After a long and grueling session on Day 2 of Event #2, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em, 18 players will return on Tuesday at 1:30 pm to play all the way to the title and the first prize of $831,462. Leading the chase will be Aaron Coulthard, who slid past Theo Tran and into the lead late in the session, amassing 1,327,000 in chips. Several big names remain alive as well, including Perry Friedman and Chris Ferguson, the later of whom pulled off an amazing comeback to make it to the final 18.
First day leaders David Bach, Frank Sinopoli and Grant Hinkle all survived as well, though each of the three will be among the shortest stacks remaining when action resumes. The complete standings after Day 2 play:
Aaron Coulthard 1,327,000
Theo Tran 1,199,000
James Akenhead 1,039,000
Matthew Kearney 1,024,000
Josh Engerdahl 930,000
Eric Hicks 703,000
Melvin Jones 660,000
Perry Friedman 653,000
Minh Nguyen 600,000
Mike Ngo 544,000
Brandon Blake 514,000
Joe Rutledge 486,000
Jeff Wiedenhoeft 482,000
Chris Ferguson 444,000
Grant Hinkle 281,000
Elia Ahmadian 171,000
David Bach 168,000
Frank Sinopoli 165,000
After Brandon Blake was eliminated in 19th place, play was halted yet again. The floor staff took another vote as to whether to continue playing or suspend play until 1:30pm. Initially, only three people voted in favor of continuing. Two more players were slow to raise their hands, prompting Perry Friedman to quip, "Come on guys, no slowrolling!"
The final tally in favor of continuing stood at five. Ten players voted in favor of suspending play until 1:30pm, and so, finally, we are done for the day.
When we come back at 1:30pm, there will be a redraw for seats and we will start just a few minutes into Level 20 with 18 players remaining.
From under the gun, Blake Kelso makes a raise to 20,000. Action folds all the way around to Brandon Blake, who pushes all in for 111,000. Kelso calls, and shows . Blake is at risk with .
The flop comes lovely for Blake, . The turn gives Kelso more outs, as the peels off opening up a flush draw. And the draw gets there on the river when the makes Blake the nuts, and sends Blake Kelso home for the night.
For his efforts, Blake Kelso will take home $24,133 and the appreciation of the remaining 18 players.
From middle position, Matthew Kearney raised to 50,000. Ryan D'Angelo came over the top for his entire stack, about 300,000. Kearney pondered for a minute before calling and tabling . D'Angelo turned over for a classic race situation. D'Angelo asked the dealer for the but the board did not help him, coming . Kearney won the hand and is up to almost 900,000. D'Angelo, meanwhile, can head home for some well-earned sleep with an extra $24,133 in his pocket.
Due to the lateness of the hour and the complaints of the remaining players, the floor staff initially decided to suspend play and bag and tag everyone's chips. Play would resume at 1:30 pm later today at the start of Level 20. Unfortunately (from the media's perspective), several players disagreed with that course of action. It was put to a vote as to whether to suspend play or continue, with majority carrying the day.
The first vote came six for suspending, six for continuing. Bear in mind, 20 players remain.
A second vote was taken. That vote came eight for suspending, eight for continuing.
A player then suggested that we play to 18 and take another vote. This course of action was agreeable to a majority, and so we continue.
Mariano Cefalu raised to 57,000 from early position. David Bach playing from middle position, thought a bit, asked Cefalu how much he had back, and then reraised to 125,000. It folded around back to Cefalu who reraised all in for roughly 250,000. Bach made the call and the players showed:
Bach:
Cefalu:
The board ran out and Cefalu was eliminated in 21st place and will leave with 24,133. Bach is now up to about 750,000.
Thomas Fuller was the most recent of those retired from this event when his came up short against the of Aaron Coulthard. Fuller made three nines, but it wasn't enough against the full house of Coulthard. Fuller, along with some much-needed rest, will end up with $24,133 for his efforts.