Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2012 WinStar River Poker Series
Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 WinStar River Poker Series
Buy-in
$2,100
Prize Pool
$2,788,000
Entries
1,396
Level
34
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
20,000
Day 2 Complete: Matt Newcombe Never Relinquishes Chip Lead
Level 25
: 12,000/24,000, 4,000 ante
Another grueling day of tournament poker is in the books here at WinStar World Casino's River Poker Series Main Event. Players from three starting flights combined today to wage war on the felt for their share of the $2,500,000 guaranteed prize pool. It took a mere ten levels for the 141 players that started the day to become the final 15. Matt Newcombe, who finished Day 1a as the chip leader and was the overall chip leader coming into Day 2 has once again finished at the top of the field with a stack of 3,245,000.
Aaron Massey held onto the second largest stack at the end of the day with 2,890,000 in chips. Massey was able to gain a majority of his stack during a three-way all in that occurred fairly early on during Day 2 play. Mark Eddleman opened the action preflop with a raise to 9,000 and was called by Jerry Lorett. Massey moved out a three-bet to 24,000 from the button and both of his opponents called.
The flop fell 
and Eddleman checked. Lorett open shipped all in for an unknown amount and Massey called. Eddleman then moved all in over the top and Massey snap called for his tournament life.
Showdown
Massey: 
Eddleman: 
Lorett: 
Massey was in the lead with his flopped set but would need to dodge the straight and flush outs of Lorett. The 
fell on the turn and the 
on the river. An excited Massey jumped into the air and gave powerful fist pump at the sight of two small black cards. This hand propelled him to 655,000 early on in the day and his stack continued to grow exponentially as the day progressed.
Day 2 saw a slew of notable names return to the felt from their various starting flights. Having already cashed, these players were searching for glory and the ever elusive final table appearance. Among those to finally see their tournament come to an end on Day 2 were Brett Schwertley, Chris Moneymaker, Maria Ho, Heath Herring, AP Phahurat, Kurt Jewell and 2012 World Series of Poker Octo-Niner Robert Salaburu.
David "Doc" Sands was expected to make a strong showing on Day 2 and did not disappoint. Sands seemed to be a magnet for action throughout the day as we saw him come from behind twice to double up for his tournament life during play. Sands remained one of the top stacks for a majority of the day but finally met his untimely end before the field combined for the final two tables.
Sands moved all in on a board of 
only to have Peter Zhmutski quickly move all in over the top. The third player in the hand folded and Sands showed for a straight. Unfortunately for Sands, Zhmutski held 
for the nut straight and was able to send Sands home in 20th place.
While Sands was ultimately disappointed with his finish, he had nothing but positive words to say about the event and tournament staff after the fact.
Doc_Sands David Doc Sands Although 20 of 1400 isn't what I came here for I had a really fun week. @WinstarWorld ran a phenomenal event with great dealers and staff.
September 02 2012
Final 15 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Newcombe | 3,245,000 |
| 2 | Aaron Massey | 2,890,000 |
| 3 | Peter Zhmutski | 2,865,000 |
| 4 | Andy Robinson | 2,135,000 |
| 5 | Richard Tygum | 2,095,000 |
| 6 | Patricia Cardner | 1,200,000 |
| 7 | Cord Garcia | 1,090,000 |
| 8 | Chris Hooper | 1,050,000 |
| 9 | Justin Gardenhire | 905,000 |
| 10 | Matt Shepsky | 820,000 |
| 11 | Mark Kehrees | 745,000 |
| 12 | Brad Tucker | 640,000 |
| 13 | Sam Murphy | 535,000 |
| 14 | Ron Roberts | 435,000 |
| 15 | Jay Merchant | 300,000 |
At 1200 CST on Monday the final 15 players will return to the Global Events Center in the heart of the WinStar World Casino to play down to a champion. Make sure to stay tuned to our live reporting page to follow as this exciting event reaches its dramatic conclusion!
Day 3 Table and Seat Draw
Level 26
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Table 51
| Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Newcombe | 3,245,000 |
| 2 | Chris Hooper | 1,050,000 |
| 3 | Matt Shepsky | 820,000 |
| 4 | Jay Merchant | 300,000 |
| 5 | Cord Garcia | 1,090,000 |
| 6 | Peter Zhmutski | 2,865,000 |
| 7 | Mark Kehrees | 745,000 |
| 8 | Richard Tygum | 2,095,000 |
| 9 | --empty-- | -- |
Table 52
| Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Massey | 2,890,000 |
| 2 | Patricia Cardner | 1,200,000 |
| 3 | Justin Gardenhire | 905,000 |
| 4 | Ron Roberts | 435,000 |
| 5 | Sam Murphy | 535,000 |
| 6 | Brad Tucker | 640,000 |
| 7 | Andy Robinson | 2,135,000 |
| 8 | --empty-- | -- |
| 9 | --empty-- | -- |
Bryan McMullin Eliminated in 16th Place ($27,880)
Action folded around to the blinds and Matt Shepsky completed from the small. Bryan McMullin checked his option from the big blind and a flop of 
was placed in front of them.
Shepsky led out for 30,000 only to have McMullin come over the top for 130,000 total. Shepsky called and the 
dropped down on the turn. Shepsky checked and McMullin moved his whole stack in. He had Shepsky covered but that did not deter Shepsky from calling for his tournament life.
Shepsky: 
McMullin: 
Shepsky had turned the straight and McMullin was looking to boat up on the river, but alas, the fell and the chips were pushed to Shepsky.
McMullin got the rest of his chips all in before the flop during the next hand. McMullin held 
against Mark Kehrees' 
. A crimson flop was spread on the felt- 
, giving Kehrees a flush right off the bat. The and 
completed the board and McMullin was eliminated from play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,260,000 | 700,000 |
|
800,000 | 100,000 |
|
Busted |
Danny Chamberlain Eliminated in 17th Place ($22,304)
During a battle of the blinds between Richard Tygum in the small blind and Danny Chamberlain in the big blind, Tygum managed to get all in for his last 761,000.
Tygum held 
and was racing with Chamberlain's 
.
Chamberlain was in the lead when he paired his ace on the flop of 
but Tygum could still win with any four or club. Just like that the dealer delivered the on the turn, guaranteeing Tygum a double up as the meaningless rivered. This hand knocked Chamberlain down to about 460,000 in chips.
A few hands later the two would engage in a confrontation again where Tygum would put the nail in the coffin. Chamberlain was all in for his life with pocket eights but was unable to escape Tygum's 
. Chamberlain will earn $22,304 for his efforts this week.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,000,000 | 792,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Matthew Colvin Eliminated in 18th Place ($22,304)
Matthew Colvin open shipped all in for about 200,000 from middle position and was called by Peter Zhmutski who was also in middle position.
Colvin held 
and was looking for a miracle to outdraw Zhmutski's 
.
Colvin picked up a pair of queens on the flop but ultimately was unable to make anything beyond that happen, sealing his fate as our 18th place finisher.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,370,000 | 270,000 |
|
Busted |
Final 18 Seating Draw
Level 26
: 15,000/30,000, 5,000 ante
Table 1
| Seat | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Tygum |
| 2 | Danny Chamberlain |
| 3 | Mark Kehrees |
| 4 | Matt Shepsky |
| 5 | Bryan McMullin |
| 6 | Chris Hooper |
| 7 | Brad Tucker |
| 8 | Matthew Colvin |
| 9 | Peter Zhmutski |
Table 2
| Seat | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Andy Robinson |
| 2 | Sam Murphy |
| 3 | Aaron Massey |
| 4 | Jay Merchant |
| 5 | Cord Garcia |
| 6 | Patricia Cardner |
| 7 | Matt Newcombe |
| 8 | Justin Gardenhire |
| 9 | Ron Roberts |
Ricky Greene Eliminated in 19th Place ($18,122)
Matt Newcombe limped from early position and it folded around to Ricky Greene who moved all in from the small blind. Cord Garcia called all in for 477,000 from the big blind and Newcombe got out of the way. The hands were tabled with Garcia's tournament life on the line.
Greene:
Garcia: 
The board fell 
and Garcia's kings were able to hold. This hand gave Garcia a double up and knocked Greene down to about 50,000 in chips. Greene would bust immediately after.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,010,000 | 360,000 |
|
|
Busted |
David "Doc" Sands Eliminated in 20th Place ($18,122)
David Sands opened the action to 60,000 from the hijack and received calls from Peter Zhmutski in the small blind and Richard Tygum in the big blind.
The flop fell down and Zhmutski led out for 100,000. Tygum and Sands both called to see fourth street. The dealer tapped the table and flipped up the . Zhmutski checked and Tygum fired 240,000 into the center. After about thirty seconds Sands moved all in and Zhmutski quickly moved all in over the top of him.
Tygum tanked for a while before finally folding his hand. Sands showed for a straight but was dejected to find that Zhmutski held for the nut straight.
The 
rivered to unnecessarily give Zhmutski Broadway and he was able to send Sands home in 19th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,100,000 | 1,270,000 |
|
Busted |
Austin Held Eliminated in 21st Place ($18,122)
We missed the exact action of the hand but Aaron Massey was kind enough to fill in the blanks for us.
Massey raised to 51,000 from the button and Austin Held moved all in for about 300,000 from his big blind. Massey called with and was against Held's .
The flop came down 
with two diamonds, keeping Held's kings in the lead. The and came on the next two streets, however, and Massey was able to make the ace-high flush to Held's king-high flush.
Massey is now sitting on 2,600,000 in chips and is our new chip leader.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,600,000 | 400,000 |
|
|
Busted |