Event #9: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship

Day 2 of Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship at the 2021 World Series of Poker has officially ended with Andrew Yeh leading the final 18 players going into Day 3. Yeh will be looking to improve on his 11th place finish from the same event in 2019.

Day 2 began with 73 players, which included a few new faces who opted to register at the beginning of the day instead of playing Day 1. This brought the total number of entries to 134 — generating a prize pool of $1,193,600 with a first-place prize of $317,076.

The deep structure and long levels of this championship event ensured a slow and steady pace, which led to gradual eliminations throughout the day. A few notables who began the day but failed to make the money include Daniel Negreanu, Shaun Deeb, David Benyamine, Bart Hanson, defending champion Frankie O'Dell, and Mike Matusow — who successfully nursed a short stack for much of the day before eventually succumbing to Chris Vitch late in the day.

Ryan Laplante, Ben Yu, and Mark Gregorich all managed to sneak into the money for a min-cash shortly after Tom Koral bubbled.

There are 30 World Series of Poker gold bracelets between remaining combatants, which of course includes Phil Hellmuth, who will be looking to add number 16. Others still in contention include Brian Rast, Ken Aldridge, Paul Volpe, Dylan Linde, and Robert Mizrachi, who just placed third in Event #5: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better a few days ago.

Day 3 is set to resume at 3 p.m. tomorrow and play down until just five players remain. Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we continue to bring you all the scoops, quarters, and knockouts here at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.

On a board reading     , Ben Yu checked from the big blind to Ken Aldridge in the cutoff, who bet. Yu called all-in and hands were revealed.

Ben Yu:     
Ken Aldridge:     

The   river completed the board and Aldridge scooped the pot with a superior two pair.

Ken Aldridge	710,000	250,000
Ben Yu	0	-180,000

Robert Mizrachi opened from the hijack and was called by Eddie Blumenthal on the button. A short-stacked Tom Koral then went all-in from the big blind and both Mizrachi and Blumenthal called.

Both players checked down on the     flop and   turn; however, Blumenthal bet when checked to on the   river.

"You either have aces or you're dumb enough to bluff," Mizrachi said before folding.

Blumenthal revealed     , which was good against the      of Koral — who was eliminated just shy of the money.

All the remaining players are now guaranteed a $16,000 payday for their efforts.

Robert Mizrachi	550,000	-20,000
Eddie Blumenthal	490,000	110,000
Tom Koral	0	-50,000

Josh Damm was down to a few thousand chips and was all-in against Ben Landowski.

Josh Damm:     
Ben Landowski:     

The board ran out       and Landowski won the hand with a pair of queens, sending his opponent to the rail two away from the money in the process.

Ben Landowski	400,000	-280,000
Josh Damm	0	-55,000

Phil Hellmuth opened on the button and Josh Damm defended in the big blind with just about a single bet behind.

Hellmuth bet on the     flop and Damm quickly called off for the rest of his stack.

Phil Hellmuth:     
Josh Damm:     

The board ran out    and Damm scooped the pot and secured a double-up with a flush.

Phil Hellmuth	300,000	-50,000
Josh Damm	55,000	-30,000

The remaining 25 players are on their last break of Day 2. They will play one more level when they return and then the day will break.

Ben Yu raised from middle position and was called by Mark Gregorich on the button and Ken Aldridge in the small blind.

Yu proceeded to bet when checked to on every street, and both Greogorich and Aldridge called each street. First on the     flop, then on the   turn, and lastly on the   river.

Yu held the      for two pair and a low and Gregorich held      for the same low but an inferior high.

Aldridge mucked and Yu took down the majority of the pot.

Ken Aldridge	490,000	-260,000
Ben Yu	270,000	220,000
Mark Gregorich	140,000	-30,000