Six-time ring winner and WSOP bracelet winner takes chip lead with seven remaining in IP Biloxi main event
September 17, 2017 (Biloxi, MS) - Kyle Cartwright already has a stellar poker resume to his name and is on the verge of adding another piece of World Series of Poker jewelry to his already crowded trophy case.
Cartwright, who already has seven figures in WSOP earnings, six Circuit rings and a WSOP bracelet, takes a massive chip lead into the final day of the WSOP Circuit IP Bioloxi main event. The Tennessee native has the inside track to his seventh ring with only six other players standing in his way.
Cartwright finished Day 2 with 2,750,000 in chips and Chris McLean, who finished the day second in chips has nearly half of that with 1,475,000. The rest of the field won’t make it easy for Cartwright to take home another title as there is still plenty of talent left at the final table.
TK Miles and Robert Chow finished the day in third and fourth place, respectively, both have impressive resumes of their own. Miles owns a ring of his own and is regarded as one of the top players in Florida, while Chow has two rings, including one from one of the bigger main events in Circuit history by besting 1,615 players in Hammond in 2011 for $393,584.
Leo Boothe, Bob Beck and Kevin Benoit round out the final seven. Boothe and Benoit lack an extensive tournament resume, but Beck has two rings and six-figures in cashes to his name.
The day started on Sunday at noon with 65 players and cashing was the first thing on everybody’s mind. Hand-for-hand play started in first few minutes of the fourth level of the day and lasted the entire level. After nearly an hour of hand-for-hand play, Rusty Moorer burst the bubble and the final 36 players were all in the in the money and guaranteed at least $2,660.
Tim Burt, Justin Harvell, Johnny Landreth, Dimitry Agrachov and Steve Karp were among the notable players who started the day with chips, but were unable to survive long enough to make the money.
Start of day chip leader Kevin Patel (36th), defending champion Chris Savage (31st), Donovan Dean (28th), Richard Radford (23rd), “Captain” Tom Franklin (22nd), and Warren Sheaves (15th) were among the notables who cashed, but failed to survive the day.
The unofficial final table was reached in the beginning of the last level of the day with Chris McLean leading the final 10 players. Cartwright took over once they were down to one table, eliminating the final three players of the day and finishing the day with the chip lead.
Cartwright eliminated James Miller in 10th place, Saeed Nia in ninth place and Cody Stanford in eighth place to put an end to the day.
The final seven players will return to the final table at noon on Monday to play down to a winner. Levels will still be 60 minutes in length and they will start with blinds of 15,000/30,000 and a 5,000 ante. Everybody is guaranteed at least $17,699, but they are all within arm’s reach of the $118,332 first place money, the Circuit ring and a seat into next year’s Global Casino Championship.
Day 3 Chip Counts:
Kyle Cartwright – 2,750,000
Chris McLean – 1,475,000
TK Miles – 870,000
Bob Chow – 580,000
Leo Boothe – 430,000
Bob Beck – 415,000
Kevin Benoit – 335,000