2007 World Series of Poker Main Event – Day 2 Update
Carlos Mortensen (Credit: Full Tilt Poker)
At the start of Day 2A, 1,037 players who survived the blood baths from Days 1A and 1B sat down at the Rio 's Amazon Room. Their objective – make it to Day 3 and the money in the biggest poker tournament in the entire world, the WSOP Main Event.
There were supposed to be five levels played on Day 2A, but that was not to be. Folks were dropping like flies. The action was fast and furious. Once there were about 350 peeps left, the tournament director ceased play for the day.
Unfortunately a lot of the pros who made it to Day 2A didn't survive it. Out were Barry Greenstein, Miami John Cernuto, Patrik Antonius, Tony G, Paul Wasicka, Mark Seif, Dan Harrington and Joe Sebok. Former champs Tom McEvoy, Joe Hachem, and Berry Johnston were also sent to the rails. Celebs like Montel Williams joined them as did the 2006 and 2007 WSOP Players of the Year, Jeff Madsen and Tom Schneider.
Still remaining in the hunt are the 1996 WSOP Main Event champ Huck Seed, Cliff Josephy, aka Johnny Bax, and Tobey Maguire, aka Spiderman.
Interesting anecdote: at one point, a tournament official was called over to a table. The request was made by a player that another player should re-stack his chips. Seems the first player felt the second player's method of stacking brought him bad luck. The tournament official ruled that a player doesn't need to re-stack his/her chips to change the luck of his/her opponent.
At the end of the action, Jeff Banghart, an internet specialist known as Mr. Rain, was the chip leader with 570,100 left in his stack.
Day 2B had the bigger field. 1,303 men and women plunked themselves down in the seats at the Amazon room at the Rio All-Suites in Las Vegas to play their way into poker history. The pros fared much better on Day 2B. Gus Hansen ended the day at the top of the chip heap.
Also moving on to Day 3 and the money were 2001 Main Event champ and 2007 WPT Champion, Carlos “The Matador” Mortensen, Ted Forrest, Chip Jett and JC Tran. Internet notables such as Sorel “Imper1um” Mizzi, and Darrell “Gigabet” Dicken also sailed through. Celebs like Godsmack's Sully Erna, who made the money last year, will return for Day 3 to earn more money and WSOP glory.
However, former Seinfeld star, Jason Alexander, headed back to Hollywood after moving all-in with a K,Q. He watched in horror as his opponent called and flipped over big slick. Daniel Negreanu and Phil Gordon will have to wait another year to win the Big One. Both of these talented poker players and authors hit the rails.
Tony Hachem, the brother of the 2005 Main Event winner, Joe Hachem, collected a good deal of chips. He finished the day in a good position. Guess it pays to listen to your brother's advice once in a while. Gavin Smith proved that he had the chops to outlast his prop bet cronies, Sebok and Madsen. He also lived to see Day 3.