Aces Cracked to Bust the Bubble on Day 2 of WPT World Championship

December 16, 2023

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

Bubble Has Burst
Biggest Stacks Advancing to Day 3
2023 WPT World Championship Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts
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One of the largest poker tournaments in history is in the money. On Level 15, the 481st player busted from the $10,400 buy-in World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship, giving everyone else still standing a sigh of relief.

Day 2 on Saturday began at noon PT with 1,400 players hoping to get a slice of that juicy $40 million prize pool. Unfortunately, for many of them, the dream was shattered before the bubble burst.

Once the tournament officially reached the money, all remaining players were guaranteed at least $18,700, with the potential to win as much as $5,678,000.

Bubble Has Burst

During the final level of play, with more than 500 players still remaining, some players, most notably short stacks, tightened up. But some short stacks were forced to make moves with the blinds all the way up to 10,000/15,000 (15,000 big blind ante). On a few occasions, the big blind was essentially forced all in.

PokerStars ambassador Maria Konnikova faced a similar situation early in the final level with 4♥4♣ and just a few big blinds facing a raise from Alex Papazian, who had K♥2♥. The board ran out clean for the author turned poker pro and she was back to nine big blinds, hoping to sneak into the money.

Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment in the second annual WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas is the defending champion — Eliot Hudon — reaching the money again. Hudon, who doubled up just before the bubble burst, beat out 2,960 players last year in this same event for $4.1 million.

With about an hour prior to the conclusion of Level 15, the tournament staff implemented the Action Clock, which forces players to act quicker, a measure put in place to prevent stalling around the bubble.

On the fourth hand of hand-for-hand play on the bubble, four players were facing all in situations for their tournament life. At Table 145, Tyler Hirschfeld was all in on a flop of J♥4♥4♠ with A♥A♦, feeling pretty good about his chances of doubling up. That was until he saw the J♠J♣ Maryline Valente was holding — a full house.

The turn was the 7♦ followed by the 10♥ on the river, no help to Hirschfeld, who was eliminated in 481st place, good for the same amount paid to the first player to bust in the tournament — $0.

Biggest Stacks Advancing to Day 3

Many big name pros escaped the bubble, including but not limited to Hossein Ensan, Jacob Ferro, Chance Kornuth, and Chris Hunichen.

The chip leader is Alessandro Siena with 3,035,000 (202 big blinds). David Levy is closest to Siena with 2,605,000, followed by Ferro (2,600,000) and Julien Martini (2,600,000).

WPT ambassador Brad Owen is among the big names moving on to Day 3 with about 20 big blinds (301,000).

Also among those still in the hunt is Joe Hachem, who made an incredible laydown with kings to remain in contention. Hachem wrapped the day with 385,000 in chips.

2023 WPT World Championship Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Chip Count
1	Alessandro Siena	3,035,000
2	David Levy	2,605,000
T3	Julien Martini	2,600,000
T3	Jacob Ferro	2,600,000
5	Ade Olonoh	2,520,000
6	Raphael Blouet	2,450,000
7	Michael Gathy	2,400,000
8	Aditya Sadhu	2,395,000
T9	Jeremy Joseph	2,345,000
T9	Neel Murthy	2,345,000

Day 2 came to a conclusion immediately after the bubble burst with 36 minutes remaining in Level 15. That is precisely where the tournament will pickup on Sunday at noon from inside the Encore Ballroom.

Did Wynn Figure Out the Perfect Bubble Stalling Solution?

_{*Image courtesy of World Poker Tour.}

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