Uncle Tim McRenolds' winner's photo (courtesy of WSOP.com)
Tim McReynolds — you might know him as "Uncle Tim" — is an attorney from nearby Omaha. And based on the conversations we've been hearing around the tables this morning, he's quite a decent poker player and an all-around likable guy to boot.
In August 2009, a liver transplant saved Uncle Tim's life, and the positive turn in his health led to some poker success, as well.
Just six months after his surgery, McReynolds sat down at a $500 H.O.R.S.E. tournament here in Council Bluffs. It was his first time playing the five-game mix, but the opposition was no match for him. In a commanding performance, he bested the field of 36 runners to take the top prize. In the follow-up interview, he credited his transplant surgery for restoring his health and mental acuity.
We understand that McReynolds is in the hospital this morning, and it's become clear that he's on the minds of a lot of the local players. So from all of them, and all of us here at PokerNews, we send our best wishes to Uncle Tim for a speedy stay in the hospital and a quick return to the felt.
John McDonald is having himself a productive Day 2 so far. He started play with about 36,000, but he's already turned that into more than 90,000 here in the first two levels.
His most recent chip-up came at the expense of his neighbor, Benjamin Jacobs. Jacobs only had about 15,000 when he got his money in with . McDonald was racing for the knockout with .
The board: .
Jacobs had a flush sweat on the turn, but the blank on the river has seen his chips absorbed into McDonald's stack.
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Dennis Phillips is out in the early goings of the tournament.
2008 WSOP Main Event November Niner Dennis Phillips has been eliminated. He moved all in preflop holding big slick and James Smith called, and then flopped a set of tens to eliminate the St. Louis native.
A total of 290 players entered this WSOPC Main Event, and that creates a prize pool worth $421,950. The top 30 players will receive a portion of that purse, and the minimum cash is worth $2,861. Each of the final nine players will be guaranteed at least $9,261, and the five-figure payouts begin with the $11,646 for eighth place.
Making it to the final heads-up duel will guarantee $62,584 for each player, and the eventual champion will pocket $101,266. That cash comes along with the priceless WSOPC gold ring and the entry into the WSOPC National Championship this summer at the Rio.
ESPN Feature Columnist Bernard Lee was all but eliminated by Charles Moore. Lee went to flop of and Moore checked to him. Lee bet 7,600, Moore check-raised to 23,000 and Lee asked what Moore had left behind. Lee moved in and Moore called. Lee held and Moore flopped a set of fives.
Lee never caught up and was left severely crippled. He was eliminated on the next hand.
We found Drazen Ilich and Kyle Golden with a generous sized pot built at the river. The board showed and Ilich bet 11,500. Golden took some time to think about it and elected to fold.
"Show me a flush," Golden said as he tossed his cards to the dealer.
"Can't show you a flush," Ilich said as he tabled the .
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and Darland picked up a few chips while earning the knockout.
. McDonald was racing for the knockout with 
.
and Moore checked to him. Lee bet 7,600, Moore check-raised to 23,000 and Lee asked what Moore had left behind. Lee moved in and Moore called. Lee held 
and Moore flopped a set of fives.
and Ilich bet 11,500. Golden took some time to think about it and elected to fold.
.