Event #9A/B: MAIN EVENT

Josh Turner ended Sunday exactly where he began it—with an overwhelming chip lead in the latest World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event.

Day 2 of the Main Event at Lumiere Place in St. Louis began Sunday with 80 players returning from a field of 415 entries. Turner had 400,500 in chips to start the day, well ahead of Byron Hubert, who was in second place with 261,000. In fact, there were only five players who had more than half Turner’s stack. About 10 hours and 71 eliminations later, and Turner was in familiar territory—atop the leaderboard, now with 2,129,000 in chips.

Turner is no stranger to deep runs on the WSOP Circuit. He’s been on fire this entire Circuit season, scoring 10 cashes, including six final tables and a ring. He currently sits in 2nd place in the season leaderboard. One accomplishment that has eluded him so far this season, though, is a deep run in a Main Event. That changed today, as he made the final table, and put himself in prime position to finish in one of the top spots.

Play got off to a fast and furious start on Day 2, and the tournament maintained that pace throughout virtually the entire day. After only about two hours and 15 minutes, the 80 returnees had been whittled down to 46, and the tables played hand-for-hand until the money bubble burst. The bubble ended up being the only part of the day when play slowed significantly, and it took over an hour until the next elimination. Eventually, though Frank Patti was eliminated by William Byrnes in 46th place, and all remaining players were in the money.

After the bubble finally burst, the action picked up again. By the second break, after four levels of play, there were only 29 players left. And by dinner break, after six levels, there only 18 players. After returning from dinner, it took less than two hours to lose another nine players and set the final table. At that point, play was halted for the night, and the final tablists will return Monday at 1 p.m. to determine a winner.

It was a highly accomplished field that returned for Day 2. Bracelet winners Kyle Cartwright and Chris Tryba advanced to Day 2, but did not cash. In-the-money finishers include Tom Franklin (43rd Place, $2,814), Yuval Bronshtein (41st place, $2,814), Yossi Azulay (29th place, $3,897), Michael Sanders (28th place, $3,897), three-time Circuit ring winner Josh Reichard (25th place, $4,451), and Chris Conrad (19th, $6,032). Full results are available here.

Here are the final table chip counts:
1 – Josh Turner – 2,129,000
2 – John Longowa – 1,676,000
3 – Ben Beighle – 1,600,000
4 – Zac Campbell – 663,000
5 – Javier Zarco – 645,000
6 – David Lee – 572,000
7 – Jesse Watson – 469,000
8 – Scott Vettner – 306,000
9 – Michael Rieck – 243,000

10-Handed Seating Draw

1 - William Byrnes - 505,000
2 - Scott Vettner - 335,000
3 - Ben Beighle - 1,100,000
4 - Jesse Watson - 395,000
5 - Josh Turner - 2,100,000
6 - Mike Rieck - 260,000
7 - Javier Zarco - 700,000
8 - John Longowa - 1,600,000
9 - Zac Campbell - 761,000
10 - David Lee - 606,000

Kevin Andriamahefa and William Byrnes get all in preflop, Andriamahefa holding the advantage in the hand with    over Byrnes'   .

Byrnes is at risk and behind, but a     flop gives him the lead with a pair of sevens.

The turn comes the   while the river completes the board with the  . Byrnes wins the pot and cripples Andriamahefa.

William Byrnes - 510,000 (31 BBs)
Kevin Andriamahefa - 138,000 (8 BBs)

Gary Lambert moves all in for about 400,000 from the cutoff, and Josh Turner calls from the small blind.

Turner:   
Lambert:   

The board comes      , and Turner wins the pot with his jacks.

Lambert is eliminated in 13th place for $8,603.

Josh Turner - 1,830,000 (114 BBs)
Gary Lambert - Eliminated

Javier Zarco opens to 36,000 from the cutoff. Ben Beighle calls from the button as does John Longowa from the small blind.

They see a flop of     and Longowa checks. Zarco bets 61,000. Beighle calls and Longowa folds. Zarco and Beighle are heads up to the turn.

Fourth street is the   and Zarco leads again, this time for 83,000. Beighle calls. It's off to the river.

Fifth street is the   and Zarco slows down, checking the action to Beighle. Beighle bets 130,000. Zarco calls. Beighle tables first showing    for the nut flash. Zarco stands disgusted and flashes    for a set. Beighle wins the pot and contends for the chip lead with Josh Turner.

Ben Beighle - 1,200,000 (75 BBs)
Javier Zarco - 425,000 (16 BBs)

Oleg Badmayev is under the gun and raises to 37,000. It folds to Byron Hubert (pictured) in the cutoff and he moves all in. The button and blinds fold. Badmayev calls with little hesitation putting Hubert at risk.

Hubert:   
Badmayev:   

The flop falls with a furry for Badmayev as it comes     improving his ace-queen high to two pair and giving him the lead over Hubert's kings.

The turn improves Badmayev even more when it comes the   giving him aces full and leaving Hubert drawing dead.

The river is a meaningless   and Hubert is eliminated in 15th place for $8,603.

Oleg Badmayev - 465,000 (38 BBs)
Byron Hubert - Eliminated in 15th place ($8,603)

Start-of-day chip leader Josh Turner makes it 28,000 from early position. It folds around to Salvatore Falcone in the small blind and he shoves. Greg Lambert folds his big blind and it's back on Turner. He asks for the 28,000 to be pulled in. It's revealed Falcone's all-in bet is for 107,000 more. Turner calls and sees the bad news.

Falcone:   
Turner:   

Turner is behind in the hand but it's Falcone who's at risk.

The flop leaves little sweat for Turner, falling     pairing his nine and giving him the lead in the hand.

The board completes with a   turn and   river. Turner sends Falcone to the rail 17th and moves back over 1,000,000 chips.

Josh Turner - 1,075,000 (89 BBs)
Salvatore Falcone - Eliminated in 17th place ($7,159)

Joe Davidson pushes all in from the hijack. John Longowa is on the button, and he asks for an exact count. The dealer breaks down Davidson's stack, and it's 148,000. Longowa calls, and the blinds both fold.

Davidson:   
Longowa:   

The flop comes    , pairing Longowa's nine, but also giving Davidson an inside straight draw. The turn is the  , giving Davidson a pair, although leaving Longowa ahead in the hand. And the river is the  , a complete brick.

Longowa wins the hand, sending Davidson to the payout desk. He finishes in 18th place, earning $7,159.

John Longowa - 1,040,000 (86 BBs)
Joe Davidson - Eliminated

Salvatore Falcone raises to 28,000 to from the cutoff, and Josh Turner calls from the big blind. The flop comes    , and Turner checks. Falcone continues for 25,000, and Turner calls. The turn is the  , and Turner now leads out for 48,000. Falcone calls, and the   completes the board on the river. Turner announces he's all in, and Falcone quickly folds.

Josh Turner - 1,050,000 (87 BBs)
Salvatore Falcone - 160,000 (13 BBs)