After seven levels on Day 2 of Event #18: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship, just 23 players advanced to Day 3 and they are lead by Ken Aldridge who enjoyed an incredible late surge of hands to bag well over a million.
On a day that saw Phil Ivey play his first WSOP event of the year as well as the money being reached, the remaining players are all guaranteed $14,459.
There are still big names galore even with the tournament down to three tables. Reigning WSOP Player of the Year Shaun Deeb along with multiple bracelet winners Mike Matusow, Robert Mizrachi, Frankie O'Dell, Mike Wattel, and David "Bakes" Baker are all in the hunt for another WSOP bracelet for their collection.
In fact, ten players who have won a total of 22 bracelets advanced to Day 4, but past success is by no means a guarantee of a future victory.
On Saturday at 3 p.m., the tournament will play down to a final table of six before the tournament is live streamed the following day.
Day 2 Recap
At least eight players jumped into the tournament at the start of Day 2 before registration closed. They included no less than 25 bracelets from both Phil Hellmuth and Phil Ivey, the latter of which was playing in his first WSOP event of 2019.
There was a steady stream of eliminations during Day 2 as play headed towards the money bubble. A total of 28 players would be guaranteed $14,959 with the first prize of $443,641.
Allen Kessler, Bryce Yockey, Roland Israelashvili, Anthony Zinno, Chris Ferguson, Paul Volpe and Dan Zack were all eliminated during the first two levels of play.
Yarron Bender was chip leader at the start of the day, but Sam Higgs appeared to top the counts midway through the day, as did Robert Mizrachi.
After Hellmuth’s elimination earlier on, Ivey returned from dinner and joined him on the rail after his two pair was beaten by the straight of Simeon Myers.
Bubble Bursts
2019 bracelet winner Derek McMaster was sent packing as the pace of eliminations slowed considerably. Carol Fuchs, Andrey Zaichenko, Timothy Flanders and Chris Amaral were all desperately trying to keep their heads above water before the bubble finally burst.
After Fuchs' elimination, play went hand-for-hand on the direct money bubble. And after a series of doubles and chops, Flanders was eventually forced all in from the big blind and looked in good shape to chip up and stay alive. That was until Mike Wattel hit one of the two remaining fours in the deck to eliminate Flanders and burst the bubble.
There was still time for Johannes Becker, Andrey Zaichenko, Kyle Miaso, Dylan Linde and Chris Amaral ($14,959) to be eliminated before the players bagged up for the day.
The remaining players will return on Saturday, June 9th at 3.p.m. to play down six ahead of the live streamed final table the following day. PokerNews will be there every step of the way catching all the action.
flop and Ville Haavisto checked in the big blind. Amaral bet, Robert Slezak raised in the cutoff and Haavisto called, as did Amaral. On the 
turn, action checked to Slezak and he bet, once again both opponents called.
came on the river and Haavisto checked, as did Amaral. Slezak bet and Haavisto tank-folded with three big bets behind. Amaral tank-calleed and was shown the 
for the nut flush. Amaral mucked 
for the nut straight and dropped to very few chips.
. The board came 
and the deuces held up for Guagenti. Amaral had no qualifying low and hit the rail.
appeared on the river and Linde moved all in. Aldridge made it a full bet and Bender reluctantly calleed.
and Aldridge had 
to put Kyle Miaso all in. Miaso eventually called.
improved Baker to a full house and Miaso was eliminated.
but found no help or a low pot to beat the 
of Frankie O'Dell.
and the table sat in stunned silence as Flanders was sent to the exit, with the remaining 28 players all in the money.
flop and Bendor bet, Slezak called. After the 
on the river changed nothing whatsoever and Fuchs joked "guess I should not have run back."
board, Ivey held top and bottom pair but Myers had made Broadway, and the river bricked to send the ten-time bracelet winner to the rail short of the money.
