Friday, October 22, 2021 3:36 AM Local Time
Gerhart Bags Day 2 Chip Lead; Glaser Close Behind
Just 16 players remain after day 2 of Event #40: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E., with Kevin Gerhart (1,075,000) taking the chip lead into Friday's play.
Gerhart is one of only two players to finish the night over one million chips. He's closely followed by runner-up of Event #2: $25,000 H.O.R.S.E., Benny Glaser (1,045,000).
Rounding out the top five biggest stacks to end day 2 are Christopher Vitch (945,000), David Benyamine (710,000), and Marco Johnson (665,000).
A pair of players that found their tournament lives deeply in danger at various points of the day, even near the money bubble, survived the day and actually bagged healthy stacks for Friday.
Eddie Blumenthal was left with just 3.5 big bets midway through the day after his pair of nines fell to Christopher Vitch's flopped top pair of tens. He came back strong through the evening to take 620,000 chips into Day 3.
Jerry Wong was so short-stacked near the bubble that he actually late-registered Event #42: $1,500 Razz just in case. He then unregistered after making the money here, then running his stack up to a healthy 495,000.
Once that money bubble was burst by Chris Bell, seven players collected a min-cash of $16,218 or slightly better, including Scott Seiver in 22nd place, Nate Silver in 21st place, recent bracelet winner Dylan Linde in 19th place, and Day 1 chip leader Qinghai Pan in 18th place.
Among those from Day 2 that missed a trip to the payout window were the defending champion of this event, Greg Mueller, and a pair of former WSOP Player of the Years in Robert Campbell (2019) and Shaun Deeb (2018).
The final 16 return to the Amazon room Friday at 2:00 pm local time, when they're scheduled to play down to five players.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of this, and every World Series of Poker Event live from the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Friday, October 22, 2021 3:00 AM Local Time
End of Day 2 Chip Counts - Official
Kevin Gerhart takes home the Day 2 chip lead as one of two players over one million.
A full recap is to follow.
| Kevin Gerhart | 1,075,000 | -100,000  |
| Benny Glaser | 1,045,000 | 15,000  |
| Chris Vitch | 945,000 | 395,000 |
| David Benyamine | 710,000 | 55,000 |
| Marco Johnson | 665,000 | 215,000 |
| Eddie Blumenthal | 620,000 | -10,000 |
| Kevin Song | 590,000 | 290,000 |
| Jerry Wong | 495,000 | 275,000 |
| Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier | 493,000 | -117,000 |
| Bryce Yockey | 490,000 | 80,000 |
| Brandon Shack-Harris | 460,000 | 100,000 |
| Jake Schwartz | 415,000 | -30,000 |
| Randy Ohel | 330,000 | -340,000 |
| Max Pescatori | 315,000 | -125,000 |
| Eric Rodawig | 180,000 | -520,000 |
| Michael Trivett | 115,000 | -521,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 2:53 AM Local Time
Play Has Concluded
The players are bagging up for the end of the night.
Chip counts and a full recap to come.
Friday, October 22, 2021 2:31 AM Local Time
A Millionaire at Each Table
With two tables of eight players left, each table has a strong contender for end of night chip leader.
Kevin Gerhart is leading everyone with 1,175,000 at table 430, while Benny Glaser has 1,030,000 in front of him at table 439.
| Kevin Gerhart | 1,175,000 | 395,000 |
| Benny Glaser | 1,030,000 | 80,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 2:16 AM Local Time
Final Two Table Redraw
| Table | Seat | Player |
|---|
| 430 | 1 | Christopher Vitch |
| 430 | 2 | Eddie Blumenthal |
| 430 | 3 | Jerry Wong |
| 430 | 4 | Bryce Yockey |
| 430 | 5 | Michael Trivett |
| 430 | 6 | Eric Rodawig |
| 430 | 7 | Kevin Gerhart |
| 430 | 8 | Bertrand Grospellier |
| | | |
| 430 | 1 | David Benyamine |
| 430 | 2 | Brandon Shack-Harris |
| 430 | 3 | Marco Johnson |
| 430 | 4 | Jake Schwartz |
| 430 | 5 | Max Pescatori |
| 430 | 6 | Randy Ohel |
| 430 | 7 | Kevin Song |
| 430 | 8 | Benny Glaser |
Friday, October 22, 2021 2:14 AM Local Time
Gary Benson Eliminated in 17th Place ($17,738)
Stud Hi-Lo
Christopher Vitch: / /
Gary Benson: / /
Jerry Wong: / /
Bryce Yockey had the bring-in with the and Jerry Wong completed. Christopher Vitch called and the short-stacked Gary Benson raised it. Yockey folded, both Wong and Vitch called, and it was off to fourth street.
Benson had the lead with ace-king showing and bet 15,000, leaving himself just 4,000 back. Both his opponents called and then Benson bet the last of his chips on fifth.
Wong called and then called when Vitch completed to 30,000. Vitch then check-called bets on both sixth and seventh with a straight while Wong showed a low.
Benson was drawing live to a diamond flush on seventh and he squeezed out the last card.
"It's red," he said hopefully before turning it over to reveal it was the wrong suit.
| Gary Benson | 0 | -97,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 2:09 AM Local Time
Qinghai Pan Eliminated in 18th Place ($17,738)
Limit Hold'em
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, who was recently nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame for the first time, raised from the hijack only to have Qinghai Pan three-bet all in from the cutoff. The button and blinds all folded and Grospellier called.
Qinghai Pan:
Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier:
Pan got it in good and held through both the flop and turn, but disaster struck when the spiked on the river to give ElkY a straight.
| Qinghai Pan | 0 | -117,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 2:06 AM Local Time
Mike Gorodinsky Eliminated in 20th Place ($16,218); Dylan Linde in 19th ($17,738)
Stud
Mike Gorodinsky: /
Benny Glaser: /
Mike Gorodinsky got his short stack in with deuces in the whole only to see he was dominated by the queens of Benny Glaser. Ther former failed to improve upon his down ducks while Glaser made trip queens to score the knockout.
Meanwhile, recent WSOP bracelet winner Dylan Linde was eliminated at the same time in a hand of Stud one table over. Linde finished in 19th place for $17,738.
| Benny Glaser | 950,000 | 327,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 0 | -140,000 |
| Dylan Linde | 0 | -175,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 1:58 AM Local Time
Nate Silver Eliminated in 21st Place ($16,218)
Razz
Nate Silver got the last of his chips in on third street in a three-way pot with Kevin Gerhart and Benny Glaser.
Side pot action was checked on fourth street between Glaser and Gerhart, but once Gerhart bet fifth street, Glaser folded to create the final heads-up confrontation.
Nate Silver: / /
Kevin Gerhart: / /
Benny Glaser: / - folded
Silver was in rough shape on fifth street as Gerhart had already made with the six and four in the hole.
Silver couldn't improve and he was eliminated in 21st place.
| Kevin Gerhart | 780,000 | 230,000 |
| Nate Silver | 0 | -100,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 1:46 AM Local Time
Scott Seiver Eliminated in 22nd Place ($16,218)
Razz
While Mike Gorodinsky, who was down to 26,000, was doubling through Eddie Blumentahl at one table, Eric Rodawig was busy eliminating Scott Seiver in 22nd place at another.
Seiver got his last 3,000 all in on fifth street in a hand of Razz and appeared to end up with a jack low, but it was no good as Rodawig had a seven-perfect to score the elimination.
Seiver wished the table good luck and headed to the payout desk to collect $16,218.
| Eric Rodawig | 700,000 | 30,000 |
| Scott Seiver | 0 | -70,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 1:39 AM Local Time
Wong Gets Near Complete Double From Yockey
Omaha Hi-Lo
Jerry Wong has been among the shortest stacks in the room since there were approximately 30 players left in the tournament, and even maximum late registered the $1,500 Razz tournament just in case he busted.
He's since unregistered from the Razz because he's still going in this tournament and trying hard to spin up his stack.
Picking action up on the flop, Bryce Yockey check-called a bet from Wong on the .
Yockey check-called another bet from Wong on the turn .
Yockey checked again on the river, and Wong slid out one more bet, leaving himself less than one big bet behind.
After some brief deliberation, Yockey folded, awarding a near full double up to Wong.
| Bryce Yockey | 410,000 | 55,000 |
| Jerry Wong | 220,000 | 122,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 1:15 AM Local Time
Level 17 started
Level: 17
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Friday, October 22, 2021 1:13 AM Local Time
Rodawig Leads at Final Break
With 90 minutes left to play, Eric Rodawig leads the final 22 players.
| Eric Rodawig | 710,000 | 60,000 |
| Randy Ohel | 670,000 | 302,000 |
| David Benyamine | 655,000 | 15,000 |
| Michael Trivett | 636,000 | -19,000 |
| Eddie Blumenthal | 630,000 | 465,000 |
| Benny Glaser | 623,000 | -117,000 |
| Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier | 610,000 | 190,000 |
| Kevin Gerhart | 550,000 | 240,000 |
| Chris Vitch | 550,000 | 149,000 |
| Marco Johnson | 450,000 | 135,000 |
| Jake Schwartz | 445,000 | 0 |
| Max Pescatori | 440,000 | 255,000 |
| Brandon Shack-Harris | 360,000 | 160,000 |
| Bryce Yockey | 355,000 | -115,000 |
| Kevin Song | 300,000 | -60,000 |
| Dylan Linde | 175,000 | 25,000 |
| Mike Gorodinsky | 140,000 | -111,000 |
| Qinghai Pan | 117,000 | -105,000 |
| Nate Silver | 100,000 | -150,000 |
| Jerry Wong | 98,000 | 28,000 |
| Gary Benson | 97,000 | 10,000 |
| Scott Seiver | 70,000 | -270,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 1:04 AM Local Time
Final Break of the Day
The remaining 22 players have been sent on their final ten-minute break.
Upon return, they'll play one final 90-minute level, before bagging for the night.
Friday, October 22, 2021 1:01 AM Local Time
Schwartz Surging; Pan Getting Short
Omaha Hi-Lo
Jake Schwartz was under 100,000 chips and in danger of being eliminated, but after scooping a three-way Omaha Hi-Lo pot and then the following hand versus the Day 1 chip leader Qinghai Pan, he's more than healthy again.
A raising war ensued preflop with Pan raising in early position, getting three-bet by Schwartz, then responding with a four-bet that Schwartz called in position.
Pan kept up the aggression, betting the flop. Schwartz called.
Pan bet and got called again on the turn.
Finally, on the river, Pan fired again and Schwartz quickly called.
Pan showed for a bluff with missed low and Broadway draws. Schwartz showed for aces up to drag the sizable pot.
| Jake Schwartz | 445,000 | 280,000 |
| Qinghai Pan | 222,000 | -108,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 12:45 AM Local Time
Linde Can't Shake Yockey
Stud Hi-Lo
Gary Benson: / -fold-
Bryce Yockey: /
Dylan Linde: /
Gary Benson had the bring-in with a deuce and Bryce Yockey completed showing a queen. Recent bracelet winner Dylan Linde called next to act and action folded back to Benson, who came along to fourth street.
Linde paired to take the lead but checked to Benson, who checked back. Yockey then bet, Linde check-raised to 24,000, and Benson folded. Yockey called and then proceeded to call bets of 24,000 from Linde on each street thereafter.
Linde tabled two pair fives and fours but it was no good as Yockey had kings up.
| Bryce Yockey | 470,000 | 100,000 |
| Dylan Linde | 150,000 | -100,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 12:37 AM Local Time
Gerhart Triples Up in Huge Stud Pot
Stud
Picking the action up in a huge pot on sixth street, Kevin Gerhart, who was getting short on chips, and had already led the betting on earlier streets, continued betting versus Benny Glaser and Scott Seiver.
Their boards read:
Kevin Gerhart: / /
Scott Seiver: / /
Benny Glaser: / /
Both players called, and on seventh street, Gerhart went all-in for the last of his chips. Glaser immediately folded, and Seiver gave it some thought, saying he had buried queens.
Ultimately, he folded and showed Gerhart the queens. Gerhart replied by turning over , showing that he had a full house already.
The win sent Gerhart back over 300,000.
| Benny Glaser | 740,000 | 240,000 |
| Scott Seiver | 340,000 | -222,000 |
| Kevin Gerhart | 310,000 | 195,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 12:28 AM Local Time
Peiwen Wang Eliminated in 23rd Place ($16,218)
Stud
Peiwen Wang got the last of his chips in on third street, raising all-in showing the versus Bertrand Grospellier's .
Peiwen Wang: / /
Bertrand Grospellier: / /
Grospellier's two pair aces and queens beat Wang's kings and jacks, sending him to the payout window in 23rd place.
| Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier | 420,000 | -120,000 |
| Peiwen Wang | 0 | -290,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 12:16 AM Local Time
Flush No Good for Gerhart
Stud
Kevin Gerhart: /
Kevin Song: /
Scott Seiver: / -fold-
On fourth street, Kevin Gerhart bet, and both Kevin Song and Scott Seiver called.
Song paired on fifth to take the lead and led for 24,000, which prompted Seiver to fold. Gerhart raised to 48,000, Song called, and then both players checked on sixth.
On seventh, Song bet 24,000 and Gerhart called while saying, "Flush."
Gerhart tabled his hand but it was no good as Song tabled a better one and said, "Full house."
| Kevin Song | 360,000 | 80,000 |
| Kevin Gerhart | 115,000 | -60,000 |
Friday, October 22, 2021 12:06 AM Local Time
Silver Survives Near All-In
Razz
Nate Silver controlled the betting lead through every street of a hand of Razz against Eric Rodawig, but by the end, his tournament life could have been at risk.
The players boards read:
Nate Silver: / /
Eric Rodawig: / /
As mentioned, Silver bet every street including seventh, leaving himself with just 13,000 chips behind. However, after the final bet Rodawig went into the tank, as he obviously hadn't hit what he was looking for.
Rodawig said "nice hand" and tossed his cards into the muck. His stack is still among the leaders, but Silver is back and healthy now as well with the win.
| Eric Rodawig | 650,000 | 60,000 |
| Nate Silver | 250,000 | -95,000 |