David Williams Leads Final 22 Players; Nakamura, Rosario, Albini Still Alive
Play has ended on Day 2 of Event #32: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E, and after 10 hour-long levels, it is David Williams who takes the chip lead into the final day.
Williams bagged up 2,125,000 and is poised to snap a long drought without a bracelet. The 2004 Main Event runner-up has nearly $5 million in career WSOP earnings, but his lone bracelet came 16 years ago in a Seven Card Stud event.
Event #32: H.O.R.S.E Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Williams | United States | 2,125,000 |
| 2 | Jason Daly | United States | 2,015,000 |
| 3 | Michelle Roth | United States | 1,405,000 |
| 4 | Richard Bai | United States | 1,310,000 |
| 5 | Shirley Rosario | United States | 1,170,000 |
| 6 | Robin Rightmire | United States | 1,140,000 |
| 7 | Kyle Loman | United States | 1,110,000 |
| 8 | Tamon Nakamura | Japan | 1,005,000 |
| 9 | Peter Brownstein | United States | 975,000 |
| 10 | Steven Albini | United States | 970,000 |
Jason Daly found himself at the center of controversy when he took a seat at the wrong table. Since he had already played a hand, the tournament officials allowed him to stay there, and he went on to bust Lawrence Berg and Amnon Filippi in a massive pot to finish in second place in the chip counts with 2,015,000. Two women are in the top-five: Michelle Roth (1,405,000) and poker industry veteran Shirley Rosario (1,170,000)
Rising Japanese star Tamon Nakamura came into the day with the chip lead and managed to bag up 1,005,000 as he tries to win his first bracelet. Record producer and bracelet winner Steven Albini (970,000) and Steven Loube (900,000), a 2012 bracelet winner, are also still alive.
Day 2 began with 249 hopefuls remaining out of a starting field of 773 players. Daniel Negreanu, Michael Mizrachi, and defending champion Anthony Zinno would have their day cut short before the money was reached at 116 players.
Once the bubble burst, Mike Matusow (76th), Ari Engel (54th), and German soccer pro Max Kruse (52nd) would find their way to the payout desk. Phil Ivey briefly moved into the top-five in the chip counts after busting Allyn Shulman but lost most of his chips in an Omaha 8 or Better pot against Williams and was eliminated in 26th place.
The final 22 players will return on June 17 at noon local time inside the Bally’s Event Center to play down to a champion. PokerNews will be along the entire way until a new mixed game specialist is crowned.