$1,700 Main Event Day 2 | 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Las Vegas

12-22-2019 02:54 UTC-7

Raul Martinez Last Hand Elimination Gives Him the Lead Heading into Final Day of WSOPC Harrah's Las Vegas Main Event

Anthony Thompson

Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

The pinnacle of the 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Las Vegas series has arrived, as the $1,700 Main Event is down to the final 13 competitors. The field trimmed down from 143 players with the final 13 restarting at 1:00 PM on Sunday, December 22nd.

Bagging the chip lead at the end of Day 2 was Raul Martinez (3,780,000). Martinez, who was also the chip leader of Day 1a, coasted most of the second day until the final two tables where he dropped down to under 400,000 in chips, From there he found a few doubles and then scored an elimination in the last hand of the night putting him back on top of the chip counts.

Kfir Nahum (3,285,000) bagged second in chips having a very successful day. Nahum caught momentum at the later stages of the tournament and also had a lat night double-up after his ace-queen held against Stephen Graner's ace-ten securing his second place spot to end the night.

Bagging third-place chips was WSOP Gold bracelet winner Anthony Spinella (2,750,000) who started to gain traction after he turned the nut-staright against Gueorgui Gantchev and got a healthy payday catapulting him into the top three spots.

Many other well-known players found a bag at the end of Day 2 including WSOPC ring winner Stephen Graner (1,905,000), 2x WSOPC ring winner Adam Owen (1,350,000), 2x WSOP bracelet winner and WSOPC ring winner Nipun Java (785,000) and Matt Affleck (630,000)

Notables making it into the money but not making it to Day 3 include Allen Kessler (16th - $9,4501) Mark Liedtke(19th - $7,862), Eric Salazar (20th - $7,862), Robert Mizrachi (24th - $6,627), and Aaron Massey (27th - $5,562).

All 13 players remaining are guaranteed a payout of $11,509 but will be playing for the first-place prize of $192,199, 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 1:00 PM on Sunday, December 22nd.

Keep it here at PokerNews as the Harrah's Las Vegas Main Event Champion will be crowned tomorrow!

Tags: Aaron Massey Adam Owen Allen Kessler Anthony Spinella Eric Salazar Gueorgui Gantchev Kfir Nahum Mark Liedtke Nipun Java Raul Martinez Robert Mizrachi Stephen Graner

12-22-2019 02:14 UTC-7

Jonathan Job Eliminated in 14th Place ($11,509)

Anthony Thompson

Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Rene Lazaro opened for 65,000 and Raul Martinez called next to act. Action was on Jonathan Job who three-bet to 185,000 from the hijack getting a fold from Lazaro while Martinez four-bet jammed Job called putting his stack at risk.

Jonathan Job:
Raul Martinez:

Job was racing for his tournament life and connected with the but it also gave Martinez the flush draw.

The turn added more outs to Martinez's hand which he spiked with the river ending Job's tournament in 14th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Raul Martinez	3,500,000	1,250,000
Rene Lazaro	1,700,000	1,000,000
Jonathan Job	Busted

Tags: Rene Lazaro Raul Martinez Jonathan Job

12-22-2019 01:45 UTC-7

Nahum Doubles Through Graner

Anthony Thompson

Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Stephen Graner opened for 65,000 on the button and Kfir Nahum three-bet to 240,000 from the small blind. Action folded back around to Graner who four-bet jammed and Nahum snap-called.

Kfir Nahum:
Stephen Graner:

Nahum had Graner dominated and nothing changed after the flop.

The turn however, fell the giving Graner the nut-flush draw but the board completed with the on the river giving Nahum the double for 1,175,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kfir Nahum	2,400,000	1,650,000
Stephen Graner	1,200,000	-1,400,000

Tags: Kfir Nahum Stephen Graner

12-22-2019 01:19 UTC-7

Affleck Doubles Through Graner

Anthony Thompson

Level 25 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Matt Affleck opened for 50,000 from late position and Stephen Graner three-bet to 180,000 from the cutoff. Action folded back around to Affleck who called.

The flop fell and Affleck check-called Graner's 100,000 continuation bet.

The turn brought the and Affleck checked his option once again to Graner who moved all in. Affleck snap-called and both players tabled their hands.

Matt Affleck:
Stephen Graner:

Affleck turned two-pair and Graner needed an ace, three, or six to win the hand.

The wasn't what Graner wanted to see and he sent over 425,000 to Affleck for the double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Graner	2,600,000	-600,000
Matt Affleck	1,500,000	1,100,000

Tags: Stephen Graner Matt Affleck

12-22-2019 01:02 UTC-7

Allen Kessler Eliminated in 16th Place ($9,450)

Anthony Thompson

Level 24 : 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Kfir Nahum opened for 60,00 from the hijack and Allen Kessler three-bet jammed for 135,000 from the cutoff. Action folded around to Tim Reilly who came over the top getting isolation after Nahum mucked .

Tim Reilly:
Allen Kessler:

Kessler was dominated but connected with the flop but it also gave Reilly a broadway draw.

There wasn't much of a sweat as Reilly completed his staright with the turn and Kessler was drawing to a chop at best.

The river gave Kessler trip queens but it wasn't what he wanted and his tournament ended in 16th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tim Reilly	1,500,000	300,000
Kfir Nahum	750,000	-150,000
Allen Kessler	Busted

Tags: Allen Kessler Kfir Nahum Tim Reilly

12-22-2019 00:53 UTC-7

Gueorgui Gantchev Eliminated in 17th Place ($9,450)

TylerWarken

Level 24 : 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

A player raised to 50,000 in early position. Raul Martinez called on the button, Gueorgui Gantchev called from the small blind and the big blind came along as well. All four players checked the flop of and they went to a turn card.

Gantchev led for 75,000 on the turn. The players in the small blind and early position folded and Martinez moved all in for around 450,000. Gantchev snap called.

Gueorgui Gantchev:
Raul Martinez:

Both players had flopped huge hands but Martinez held the nuts. The river changed nothing and Martinez got the full double up.

Gantchev was left with just 100,000 and busted the following hand when he got in against Martinez who held . The board ran out and Gantchev was eliminated in 17th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Raul Martinez	1,500,000	1,100,000
Gueorgui Gantchev	Busted

Tags: Gueorgui Gantchev Raul Martinez

12-22-2019 00:41 UTC-7

Terry Fleischer Eliminated in 18th Place ($9,450)

Anthony Thompson

Level 24 : 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

There was all in action after a flop between Terry Fleischer and Stephen Graner with Fleischer's stack at risk.

Terry Fleischer:
Stephen Graner:

Fleischer needed a heart to keep his tournament hopes alive but the turn came the and the river to end his tournament run in 18th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Graner	3,200,000	700,000
Terry Fleischer	Busted

Tags: Terry Fleischer Stephen Graner

12-22-2019 00:10 UTC-7

Spinella Turns the Nuts to Scoop the Biggest Pot of the Tournament

Anthony Thompson

Level 24 : 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

There was a monster pot brewing between Anthony Spinella from early position and Gueorgui Gantchev from the big blind.

The board read and Gantchev checked his option to Spinella who fired out 750,000 into a 800,000 pot.

Gantchev took a few moments but then called and Spinella rolled over to scoop the monster pot while Gantchev tossed into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anthony Spinella	2,800,000	1,650,000
Gueorgui Gantchev	600,000	-1,200,000

Tags: Gueorgui Gantchev Anthony Spinella

12-21-2019 23:25 UTC-7

Massey's Roller Coaster Run Comes to An End

Anthony Thompson

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

There was all in action preflop between Stephen Graner and Aaron Massey with Massey's stack at risk.

Aaron Massey:
Stephen Graner:

Massey was behind with live cards but Graner connected with the flop and Massey needed running cards to stay alive.

Unfortunately for Massey, the turn left him drawing dead and the river ended his impressive run back from 19,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Graner	300,000	-30,000
Aaron Massey	Busted

Tags: Aaron Massey Stephen Graner

12-21-2019 23:00 UTC-7

Nahum Gets Big Blind Special to Send Zarco to the Rail

Anthony Thompson

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Javier Zarco opened for 40,000 from early position and Stephen Graner called on the button along with Kfir Nahum from the big blind.

The flop was checked to Graner who fired out 55,000 and was called by Nahum. Action was back on Zarco who raised all in for 398,000 and was snap-called by Graner while Nahum came over the top putting Graner at risk. Graner didn't like the move and tossed into the muck.