Loman Leads 18 After Day 2; Multiple Bracelet Winners in Contention
Day 2 of the 2017 World Series of Poker Event #14: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. saw a total of 168 players return to the tables of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino and more than 50 hopefuls were sent to the rail empty-handed. After ten and a half levels, only 18 mixed-game specialists are still in contention and Kyle Loman leads the field of survivors with 580,000.
Loman is closely followed by Paul Sokoloff (540,000) and bracelet winner David Singer (525,000), while two-time bracelet winner David "Bakes" Baker bagged up 479,000. Esther Taylor (336,000) is followed by other notables such as Richard Ashby (269,000) and the "Italian" Pirate Max Pescatori (228,000), who may claim his fifth gold bracelet tomorrow. Defending champion Ian Johns (172,000) is still in contention to join the club of four-time bracelet winners, while Brandon Shack-Harris (125,000) has two WSOP bracelets to his name thus far.
The action got underway in two different rooms and within just two levels, all players were united in the Brasilia Room. Among those to bust before the money were Jon Turner, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, Anthony Zinno, Eric Rodawig and Jean Montury. The bubble burst when three players were at risk on three different tables. Jonathan Williams and Lonnie Heimowitz failed to survive their all in and split the min-cash of $2,247 evenly.
Soon after, Jason Mercier and Mihails Morozovs headed to the rail, and the field was cut down significantly until the dinner break after the sixth level of the day. Owais Ahmed, Vladimir Shchemelev, Daniel Weinman and John Monnette were just a few big names that cashed, but failed to bag up chips. Daniel Negreanu had to settle for 67th place for $2,612 when he failed to improve in a seven-card stud hi-lo hand with a four-card low and flush draw.Barbara Enright followed him to the rail soon after.
Other notables that cashed include Ronnie Bardah (59th, for $2,855), Mike Gorodinsky (50th, for $3,181), Randy Ohel (47th, for $3,611), Chris Tryba (36th, for $4,173), Marco Johnson, Mike Wattel and Frankie O'Dell (32nd, 31st and 27th respectively, for $4,911 each). Start-of-the-day chip leader Adam Dickson, mainly a cash game player in the UK, ultimately had to settle for 22nd place and recorded his first cash at the WSOP for $5,882.
Event #14: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. Day 3 Seat Assignments
| Room | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brasilia | 715 | 1 | Kyle Loman | United States | 580,000 |
| Brasilia | 715 | 2 | Ian Johns | United States | 172,000 |
| Brasilia | 715 | 4 | Yuval Bronshtein | Israel | 105,000 |
| Brasilia | 715 | 6 | Andrew Kelsall | United States | 418,000 |
| Brasilia | 715 | 7 | Mike Coombs | United States | 283,000 |
| Brasilia | 715 | 8 | Max Pescatori | Italy | 228,000 |
| Brasilia | 716 | 1 | Jan Stein | United States | 92,000 |
| Brasilia | 716 | 2 | Brandon Shack-Harris | United States | 125,000 |
| Brasilia | 716 | 4 | Richard Ashby | United Kingdom | 269,000 |
| Brasilia | 716 | 5 | James Richburg | United Kingdom | 172,000 |
| Brasilia | 716 | 6 | Paul Sokoloff | Canada | 540,000 |
| Brasilia | 716 | 8 | David “Bakes” Baker | United States | 479,000 |
| Brasilia | 717 | 1 | Esther Taylor | United States | 336,000 |
| Brasilia | 717 | 2 | Jon Seaman | United States | 149,000 |
| Brasilia | 717 | 3 | David Singer | United States | 525,000 |
| Brasilia | 717 | 4 | Wayne LaMonica | United States | 451,000 |
| Brasilia | 717 | 5 | Frederic Moss | Canada | 419,000 |
| Brasilia | 717 | 8 | Adam Crawford | Canada | 186,000 |
All remaining 18 hopefuls have $5,882 locked up, while all eyes are set on the first-place prize of $203,709. The PokerNews live reporting team will be back to provide all the action from the floor when the action resumes at 12 p.m. noon local time, with 30 minutes remaining in level 21 and limits of 12,000/24,000.