£140 Main Event - Road to PSPC
Day 2 Completed
Moneymaker's Road to PSPC 2020 - London
£140 Main Event - Road to PSPC
Day: 2
Justin Bateson Leads Final Nine; Moneymaker’s Deep Run Comes to an End
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
It was an exciting day from start to finish, that ended with Justin Bateson (4,030,000) nabbing the chip lead in the last level of the night. In fact, the battle for the chip lead was a hotly contested one but after a couple of big hands, including a rivered two pair, Bateson will return slightly ahead of the pack when play resumes tomorrow for the final.
Bateson has been here before, finishing runner up in the Hippodrome London leg of the Moneymaker’s Tour to the PSPC 2020 just a few weeks ago. This time, he will undoubtedly have his sights set firmly on first place, where an £11,200 prize awaits the winner as well as an illustrious Platinum Pass, which Bateson bubbled last month.
He will face stiff competition from Gary Miller (3,960,000), who is one of the most experienced players at the final table. Miller has $381,000 in live cashes and will start just a whisker behind Bateson. Duncan Mackie (3,555,000) comes through in third and Valdir Santos (3,155,000) in fourth (the only other players with over 300,000-chip stacks to play with). [Removed:148] (2,960,000), Rungarun Thongnonsung (2,680,000), Sinead Priestly (2,060,000), Dan Spataru (2,040,000) and Robert Buky (940,000) complete the final nine.
It wasn’t good news for everyone though with the most notable exit of the day, the man who the tournament is named after, Chris Moneymaker busting in 15th place for £940. The deep run was the second time the PokerStars Pro has made it as far as the final two tables, after a 14th place finish at the Hippodrome London leg.
At the start, there were 126 hopefuls still in with a shot and with only seven eliminations needed before the bubble burst. The bust outs continued to fly, with a host of big names among them, including Ben Winsor, Christopher Yong, William Kassouf, Marc Inizan, Min Ji, Artan Dedusha and previous Platinum Pass winner Salvatore Donato all hitting the rail in the money stages of the tournament.
The third and final day will kick off at 12pm here at Aspers Casino Stratford. Levels will increase to 40 minutes long and play will rewind to the start of Level 29 (50,000-100,000 100,000 big blind ante). PokerNews will be back here from 12:30pm (in line with the 30-minute delay on the live stream). See you then.
Final Table Overview
| Seat | Name | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Miller | 3,960,000 | 39 |
| 2 | Valdir Santos | 3,155,000 | 31 |
| 3 | Sinead Priestly | 2,060,000 | 20 |
| 4 | [Removed:148] | 2,960,000 | 29 |
| 5 | Dan Spataru | 2,040,000 | 20 |
| 6 | Duncan Mackie | 3,555,000 | 35 |
| 7 | Robert Buky | 940,000 | 9 |
| 8 | Justin Bateson | 4,030,000 | 40 |
| 9 | Rungarun Thongnonsung, | 2,680,000 | 26 |
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £11,200 and a Platinum Pass | |
| 2 | £11,200 | |
| 3 | £7,240 | |
| 4 | £4,800 | |
| 5 | £3,700 | |
| 6 | £3,000 | |
| 7 | £2,400 | |
| 8 | £1,900 | |
| 9 | £1,500 |
Chip Counts
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,030,000 | |
|
3,960,000 | |
|
|
3,555,000
1,005,000
|
1,005,000 |
|
3,155,000
1,705,000
|
1,705,000 |
|
|
2,960,000
-1,040,000
|
-1,040,000 |
|
2,680,000 | |
|
|
2,060,000
2,060,000
|
2,060,000 |
|
|
2,040,000
685,000
|
685,000 |
|
|
940,000
-1,275,000
|
-1,275,000 |
Umberan Akhtar Eliminated in 10th Place (£1,100)
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Play has ended for the day, with Umberan Akhtar hitting the rail at the very last and missing out on a place at the final table.
He came unstuck with pocket 
after three-betting to 650,000 on the small blind over Gary Miller's 250,000 open. Miller called to see a 
flop and with 
, he couldn't have asked for much more. Akhtar moved all in for his remaining 650,00 and it was a snap-call from Miller.
The sweat didn't last long, with an 
falling on the turn to give Miller the straight. The 
river was irrelevant, with Akhtar having no way of winning the hand, yet it improved Miller to a flush just to add some salt to the wound.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,960,000
1,460,000
|
1,460,000 |
|
Busted |
Bateson Takes the Chip Lead
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
There has been a significant pot playing out on Table 2, resulting in Justin Bateson taking the chip lead after rivering two-pair in a hand against Rungarun Thongnonsung.
With just one player to go until play is paused for the day - will he be able to hold on to it until the end?
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,030,000
1,880,000
|
1,880,000 |
|
|
2,680,000
-1,220,000
|
-1,220,000 |
Nikolay Ponomarev Eliminated in 11th Place (£1,100)
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Poker can certainly be a cruel game sometimes and someone who is probably feeling that right now is Nikolay Ponomarev after he got it all in with the nuts and lost just now.
The hand began with a 22,000 open from him and [Removed:148] defended his big blind. On the 
flop, Ahmed check-called a 150,000 bet. The 
turn was the action card though, giving both players broadway with 
for Ponomarev and 
for Ahmed. Ahmed check-raised Ponomarev's 300,000 bet to 700,000, then called the rest when he moved all in.
Free-rolling with the flush draw, Ahmed was calling out for a heart and that is what he got, with a landing on the river. That pot gives Ahmed the new chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,000,000
1,800,000
|
1,800,000 |
|
Busted |
Attila Havacs Eliminated in 12th Place (£1,100)
Level 29
: 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
The latest player to hit the rail is Attila Havacs. With 
in the hole, Havacs moved all in from the cutoff but ran into Duncan Mackie's 
. He couldn't find an ace on the 
board and hits the rail having just made a money jump that net him a four-figure payday.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,550,000
1,180,000
|
1,180,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 29
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 100,000
Play Resumes
Level 28
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
In the end, it has been agreed that play will either go until the end of Level 29 (as originally scheduled) or until the final nine have been reached.
Clock Paused
Level 28
: 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The clock has been paused while players decide whether to play on.