2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold'em Championship

2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day: 2
Event Info

2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold'em Championship

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
105
Prize
$3,121,838
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$24,843,000
Entries
1,014
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
689
Players Left
255

Krasimir Yankov Leads 255 Survivors After Day 2 of the PokerStars Players Championship

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante
Krasimir Yankov
Krasimir Yankov

It was a short but action-packed Day 2 at the 2023 PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold'em Championship in The Bahamas that saw only six one-hour levels played out. A total of 1,014 entries were recorded when late registration closed with just 255 advancing to Day 3. Leading the pack is Krasimir Yankov who is the only player with a seven-figure stack with 1,002,000 chips followed by Philipe Pizzari (965,000) and Jeremy Ausmus (791,000) to round out the top three.

Yankov is widely known for competing on the European Poker Tour but has recently been dabbling overseas as well. The Bulgarian's most recent standout performance came in the WPT World Championship where he finished in 11th place. With a handful of six-figure scores on his poker resume already, Yankov will be looking to go one step further and add a seven-figure payday when all is said and done.

Top 10 Leaderboard After Day 2 of the 2023 PSPC

 RANKPLAYERCOUNTRYCHIP COUNTSBIG BLINDS
 1Krasimir YankovBulgaria1,002,000167
 2Philipe PizzariBrazil965,000161
 3Jeremy AusmusUnited States791,000132
 4Dylan DestefanoUnited States696,000116
 5Chris MoormanUnited Kingdom685,000114
 6Justin LibertoUnited States658,000110
 7Tommy NguyenCanada642,000107
 8Ignacio GonzalezSpain610,000102
 9Renato MinicuciItaly585,00098
 10Christian DresslerGermany562,00094

Speaking of which, the prize pool and payouts were confirmed today once registration was closed. A total of $24,843,000 will be up for grabs over the next three days. There will be 175 places being paid with a min-cash being worth $35,100 and the winner taking home $4,053,200. Each of the final six places will be guaranteed to become at least a millionaire.

Some more familiar faces advancing to Day 3 with a shot at PSPC glory include 2023 PCA Main Event champion Michel Dattani, WSOP Main Event winners Chris Moneymaker, Martin Jacobson, and Espen Jorstad, along with PokerStars ambassadors Alejandro Lococo, Sam Grafton, and Arlie Shaban. Lococo put 473,000 in the bag for Day 3 and will be joined by Grafton with 377,000 chips and Shaban who bagged the same as Day 1 with 259,000.

Alejandro Lococo leads the PokerStars ambassador team
Alejandro Lococo leads the PokerStars ambassador team

Day 2 Action

There were 680 players who returned to their seats after Day 1 and they were joined by an additional nine new entries before late registration closed prior to the start of level 11. One of those late entries was Bryn Kenney whose time at the table was a mere flash. Just 10 minutes in, Kenney bricked out on a flush draw and was sent to the rail by Noah Schwartz.

Five-time Survivor contestant and winner of the 22nd season Rob "Boston Rob" Mariano was also one of the last few entries. Mariano, who is now taking the game of poker a little more seriously, maneuvered his way through to Day 3, bagging up a stack of 119,000.

Boston Rob Mariano still in contention heading to Day 3
Boston Rob Mariano still in contention heading to Day 3

One of the feel-good stories of the tournament belongs to Platinum Pass winner Glen Craigen. There is no doubt that Craigen is playing in the biggest tournament of his life but has proven he can still play with some of the biggest names in the game. Craigen recently did an interview with PokerNews where he got a little emotional talking about what this type of tournament means to him.

Joining him in search of turning a Platinum Pass into a massive payday include Ignacio Gonzalez, Renato Minicuci, Dinesh Alt, Bastian Hess, and many others.

With a field littered with familiar faces at each and every table, there were many who fell by the wayside over the course of the day as the field was whittled down to just 255 players. Some of those that were unfortunate to be eliminated were Ryan Riess, Jonathan Little, Ben Lamb, Sam Greenwood, and PokerStars ambassadors Benjamin Spragg, Jen Shahade, and defending champion Ramon Colillas who will not be going back-to-back.

As the field quickly disintegrated over the course of a few hours, it was announced that only six levels would be played on Day 2. When the action resumes on Day 3, everyone will have their sights set on the money bubble that will likely occur in the opening couple levels of the day.

The cards will go back in the air at 12 p.m. noon EST for Day 3 with the blinds resuming on level 15 at 3,000/6,000 and a 6,000 big blind ante. The levels will continue to be 60 minutes in length and an expected eight levels will be played on Day 3.

The PokerNews live reporting team will be back on the tournament floor to bring you all of the live updates as the action unfolds en route to crowning a new PSPC champion in just a few day's time.

Tags: Alejandro LococoArlie ShabanBastian HessBen LambBenjamin SpraggBoston RobBryn KenneyChris MoneymakerChris MoormanDinesh AltDylan DestefanoEspen JorstadGlen CraigenIgnacio GonzalezJen ShahadeJeremy AusmusJonathan LittleJustin LibertoKrasimir YankovMartin JacobsonMichel DattaniNoah SchwartzPhilipe PizzariPokerStarsPSPCRamon ColillasRenato MinicuciRob MarianoRyan RiessSam GraftonSam Greenwood