to come. Along with our survivors from Day 2, we now have an incredible 10 players heading into Day 3, all with varying stacks, but still in with a chance of making the November Nine.
To see if any of them can move one step closer, join us tomorrow, Thursday, July 13 for coverage of Day 3, in which we'll be offering updates on both the Vegas 11 members, as well as our online qualifiers.
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