Josh_Cahlik
The Magician Searching For Bracelet #2
The field of sixty that returned for Day 2 has been reduced to the final ten. Today those ten players will compete for the title of World Series of Poker champion. Along with the shiny gold bracelet that will adorn the winner's wrist, a paycheck of $368,593 will also go to the winner.
Yesterday's play saw many professional players and notable names hit the rail in an attempt to be where the final ten are right now. Melanie Weisner, Ryan D'Angelo, Mickey Petersen, Jason Koon, Steve Billarakis, Justin Bonomo, and Jean-Robert Bellande were just some of the names that were able to score a min-cash but unable to make the final day.
Headlining today's final table is Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari who will begin with a slight advantage in chips. Esfandiari won his first and only bracelet in 2004 in a $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event and will be searching for number two today.
Esfandiari isn't the only bracelet winner in today's field, however, as Athanasios Polychronopoulos will be in the hunt as well. Polychronopoulos won his first bracelet at the 2011 WSOP in Event #48: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em and will be looking to go back-to-back this year with another win.
Today we will be covering all of the action occurring on the ESPN stage in the Amazon room. History occurred in this very spot yesterday when Chris Tryba was able to earn his first bracelet in Event 35: $2,500 Mixed Hold'em. Cards will be in the air at 1:00 PM today so be sure to stay tuned as we crown yet another WSOP champion.
Jonathan Lane opened to 40,000 and Antonio Esfandiari re-raised to 102,000 from the big blind. Lane called and the flop came . Esfandiari bet 120,000 and Lane raised to 625,000 - enough to cover Esfandiari.
"What, a pair and a draw?" Esfandiari asked Lane. "Well ladies and gentlemen, it's been real nice playing you all." He then called and tabled .
Lane tabled and the board completed and Esfandiari went from saying his goodbyes to leaping into the chip lead.
Jonathan Lane opened to 55,000 on the button and was called by both Craig McCorkell in the small blind and Roberto Romanello in the big.
The flop was a girl's best friend as it fell . Two checks went to Lane who continued out for 100,000. McCorkell got out of the way and Romanello reached behind and shoved his entire stack in the middle. Lane announced a call and both hands were tabled to see that neither player held a diamond.
Lane:
Romanello:
Romanello was behind and in need of a queen or a nine, or running diamonds for a chop. He got none of those options as the turn and river brought the and the . Romanello will take home $48,924 for his efforts today.
Antonio Esfandiari opened to 65,000 from under the gun and Alessandro Longobardi replied by moving all in from the button. Jonathan Lane looked down at his cards from the small blind and re-shipped all in over the top.
Craig McCorkell stared at his cards in the big blind and tanked for over a minute before mucking. Esfandiari quickly got out of the way and the hands were shown:
Longobardi:
Lane:
The board came and Lonobardi was not able to find his ever elusive pair of jacks. He will collect $63,988 for his efforts.
With the flop reading , Jonathan Lane bet out only to find a raise from Antonio Esfandiari. Lane three-bet the action to 850,000 and Antonio four-bet all in. Lane, the second biggest stack at the table who is bested only by Esfandiari made the call for his tournament life:
Esfandiari:
Lane:
Antonio flopped the nut straight while Lane flopped the low end. The dealer showed the two the on the turn and Esfandiari's arms slowly raised up in the air as he ran to his rail to give out high fives. The completed the board and just like that Lane was sent home and Esfandiari has a dominating chip lead over the rest of the field.
Jeremiah Fitzpatrick folded his button and Craig McCorkell moved all in from the small blind. Antonio Esfandiari called in the big blind and the hands were turned over.
McCorkell:
Esfandiari:
McCorkell found a pair on the flop and Esfandiari was looking for a king or a jack. The drilled the turn, giving McCorkell the winning hand with fours full of fives and the on the river was just like pouring salt in the wound for Esfandiari.
As McCorkell raked in his new found chips, the Brits railing him went absolutely insane stomping their feet and screaming in support.
After being crippled in the previous hand, Antonio Esfandiari got his entire stack in the middle holding but was crushed by Craig McCorkell's .
The flop of was of no help to Esfandiari. The turn was the giving Esfandiari diamond outs as well as the three remaining nines. Esfandiari's rail screamed for a diamond to river, but alas, the fell and Esfandiari was sent packing in third place.
![[user196975]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
. Esfandiari bet 120,000 and Lane raised to 625,000 - enough to cover Esfandiari.
.
and the board completed 
and Esfandiari went from saying his goodbyes to leaping into the chip lead.
and the Brazilian was eliminated.
. Two checks went to Lane who continued out for 100,000. McCorkell got out of the way and Romanello reached behind and shoved his entire stack in the middle. Lane announced a call and both hands were tabled to see that neither player held a diamond.
and the 
. Romanello will take home $48,924 for his efforts today.
and Lonobardi was not able to find his ever elusive pair of jacks. He will collect $63,988 for his efforts.
flop and Esfandiari was looking for a king or a jack. The 
drilled the turn, giving McCorkell the winning hand with fours full of fives and the 
and suddenly Esfandiari was the short stack.
giving Esfandiari diamond outs as well as the three remaining nines. Esfandiari's rail screamed for a diamond to river, but alas, the