$50K HORSE Pre-Day 3: Stable Half Empty
By the end of Day 2 of the 5-day event, there were only 67 players left standing in the tournament. The 81 players who have been eliminated left $4,050,000 behind for the others.
Among those gone from the field is reigning champion Freddy Deeb, courtesy of Steve Zolotow in an Omaha-8 hand. Last year’s second-place finisher Bruno Fitoussi was taken out of this year’s event by Hasan Habib in a razz hand. David Singer’s run for a third final table in three years was thwarted by Rob Hollink in a stud-8 hand early on Day 2.
Taking a look at what is possible, there are several players who could make for some interesting stories here:
1. Barry Greenstein cashed in 2006 (12th place) and 2007 (7th place).
2. 2007 final table players who are still in the running to make it happen a second year in a row include John Hanson, Kenny Tran, Thor Hansen, Gabe Kaplan, and Greenstein. It won’t be possible for Amnon Filippi because though I swore I saw him on Day 1, it seems that he didn’t play this event as his name is not on the bust-outs or chip count list.
3. Of course, Doyle Brunson could make a run at that 11th bracelet, and he would win the first-ever Chip Reese commemorative trophy. Could there be anything better?
There are more stories to develop as the field thins further. The chip leader going into Day 3, which starts in just moments, is Lyle Berman. Could a WPT guy win the biggest tournament at the WSOP? Let’s see how it goes! Updates throughout the evening…
DanM says:
June 27th, 2008 at 4:55pm
Oooh! I’m so rooting for Lyle Berman. How much ruckmaking fun would that be?
Kevin Mathers says:
June 27th, 2008 at 6:00pm
Since Gabe bubbled the final table in 9th, the only player left from last year’s final table is now Kenny Tran.
California Jen says:
June 27th, 2008 at 7:29pm
Why was I thinking that the final table was 9-handed?
Barry Greenstein is still alive, and he final tabled it last year…
DanM says:
June 27th, 2008 at 7:33pm
Phil Ivey also makes for an interesting story … Wouldn’t that be something if he pulled off a $2 million save on his bracelet bets?
California Jen says:
June 27th, 2008 at 7:45pm
You’re right; Phil could probably use the $2 mil after his Lakers loss.
Oh, and Kenny Tran is out.
Poker Shrink says:
June 27th, 2008 at 9:13pm
Ummmmm, Amnon Filippi shows as a Day One bustout.
California Jen says:
June 27th, 2008 at 9:15pm
I thought I saw Amnon! Well, I guess this was one way to find out that bustouts don’t cross over on to the next day of PokerNews updates. Thanks, Shrink.
DanM says:
June 27th, 2008 at 9:27pm
I think I saw the same thing Shrink did … just wasn’t sure. But am almost positive he played.
DanM says:
June 27th, 2008 at 9:33pm
OK, just checked … Amnon is listed on the Day 1 chip counts as “busted” but not on Day 3 …. because he wasn’t a bust that day, I suppose. C’mon, Jen, better clicking!