World Poker Tour LA Poker Classic Day 2: Negreanu and Rousso in Top Ten
Another day was wrapped at the Commerce Casino for the World Poker Tour LA Poker Classic as the field worked its way from over 400 down to 186. Although, Salvatore Deluca is the chip leader with 431,000, two Team PokerStars Pros are the ones stealing the spotlight. Daniel Negreanu ended the day in third position overall, with 316,500 and Vanessa Rousso finished the day in sixth with 221,000.
Two hands in particular boosted Negreanu to a power spot. According to Negreanu's blog, the first saw him get tricky and raise it up in early position with 3♣4♣. He got called by two players and then they all saw a 2♣3♦5♣ flop, turning Negreau's hand into a possible monster. Negreanu led out for 3,500, getting a fold from one opponent, and the player in the big blind raised it up about 6,000 more. Negreanu then bumped the action up even more, raising it another 15,000 before his opponent immediately announced he was all-in. Negreanu called, and his opponent rolled over the 3♥8♦, which was in the lead at the time. The four on the turn, however, was good to Negreanu, as was the K♠ on the river.
Negreanu scalped another player with the board reading Q♠10♣8♦A♠8♥ and about 50,000 in the pot, and fired another 40,000. His opponent, Benjamin Zamani made the call only to see Negreanu show him 8♣8♠ for quads.
Also still in the hunt for the $1.7 million first prize are Eugene Katchalov, Mark Seif, Masa Kagawa, Steve Sung, Vivek Rajkumar, Howard Lederer, Johnny Chan, Erica Schoenberg, Prahlad Friedman, JP Kelly and Gavin Griffin, among others.
With the money bubble at 72 players, it is likely that players who survive day three will be earning some cash. Play resumes at noon at the Commerce, and you can follow the action at WorldPokerTour.com
