The Main Event
Day 2 Started
The Big Event at The Bicycle Casino
The Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
The Big Event at The Bicycle Casino
Buy-in
$4,750
Prize Pool
$1,921,327
Entries
417
Level
29
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000
Welcome to Day 2 of the Big Event!
The Big Event at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California is set to continue today with Day 2 of the tournament. The survivors of Days 1a and 1b, approximately 230 players of the 417-player field, will come together under one roof as they make their way toward the money. Speaking of cash, the prizepool for the Big Event stands at $1,921,327 with a smooth half million going to the winner.
Chris DeMaci emerged as the big stack between both starting days with 213,300. DeMaci is no stranger to the Bicycle Casino having finished second in the NAPT-Los Angeles last November to Joe Tehan, who is also still alive in The Big Event. Hot on the chip leader’s heels are a couple of recognizable names in Alex Kamberis (202,800) and Casey Jarzabek (188,100). Also in the hunt are pros like Ali Eslami, Daniel Negreanu, Dwyte Pilgrim, Tom McEvoy, Joe Hachem, Eddy Sabat, Kathy Liebert, Ray Henson, Arnaud Mattern, Pat Pezzin, Victor Ramdin, Govert Metaal, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, Joseph Cheong, James Mackey, Anh Van Nguyen, Greg Debora and Jeff Williams, just to name a few.
The action is expected to be fast and furious today, and since the NBC National Heads-Up Championship has come to an end, we expect you’ll be looking toward us for your live update fix. We promise to do our best to deliver, and we can guarantee one thing . . . this is one of the few events that Erik Seidel won’t win. We'll see you right back here in a little over an hour for all the live coverage!
Top 10 Chip Counts
| Player | Chips |
|---|---|
| Chris DeMaci | 213,300 |
| Alex Kamberis | 202,800 |
| Casey Jarzabek | 188,100 |
| Jason Wheeler | 179,700 |
| Ryan Hughes | 176,400 |
| Josh Prager | 169,100 |
| Tyler Cornell | 165,300 |
| Dan Hirleman | 156,300 |
| Shawn Hart | 151,900 |
| Mal Hagan | 146,400 |
Level: 9
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 100
Shuffle Up and Deal
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Cards are in the air here at the Bicycle Casino for Day 2 of the Big Event. The tournament staff just announced that players will play six 75-minute levels today.
Pilgrim Pounds the Pavement
![[user66118]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
There was 7,900 in the pot when Dwyte Pilgrim (small blind) and Anthony Trinh (button) took a 
flop. Pilgrim had 9,100 chips left, and he stuck them all in with 
. Trinh quickly called with the 
, having flopped two pair.
The 
turn left Pilgrim drawing dead to the 
river, and Mr. Pilgrim has been sent to the rail here early on Day 2.
Table Match-Ups
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
There are some interesting table match-ups here on Day 2. Here is a sample of a few:
- Joseph Cheong, Thor Hansen, Nacho Barbero, Joe Tehan
- Marcello Del Grosso, Daivd "ODB" Baker, Jordan Morgan
- Victor Ramdin, Steven Brecher, Vanessa Peng
- Good friends Kathy Liebert and 1983 WSOP Main Event winner Tom McEvoy
- George Lind III, Chris DeMaci, Anh Van Nguyen
- Jerry Yang, Mel Judah, Allen Kessler
In a recent hand on that last table, there was a board reading 
and about 11,500 in the pot when Yang bet 8,500 from the big blind position. His sole opponent in middle position thought long and hard before laying down his hand. Yang, the 2007 WSOP Main Event winner, is up to around 60,000.
Solid Start for Nguyen
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
From middle position, Anh Van Nguyen raised to 2,000. The player in the hijack seat called and Gioi Luong called from the big blind to bring them to the flop of 
. Luong checked to the preflop raiser, Nguyen. He fired a continuation bet of 3,500 and the hijack seat called. Luong folded.
The 
appeared on the turn and Nguyen slowed down with a check to his opponent. The player went for a bet and made his wager 6,500. Nguyen stuck around to see fifth street.
The final card on the board was the 
. Nguyen checked and this time his opponent bet a bit more, making it 12,000. Nguyen wasted little time in making the call holding the 
for a club flush. His opponent held the 
and lost the pot.
Nguyen began the day with 62,800 and with this pot, he's up to about 96,000 in chips already in the early goings on Day 2.
Pezzin Chipping Up
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Action folded to the player in the cutoff and he put in a raise to 2,200. Pat Pezzin was in the big blind and opted to make the call, leading to a 
flop. Pezzin proceeded to check-call a bet of 2,500 and then both players checked the 
turn. When the 
was put out on the river, Pezzin fired out 5,300 and the cutoff quickly folded. Pezzin is approaching 100,000.
Young Calls Correct and Doubles
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
A lot of chips went into the middle on the flop of 
between Jordan Young and Ryan Hughes, although we missed exactly how the betting went. The turn brought the 
and with a little under 40,000 chips in the middle, both Young and Hughes checked to see the fall on the river. Young checked and Hughes put him all in. Young went into the tank for a minute or two, but eventually made the call for his last 30,800 and his entire tournament life.
THe choice to call was the correct one as Hughes held just the 
for jack high. Young's 
for trip sevens earned him the pot and it was a big one. He's now over 100,000 in chips after starting with under 50,000 here on Day 2.
Habib Picks Up Jacks
Level 9
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Hasan Habib was one of the short stacks entering Day 2 but just got lucky to received a much-needed double. It began when a player limped in middle position and Seat 2 raised to 4,200. Action folded to Habib on the button and he moved all in for 17,300. The limper got out of the way while Seat 2 made the call:
Seat 2: 
Habib: 
Habib was way behind but not after the 
flop delivered him a set. The on the turn gave him a boat and all he needed to do was dodge a king or queen on the river. He did just that as the 
peeled off. Habib is still relatively short with 40,000.