WSOP Updates - Event #16, $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. - Rasmussen Leads; Flack, Violette in Top Ten
A new one-day WSOP attendance record was set on Saturday, due in part to Event #16, $2,500 H.O.R.S.E., which drew 382 entrants. Spurred by last year's $50,000 event and the mixed-format game's newfound appeal, 382 players would try their luck and poker skill in the event. Included were Doyle Brunson, Todd Brunson, Cyndy Violette, David Williams, Mike Matusow, Kirk Morrison, Michael Mizrachi, Erick Lindgren, John Juanda, John D'Agostino, Jennifer Harman, Andy Bloch, Miami John Cernuto, Jim McManus, Mark Vos, T.J. Cloutier, Gavin Smith, Andy Black, Marco Traniello, Dewey Tomko, Chip Jett, and the champion in last year's WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament, Chip Reese.
Early play saw WSOP Main Event winner Scotty Nguyen chip up in the first few rounds as he caught several hands, but unfortunately for Nguyen, he couldn't maintain his forward progress over the course of the evening and he finished in the middle of the pack. Daniel Negreanu made an early move to the top before sliding back. Unlike Nguyen, however, Negreanu remains alive for Day Two, though in the middle of the pack. Others fared worse, as Gavin Smith, Josh Arieh, Erick Lindgren, Jordan Morgan, Sean Sheikhan, Ted Lawson, and both Brunsons (Todd and Doyle) busted before the day's end.
The winner captures a first-place prize of $239,503 and the gold WSOP champion's bracelet and many big names remain. Still alive for Day Two are Davidson Matthew (in third place), Negreanu, Cyndy Violette (eighth place), Mark Vos, Allen Kessler, Rob Hollink, Huckleberry Seed, Kido Pham, Perry Friedman, John D'Agostino, Chau Giang, Layne Flack (seventh place), Terrence Chan, Max Pescatori, Mike Matusow and Andrew Black, among many others. Thayer Rasmussen sits at the top of a tightly bunched pack. Here's the overnight Top Ten:
Thayer Rasmussen — 25,325
Flaminio Malaguti — 24,700
Davidson Matthew — 23,900
Jared Davis — 23,550
Steve Zolotow — 23,425
Harry Kazazian — 21,550
Layne Flack — 21,325
Cyndy Violette — 21,225
Chris Reslock — 20,075
David Williams — 19,825
Make sure to stop in at Pokernews.com 'Live Reporting' of Day Two of Event # 16, $2,500 H.O.R.S.E., continuing at 3pm PDT.
