Final Four to Play for $92,886 on Day 3
And then there were four in the World Series of Poker Circuit Ameristar St. Charles $1,700 Main Event.
After 26 levels of play, just Zack Mullennix (2,885,000), Brett Apter (2,410,000), Mark Koeln (1,945,000) and Kevin Waller (1,190,000) remain. One of them will claim $92,886, but that's to be decided on Day 3 after everyone else left in the tournament busted on Day 2.
The win would be the third Circuit victory for both Mullennix and Apter, while Koeln and Waller are each seeking their first piece of WSOP gold.
Mullennix found a big double through Koeln with aces against eights on a jack-high board late in the night to finish with the lead.
Each of the four players had a stroke of great fortune on Day 2 propel them to bagging. Mullennix was all in with jacks against kings held by Austin McCormick when each player had piles of chips, with a jack-high flop sending the pot to Mullennix. Apter shoved over an open holding king-jack suited and managed to crack the kings of Craig Welko when he was covered. Koeln said he got ace-king in early on against aces and queens and spiked a flush. And Waller got jack-ten suited in against queens for nearly all of his chips at the final table and hit two pair.
Now, they've outlasted 277 other entries to get to the final stretch.
Most of the 46 players who made Day 2 did get paid as the event was just three off the money. Mack Ham, Keith Heine, all-time Circuit ring leader Maurice Hawkins, Michael Hudson and Ravi Raghavan were among those busting before the final table.
Once there, Steve Buell, Jon Lawson and Jorden Helstern were among the players falling shy of Day 3, contenting themselves with payouts between $8,391 and $17,206. Dean Hoffman was the last man down as he hit payouts with about eight minutes left before bagging.
The last four resume at noon local time on Monday with the plan to play to a winner. Everyone has at least $30,369 locked with all eyes on the top prize, which also features a seat to the $1 million Global Casino Championship. Come back to PokerNews to find out who lays claim to the bounty.