Wednesday, July 1, 2015 3:03 AM Local Time
On Tuesday, the World Series of Poker's inaugural $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha event continued in the Amazon room. Throughout the day, Anthony Zinno dominated play and sat atop the chip counts. After ten full levels, he retained that spot and bagged 2.46 million for the overall chip lead.
A total of 67 players returned to the felt for Day 2 with nine new players registering before the start of play. These Day 2 players brought the total number of entries up to 175. This allowed for a total prize pool of $4,156,250. The top 24 players in the field are guaranteed a payday of at least $40,357. The eventual champion will take home a gold bracelet and $1,122,196 in first-place prize money.
Zinno began the day in 26th chip position but quickly assumed one of the top spots. By the halfway point of the day, Zinno was atop the chip counts and seemingly could not be stopped. During Level 14, Zinno sent Connor Drinnan to the rail by making a straight. Soon after, he eliminated Warwick Mirzikinian from play and brought himself over one million in chips. Zinno actually managed to eclipse three million in chips, but gave some of that back during a late-night confrontation with Michael Ferrell.
Finishing hot on Zinno's heels is Finland's Juha Helppi. Helppi finished the night strong, eliminating David Chiu from play in 13th place and bringing his final count to 2.214 million. Rounding out the top three is Alexander Kostritsyn who put 1.812 million in the bag.
As the just the top 24 players made the money, there were several notable names to return to the felt today only to leave empty handed. Some of those to exit before the money bubble burst include Jason Koon, Randal Flowers, Phil Galfond, Scott Clements, Daniel Negreanu, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, and Joe Hachem.
The money bubble burst when start-of-day chip leader James Park fell at the hands of Chris Santora. Santora, who was riding a short stack for most of the bubble, was able to survive and thrive. He is among the top 12 runners and will return in ninth overall chip position with 576,000.
Notable players to fall in the money include Alexey Makarov (23rd), Kory Kilpatrick (22nd), Scott Palmer (20th), Ben Sulsky (18th), recent $50,000 Poker Players Championship winner Mike Gorodinsky (17th), and Justin Gardenhire (15th).
Play will resume on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Amazon room. As always, be sure to tune into WSOP.com for all of the latest from the tournament felt.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:40 AM Local Time
David Chiu is all in and at risk before the flop for approximately 205,000 against Juha Helppi.
Chiu:
Helppi:
The board runs out , failing to improve Chiu's hand. Helppi scores the knockout and brings his stack to about 1.7 million while Chiu hits the rail in 13th place for $58,436.
Juha Helppi - 1,700,000
David Chiu - Eliminated
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:34 AM Local Time
David Chiu limps for 20,000 from the button and Brant Hale completes in the small blind. Juha Helppi raises to 60,000 in the big blind and Chiu calls. Hale then re-pots it to 240,000, leaving 30,000 behind. Helppi then re-pots it and Chiu instantly folds.
Helppi -
Hale -
Helppi flops a straight on the board, and the turn and river improve Helppi's hand to a full house, whilst eliminating Hale in 14th place.
Brant Hale - Eliminated
Juha Helppi - 1,500,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:26 AM Local Time
The board reads and Shaun Deeb is once again going head to head with Alexander Kostritsyn. He checks the turn only to have Kostritsyn fire 80,000. Deeb comes over the top with a check-raise to 340,000 and Kostritsyn goes into the tank.
After a couple of minutes in the tank, Kostrtisyn comes out with a call. The finishes the board and Deeb checks. Kostritsyn bets what looks to be 280,000 and suddenly it is Deeb's turn to think. He ultimately relents and kicks his cards into the muck. Kostritsyn wins the pot and now has about 1.9 million to his name.
Alexander Kostritsyn - 1,900,000
Shaun Deeb - 785,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:13 AM Local Time
Action folds to Michael Ferrell who raises to 45,000. Anthony Zinno next to act then three-bets to 85,000 and it folds back to Ferrell, who four-bets to 285,000. Zinno calls and the pair see a flop of .
Ferrell dwells for a short time before announcing pot, which puts him all in for 318,000. Zinno calls quickly and cards are tabled.
Ferrell -
Zinno -
The turn is the , giving Ferrell a full house, and the river is the sending the pot his way. This puts Ferrell back up to 1,236,000 whilst Zinno drops to 2,520,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:05 AM Local Time
Brant Hale opens the action to 50,000 from the cutoff. Juha Helppi calls from the button only to have Shaun Deeb announces a three-bet to 200,000 from the small blind.
Alexander Kostritsyn is in the big blind and he goes deep into the tank for about two minutes. When he reaches a decision, he moves out a four-bet to 700,000. Hale and Helppi get out of the way, putting action back on Deeb. Deeb thinks for roughly three minutes before throwing his hand into the muck. Kostritsyn takes the pot and now has about 1.56 million to his name.
Alexander Kostritsyn - 1,560,000
Shaun Deeb - 948,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 2:04 AM Local Time
Alexander Kostritsyn raises to 55,000 from early position and Brant Hale calls from the button. Shaun Deeb calls as well from the big blind and the trio watch on as the flop hits the felt. Deeb checks and Kostritsyn continues for 85,000. Hale thinks for about 90 seconds before moving all in for just a bit more. Deeb folds and Kostritsyn quickly calls.
Kostritsyn:
Hale:
The falls on the turn, giving Hale a straight and Kostritsyn outs to make a diamond flush. The river bricks for him, however, as the graces the felt. Hale scores the double and now has about 460,000 to his name.
Brant Hale - 460,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 1,305,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:54 AM Local Time
Chris Santora raises to 60,000 when action folds to him, and Justin Gardenhire is the only caller.
The flop is and Gardenhire moves all in for 104,000. Santora quickly calls and cards are tabled.
Santora -
Gardenhire -
Santora is ahead with a pair of kings and his hand improves to two pair on the turn. The is the river and Gardenhire is eliminated.
Justin Gardenhire - Eliminated
Chris Santora - 425,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:47 AM Local Time
The flop reads with Shaun Deeb and Alexander Kostritsyn engaged in heads up action. Deeb is first to act and he checks the flop, prompting Kostritsyn to bet 64,000. Deeb calls and the falls on the turn. Deeb checks a second time and Kostritsyn thinks for a moment before announcing a bet of the pot, or 222,000.
Deeb goes into the tank for just over a minute before reaching for chips and sliding forward a call. The hits the river and Deeb checks one last time. Kostritsyn instantly taps the table in reply.
"Top two," says Deeb, showing for kings and tens.
Kostritsyn cannot beat the two pair and he drops his cards into the muck. Deeb collects the pot and brings himself back over one million in chips.
Shaun Deeb - 1,240,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 1,440,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:42 AM Local Time
| Level: | 20 | | Blinds: | 10,000/20,000 | |
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:33 AM Local Time
Alexander Kostritsyn opens the action with an early position raise to 40,000. It folds around to Pakinai Lisawad who three-bets the pot for 144,000 from the cutoff. The button and small blind fold, leaving action on Shaun Deeb in the big blind. He re-pots the action with a four-bet to 480,000. Kostritsyn goes deep into the tank before releasing his hand. Lisawad calls for his tournament life of 328,000.
Lisawad:
Deeb:
The board falls down , allowing Lisawad to play king-nine for a straight to the king. He doubles and now 702,000 to his name.
Pakinai Lisawad - 702,000
Shaun Deeb - 770,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:25 AM Local Time
Anthony Zinno raises to 35,000 on the button when action is folded to him, only for Chris Santora to move all in for 102,000. Christian Harder in the big blind folds and Zinno calls.
Zinno -
Santora -
The board runs out to give Santora the pot with a rivered nut flush after Zinno had turned a set of sixes. Santora is now playing 220,000 whilst Zinno drops to 3,100,000.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:20 AM Local Time
Picking up with the action on a board of , Alexander Kostritsyn fires out a bet of 75,000 from the small blind. Troy Burkholder calls from the big blind and Shaun Deeb comes along from the cutoff.
The river pairs the board with the [ks[ and Kostritsyn slides out 230,000. Burkholder lets it go while Deeb goes into the tank. In the end, Deeb announces a call and Kostritsyn tables , playing his king-six for a full house. Deeb mucks and Kostritsyn wins the pot.
Alexander Kostritsyn - 1,560,000
Shaun Deeb - 1,000,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:17 AM Local Time
Talal Shakerchi opens the action with a raise from middle position only to have Gjergj Sinishtaj pot it back for 144,000 total. Action folds back around to Shakerchi and he calls.
The flop falls and Shakerchi checks. Sinishtaj moves all in and Shakerchi calls.
Sinishtaj:
Shakerchi:
Sinishtaj flopped top set of queens but needs to catch up Shakerchi's flopped straight. Unfortunately for Sinishtaj, he fails to improve with the on the turn and the on the river, ensuring his elimination in 16th place.
Talal Shakerchi - 1,300,000
Gjergj Sinishtaj - Eliminated
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:09 AM Local Time
Talal Shakerchi raises to 35,000 under the gun and Gjergj Sinishtaj calls next to act. Action folds to Christian Harder in the big blind who calls and the three see the dealer fan out a flop.
Shakerchi bets out 60,000 and Sinishtaj moves all in for 107,000. Harder gets out of the way and Shakerchi calls.
Shakerchi -
Sinishtaj -
The board runs out with the on the turn and the on the river, giving Sinishtaj the higher straight with his eight-six to scoop the pot.
Gjergj Sinishtaj - 327,000
Talal Shakerchi - 1,000,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 1:00 AM Local Time
David Chiu limps from early position and it folds around to Alexander Kostritsyn who completes from the small blind. Troy Burkholder raises to 64,000 from the big blind and finds calls from both Chiu and Kostritsyn.
The flop comes out and Kostritsyn checks. Burkholder continues out for 65,000 and Chiu calls. Kostritsyn slides out a check-raise and Burkholder quickly folds. Chiu stands from the table and calls all in for his tournament life of 134,000.
Chiu:
Kostritsyn:
Chiu's jacks are currently in the lead and he retains the lead in the hand through the on the turn and the on the river. Chiu scores the double and now has about 525,000 to his name.
David Chiu - 525,000
Alexander Kostritsyn - 1,502,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 12:48 AM Local Time
With the board reading , Juha Helppi announces a bet of the pot, or 144,000. Troy Burkholder, his heads up opponent, thinks for a moment before announcing a call.
The drops down on the river and Helppi slows with a check. Burkholder does the same and Helppi announces a straight to the eight with . Burkholder mucks and Helppi drags in the pot.
Juha Helppi - 1,240,000
Troy Burkholder - 975,000
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 12:43 AM Local Time
Table 359
Seat 1 - Chris Santora (251,000)
Seat 2 - Christian Harder (499,000)
Seat 3 - Talal Shakerchi (1,071,000)
Seat 4 - Gjergj Sinishtaj (245,000)
Seat 5 - Justin Gardenhire (115,000)
Seat 6 - Stian Usterud (480,000)
Seat 7 - Michael Ferrell (636,000)
Seat 8 - Anthony Zinno (3,210,000)
Table 360
Seat 1 - Juha Helppi (1,312,000)
Seat 2 - Shaun Deeb (1,346,000)
Seat 3 - Ismael Bojang (930,000)
Seat 4 - Alexander Kostritsyn (1,720,000)
Seat 5 - Troy Burkholder (1,165,000)
Seat 6 - David Chiu (130,000)
Seat 7 - Pakinai Lisawad (335,000)
Seat 8 - Brant Hale (255,000)
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 12:36 AM Local Time
| Level: | 19 | | Blinds: | 8,000/16,000 | |
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 12:18 AM Local Time
Players are now on their final 20-minute break of the night. When they return, a full re-draw for the final two tables will take place. Full chip counts and an updated seating chart will be made available at that time.