FAMILIAR FACES ADVANCE TO DAY 2 IN ST. LOUIS
On Saturday, the World Series of Poker Circuit Lumiere Place Casino Main Event in St. Louis, Missouri wrapped up the second of its two starting flights. By the end of the day, an amateur player named Kurt Uelk bagged up a massive stack of 326,700, which is good enough to put him in the chip lead heading into Day 2.

Uelk will lead the returning 127 players from the two combined starting flights. Day 1A saw 172 total entries with 53 players advancing to the second day. Day 1B had a bit larger of a turnout with 240 entries, 74 of which advanced. Combined, these two starting flights had 412 total entries and that number will certainly increase by a few digits as registration remains open until the start of Day 2.

Ulek, who had a stellar first day, truly hit his stride after the second break of the day. In a notable confrontation, Ulek clashed with Circuit regular Everett Carlton. Carlton moved all in from middle position before the flop and Ulek, who already sported a large stack at the time, shipped all in over the top from the button. The blinds folded and Ulek showed two red aces to crush Carlton’s pocket jacks. From there, Ulek continued to trend up, score knockouts, and add to his ever-growing stack.

Dozens of familiar faces turned up for the two starting flights and several of those players will join Ulek on the felt Day 2. One such player is Dustin Dirksen. Dirksen bagged up the Day 1A chip lead with 201,100 and looks poised to make a deep run. Other large stacks from Day 1A include ring winners Ben Grise (122,300), DJ MacKinnon (114,000), Daniel Lowery (112,400), and Robert “Uncle Krunk” Panitch (93,300). Alex Masek, who recently won his record-breaking eighth Circuit ring, will also return but is short on chips with 29,400.

Some of those who failed to advance on Day 1A returned for redemption on Day 1B. This plan worked out for those players, as the likes of Event 1: $580 No-Limit Hold’em champion Matt Bond (129,900), David Nicholson (100,600), John Holley (92,500), Ryan Tepen (73,200), and Jacob Bazeley (55,000) will also have seats on the second day of play.

While these players all advanced onto Day 2, others were not as fortunate. Circuit regulars and familiar faces like Ralph Massey, Jennifer Shahade, Eric Crain, Ari Engel, November Niner Dennis Phillips, Michael Sanders, and Travell Thomas are just a small sample size of those who took their shot and missed.

Day 2 play resumes on Sunday from the tournament floor at the Lumiere Place Casino at 11 a.m.

Here’s a look at the top ten chip counts heading into Day 2:
 
RANK PLAYER CITY / STATE / COUNTRY CHIP COUNT TABLE / SEAT
1 Kurt Uelk Ballwin, MO, US 326,700 46 / 4
2 Dustin Dirksen LAS VEGAS, NV, US 201,100 36 / 4
3 Millard Hale Kalamazoo, MI, US 165,900 36 / 7
4 Eric Hagen Wertzville, MO, US 159,600 37 / 7
5 Greg Sullivan Wildwood, MO, US 149,800 50 / 6
6 Theodore McCollom SEABROOK, TX, US 146,400 41 / 3
7 Larry Humphries Jr Florissant, MO, US 141,700 41 / 2
8 Michael Horchoff RIVER RIDGE, LA, US 135,300 45 / 7
9 Justin Bond Irving, TX, US 129,900 41 / 7
10 Eric Meyer BEARDSTOWN, IL, US 129,700 49 / 7