WSOP Circuit Caesars Atlantic City Main Event Day 2: Houchins Leads the Final Table, Israelashvili Eyes Back-To-Back Wins
Day 2 of the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Caesars Atlantic City is in the books and Patrick Houchins of Annapolis, Maryland is the chip leader with 1.62 million. Roland Israelashvili is also at the final table, and he is looking for a repeat performance. He won the WSOP-C Main Event at Caesars Atlantic City last year, banking $264,715.
The day began with 81 runners including chip leader Frank Argano. Argano didn’t get anything going today however, finishing in 25th place when he jammed with A♣J♦ on a 6♦9♠J♠ board. Brian Ali made the call with A♠9♥ and binked the 9♦ on the turn to record the knockout.
Ali busted four other players in the money including David Fruchter, Jeffrey Vanchiro, Angelo Modica and the last woman standing, Lynne Mitchnick.
Speaking of money, the bubble was burst in a controversial way. Vasilios Hrisafinis and Vincent Moscat busted simultaneously on separate tables, but at first the staff was only going to pay Hrisafinis. After a few minutes of deliberation the decision was reversed and both players split 45th place money.
Argano wasn’t the only player who entered the day with a big stack and failed to make the final table. Dylan Drazen, David Zeitlin, Daniel Buzgon and Mukul Pahuja all had over 200,000 to start Day 2, but busted during the day. Pahuja took a brutal beat with two tables remaining, getting it in with K♦K♣ and losing to Adam Lippert’s 10♣10♠ when a ten peeled on the turn.
Scott Carpenter was also crippled by kings. On a flop of 4♥6♦8♦ he got all of his chips in the middle against Patrick Houchins. Houchins opened 8♣6♣ for two-pair and held when the turn and river came 9♥, Q♠ respectively. He was left with 15,000 and busted the next hand.
During the later stages of the day, Albert Winchester shot up to the top of the charts with thanks to a monster hand against Mike Kosowski. Both players flopped trip aces on an A♥3♣A♣ board. Winchester’s A♠K♦ had Kosowski’s A♦J♠ crushed, and Winchester held to push his stack over a million chips.
On the last hand of the night, the official final table bubble burst when Lippert four-bet jammed with J♦J♠ and Houchins, the three-bettor, called with A♥Q♦. Despite the fact that Strydonck folded AxQx and another player mucked an ace, Houchins won the hand when the board ran 2♠Q♠9♦K♦K♣, solidifying him as the chip leader entering Day 3.
The tournament resumes Sunday at 2 p.m. EST. Will Israelashvili go back to back? Can Houchins go wire-to-wire at the final table? Will we see Ali vs. Frazier IV? Make sure you set your clocks for daylight savings (Spring FORWARD!) and return to PokerNews.com tomorrow for all of your live updates!
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