On Sunday, the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Horseshoe
Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa returned for Day 2 action. The day began
with 81 players advancing from the preliminary flights with two
late-entries joining the fray. After 13 full levels of play, the field
was whittled down to the official final table and beyond. By the end of
the day, just four players remained in contention for the title, the gold
ring, and $88,126 in first-place prize money. Michelle (Yashuo) Chin
held the chip lead for most of the day and will lead the final four with
1.805 million in chips.
The Council Bluffs Main Event has a way of making history. Most
notably, this stop on the Circuit is the home to Blair Hinkle's three
Main Event victories over the course of five years. This year is no
different, in fact, as Chin looks to become the first-ever female WSOP
Circuit Main Event winner. Chin exploded toward the top of the chip
counts once the field reached the money on Day 2. With just two tables
remaining, Chin found herself on the right side of a suck out against
eventual 11th place finisher Chris Karambinis. Chin set Karambinis all
in before the flop with ace-queen and needed to improve against his
ace-king in order to score the knockout. A king on the flop looked as if
it would seal the deal, but a running jack-ten on the turn and river
gave her Broadway and allowed her greatly extend her chip lead heading
into the unofficial final table. From there, Chin constantly applied
pressure to her opponents and continued to trend upward for most of the
day.
Joining Chin among the final four is none other than 2014/15 WSOP
Circuit Harvey's Lake Tahoe Main Event champion Jesse Wilke. Wilke is
looking to earn his second title of the season and he will return for
the final day as third in chips with 1.035 million. Ring-winner and
Circuit regular Michael Sanders is looking for his first Circuit Main
Event title and first ring win since the 2012/13 season. He will return
with 800,000 in chips. Rounding out the final four is Mike Lang, a
self-professed newcomer who stated that his wife was at home sweating
the live updates. Lang bagged 1.06 million to end Day 2, good for second
in chips overall.
The day began with the returning players from the opening flights
looking to make the money. Unfortunately, this goal was unattainable for
most of the field as only the top 24 players were guaranteed a payday.
Some of the players to return for Day 2 only to fall short of the money
include Grant Hinkle, Josh Williams, Zal Irani, Nicholas Palma, Jason
Mayfield, Josh Mancuso and Ari Engel. The bubble burst when Circuit
regular Glen Goldsmith fell against Greg Beaufait during a preflop all
in.
Some of the familiar faces to make the money include Nathan Bjerno
(24th), Frank Patti (18th), all-time ring leader Alex Masek (18th), and
2011 WSOP bracelet winner Eric Rodawig (14th). Most notably, however,
was the deep run by reigning champion Hinkle. After the bubble burst,
Hinkle had an above-average stack at his disposal and looked primed to
make another deep run at the title. Unfortunately, the Missouri native
was unable to win the title three years in a row, as he was eliminated
from play in 20th place for $3,803.
The official final table bubble burst when Cash Carpenter fell at the
hands of Chin. Other players to fall before the last hand of the day
include Richard Fitzgerald (9th for $8,153), Beaufait (8th for $10,223),
Thomas Moss (7th for $13,007), Michael Jensen (6th for $17,797), and
Greg Jennings (5th for $22,021).
The final four players will return on Monday at 12 pm local time to
battle it out for the title. Live updates from the Horseshoe Council
Bluffs Main Event are available on WSOP.com.
Here's a look at the chip counts heading into Day 3:
Seat 1: Jesse Wilke - 1,035,000 (34 BBs)
Seat 2: Michelle Chin - 1,805,000 (60 BBs)
Seat 3: Mike Lang - 1,060,000 (35 BBs)
Seat 4: Michael Sanders - 800,000 (26 BBs)