2011 WSOPE Event #1, Day 2: Hellmuth Among Final 12; Event #2 Kicks Off with Day 1a
The 2011 World Series of Poker Europe is in full swing at its new location, Cannes, France. The second day of Event #1 began with 80 players, but after 10 levels, only 12 remained. Event #2 kicked off with its first of two flights and after 381 players entered, it is looking like it could break last year's record of largest WSOPE event.
Event #1: €2,680 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em — Guillaume Humbert Holds Chip Lead Moving into Final Day
Day 2 of Event #1, the €2,500 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em, began with a change of venue. Instead of playing at the Hotel Majestic Barriere, players were moved across the road to the Le Croisette Casino Barriere for the first time. Luckily, the change of venue did not affect the action and railbirds and media members alike were once again treated to a scintillating display of poker.
Eighty players began the day with a plan to play either ten levels or get down to the final table of six. When the day ended, the ten levels had won that particular race and 12 players remained. At the head of the pack was online player Guillaume Humbert, bagging 541,000 chips. The young Swiss player, who is playing in his first major live tournament, had his major breakthrough after eliminating the Day 1 chip leader Flavien Guenan. Then as the end of the day neared, he also eliminated Johan Sundell and moved over the half million mark for the first time.
If Humbert looks over his shoulder, he will see a man desperate for not only a WSOPE bracelet but the Player of the Year award, as well. Phil Hellmuth was back to his old tricks on Saturday, and a great final level took him over the 400,000 mark, finishing in second place on the chip leaderboard.
Other notable players left in the field are David Benyamine (253,000), Anton Wigg (201,000) and Casey Kastle (119,000).
The final day will resume at 1500 CET (0600 PDT) with plenty of deep-stacked 6-max poker action. Be sure and check out the Live Reporting Blog of the play-by-play.
Event #2: €1,090 No-Limit Hold'em — Hinrichsen Leads Day 1a Field
Day 1a of Event #2 at the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe wrapped up on Saturday. The €1,090 No-Limit Hold'em event attracted 381 players for its first starting flight and is on pace to smash the record for the largest WSOP Europe event — 608 entries. Fifty-four player remain; Australian Andrew Hinrichsen is leading the way with 63,900 in chips.
Hinrichsen was a permanent fixture at the top of the counts all day long. In one of his bigger hands he played toward the end of the night, he bet 8,500 on the board of J♦3♦2♠Q♠9♣. His opponent tanked and went back and forth for a little while. Then, finally, the player raised all-in for 13,075. Hinrichsen called and his opponent showed K♦J♥ for a pair of jacks. Hinrichsen tabled the 9♥3♣ for two pair and won the pot.
Plenty of notable players were in the mix on Saturday, but not all could advance to Day 2. Mike Leah, Jean-Robert Bellande, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Phil Collins, Jason Mercier, Erik Seidel, Barry Greenstein and Nacho Barbero were a handful of players to hit the rail on the day.
Among those moving on to the second day of play are, Toby Lewis, Randy Dorfman, McLean Karr, Farzad Bonyadi, Richard Toth, Erik Cajelais, Eoghan O'Dea, Matt Waxman and Dan Shak. They'll all be part of the group that joins up with the remaining players from Day 1b to continue play on Day 2.
Day 2 will begin on Monday at 1400 CET (0500 PDT). Action for Sunday's Day 1b flight kicks off at 1200 CET (0300 PDT) with nine levels of play on the schedule.
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