Harrah's Rincon Casino Champ Valentin Vornicu finished Day 1 as the chip leader, and thus far he's done nothing but add to his stack on Day 2.
In a recent hand, Vornicu opened for 5,000 only to have at-large qualifier Jonathan Hilton three-bet to 12,300. Action folded back to Vornicu, he called and then promptly checked the flop. Hilton took the opportunity to bet 13,000, but ended up folding after Vornicu check-raised to 30,500.
After Jonathan Hilton opened for 4,900 from the hijack, a short-stacked Allan Farber, who qualified via an at-large bid, three-bet all in from the button for 25,700. Sam Panzica, who was the Palm Beach Kennel Club Casino Champion and turned 21 just a couple of weeks ago, then moved all in over the top from the big blind and inspired Hilton to fold.
Panzica:
Farber:
Farber held a big hand, but much to his dismay Panzica woke up with a better one. The board ran out an uneventful and a disappointed Farber hit the rail in 30th place.
Jeff Gross opened to 5,500 on the button, John Bowman three-bet to 14,000 out of the small blind, and Gross made the call. Bowman led out for 16,000 when the dealer fanned , Gross called, and the turn brought the .
Bowman quickly led out again, this time firing out 27,000, and Gross tanked for nearly two minutes before mucking his hand.
This is the third year the National Championship had been in existence, and in the first two years a woman was able to make the final table (La Sengphet in 2011 and Amanda Musumeci in 2012). Sandra Wong, the River Rock (Vancouver) Casino Champion, was the last hope for that tradition to continue, but Joe Tehan made sure that it wasn't going to happen.
We caught the action with around 40,000 already in the pot and a board reading . The buxom beauty from Burnaby, British Columbia proceeded to move all in for her last 33,000 and Tehan sanp-called.
"You have an ace?" Wong asked. Tehan had better as his gave him two pair. Wong then tabled the and pleaded with the dealer, "Please, let me get there one time."
Unfortunately for Wong, who needed wither a seven or a five, the dealer didn't listen and instead put out the . Tehan eliminated the last woman in the tournament and chipped up to 180,000 in the process.
Included are counts for the rest of the players at that particular table.
Luke Graham open-shoved all in for 35,700 from early position, and Jonathan Hilton re-shoved for 145,000 from the cutoff. The button and blinds both released.
Graham:
Hilton:
Graham held as the board came , doubling to 75,000 chips. Hilton dropped down to 110,000.
Sam Panzica led out for 4,600 on a flop of , and Valentin Vornicu made the call. The turn was the , Panzica opted to check, and the overnight chip leader tossed out 9,500. Panzica flipped forward two gray T5,000 chips.
The paired the board and brought a third heart on the river, and Panzica checked again. Vornicu fired 22,500, and Panzica called. Vornicu showed for a rivered flush, prompting Panzica to muck his hand.
"Feels like a one-outer," Panzica said after the hand. "That's probably the only card I call with."
Action folded around to at-large qualifier DJ MacKinnon on the button and he raised to 5,000. Blake Barousse, who also qualified via an at-large bid, then three-bet to 9,200 from the small blind. The big got out of the way, MacKinnon four-bet to 20,500 and Barousse pushed back with a five-bet to 35,000. MacKinnon then six-bet shoved for 83,500 and Barousse called.
MacKinnon:
Barousse:
MacKinnon's supporters surrounded the table and watched the flop come down . "Hold," one of them shouted. The dealer then burned and turned the to give MacKinnon a set and the guaranteed double. After the was run out on the river, Barousse counted out a big pile of chips and sent them over to MacKinnon.
We're not sure of the action, but we do know that at-large qualifier Pavlin Karakikov just doubled through Harrah’s Philadelphia Main Event Champion Rex Clinkscales.
We arrived at the table to see a board on and Karakikov had the laid out in front of him. Clinkscales, on the other hand, had the inferior .
flop. Hilton took the opportunity to bet 13,000, but ended up folding after Vornicu check-raised to 30,500.
.
. The buxom beauty from Burnaby, British Columbia proceeded to move all in for her last 33,000 and Tehan sanp-called.
gave him two pair. Wong then tabled the 
and pleaded with the dealer, "Please, let me get there one time."
. Tehan eliminated the last woman in the tournament and chipped up to 180,000 in the process.
, Panzica opted to check, and the overnight chip leader tossed out 9,500. Panzica flipped forward two gray T5,000 chips.
paired the board and brought a third heart on the river, and Panzica checked again. Vornicu fired 22,500, and Panzica called. Vornicu showed 
for a rivered flush, prompting Panzica to muck his hand.
. "Hold," one of them shouted. The dealer then burned and turned the 
to give MacKinnon a set and the guaranteed double. After the 
was run out on the river, Barousse counted out a big pile of chips and sent them over to MacKinnon.
