Tomoki Matsuda Leads Final 20 in Event #27: $1,500 Big O
After ten hours of play on Day 2, it is Tomoki Matsuda leading the final 20 players in Event #27: $1,500 Big O with 4,285,000 in chips here at the 2024 World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
From a starting field of 1,555 entrants, just 232 returned for Day 2 after the money bubble burst late on Day 1. A total of 234 were guaranteed at least the min-cash of $3,002. However, there remain just 20 players who return tomorrow for a chance at WSOP glory and the first-place prize of $306,884.
Rounding at the podium behind Matsuda is John Bunch (4,005,000) and Michael Christ (3,335,000). Two-time bracelet winner Nathan Gamble (455,000) is also still in contention.
End of Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomoki Matsuda | Japan | 4,285,000 | 71 |
| 2 | John Bunch | United States | 4,005,000 | 67 |
| 3 | Michael Christ | United States | 3,335,000 | 56 |
| 4 | Paul Fehlig | United States | 3,310,000 | 55 |
| 5 | Lucas Zwingmann-Gocht | Germany | 3,075,000 | 51 |
| 6 | Seth Frederici | United States | 2,700,000 | 45 |
| 7 | James McWhorter | United States | 2,460,000 | 41 |
| 8 | Matthew Bretzfield | United States | 2,400,000 | 40 |
| 9 | Damjan Radanov | United States | 1,875,000 | 31 |
| 10 | Sam Farha | United States | 1,420,000 | 24 |
Several notable players busted in the money today, including Kevin Gerhart, Todd Brunson, Calvin Anderson, and Jeff Masden.
One player of note who advanced to Day 2 is the start-of-day chip leader Sam Farha. The old-school legend endured a rollercoaster of a day, with his stack shifting considerably at seemingly every glance. He finished the day with 1,420,000 chips, which is good for tenth place on the leaderboard.
The Day’s Action
With the players returning just two places into the money, the post-bubble bust-out bonanza began from the first shuffle. The eliminations came quickly and the field was halved within three hours of play.
Some of the early eliminations included bracelet winners John Racener, Brad Ruben, and Mike Matusow.
Adam Friedman busted in brutal fashion as his opponent Philip Tanner only had three outs to improve going to the turn. However, a non-heart jack rolled off, giving Tanner a straight to eliminate Friedman.
Only 51 players survived until the dinner break and the action slowed down as the pay jumps became more meaningful.
After dinner, some notable late bustouts included Scott Bohlman, Jake Schwartz, and Dylan Smith.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $306,884 |
| 2 | $204,601 |
| 3 | $146,595 |
| 4 | $106,315 |
| 5 | $78,056 |
| 6 | $58,025 |
| 7 | $43,681 |
| 8 | $33,035 |
| 9 | $25,723 |
| 10-11 | $20,129 |
| 12-15 | $15,962 |
| 16-20 | $12,828 |
The returning 20 players will resume at 1 p.m. on June 11 in the Horseshoe Event Center. The action begins in Level 26 with blinds at 30,000/60,000. Play will continue until a winner has been crowned and the bracelet has been awarded.
As always, stay tuned to Pokernews for continued coverage of Event #27: $1,500 Big O and all other bracelet events at the 2024 World Series of Poker.