Tuesday, December 12, 2017 12:33 AM Local Time
Kelly Minkin Leads the Final 14 Players
Only one day remains in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker Circuit at the Bicycle Casino. Out of 687 entries, there are now only 14 remaining after Day 2. Kelly Minkin (pictured) will lead heading into the final day with 2,405,000 in chips.
Minkin started the day with the chip lead as well after bagging up 448,000 on Day 1A. At the time, the second place player (Anil Javani) had 363,000, and no one else had more than 300,000. After temporarily dropping down the leaderboard a few rungs, she jumped back into the top spot near the end of the day. Minkin is no stranger to deep runs in WSOP events. She was the last woman standing at the 2015 WSOP Main Event, finishing in 29th place.
Minkin is well ahead of Brendan Baksh currently in second place with 1,925,000. And he's well ahead of Tony Phan, in third with 1,205,000. After that there's a bit of logjam for the next few spots.
Day 2 began with 133 players who advanced from their Day 1 flights. Late-registration didn’t close until the start of play today, and an additional 14 players took advantage of Day 2 registration. Soon after registration was closed, the tournament staff announced the payouts. The top 72 players make the money, with a min-cash worth $2,885. The eventual winner will earn $211,220.
The field reached the money bubble late in the third level of the day. After nearly 40 minutes, Phuoc Nguyen became the unfortunate bubble boy when his pocket jacks ran into the pocket queens of Nichoel Jurgens. The eliminations continued at a steady pace, and only 32 players remained by dinner. Jurgens went on to make it deep into the money, and she was eventually eliminated in 19th place.
Another familiar face who was eliminated late in the day was Scott Stewart. Stewart made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event this past July, eventually bowing out in 13th place. He followed that up less than a month later by winning the High Roller event for at the WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s Cherokee for his fifth career Circuit ring. He spent much of today at or near the top of the leaderboard, but ended up busting out in 26th place.
Players who were eliminated in the money today include Robert Mather (72nd place), bracelet winner Ben Keeline (63rd), Pat Lyons (61st), former NFL linebacker Chester Burnett (35th), and Scott Stewart (26th).
Players who started Day 2 but didn’t make it to the money include Maria Ho, Salvatore DiCarlo, Sohale Khalili, and bracelet winners Marco Johnson, Mike Leah, Mel Wiener, Adrian Moreno and Arkadiy Tsinis.
RESULTS SO FAR
Here are the chip counts heading into the final day:
1 – Kelly Minkin - 2,405,000
2 – Brendan Baksh - 1,925,000
3 – Tony Phan - 1,205,000
4 – Chahn Jung - 1,150,000
5 – Edward Liu - 1,085,000
6 – Aaron Frei - 1,000,000
7 – Jordyn Miller - 915,000
8 – Mike Eskandari - 815,000
9 – Frank Stepuchin - 650,000
10 – Jared Jaffee - 625,000
11 – Mike Hauptmann - 620,000
12 – Tuan Phan - 565,000
13 – Brian Small - 390,000
14 – Peter Lipton - 370,000
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 12:08 AM Local Time
Play has concluded for the night. A complete recap will be posted shortly.
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:58 PM Local Time
The clock has been stopped, and each table will play three more hands before bagging up for the night.
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:47 PM Local Time
On a flop of , Kelly Minkin checks from the big blind and Aaron Frei checks back from the hijack. The turn is the and Minkin checks again. Frei bets 40,000 and Minkin calls.
The river is the and Minkin checks for a third time. Frei bets 130,000 and Minkin calls. Frei shows and Minkin wins the pot with .
"I wasn't going to bluff again until that ace came," says Frei.
"Yeah, it's a good card to bluff," says Minkin. "It would have been sick if that seven came. I don't think I find a fold."
Minkin wins the pot and is the first player to cross the 2 million chip mark.
Kelly Minkin - 2,070,000 (86 bb)
Aaron Frei - 850,000 (35 bb)
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:39 PM Local Time
Jesse Vilchez
Brendan Baksh and Jesse Vilchez get all their chips in the middle preflop. Vilchez is the all-in player, and he has about 300,000. Baksh has over 1,500,000.
Baksh:
Vilchiz:
The board comes , and Baksh wins with kings up. Vilchez is eliminated in 15th place, earning $12,935.
Brendan Baksh - 1,900,000 (79 bb)
Jesse Vilchez -
EliminatedMonday, December 11, 2017 11:33 PM Local Time
Nick Phoenix
Nick Phoenix moves all in from middle position for 70,000 and Jared Jaffee calls out of the big blind. Phoneix turns over and is in the lead against Jaffee's . Jordyn Miller lets out a chuckle when he sees Jaffee's hand.
"Don't laugh yet," says Phoenix. "That shit is going to hit."
Phoenix's premonition is correct as the flop comes , giving Jaffee trips. The turn is the , which gives Phoenix a straight draw, but the comes on the river and Jaffee wins the pot with a full house. Phoenix hits the rail in 16th place and earns $10,655 for his efforts.
Jared Jaffee - 470,000 (19 bb)
Nick Phoenix - Eliminated
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:29 PM Local Time
Jesse Vilchez moves all in for 144,000 from the hijack and Kelly Minkin calls out of the big blind. Minkin shows and needs to improve against Vilchez's .
The board runs out and Vilchez doubles up with aces and sixes.
Jesse Vilchez - 332,000 (13 bb)
Kelly Minkin - 1,760,000 (73 bb)
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:08 PM Local Time
Level: 25
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 4,000
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:07 PM Local Time
Vuong Do
Mike Eskandari raises to 45,000 from middle position and Vuong Do moves all in out of the small blind for 155,000. Eskandari calls.
Do shows and is dominated by Eskandari's .
The flop is , which gives Eskandari a huge draw and leaves Do drawing to just two outs. The turn is the , giving Do some more equity with a straight draw, but the river bricks off and Do is eliminated in 17th place. He earns $10,655 for his deep run.
Mike Eskandari - 1,200,000 (60 bb)
Vuong Do - Eliminated
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:06 PM Local Time
Frank Stepuchin raises to 45,000 from the cutoff and Jared Jaffee moves all in on the button for 218,000. Tony Phan is in the small blind and moves all in for about 1,300,000. Everybody else gets out of the way.
"I have the best hand," says Jaffee.
Jaffee tables and is in a good spot against Phan's .
Phan never picks up any direct outs as the board runs out . Phan is drawing dead on the turn and Jaffee's rockets hold up for a double.
Jared Jaffee - 525,000 (26 bb)
Tony Phan - 1,100,000 (55 bb)
Monday, December 11, 2017 11:00 PM Local Time
Jordyn Miller raises to 45,000 from the hijack, and Mike Eskandari calls from the cutoff. Tuan Phan then moves all in from the button. The blinds both fold, and Miller asks for an exact counts. The dealer breaks down Phan's stack, and he has 190,000. After thinking about another minute, Miller calls, then Eskandari folds.
Miller:
Phan:
The board runs out , and Phan wins the pot with his ace high to double up.
Tuan Phan - 480,000
Jordyn Miller - 850,000
Monday, December 11, 2017 10:44 PM Local Time
Steven Firestone raises to 55,000 from early position, and Jesse Vilchez moves all in for about 360,000 from his direct left. Action folds back around to Firestone, and he has only about 270,000. He calls, and the hands are tabled:
Firestone:
Vilchez:
The board rolls out , and Vilchez wins the pot.
Firestone is eliminated in 18th place, and he earns $10,655.
Jesse Vilchez - 660,000
Steven Firestone - Eliminated
Monday, December 11, 2017 10:31 PM Local Time
With Nichoel Jurgens' elimination, the final 18 players have redrawn for seats at the final two tables. With everybody guaranteed at least $10,655, here is a look at the seating arrangement and chip counts for the final two tables.
Table 1
Seat 1: Jordyn Miller - 1,235,000
Seat 2: Mike Eskandari - 280,000
Seat 3: Tuan Phan - 230,000
Seat 4: Frank Stepuchin - 460,000
Seat 5: Jared Jaffee - 260,000
Seat 6: Tony Phan - 1,340,000
Seat 7: Chahn Jung - 830,000
Seat 8: Vuong Do - 250,000
Seat 9: Nick Phoenix - 190,000
Table 2
Seat 1: Mike Hauptman - 555,000
Seat 2: Brian Small - 340,000
Seat 3: Peter Lipton - 1,200,000
Seat 4: Kelly Minkin - 1,835,000
Seat 5: Edward Liu - 1,280,000
Seat 6: Brendan Baksh - 1,100,000
Seat 7: Steve Firestone - 300,000
Seat 8: Jesse Vilchez - 350,000
Seat 9: Aaron Frei - 700,000
Monday, December 11, 2017 10:25 PM Local Time
Chahn Jung moves all in from the small blind. Nichoel Jurgens is in the big blind. Jung has her outchipped, and the raise is effectively for about 100,000. Jurgens calls.
Jurgens:
Jung:
The board comes . Jung wins the pot with a pair of aces, and Jurgens is eliminated. She finishes in 19th place, earning $8,885.
Chahn Jung - 1,000,000 (62 bb)
Nichoel Jurgens -
EliminatedMonday, December 11, 2017 10:24 PM Local Time
Jesse Vilchez moves all in on the button and Brian Small calls out of the big blind. Small is the player at risk and all in for 167,000.
It's a race with Vilchez's up against Small's .
The board comes and Small flops a jack to make the best hand and double up. With one more elimination, the final 18 players will redraw for seats at the final two tables.
Brian Small - 362,000 (18 bb)
Brian Small - 355,000 (17 bb)
Monday, December 11, 2017 10:24 PM Local Time
On a flop of , Jared Jaffee checks from the big blind and Chahn Jung bets 77,000 from middle position. Jaffee calls and the turn is the .
Jaffee leads out for 143,000 and Jung hesitates for just a few moments before moving all in for an additional 127,000. Jaffee looks displeased and gets a count before calling.
"I misread your stack," said Jaffee as he calls.
Jaffee shows and needs to hit a queen to make the nuts and crack Jung's . The river is the and Jung doubles up.
Chahn Jung - 480,000 (24 bb)
Jared Jaffee - 520,000 (26 bb)
Monday, December 11, 2017 10:20 PM Local Time
Kelly Minkin
Jared Jaffee raises to 43,000 from under the gun. Kelly Minkin calls from his direct left. Chahn Jung calls from the cutoff, Frank Stepuchin calls from the small blind, and Tony Thanh Phan calls from the big blind.
The five players see the flop come . It's checked to Minkin, and she bets 80,000. Jung calls, then the other three players fold.
The turn is the and Minkin continues for 130,000. Jung calls again.
The hits the felt on the river and Minkin bets again, this time for 180,000. Jung goes deep into the tank. After about two minutes, he folds, and Minkin pulls in the chips.
Kelly Minkin - 1,565,000 (78 bb)
Chanh Jung - 380,000 (19 bb)
Monday, December 11, 2017 10:15 PM Local Time
Vuong Do moves all in for about 100,000, and Peter Lipton raises to 300,000. Everyone else folds.
Do:
Lipton:
Lipton is in good shape with his pocket kings. Do gets a little hope as an ace appears, but the full flop is . Do hits top pair, but Lipton makes a set of kings and leaves Do drawing thin. The turn is the , improving Do to two pair. Then the river is the . Both players improve to a full house, but Do has the higher full house with aces full, and he doubles up.
Vuong Do - 240,000 (12 bb)
Peter Lipton - 1,200,000 (60 bb)
Monday, December 11, 2017 9:59 PM Local Time
Level: 24
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 3,000
Monday, December 11, 2017 9:54 PM Local Time
The final 19 players are taking their last 10-minute break of the night. When they return, they will play two more levels before bagging and tagging chips for the night.