The WSOP-Circuit Hammond Main Event officially drew 1,615 entrants over the two starting days. All told, they created a prize pool of $2,349,825, which will be distributed among the top 179 players, with $393,584 reserved for first. Here is a look at the payouts:
The tournament staff announced that the official number for Day 1b was 703 players. Combined with yesterday's field of 912, that makes a total of 1,615 entrants for the WSOP-Circuit Hammond Main Event, nearly twice as many as last year. We don't have the prize pool information yet, but we'll pass it your way jus has soon as we do.
Before the dinner break we notice Jacob Bazely's chipstack had grown considerably, but with the clock winding down and his asymmetrical chip stacks we didn't get an accurate count. Since returning from dinner break Bazely's stacks have turned into towers.
We found Bazely in a hand with the flop reading against two opponents. The first to act bet 3,000 and next to act raised to 6,900. Bazely calmly measured out 14,000 and the first to act called and the other opponent folded. The turn came and Bazely snap called his opponent's all in.
Opponent:
Bazely:
Though Bazely didn't need help the river came eliminating his opponent. Another player said "Nice timing."
The busted player didn't agree and Bazely looked up and said "chip reactor."
Stephen Kats, who was left with just 1,500 after an aforementioned hand, has been eliminated from the tournament. We didn't catch the bustout, but Kats joins the laundry list of players who re-entered here on Day 1b but failed to find success.
Action folded to an unknown player on the button and he shipped all in for his last 9,200. Matt Lawrence, who qualified last year for the National Championship, was in the big blind and decided to defend.
Showdown
Lawrence:
Button:
Lawrence was in a dominating position and primed to eliminate his foe, but the flop had other ideas, spiking an eight and giving the button the lead. The turn had little effect, while the sealed the double. A disaster flop led to Lawrence dropping to 23,000.
Unfortunately we were not able to capture their bustout hands, but Faraz Jaka and WSOPC Southern Indiana Main Event winner Robert Castoire are no longer in the tournament.
Action folded around to Stephen Kats in the small blind and he put in a small raise. The big blind then moved all in for 9,200, and Kats decided to make the call, leaving himself just 1,500 back.
Showdown
Kats:
Big Blind:
Kats was behind and in desperate need of an ace, but he would find none on the flop. The turn gave him some chop outs to any four, but the was not what he was looking for.
button in Safari
against two opponents. The first to act bet 3,000 and next to act raised to 6,900. Bazely calmly measured out 14,000 and the first to act called and the other opponent folded. The turn came 
and Bazely snap called his opponent's all in.
flop had other ideas, spiking an eight and giving the button the lead. The 
turn had little effect, while the 
flop. The 
turn gave him some chop outs to any four, but the 
