Nathanael Kogel Bags Lead Heading into Final Day of WSOPC Choctaw Durant Main Event
The pinnacle of the 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant series has arrived, as the $1,700 Main Event is down to the final 17 competitors. The field trimmed down from 189 players with the final 17 restarting at 12:00 PM on Monday, November 11th.
Bagging the chiplead at the end of Day 2 was two-time WSOP Circuit champion Nathanael Kogel (3,660,000). Kogel was gaining momentum throughout the tournament, raising often and gaining steam when he eliminated James Pupillo with his pocket jacks after Pupillo shoved with pocket nines and Pupillo couldn't catch up. His run continued when he raised with pocket tens and Jeffrey Frye three-bet jammed with his pair of eights and the tens held.
Dave Alfa (3,180,000) bagged second in chips having a very successful day. Alfa took some gambles that paid off including calling with an open-ended straight draw to eliminate Hoan Nguyen when he hit the turn. Alfa played a very aggressive style throughout the day finding himself coming out on top in many different situations including flopping a set against Dan Blakeman's top pair and sending him to the payout desk.
Bagging third-place chips was Jesus Martinez who started to gain traction nearing the end of the night and winning a monster pot after flopping trips against Ron Miller to double up and leave Miller short.
Many other well-known players found a bag at the end of Day 2 including WSOP Gold bracelet winner Kevin Eyster (2,810,000), Tim Burden(1,400,000), Lily Kiletto (1,280,000) and Eric Salazar (500,000)
Notables making it into the money but not making it to Day 3 include Adam Hendrix ($4,581) Nick Pupillo($4,089), Cody Coffman (2,631), and Lexy Gavin ($2,549).
All 17 players remaining are guaranteed a payout of $13,779 but will be playing for the first-place prize of $256,915, a WSOP Circuit gold ring and a seat into the 2020 Global Casino Championship.
Play will resume on level 26 with blind 20,000/40,000/40,000 at 12:00 PM on Monday, November 11th.
Follow along here with the PokerNews team for the live coverage throughout the rest of the tournament.
. 
turn brought some hope as he picked up the flush draw but the river fell the 
ending his tournament in 18th place.
there was roughly 300,000 in the middle and after a couple of raising Ron Miller and Jesus Martinez were all-in.
giving him some hope with a straight draw but the 
on the river was a brick. Martinez had 1,385,000 while Ron Miller had 1,390,000 leaving Miller with only a 5,000 remaining and was eliminated only a few hands later.
run out sealed her double up.
river for a double through Davenport.
eliminating him from the tournament.
and Kogel continued for 237,000 getting a fold from Young. 
turn along with the 
river.
but not the river as it fell 