Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2014 WinStar River Poker Series
Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 WinStar River Poker Series
Buy-in
$2,400
Prize Pool
$3,175,200
Entries
1,323
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000
Eyster Leads Final 10; Baker, Gaviao in Contention
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
On Monday, the final 133 players returned for Day 2 of the WinStar World Casino Resort River Poker Series Main Event. After 10 levels of play, the unofficial final table of 10 was set. Kevin Eyster bagged up the chip lead with 5.74 million and is the player closest to earning the $1 million payday guaranteed for first place.
Eyster is no stranger to tournament success, having over $2.1 million in live winnings to his name prior to this cash. While Eyster has been around the tournament circuit for quite some time, his most notable career victory came just months ago at the 2014 World Series of Poker. Eyster took down his first gold bracelet and over $622,000 in Event #24: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed. Eyster is looking to top that cash with a win on the final day of this event.
While Eyster bagged the largest stack at the end of the day, his path to glory will not be easy. Eyster is surrounded by tough competition at this prestigious final table. Perhaps the most notable player at the table is fellow WSOP bracelet winner David "ODB" Baker.
Baker advanced on Day 1c after firing a few bullets throughout the starting flights. Baker outlasted the tough Day 2 competition and will bring a stack of 1.705 million to the final day.
Also present at the final table is 2013/14 WSOP Circuit Harrah's Tunica Main Event champion Jonathan Gaviao. Gaviao had a roller coaster of a day, spiking a miracle during the final few levels to stay alive and secure his spot at the final table. Gaviao bagged 2.795 million to end the day.
Since each Day 1 flight played down to the top 10% of the field, the day began with each player guaranteed a payday of at least $4,415. Notable players to hit the rail on Day 2 include La Sengphet (130th), Seneca Easley (110th), Rep Porter (98th), Christian Harder (92nd), Grayson Ramage (87th), Andy Philachack (73rd), Scott Clements (70th), Brandon Steven (68th), Lynn Samples (41st), Austin Lewis (32nd), Bryan Campanello (21st), and Joseph Cheong (13th).
Here' a look at the seating chart and chips heading into the final day of play:
| Seat | Name | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodeen Talebi | 725,000 |
| 2 | David "ODB" Baker | 1,705,000 |
| 3 | Rhett Trusler | 2,180,000 |
| 4 | Kevin Eyster | 5,740,000 |
| 5 | Travis Rice | 4,480,000 |
| 6 | Jonathan Gaviao | 2,975,000 |
| 7 | Jason Helder | 4,310,000 |
| 8 | Kong Li | 3,570,000 |
| 9 | Khoa Nguyen | 5,190,000 |
| 10 | Chris Drake | 2,505,000 |
Play will resume at 12 p.m. on Tuesday where the field will play down to a champion. As always, be sure to return to PokerNews for all of the latest as this exciting event reaches its conclusion.
End of Day Chip Counts (full)
![[user272102]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
5,740,000 | 115,000 |
|
5,190,000 | 65,000 |
|
4,480,000 | -20,000 |
|
4,310,000 | 210,000 |
|
3,570,000 | 445,000 |
|
2,795,000 | 45,000 |
|
2,505,000 | -195,000 |
|
2,180,000 | -620,000 |
|
1,705,000 | -320,000 |
|
725,000 | -25,000 |
Final Table Redraw and Chip Counts
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
| Seat | Name | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodeen Talebi | 750,000 |
| 2 | David "ODB" Baker | 2,025,000 |
| 3 | Rhett Trusler | 2,800,000 |
| 4 | Kevin Eyster | 5,625,000 |
| 5 | Travis Rice | 4,500,000 |
| 6 | Jonathan Gaviao | 2,750,000 |
| 7 | Jason Helder | 4,100,000 |
| 8 | Kong Li | 3,125,000 |
| 9 | Khoa Nguyen | 5,125,000 |
| 10 | Chris Drake | 2,700,000 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,625,000 | 445,000 |
|
|
5,125,000 | 475,000 |
|
|
4,500,000 | 450,000 |
|
|
4,100,000 | 500,000 |
|
|
3,125,000 | 1,505,000 |
|
|
2,800,000 | 500,000 |
|
|
2,750,000 | 230,000 |
|
|
2,700,000 | -750,000 |
|
|
2,025,000 | -725,000 |
|
|
750,000 | -350,000 |
John Niccoli Eliminated in 11th Place ($30,164)
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
John Niccoli opened to 160,000 from early position and it folded around to Khoa Nguyen who flatted from the button. Kong Li three-bet to 450,000 from the small blind and the big blind got out of the way. Niccoli four-bet all in for 1.365 million and Nguyen ditched his cards. Li called and the hands were shown.
Niccoli: 
Li: 
Niccoli's sixes were out in front after the 
flop, but that all changed when the 
hit the felt on fourth street. Li's pair of kings stayed in the lead after the 
finished the board and Niccoli was eliminated in 11th place. His elimination caused the field to re-draw to the unofficial final table of ten. A seating draw and counts will be posted momentarily.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Gaviao Doubles Through Helder
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
Jonathan Gaviao opened with a raise to 125,000 from the button. It folded to Jason Helder in the big blind who three-bet all in. Gaviao thought for roughly two minutes before calling for his tournament life of 1.215 million.
Gaviao: 
Helder: 
Gaviao jumped out into the lead after the flop, pairing his king on 
. Helder picked up a gutshot Broadway draw, but ultimately nothing materialized for him on the turn (
) or the river (
). Gaviao scooped the double up and now sits on about 2.52 million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,600,000 | -900,000 |
|
|
2,520,000 | 620,000 |
Phuong Phan Eliminated in 12th Place ($30,164)
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
Phuong Phan started the pre-flop action off with a raise to 155,000 and Rhett Trusler made a minimum raise to 250,000. It was folded back to Phan who moved all in and Trusler made the quick call for most of his stack and was in bad shape with his 
as Phan had 
.
The flop would change nothing as it came 
. The turn was the 
and Phan only needed to fade one of two sevens to double up and cripple Trusler. The river was the miracle 
for Trusler and Phan moaned as did his rail when the dealer turned over the card. "Nice hand," he told Trusler, who could only shake his head and say "he did all the work" as he nodded at the dealer.
Phan took the beat with a smile and headed off to the rail in 12th place. Trusler moved to 2.3 million in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,300,000 | 980,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Joseph Cheong Eliminated in 13th Place ($26,989)
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
Action folded to Joseph Cheong's button and moved all in for 945,000 total. Travis Rice called from the small blind and the big blind folded.
Cheong: 
Rice:
Cheong needed to improve and found no help on the 
flop. The 
hit fourth street, pairing Rice but giving Cheong an open-ended straight draw. His draw whiffed on the river, however, and was eliminated from play in 13th place. Rice took down the pot and now has about 4.05 million to his name.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,050,000 | 950,000 |
|
Busted |
Updated Chip Counts
Level 28
: 30,000/60,000, 10,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,180,000 | 380,000 |
|
|
4,650,000 | 350,000 |
|
|
4,500,000 | -400,000 |
|
|
3,450,000 | -490,000 |
|
|
3,100,000 | 550,000 |
|
|
2,750,000 | -700,000 |
|
|
1,900,000 | 175,000 |
|
|
1,620,000 | -780,000 |
|
|
1,320,000 | 220,000 |
|
|
1,100,000 | -150,000 |
|
|
1,100,000 | |
|
|
940,000 | 415,000 |
|
|
920,000 | 145,000 |
Level: 28
Blinds: 30,000/60,000
Ante: 10,000