Thursday, June 8, 2017 1:23 AM Local Time
Two Full Rounds Complete, Only 32 Remain in $10,000 Heads-Up Event
Day 1 of Event #15: $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship attracted a starting field of 129 entries, creating a massive prize pool of $1,203,200. After two rounds of play, only 32 players remain in hopes of capturing the first-place prize of $336,656 and a prestigious World Series of Poker bracelet.
Two players started out the day by playing a "play-in" match. They each paid $5,000 and the winner qualified into the tournament bracket of 128 players. Mark Radoja and Kyle Bowker were the two contestants in the play-in match and after Bowker took an early lead, Radoja was able to grind out a victory. In the final hand both players made two pair with aces-up but Radoja had the bigger two, defeating Bowker and filling out the 128 player field.
Many big names entered but failed to make it to Day 2, including Daniel Negreanu, Dominik Nitsche, Scott Seiver, Anthony Zinno, Doug Polk, Paul Volpe, Mark Radoja, David Benyamine, Jake Schindler, Sorel Mizzi, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Kristen Bicknell, Justin Bonomo, Jason Koon, Bertrand Grospellier and last years champion Alan Percal.
Thursday is sure to be an action-packed day with many other big names still in contention, including Dan Smith, Charlie Carrel, Adrian Mateos, Ryan Riess, Olivier Busquet, Ryan Fee, Eric Wasserson, Dario Sammartino, Jason Mercier, Joe Cada and Erik Seidel, just to name a few.
Play will begin at 3:00 p.m. Thursday with another three rounds scheduled, and the finale will be reached on Friday with the final two rounds of play, including the championship finale.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the live updates throughout the 2017 WSOP.
Thursday, June 8, 2017 1:08 AM Local Time
Round of 32 Bracket
Thursday, June 8, 2017 1:07 AM Local Time
Cary Katz Defeats Sam Stein; Round of 32 Set
Cary Katz raised all in from the button and Sam Stein called all in from the big blind for about 39,000 with , leading Katz's .
The board ran out , giving Katz jacks and eights to eliminate Stein and advance to the Round of 32.
| Cary Katz | 200,000 | 63,000  |
| Sam Stein | 0 | -63,000  |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:59 AM Local Time
Stein Doubles; Katz Still Leads
With the blinds at 3,000/6,000, Sam Stein raised all in from the button for 31,500. Cary Katz called from the big blind with , leading Stein's .
The board came down , giving Stein jacks up on the river to survive.
| Cary Katz | 137,000 | 23,000 |
| Sam Stein | 63,000 | -23,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:49 AM Local Time
Cary Katz Makes Trips
With blinds at 3,000/6,000 and the board reading , Sam Stein checked in the big blind and Cary Katz bet 6,000. Stein check-raised to 15,000 and Katz called.
On the turn, Stein checked, Katz bet 14,000, and Stein called.
The river was the and Stein checked again. Katz thought for awhile and said, "Alright, wimpiest check ever" and turned over for trip kings to win the pot.
| Cary Katz | 114,000 | -6,000 |
| Sam Stein | 86,000 | 6,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:44 AM Local Time
Chance Kornuth Defeats Chris Ferguson
Chance Kornuth limped on the button, Chris Ferguson raised all in from the big blind, and Kornuth called all in for 85,200.
Kornuth:
Ferguson:
The board came down , giving Kornuth a king-high straight to double through Ferguson and take a sizable lead.
A few hands later, Kornuth raised all in from the button and Ferguson called all in for roughly 35,000 with . Kornuth, however, tabled a dominating .
The board came down , no help to Ferguson, securing a spot for Kornuth in the Round of 32.
| Chance Kornuth | 200,000 | 118,800 |
| Chris Ferguson | 0 | -119,800 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:33 AM Local Time
Cary Katz Regains Chip Lead, Again
In a very back-and-forth match, Cary Katz is back in the lead.
With the blinds at 2,000/4,000, Katz just limped on the button and Sam Stein checked his option.
Both players checked the flop, and the turn was the . Stein bet 9,000, Katz raised to 19,000, and Stein let it go. Katz picked up that pot, extending his marginal chip lead.
| Cary Katz | 120,000 | 45,000 |
| Sam Stein | 80,000 | -45,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:31 AM Local Time
Kornuth Doubles Again
Chance Kornuth raised all in from the button for 40,600 and Chris Ferguson called from the big blind with . Kornuth, though, tabled a dominating .
The board came down , safe for Kornuth to double up once again.
| Chris Ferguson | 119,800 | -22,600 |
| Chance Kornuth | 81,200 | 23,600 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:27 AM Local Time
Level 21 started
Level: 21
Blinds: 4000/8000
Ante: 0
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:27 AM Local Time
Sam Stein Back in the Lead
After briefly losing the chip lead to Cary Katz, Sam Stein is back on top.
Just now, with the board reading , Stein bet 8,000 in the big blind and Katz called on the button.
On the river, Stein fired another 18,000 and Katz let it go.
| Sam Stein | 125,000 | 37,000 |
| Cary Katz | 75,000 | -37,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:21 AM Local Time
Kornuth Gets Some Back
Chris Ferguson raised all in from the button and Chance Kornuth called all in from the big blind for 28,800.
Ferguson:
Kornuth:
The board rolled out , giving Kornuth a pair of kings to double up.
| Chris Ferguson | 142,400 | -34,800 |
| Chance Kornuth | 57,600 | 34,800 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:17 AM Local Time
Ferguson Doubles Back
Chris Ferguson raised all in from the button for 88,600 and Chance Kornuth called from the big blind.
Ferguson:
Kornuth:
The board ran out , safe for Ferguson to double up and take a sizable chip lead.
| Chris Ferguson | 177,200 | 103,600 |
| Chance Kornuth | 22,800 | -103,600 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:17 AM Local Time
Cary Katz Leading Sam Stein
After being down to just 22,000 a few levels ago, Cary Katz is now in the lead.
Just now, Sam Stein limped on the button and Cary Katz checked his option in the big blind.
The flop came and Katz checked. Stein bet 7,000 and Katz called.
Both players checked the turn and the river was the . Katz bet 11,500 and Stein folded.
| Cary Katz | 112,000 | -8,000 |
| Sam Stein | 88,000 | 8,000 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:13 AM Local Time
Kornuth Doubles Up and Takes the Lead
Chance Kornuth was all in from the button for 63,200 with , leading Chris Ferguson's .
The board came down , giving Kornuth a pair of sevens to double through Ferguson.
| Chance Kornuth | 126,400 | 65,200 |
| Chris Ferguson | 73,600 | -65,200 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:09 AM Local Time
Level 20 started
Level: 20
Blinds: 3000/6000
Ante: 0
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:08 AM Local Time
Katz Pulls Ahead of Stein
With the blinds at 1,500/3,000 in this match, Cary Katz raised to 6,000 on the button. Sam Stein three-bet to 19,000 from the big blind, and Katz called to see a flop of .
Stein bet 14,000, Katz raised all in for about 68,000, and Stein tanked for a bit before he folded.
| Cary Katz | 120,000 | 77,200 |
| Sam Stein | 80,000 | -77,200 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:02 AM Local Time
Erik Seidel Overcomes Richard Kirsch to Advance
Richard Kirsch was all in for 56,000 in the big blind and Erik Seidel had him at risk.
Kirsch:
Seidel:
The board ran out , and Seidel's pair of kings with ace-ten high was good. After being one foot out the door a level before, Seidel was able to come back and win the match to advance to the Round of 32.
| Erik Seidel | 200,000 | 148,400 |
| Richard Kirsch | 0 | -148,400 |
Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:01 AM Local Time
Level 19 started
Level: 19
Blinds: 2000/4000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 7, 2017 11:54 PM Local Time
Kornuth Doubles Through Ferguson; Dietrich Over Gonsalves
Chance Kornuth raised all in for 30,600 from the button and Chris Ferguson called from the big blind with , ahead of Kornuth's .
The board came down , giving Kornuth a pair of nines to double up.
Meanwhile, Moritz Dietrich prevailed over Markus Gonsalves to advance to the Round of 32.
| Moritz Dietrich | 200,000 | 100,000 |
| Chris Ferguson | 138,800 | -28,200 |
| Chance Kornuth | 61,200 | 28,200 |
| Markus Gonsalves | 0 | -100,000 |
Wednesday, June 7, 2017 11:51 PM Local Time
Chris Ferguson Extends Lead Over Chance Kornuth
Chris Ferguson limped on the button and Chance Kornuth checked his option in the big blind.
The flop was and they both checked. On the turn, Kornuth checked, Ferguson bet 3,500, and Kornuth called.
The river was the and Kornuth checked again. Ferguson bet 7,500 and Kornuth called.
Ferguson showed for the wheel, good for the pot.
| Chris Ferguson | 167,000 | 23,000 |
| Chance Kornuth | 33,000 | -23,000 |