For those who claim poker is purely a game of luck, cases like that of Manuel Antonio Delgado Cordero might reinforce their belief. The truth is, however, that the player from Huelva closed out Day 2 of this €550 CNP Winamax Main Event with 4,380,000 chips, thanks in part to the kind of run every player needs if they hope to win a tournament.
Delgado Cordero found his mark in Rubén Pérez and never let up. First, on an ace-high flop, he applied heavy pressure with pocket fives and was rewarded with another five on the turn. Later, he delivered the knockout blow, cracking Pérez's aces with ace-queen in another massive pot after completing a flush.
It is the kind of run that explains how he ended the night with 175 big blinds for Day 3. Still, it would be unfair to credit his position solely to good fortune. Delgado Cordero is a highly skilled player, and while poker rewards both talent and timing, consistency, discipline, and hard work often rise to the top. Today, Delgado Cordero embodies that truth.
Completing the top 3 is Javier Becerril in second place with 2,020,000 chips, followed closely by Pedro Juan Pérez, who sits third with 2,000,000. The top ten also features familiar names such as Javier Garcirreynaldos "Tsunami" (1,565,000), Gonzalo Mencia (1,305,000), and Ramón Fernández (1,280,000).
Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manuel Antonio Delgado Cordero | Spain | 4,380,000 | 175 |
| 2 | Javier Becerril | Spain | 2,020,000 | 81 |
| 3 | Pedro Juan Pérez | Spain | 2,000,000 | 80 |
| 4 | Igor Sousa | Portugal | 1,695,000 | 68 |
| 5 | Javier Garcirreynaldos | Spain | 1,565,000 | 63 |
| 6 | José Fuentes | Spain | 1,305,000 | 52 |
| 7 | Gonzalo Mencia | Spain | 1,305,000 | 52 |
| 8 | Ramón Fernández | Spain | 1,280,000 | 51 |
| 9 | Gonzalo Peixoto | Portugal | 1,235,000 | 49 |
| 10 | Geron Dalipi | Spain | 1,100,000 | 44 |
This €550 CNP Winamax Main Event, which drew a total of 822 entries, fell just short of last year's figures by fewer than 100 players, but once again demonstrated the strength of poker in Spain. The event generated a €350,100 prize pool, shared among the top 87 finishers.
Víctor Aubeso became the unfortunate bubble, marking the divide between those who reached the money and those who fell short. With fewer than ten big blinds, he called off an all-in from Alberto del Moral holding ace-king against ten-eight. The board favored the bigger stack, ending Aubeso's run just shy of a payout.
Winamax's WIPs were all eliminated before the end of Day 2. The deepest run belonged to chess Grandmaster Miguel Illescas, who earned €1,900 before falling to Fabio Costa. Content creator Guanyar also reached the money, collecting €1,650 after making an appearance on the feature table.
Play will resume tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time, with blinds at 10,000/25,000 and a 25,000 big blind ante. Ten minutes remain in Level 22, and the 47 remaining players will look to navigate the early stages before levels increase to 60 minutes starting in Level 26. All survivors have secured at least €1,950.
€550 Main Event CNP Winamax Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €60,000 | 10-11 | €4,250 |
| 2 | €41,000 | 12-14 | €3,650 |
| 3 | €26,100 | 15-19 | €3,100 |
| 4 | €19,000 | 20-24 | €2,600 |
| 5 | €14,000 | 25-32 | €2,150 |
| 6 | €10,000 | 33-48 | €1,900 |
| 7 | €7,500 | ||
| 8 | €6,000 | ||
| 9 | €5,000 |
Who will take home the €60,000 first prize? Stay tuned to PokerNews for full coverage of the final Day 3, where a champion will be crowned at Casino Admiral Sevilla.
