Friday, October 1, 2021 2:12 AM Local Time
Leo Abbe Jumps to Top of the Chip Counts After Day 1 of the $500 Casino Employees Event
For the first time in 26 months, the poker world came together at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino for the start of the 2021 World Series of Poker.
The $500 Casino Employees Event took its traditional role as the opening event of the WSOP, with 419 entries generating a prize pool of $175,980. After 17 40-minute levels on Day 1, around 50 players survived to Day 2 with their dream of capturing the coveted gold bracelet still alive.
Leading the way is Leo Abbe, a Sportsbook Promotions Associate with DraftKings. Abbe took two big pots off former chip leader Juan Carlos Latuff towards the end of the night to finish with 537,000.
Other big stacks include Shawn Weintraub (474,000), Roberto Reyna (461,000), Andrew Bart (422,000), and Akash Desai (415,000). PokerNews' Jesse Fullen survived the day with 223,000.
Not everyone was fortunate enough to make it through to Day 2. Chad Holloway, the 2013 champion of this event, busted on Day 1, as did 2019 Main Event fourth-place finisher Garry Gates and WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. PokerNews team members Connor Richards, Matt Hansen, and Dannah Kamp also hit the rail.
The remaining players will return at 12 p.m. PST tomorrow in the Amazon Room. The schedule calls for them to play down to a champion. Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for what will surely be a packed day of action.
Jesse Fullen
Friday, October 1, 2021 2:11 AM Local Time
Day 2 Seat Draw - Event #1: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em
| Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|
| 404 | 1 | Jeremy Zimmerman | United States | 71,000 | 7 |
| 404 | 2 | Gene Lee | United States | 144,000 | 14 |
| 404 | 3 | Ruben Meza | United States | 72,000 | 7 |
| 404 | 4 | Jason Smith | United States | 351,000 | 35 |
| 404 | 5 | Danny Chang | United States | 212,000 | 21 |
| 404 | 6 | Bryan Garrett | United States | 309,000 | 31 |
| 404 | 7 | Jerry Garver | United States | 212,000 | 21 |
| 404 | 8 | Aaron Wells | United States | 149,000 | 15 |
| 404 | 9 | Ronald Baltazar | United States | 304,000 | 30 |
| | | | | | |
| 405 | 1 | Joe Garrett | United States | 56,000 | 6 |
| 405 | 2 | Marco Starnoni | United States | 363,000 | 36 |
| 405 | 3 | Brian Matthiesen | United States | 27,000 | 3 |
| 405 | 4 | Leo Abbe | United States | 537,000 | 54 |
| 405 | 5 | Randolph Martinez | United States | 146,000 | 15 |
| 405 | 6 | Chris Minton | United States | 248,000 | 25 |
| 405 | 7 | Travis Williams | United States | 218,000 | 22 |
| 405 | 8 | Robert Tzumaedes | United States | 16,000 | 2 |
| 405 | 9 | Adam Lamers | Canada | 117,000 | 12 |
| | | | | | |
| 406 | 1 | Steven McLoughlin | United States | 247,000 | 25 |
| 406 | 3 | David Margulies | United States | 199,000 | 20 |
| 406 | 4 | Jesse Fullen | United States | 223,000 | 22 |
| 406 | 5 | Jason Thompson | United States | 176,000 | 18 |
| 406 | 6 | Bobby Schmidt | United States | 273,000 | 27 |
| 406 | 7 | Tom Kubin | United States | 151,000 | 15 |
| 406 | 8 | Robert Clabaugh | United States | 129,000 | 13 |
| 406 | 9 | James Scott | United States | 116,000 | 12 |
| | | | | | |
| 412 | 1 | Tyler Burke | United States | 186,000 | 19 |
| 412 | 2 | Kyle Morris | United States | 179,000 | 18 |
| 412 | 4 | Jack Behrens | United States | 363,000 | 36 |
| 412 | 5 | Edward Shade | United States | 86,000 | 9 |
| 412 | 6 | Wenrong Wang | China | 235,000 | 24 |
| 412 | 7 | Justin Steinman | United States | 194,000 | 19 |
| 412 | 8 | Rico Cuevas | United States | 104,000 | 10 |
| 412 | 9 | Joe Chang | United States | 285,000 | 29 |
| | | | | | |
| 413 | 1 | Andrew Bart | United States | 422,000 | 42 |
| 413 | 2 | Jodie Sanders | United States | 79,000 | 8 |
| 413 | 3 | Christophe Mudd | United States | 274,000 | 27 |
| 413 | 4 | Jordan Handrich | United States | 146,000 | 15 |
| 413 | 5 | Akash Desai | United States | 415,000 | 42 |
| 413 | 6 | Juan Carlos Latoff | United States | 39,000 | 4 |
| 413 | 7 | Sarah Lee | United States | 70,000 | 7 |
| 413 | 9 | Krisztian Dora | Hungary | 269,000 | 27 |
| | | | | | |
| 414 | 1 | Shawn Weintraub | United States | 474,000 | 47 |
| 414 | 2 | Daniel Kim | United States | 337,000 | 34 |
| 414 | 3 | Steven Rose | United States | 82,000 | 8 |
| 414 | 4 | Evan Zlock | United States | 240,000 | 24 |
| 414 | 5 | Kimberly Medina | United States | 120,000 | 12 |
| 414 | 7 | John Hayward | United States | 84,000 | 8 |
| 414 | 8 | James Barnett | United States | 343,000 | 34 |
| 414 | 9 | Roberto Reyna | United States | 461,000 | 46 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 1:49 AM Local Time
Day 1 Chip Counts
| Leo Abbe | 537,000 | 122,000  |
| Shawn Weintraub | 474,000 | 139,000 |
| Roberto Reyna | 461,000 | 461,000 |
| Andrew Bart | 422,000 | -28,000  |
| Akash Desai | 415,000 | 96,000 |
| Marco Starnoni | 363,000 | 363,000 |
| Jack Behrens | 363,000 | 183,000 |
| Jason Smith | 351,000 | 127,000 |
| James Barnett | 343,000 | 343,000 |
| Daniel Kim | 337,000 | 24,000 |
| Bryan Garrett | 309,000 | 309,000 |
| Ronald Baltazar | 304,000 | 90,000 |
| Joe Chang | 285,000 | 218,000 |
| Christophe Mudd | 274,000 | 274,000 |
| Bobby Schmidt | 273,000 | 273,000 |
| Krisztian Dora | 269,000 | 269,000 |
| Chris Minton | 248,000 | -81,000 |
| Steven McLoughlin | 247,000 | 137,000 |
| Evan Zlock | 240,000 | 48,000 |
| Wenrong Wang | 235,000 | 235,000 |
| Jesse Fullen | 223,000 | 38,000 |
| Travis Williams | 218,000 | 218,000 |
| Danny Chang | 212,000 | 212,000 |
| Jerry Garver | 212,000 | 102,000 |
| David Margulies | 199,000 | 41,000 |
| Justin Steinman | 194,000 | 194,000 |
| Tyler Burke | 186,000 | 0 |
| Kyle Morris | 179,000 | -51,000 |
| Jason Thompson | 176,000 | 83,000 |
| Tom Kubin | 151,000 | 151,000 |
| Aaron Wells | 149,000 | -89,000 |
| Randolph Martinez | 146,000 | 146,000 |
| Jordan Handrich | 146,000 | 146,000 |
| Gene Lee | 144,000 | -12,000 |
| Robert Clabaugh | 129,000 | -104,000 |
| Kimberly Medina | 120,000 | 120,000 |
| Adam Lamers | 117,000 | -87,000 |
| James Scott | 116,000 | 116,000 |
| Rico Cuevas | 104,000 | 104,000 |
| Edward Shade | 86,000 | 86,000 |
| John Hayward | 84,000 | -66,000 |
| Steven Rose | 82,000 | 82,000 |
| Jodie Sanders | 79,000 | -52,000 |
| Ruben Meza | 72,000 | -48,000 |
| Jeremy Zimmerman | 71,000 | -59,000 |
| Sarah Lee | 70,000 | -42,000 |
| Joe Garrett | 56,000 | -1,500 |
| Juan Carlos Latoff | 39,000 | 39,000 |
| Brian Matthiesen | 27,000 | 27,000 |
| Robert Tzumaedes | 16,000 | -34,000 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 1:24 AM Local Time
Day 1 WSOP Wrap-Up
Friday, October 1, 2021 1:07 AM Local Time
Bag and Tag
Play has ended for the night and the remaining players are bagging and tagging and will return on Friday at 12 p.m. PST as they play down to a winner.
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:57 AM Local Time
Abbe Turns a Set to Win a Monster Off Latuff
Leo Abbe and Juan Carlos Latuff tangled again, and for the second time Abbe came out the victor.
Picking up the action on a board of , Abbe bet 45,000 from under the gun. Latuff, from the big blind, replied by shoving all-in for Abbe's remaining 150,000, and Abbe snap-called.
Abbe showed for the turned set, while Latuff mustered up for top pair and a gutshot.
The river came the and Abbe doubled up to 415,000. Latuff, the chip leader not long ago, was left with around 60,000.
| Leo Abbe | 415,000 | 205,000 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:55 AM Local Time
Burke Wins a Flip to Oust a Player
A player in the small blind was all in and at risk for about 60,000 chips with against the of Burke.
The flop was to put the small blind player in an unlikely spot to stay alive, and the turn and river confirmed it as Burke chipped up.
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:46 AM Local Time
Bart Four-Bets Baltazar
After the cutoff opened with a raise to 8,000, Ron Baltazar three-bet from the button to 30,000. Andrew Bart, in the big blind, came back with a four-bet to 70,000, forcing the original raiser to fold.
Baltazar gave it some consideration before also folding.
Bart is up to 450,000, while Baltazar currently sits with 214,000.
| Andrew Bart | 450,000 | 319,000 |
| Ronald Baltazar | 214,000 | 79,500 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:39 AM Local Time
Abbe Takes a Chunk Off Latuff
With the flop showing , Juan Carlos Latuff bet 36,000 from the hijack. Leo Abbe, next to act, raised all in for 73,000 more.
Latuff gave it some thought before deciding to fold, dropping down to 268,000. Abbe, meanwhile, is up to 210,000.
| Juan Carlos Latuff | 268,000 | -50,000 |
| Leo Abbe | 210,000 | 210,000 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:36 AM Local Time
Moon Bubbles with Nines
Jason Smith raised to 13,000 in early position and it folded to Chris Moon in the big blind with not much more. After having a "tough time deciding" according to players at his table, he ultimately decided to put in his stack of 21,000 chips, which was called by Smith.
Chris Moon:
Jason Smith:
The players were flipping and the flop vaulted Smith into the lead. The turn was a , and with Moon needing a river nine to avoid being the bubble boy, it was not to be as the completed the board and the remaining 63 players are now in the money.
Chris Moon| Jason Smith | 224,000 | 224,000 |
| Chris Moon | 0 | 0 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:28 AM Local Time
Level 17 started
Level: 17
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:27 AM Local Time
40K and a Dream for Mitchell
Tyler Mitchell, who made it into the money with just 40,000 in chips, isn't giving up hope.
"40,000 and a dream," he said as the bubble burst.
| Tyler Mitchell | 40,000 | -138,000 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:23 AM Local Time
Leong Survives on the Bubble
Danny Leong was all in on the bubble for his last 27,000 with and was up against .
The board ran out and Leong spiked his queen to keep his bracelet dreams alive.
| Danny Leong | 69,000 | -174,000 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:17 AM Local Time
Kim Calls All-in With Third Pair
Daniel Kim bet 14,000 on a flop of and the player next to act called. Both players checked the on the turn.
On the river, Kim checked again and his opponent shoved for his last 64,000.
Kim thought about it for a minute calling with for a pair of sevens. His opponent could only show for ace-high and was sent home two spots short of the money.
"Nice call, man," another player at the table told Kim after the hand.
| Daniel Kim | 313,000 | 38,000 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:13 AM Local Time
Hand-for-Hand
With one away from the money, play is now hand-for-hand.
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:12 AM Local Time
Tzumaedes Flops Set to Stay Alive
Robert Tzumaedes shoved from early position for about 20,000 and the player in the cutoff called as everyone else folded.
Robert Tzumaedes:
Cutoff Player:
Tzumaedes was flipping but basically sealed the win on the flop. The completed the board and he took the pot.
| Shawn Weintraub | 335,000 | 117,000 |
| Akash Desai | 319,000 | -49,000 |
| Robert Tzumaedes | 50,000 | 50,000 |
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:06 AM Local Time
Morris Brings the Field One Closer to the Money
According to Kyle Morris, the player under the gun went all in for his last 51,000 with . Morris called with and had his opponent drawing dead by the turn as the board ran out to give him a full house.
Morris improved his stack to 230,000 with that pot.
| Kyle Morris | 230,000 | 205,000 |
Thursday, September 30, 2021 11:51 PM Local Time
Jenkins Doubles with Ladies
Action folded to the player in the hijack who raised to 15,000 and Annabelle Jenkins shoved her stack of 37,000 into the middle from the small blind. The hijack player called and hands were revealed.
Annabelle Jenkins:
Hijack Player:
Jenkins was ahead but needed to hold. The flop was . The turn was the giving her opponent straight draws, but the harmless completed the board to give her a double.
Thursday, September 30, 2021 11:47 PM Local Time
Lamers Sends One Home Short of the Money
On the first hand back from break, the player in the cutoff put his last 66,000 in the middle and Adam Lamers, who finished fifth in this event in 2019, called.
The all-in player showed and had to win a coin flip against the of Lamers. He was in good shape when the board came out , but the on the river spelled doom for his tournament life.
| Adam Lamers | 204,000 | 36,000 |
Thursday, September 30, 2021 11:41 PM Local Time
Level 16 started
Level: 16
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000