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WPT Jacksonville, Day 2 Recap
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Photo Recap by BJ Nemeth
Day 2 of WPT Jacksonville began with 168 players, and after seven 90-minute levels, the field was knocking on the door of the money bubble with 42 players left. (Only 40 will share in the $1.2 million prizepool.)
Here's a photographic recap of the Day 2 action:
Dealer Brian Woods got into the WPT spirit by shaving a stylistic "WPT" into his hair. This is the first non-regional WPT event in Jacksonville, Florida, and in the spring of 2012, Jacksonville will get its first fully-televised WPT event.
Three former WPT winners were sitting side-by-side-by-side early on Day 2: Dwyte Pilgrim (2010 WPT Borgata), Jonathan Little (2007 WPT Mirage, 2008 WPT Foxwoods), and Nick Schulman (2005 WPT Foxwoods). Only one of these players would survive the day, but you'll have to keep reading to find out which one made it.
Tommy Vedes began the day as chipleader with more than 200,000 in chips, but he had an up-and-down ride on the leaderboard before he was eliminated in the final half hour of Day 2 by the new chipleader.
Raw Deal analyst and WPT Live Stream Commentator Tony Dunst (right) is all in early against former WPT winner Jeff Forrest (left). Dunst moved all in with the board showing A
J
5
4
8 on the river, and Forrest eventually folded.
In the first hour of the day, Daniel Buzgon (pictured) eliminated a player in a hand that featured a reversal of fortune. Buzgon had flopped eight high with no draws against his opponent's set of nines -- but when they got it all in on the river, Buzgon had caught a runner-runner ten-high straight.
Buzgon said, "I was three percent on the flop and got there."
Buzgon, who finished third at WPT Borgata in September, survived to Day 3 with 131,500 (26 big blinds).
Allie Prescott (left) and ClubWPT qualifier Artie Rodriguez were grinding their way into the dinner break with fairly short stacks. Prescott did considerably better after the dinner break, building his stack up to 441,500 to finish sixth in chips.
As for Rodriguez, he is still below average with 163,500, but with 32 big blinds, he is likely to survive two more spots to become the latest ClubWPT qualifier to reach the money in a WPT tournament.
Brandon Steven was never near the top of the leaderboard, but he was laughing, smiling, and having fun with his table throughout the day. Steven, who bubbled the 2010 WSOP November Nine, finished the day with 131,000 (26 big blinds), hoping to survive the money bubble and reach his first WPT final table.
Unlike Nevada and most states in the U.S., Florida's gambling laws require players to be 18 years old, not 21. So the Poker Room at Orange Park Kennel Club added a special prize -- this customized surfboard -- to the 18-21 year old who went deepest in the tournament.
John Riordan didn't reach the money (he busted shortly before the dinner break), but he was all smiles as he received the surfboard and got his photo taken with Royal Flush Girls Angelique Velez (left) and Ivy Teves (right).
WPT Jacksonville had a pretty strong turnout among women, with 17 entrants in the field of 393 (4.3%), though only one would survive to Day 3 -- 2009 WSOP Ladies Champion Lisa Hamilton (pictured).
Darryll Fish was chipleader for a while in the middle of the day, with about 500,000 in chips. In the second half of the day, he improved to "only" 579,000, though it was still good enough for him to finish fourth in chips.
The empty seat in the foreground belongs to John Liu, who skipped most of the final three levels after the dinner break, disappearing for about four hours. Liu, a former dealer here at the Orange Park Kennel Club, returned shortly before the end of the day, claiming he went home to shower and relax.
Dwyte Pilgrim won a huge pot in the first hour after the dinner break on a board of AQ1010J. Pilgrim's QQ gave him a higher full house than his opponent's J-10, and Pilgrim stood up to watch as the dealer counted down the chip stacks.
When the stacks were finally counted, Pilgrim had doubled up into the chip lead with nearly 550,000. By the end of the day, Pilgrim would be the only former WPT winner left in the field, reaching Day 3 with an average stack of 284,000 (56 big blinds).
As a native Floridian from Tampa, former WSOP November Niner John Racener is one of the more famous players in his home state. Unfortunately, Racener was eliminated in the last level of the night.
Jeff Forrest (pictured) was one of the final two former WPT winners left in the field, but he was eliminated in the final hour as part of Vitor Coelho's late-day steamroll.
When John Liu returned, his chip stack had weathered the night pretty well. Liu had more than 400,000 when he left, with about 74 players remaining. When he returned, the field was close to the money bubble, and his chip stack was still in the mid-300s. (Liu finished the day with 343,500 -- still above average with 68 big blinds.)
In the final hour, Vitor Coelho (pictured) went on a hot streak, busting several players in quick succession to cross the million-chip mark. Coelho colored Joel Schmidt preflop with aces vs. kings, and then finished off former WPT winners Tommy Vedes and Jeff Forrest.
Coelho finished the day with 945,000, more than 56% more than anybody else in the field.
Day 2 came to an end with 42 players, just two spots away from the money. Here's a look at the top five:
1. Vitor Coelho - 945,000 (189 BBs)
2. Connor Drinan - 605,000 (121 BBs)
3. Alexander Venovski - 592,500 (118 BBs)
4. Darryll Fish - 579,000 (115 BBs)
5. Sam Soverel - 510,000 (102 BBs)
Day 3 begins on Monday at 12:00 noon ET, with the players bursting the money bubble and continuing play until they reach the final six for Tuesday's WPT final table, which will be streamed nearly live -- with holecards -- online.
10:50 AM, 11/21/11
Day 2 Ends with 42 Players and Vitor Coelho Leading
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
The final 42 players have bagged and tagged their chips and Day 2 is in the books. For most of the players, Day 3 will mean a payday of at least $7,510, but for two unlucky players, it will not be the case. With 42 players remaining and only 40 making the money, we will be returning to the money bubble and are two eliminations away from a guaranteed cash.
The player way out in front of the rest of the field is Vitor Coelho, who, at one point, was up over one million chips. Coelho finished with slightly less than that, but his 945,000 is more than 300,000 more than his next closest competitor, Connor Drinan. Drinan is second in chips with 605,000, and Alex Venovski rounds out the top three with 592,500.
Play is scheduled to resume at 12pm tommorow. The field will play down to the six-handed live streaming final table on Monday.
All of the chip counts on the chip counts page are official. Stay tuned for the Day 2 photo recap and the latest episode of "Jess & BJ."
Here are the top five chip leaders headed into Day 3:
1. Vitor Coelho - 945,000
2. Connor Drinan - 605,000
3. Alex Venovski - 592,500
4. Darryll Fish - 579,000
5. Sam Soverel - 510,000
01:14 AM, 11/21/11
Gert Zumkehr Eliminated in 43rd Place (Out of the Money)
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
On a flop of AAQ, Gert Zumkehr is all in for 31,500 and Allie Prescott calls.
Zumkehr turns over 97 for a flush draw while Prescott shows QJ for two pair.
The turn and river are the 2 and the 8, offering no help to Gert Zumkehr who is eliminated in 43rd place, just three spots shy of the money.
Allie Prescott - 300,000
Gert Zumkehr - Eliminated
12:49 AM, 11/21/11
Daniel Buzgon vs. Darryll Fish
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
After a flop of J103, Daniel Buzgon (pictured above) bets 9,500 from early position, and Darryll Fish calls from middle position. The turn card is the Q, Buzgon bets 26,500, and Fish tanks for more than a minute before he calls.
The river card is the K, and Buzgon tanks for a while before he checks. Fish thinks a bit himself before he checks behind, and Buzgon turns over 98 for a straight on the turn that became very vulnerable on the river. Fish mucks, and Daniel Buzgon wins the pot.
Daniel Buzgon - 155,000 (38 BBs)
Darryll Fish - 558,000 (139 BBs)
12:44 AM, 11/21/11
Andy Philachak vs. Deshun Baun
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Deshun Baun raises from early position to 16,000 or 17,000, Barry Wiedemann calls from the button, and Andy Philachack calls from the small blind.
The flop comes J107, Philachack checks, Baun bets 16,000, Wiedemann calls, and Philachack check-raises to 60,000. Baun calls, and Wiedemann folds.
The turn card pairs the board with the 7, and Philachack bets 140,000. Baun thinks for a bit before he folds AK -- a gutshot straight draw with two overcards -- face up.
Philachack takes the pot, but decides to show his KQ anyway. (Philachack had an open-ended straight draw with a flush draw.)
Andy Philachak - 380,000 (95 BBs)
Deshun Baun - 170,000 (42 BBs)
12:42 AM, 11/21/11
Robert Garlick Eliminated By Jared Guerino
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Robert Garlick raises to 10,000 in late position and Jared Guerino calls from the big blind. The flop comes Q83 and Guerino checks. Garlick bets 15,000 and Guerino calls.
The turn berings the 7 and Guerino bets 100,000, which is enough to put Garlick all-in. Garlick thinks for a couple of minutes. Eventually, tablemate Chris Tryba calls for a clock. Garlick uses up about half of his final minute before he calls.
Guerino turns over Q7 for two pair and Garlick winces. He shows QJ for top pair. The A n the river is no help to Garlick and he is eliminated in 44th place, just shy of the money.
Jared Guerino - 370,000 (93 BBs)
Robert Garlick - eliminated in 44th place
12:42 AM, 11/21/11
Jeff Forrest Eliminated By Vitor Coelho
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Action folds around to Vitor Coelho on the button and he moves all-in, having small blind Gert Zumkher and big blind Jeff Forrest easily covered. Zumkher folds, but Forrest calls all-in for his last 32,000 holding K10. He is up against Coelho's A5.
The board runs out A8736 and Coelho pairs his ace to eliminate Forrest in 45th place.
Vitor Coelho - 1,050,000 (263 BBs)
Jeff Forrest - eliminated in 45th place
12:41 AM, 11/21/11
Joel Schmidt Eliminated by Vitor Coelho
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Joel Schmidt is all in preflop with KK, but he's run into the AA of chipleader Vitor Coelho.
The board comes 95410Q, and Coelho's pocket aces hold up to win the pot, and Schmidt is eliminated as Coelho increases his lead over the field.
Vitor Coelho - 1,080,000 (270 BBs)
Joel Schmidt - Eliminated
12:27 AM, 11/21/11
Andrew Pacifico Doubles Thru Dwyte Pilgrim
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Correction: We had mistakenly reported that Pilgrim moved all in from the small blind. It has been fixed below.
Dwyte Pilgrim completes the small blind to 4,000, Andrew Pacifico moves all in from the big blind for 117,000, and Pilgrim calls with A9. Pacifico turns over K6, and he'll need to improve to stay alive.
The board comes AJ102Q -- Pilgrim pairs his ace on the flop, but Pacifico rivers an ace-high straight to double up in chips.
Andrew Pacifico - 238,000 (59 BBs)
Dwyte Pilgrim - 330,000 (82 BBs)
12:25 AM, 11/21/11
Brandon Steven vs. Connor Drinan
Level 16: 2,000-4,000, 500 ante
Photo: Connor Drinan (foreground left) contemplates the raise on the river from Brandon Steven (top right).
We came upon this hand on the river, but Mike Beasley filled us in on the earlier action.
Connor Drinan raises under the gun, Brandon Steven reraises from the cutoff, and Drinan calls. The flop comes Q22, Drinan checks, Steven bets, and Drinan calls. The turn card double pairs the board with the Q, and both players check.
At this point, there is a little more than 100,000 in the pot.
The river card is the 10, Drinan bets 20,000, and Steven raises to 52,500. Drinan tanks for several minutes before he calls.
Brandon Steven shows 54 -- he's playing the board. Drinan turns over 77 for a higher two pair, queens and sevens, to win the pot.
Connor Drinan - 620,000 (155 BBs)
Brandon Steven - 160,000 (40 BBs)
12:21 AM, 11/21/11
