Event #8: $1,700 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground
Event #8: $1,700 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground
Buy-in
1,700 CAD
Prize Pool
2,490,000 CAD
Entries
1,660
Level
37
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
237
Players Left
22
Dustin Melanson Leads Final 22 Players Into Day 3 of the Main Event
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The players at Playground did not disappoint on Day 2 of Event #8: $1,700 No Limit Holdem Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit Playground. A total of 237 players returned to the felt to battle another 10 levels, and after the dust settled, just 22 remained. Some excellent players came and went, but at the end of the day, local pro Dustin Melanson bagged a massive chip lead heading into Day 3 with a stack of 8,255,000. He was aggressive and seemed to have a crazy intuition for finding spots to put his foot on the gas. He will be a force on Day 3. He is followed close behind by Hugo Morrissette with 5,885,000 in second place and Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst with 4,920,000 in third.
Some crushers were in the mix for the second day of the Main Event. WSOP bracelet winner and all-around nice guy, Chanracy Khun, was able to make it to the last four tables but was not able to secure the bag, 2022 WPT World Championship Winner Eliot Hudon was also in the mix but could not reclaim the glory, bracelet winner Mike Leah got within the top 100 but couldn’t hold on, and bracelet winner Xing He was able to make it to the three table redraw but would lose a big flip to get short and hit the rail soon after.
Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dustin Melanson | Canada | 8,255,000 | 83 |
| 2 | Hugo Morrissette | Canada | 5,885,000 | 59 |
| 3 | Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst | Canada | 4,920,000 | 49 |
| 4 | Mohammad Feizi | Canada | 4,410,000 | 44 |
| 5 | Ran Yi | Canada | 3,520,000 | 35 |
| 6 | Robert Wong | Canada | 3,345,000 | 33 |
| 7 | George James | Canada | 3,075,000 | 31 |
| 8 | Wangchao Yuan | Canada | 3,020,000 | 30 |
| 9 | Joey Messina | Canada | 3,005,000 | 30 |
| 10 | Michael Porkolab | Canada | 2,915,000 | 29 |
The Main Event had a guaranteed prize pool of $1,500,000, but the total prize pool exceeded expectations and reached $2,490,000. Currently, all the remaining players have locked up $9,200, but they will come back to a pay jump at 21 that would earn them an extra $1,100. Those payouts are not the ones on everyone's mind, though. They will all have their eye on the massive top prize of $375,000. The biggest career score for almost every player in the field should they make it to the top of the mountain.
Melanson is currently the player to catch, but it is still anyone's game. There are multiple players that are one double away from the chip lead. Play will resume at 11 a.m. local time on Monday morning with the players returning to 50,000/100,000/100,000 blinds.
22 will enter but only one will survive. Stay tuned to Pokernews for updates on this and many other events happening worldwide.
End of Night Chip Counts (full)
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,255,000
1,255,000
|
1,255,000 |
|
||
|
5,885,000
885,000
|
885,000 |
|
4,920,000
2,220,000
|
2,220,000 |
|
4,410,000
-890,000
|
-890,000 |
|
3,520,000
1,120,000
|
1,120,000 |
|
3,345,000
245,000
|
245,000 |
|
3,075,000
1,775,000
|
1,775,000 |
|
|
3,020,000
1,620,000
|
1,620,000 |
|
3,005,000
1,405,000
|
1,405,000 |
|
2,915,000
115,000
|
115,000 |
|
2,855,000
555,000
|
555,000 |
|
2,655,000
155,000
|
155,000 |
|
|
2,450,000
-750,000
|
-750,000 |
|
|
2,340,000
-1,660,000
|
-1,660,000 |
|
2,290,000
-1,510,000
|
-1,510,000 |
|
2,110,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
2,070,000
1,270,000
|
1,270,000 |
|
|
1,500,000
-2,900,000
|
-2,900,000 |
|
|
1,290,000
-510,000
|
-510,000 |
|
1,210,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
|
1,195,000
-605,000
|
-605,000 |
|
705,000
705,000
|
705,000 |
Play Has Come to an End
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
The 22 remaining players have made it through the last five hands of the night with no eliminations and are filling out their bags. They will return tomorrow at 11 a.m. local time for Day 3.
Full recap coming soon.
Jonathan Brazeau Eliminated in 23rd Place ($9,200)
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
After losing a massive flip, Jonathan Brazeau moved all in for his last big blind and was called in three spots. It checked to the river where George James put out a bet on the Q♥10♣2♣J♦9♥ board. It got folds. He showed the king high straight and Brazeau flashed five-three off suit before he mucked.
Brazeau hits the rail after an impressive run.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,300,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Xing He Eliminated in 24th Place ($9,200)
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
After losing a flip that left him short, Xing He got all of his chips in the middle and was called by Devesh Thapar to put He at risk for his tournament life.
The cards hit their backs.
Xing He: Q♥4♥ 
Devesh Thapar: A♣Q♣
The full board ran out A♦8♠7♦K♦J♦ and He was sent to the rail at the hands of Thapar.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,200,000
1,200,000
|
1,200,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Jason Blodgett Eliminated in 25th Place ($8,300)
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Maurizio Lo Russo raised from the cutoff before Jason Blodgett moved all in from the button for less. The rest of the players folded and Lo Russo snap called.
Jason Blodgett: 10♦10♣
Maurizio Lo Russo: A♥A♠
The full board ran out 5♠K♣9♠8♥9♦ and Blodgett hit the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,300,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
|
Busted |
Harpreet Singh Padda Eliminated in 26th Place ($8,300)
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
After significant action all the chips went in the middle between Harpreet Singh Padda and Ran Yi. They went to a full board with Padda all in and at risk.
Harpreet Singh Padda: K♠Q♠
Ran Yi: 10♦10♥
The full board ran out A♠6♦5♥10♠3♣ and Padda hit the rail after an impressive run.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,400,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Jean-Pascal Gauthier Eliminated in 27th Place ($8,300)
Level 27
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Jean-Pascal Gauthier moved all in from middle position before it folded to Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst in the small blind who called and the cards hit their backs to see the cooler.
Jean-Pascal Gauthier: K♦K♠
Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst: A♥A♣
The full board ran out 10♣3♥4♦A♠5♥ and Gauthier was sent home.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,700,000
900,000
|
900,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 27
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 80,000