JAKE BAZELEY HEADLINES HARRAH
The Cincinnati pro sits second in chips as one of just three players over the 2,000,000 mark.
 
Cherokee, N.C. (December 8, 2014) — After three grueling days and nearly 36 hours of play, the 797-entry field in the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Harrah’s Cherokee is down to the final 12 players. Chad DeBerry leads the way as one of just three players over the 2,000,000-chip mark, but is trailed by the likes of tournament pros Jake Bazeley (pictured) and Darryll Fish. DeBerry lays claim to 2,405,000 while Bazeley sits second with 2,240,000 and Fish eighth with 1,250,000.

For Bazeley, a Cincinnati native with nearly $1,700,000 in career earnings, this marks his 19th Circuit cash and he eyes his eighth WSOP-related final table. With more than $1,400,000 in reported cashes, Fish’s tournament earnings rival that of Bazeley’s. Most notably, Fish lays claim to a ninth-place finish in the 2009 WSOP Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship for $77,136 and third-place finish in a $5,000 eight-handed event at the 2013 Series for $215,286. While DeBerry’s accolades are much more modest, it’s he who holds the not-so-modest chip lead.

Here’s a complete look at the chip counts heading to Monday’s Day 3:

1. Chad DeBerry - 2,405,000 (80 BBs)
2. Jake Bazeley - 2,240,000 (74 BBs)
3. Hai Le - 2,000,000 (66 BBs)
4. Caleb Brown - 1,405,000 (46 BBs)
5. Fikret Kovac - 1,390,000 (46 BBs)
6. Daniel Gilmer - 1,300,000 (43 BBs)
7. Corey Bierria - 1,265,000 (42 BBs)
8. Darryll Fish - 1,250,000 (41 BBs)
9. Raymond Walton - 1,180,000 (39 BBs)
10. Ray Khzerouni - 740,000 (24 BBs)
11. Kong Yang - 480,000 (16 BBs)
12. Mark Dumonski - 375,000 (12 BBs)


Play begins with blinds of 15,000/30,000 and a 5,000 ante

The above 12 players reconvene for the third and decisive day of play Monday at 12 p.m. Each remaining has locked up $18,148 for their efforts, but all eye a $239,096 first prize, the Circuit gold ring and a berth in the National Championship.

Day 2 kicked off Sunday with 154 entries left vying for a Circuit title. Notables such as 2004 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Raymer and this year’s APAC Main Event champion Scott Davies headlined the action along with fellow bracelet winners Jared Jaffee, Leif Force, Jonathan Taylor and Kyle Cartwright. Just the top 81 players would finish in the money and the chips went flying early as it took less than three hours to burst the money bubble.

While Raymer, Force and Taylor would go home empty handed, Jaffee (69th, $3,240), Davies (33rd, $5,474) and Cartwright (21st, $10,126) all played their way to a payday. Others to finish in the money included David Nicholson (77th, $2,977), Ralph Massey (71st, $3,240), Brian Reinert (54th, $3,873), Nicholas Palma (52nd, ($3,873), Tyler Morris (32nd, $5,475) and Viet Vo (24th, $8,536).

 
The Harrah’s Cherokee Main Event now takes an 11-hour break until play resumes Monday. More on the series finale is available on the live updates page.