It seems like a new big stack is emerging every time we take a walk through the tournament area. This time around, Norman Michalek is the lucky player. Michalek started the day with 71,200, and he's ridden that up all the way to 335,000, which my our counts is the top stack in the room at the moment.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
335,000
263,800
|
263,800 |
We didn't catch the hand that did him in, but we have lost two-time ring winner Gary Bolden. We walked by him talking to a couple friends after the bustout, and he mentioned something along the lines of "we both had 
", meaning that he was likely four flushed. Regardless of how it happened, Bolden will not be collecting ring #3 in this event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Some excitement just now over at Table 77 where Miguel Borrero just earned a near double-up while knocking out an opponent.
All of the chips had gone in the middle either following the 
flop or 
turn with Borrero holding 
for top pair while his opponent had 
for fives and a gutshot draw. The river was the 
, meaning Borrero's hand had held and we've lost another player.
With about 20 minutes to go before the dinner break, just 83 remain.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
195,000
63,000
|
63,000 |
Here are some updates on the bigger stacks in the room we've been keeping track of. It also looks like we lost Benedetto Bianco. Bianco had a good start to the day, but he simply slid down the ranks as the levels went on, and he was one of our recent eliminations.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
316,000
255,900
|
255,900 |
|
260,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
255,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
|
226,000
-89,000
|
-89,000 |
|
203,000
28,000
|
28,000 |
|
190,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
Busted |
Tony Tran's Main Event run has come to a conclusion as we near the Day 2 dinner break. His last hand saw him all in with 
on a 
flop, but unfortunately for him he was up against the 
of Dave Fox.
The turn was the 
and river the 
, and Tran is out.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
255,000
172,500
|
172,500 |
|
Busted |
What did we just say about there being a new leader every time we take the floor? Sure enough, while making our rounds, we noticed that one player had amassed quite a mountain of chips in front of him. We went over and found out that player was Jason Acosta. He is the first to break the 400k mark, and he is on the brink of eclipsing half a million soon.
Perhaps the most amazing part about that is the fact that Acosta started the day with a mere 9,700, which was just over 12 big blinds!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
460,000
450,300
|
450,300 |
Jeffrey Gurfinkel's good fortune here on Day 2 has finally come to an end, his last hand coming versus Lana O'Brien.
Following a Gurfinkel open for 8,000 from the cutoff, O'Brien made it 20,000 to go from the small blind, and Gurfinkel called. The flop came 
, and O'Brien didn't waste much time before setting out a bet of 22,000. Gurfinkel only took a moment or two himself before pushing all in for about 50,000, and O'Brien was quick with the call.
Gurfinkel had 
for middle pair, but O'Brien had 
. The turn was the 
and river the , and Gurfinkel hits the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
138,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
Busted |
The players are now taking their 60 minute dinner break. Cards will be in the air at 7:40 ET.
Level: 18
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 500
The players are back in their seats, and the cards are once again in the air. We are less then two tables from the money.