$1,700 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Hammond
$1,700 Main Event
Day: 2
Bethyo Bags the Lead After Day 2 of the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Main Event
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
From a starting field of 989 players over two starting flights, only 184 returned to the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond $1,700 Main Event for Day 2 action in the conference center. After ten one-hour levels of play, only 17 remained in contention, with Evan Bethyo holding a commanding chip lead over the rest of the field with a 5,165,000 stack coming back for Day 3.
Bethyo, who started the day in 31st place, spent the latter levels of the day ramping up the aggression, taking out Chris Karambinis (23rd - $9,592) and Josh Yoo (20th - $11,472) to contend for the chip lead. Bethyo then scored the last elimination of the day, when his ace-four found a four on the flop to stop Ala Aqel (18th - $13,862) from returning for the final day.
Nearly two million chips separate Bethyo from his closest opponent, as Patrick Steele (3,350,000) and Firas Sadou (2,695,000) round out the top three stacks. Other notables left in the pack include 12-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Josh Reichard (1,985,000), Jake Bazeley (1,355,000), Giedrius Bagdonas (825,000) and David Jackson (255,000).
Day 3 Seat Draw
| Table | Seat | Name | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 1 | Sachin Bhargava | 2,250,000 | 56 |
| 87 | 3 | David Jackson | 255,000 | 6 |
| 87 | 4 | Bryan Skreens | 415,000 | 10 |
| 87 | 5 | Jake Bazeley | 1,355,000 | 34 |
| 87 | 6 | Patrick Steele | 3,350,000 | 84 |
| 87 | 7 | Casey Carroll | 1,725,000 | 43 |
| 87 | 8 | Nicola Ditrapani | 935,000 | 23 |
| 87 | 9 | Evan Bethyo | 5,165,000 | 129 |
| 81 | 1 | Hussain Sajwani | 2,260,000 | 57 |
| 81 | 2 | Gregory Wilson | 2,480,000 | 62 |
| 81 | 3 | Giedrius Bagdonas | 825,000 | 21 |
| 81 | 4 | Shiva Dudani | 835,000 | 21 |
| 81 | 5 | Tom Bouziden | 1,025,000 | 26 |
| 81 | 6 | William Webb | 425,000 | 11 |
| 81 | 7 | Voytek Glab | 1,690,000 | 42 |
| 81 | 8 | Firas Sadou | 2,695,000 | 67 |
| 81 | 9 | Josh Reichard | 1,985,000 | 50 |
Day 2 Action
34 players would walk away empty-handed from the 184 that started the day, and Mike Shin, Tim Vance, and Paul Elfelt all found themselves on the outside looking in of a payday. Ralph Massey ended up being the unfortunate bubble boy, the result of his pocket kings being cracked on the flop by the Big Slick of Ryan Jones, and the remaining 149 players were all in the money.
Notable players that walked home with a chunk of the prize pool include Jamey Kramer (19th - $11,472), John Sun (31st - $5,976), Alex Ziskin (38th - $4,601), Craig Trost (48th - $4,105), Nadya Magnus (55th - $3,704), Chad Holloway (90th - $2,914), and defending champ Ravi Raghavan (97th - $2,753).
Day 3 will kick off at Noon local time on Monday, March 2nd, at the start of Level 26 (20,000/40,000/40,000). Play will continue until a winner is crowned. Be sure to stay tuned right here to PokerNews as we determine which of the 17 remaining players will walk out of Horseshoe Hammond with $258,078 a coveted WSOPC ring, and a seat at the 2020 WSOPC Global Championship!
End of Day 2 Chip Counts (full)
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
5,165,000 | 465,000 |
|
3,350,000 | 250,000 |
|
2,695,000 | 670,000 |
|
2,480,000 | 80,000 |
|
2,260,000 | 210,000 |
|
2,250,000 | -1,250,000 |
|
1,985,000 | 285,000 |
|
1,725,000 | -25,000 |
|
1,690,000 | -210,000 |
|
1,355,000 | 55,000 |
|
1,025,000 | -525,000 |
|
935,000 | 350,000 |
|
835,000 | 35,000 |
|
825,000 | 200,000 |
|
425,000 | -5,000 |
|
415,000 | -315,000 |
|
255,000 | -265,000 |
Play Ends For the Day
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
The final seventeen players are bagging and tagging up their chips for evening. Stay tuned for full chip counts and a full recap of the day's action.
Late Night Double For Carroll
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Sachin Bhargava raised to 65,000 from under the gun, then called a three-bet shove for 825,000 from Casey Carroll on the button.
Casey Carroll: 
Sachin Bhargava: 
Bhargava failed to catch up on a 
board to send the double to Carroll with just minutes left in the evening.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,050,000 | -1,450,000 |
|
|
1,750,000 | 1,190,000 |
Ala Aqel Eliminated in 18th Place ($13,862)
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Evan Bethyo raised to 70,000 from the cutoff, and Ala Aqel three-bet shoved for 210,000 from the small blind.
"I can't lose!" Bethyo said as he tossed in calling chips.
Ala Aqel: 
Evan Bethyo: 
"Oh, yes I can!" Bethyo said after seeing he was dominated.
Bethyo's run of good fortune continued when the 
flop paired up his four, and Aqel couldn't catch back up on the 
turn and 
river to hit the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,700,000 | 200,000 |
|
Busted |
Two Table Redraw
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| Table | Seat | Name | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 1 | Sachin Bhargava | 3,500,000 | 117 |
| 87 | 2 | Ala Aqel | 260,000 | 9 |
| 87 | 3 | David Jackson | 520,000 | 17 |
| 87 | 4 | Bryan Skreens | 730,000 | 24 |
| 87 | 5 | Jake Bazeley | 1,300,000 | 43 |
| 87 | 6 | Patrick Steele | 3,100,000 | 103 |
| 87 | 7 | Casey Carroll | 560,000 | 19 |
| 87 | 8 | Nicola Ditrapani | 585,000 | 20 |
| 87 | 9 | Evan Bethyo | 4,500,000 | 150 |
| 81 | 1 | Hussain Sajwani | 2,800,000 | 93 |
| 81 | 2 | Gregory Wilson | 2,400,000 | 80 |
| 81 | 3 | Giedrius Bagdonas | 625,000 | 21 |
| 81 | 4 | Shiva Dudani | 800,000 | 27 |
| 81 | 5 | Tom Bouziden | 1,550,000 | 52 |
| 81 | 6 | William Webb | 430,000 | 14 |
| 81 | 7 | Voytek Glab | 1,900,000 | 63 |
| 81 | 8 | Firas Sadou | 2,025,000 | 68 |
| 81 | 9 | Josh Reichard | 1,700,000 | 57 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,500,000 | 300,000 |
|
|
3,500,000 | 1,800,000 |
|
|
3,100,000 | -1,100,000 |
|
|
2,800,000 | 500,000 |
|
|
2,400,000 | -5,000 |
|
|
2,025,000 | 425,000 |
|
|
1,900,000 | -100,000 |
|
|
1,700,000 | -200,000 |
|
|
1,550,000 | -450,000 |
|
|
1,300,000 | 475,000 |
|
|
800,000 | 500,000 |
|
|
730,000 | -85,000 |
|
|
625,000 | -125,000 |
|
|
585,000 | -485,000 |
|
|
560,000 | -165,000 |
|
|
520,000 | -360,000 |
|
|
430,000 | -395,000 |
|
|
260,000 | -40,000 |
Eliminated 19th-27th
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| *Place | Player | Prize |
| 19th | Jamey Kramer | $11,472 |
| 20th | Josh Yoo | $11,472 |
| 21st | Andrew Pepinski | $11,472 |
| 22nd | Joe Messineo | $9,592 |
| 23rd | Chris Karambinis | $9,592 |
| 24th | Ajith Philip | $9,592 |
| 25th | Marcus Yofon | $8,106 |
| 26th | Damon Chittenden | $8,106 |
| 27th | Charles Donahue | $8,106 |
Carroll Can't Call
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Josh Reichard raised to 65,000 from the hijack, and Casey Carroll called in the big blind.
Both players checked the 
flop, and Carroll checked the 
turn. Reichard bet 130,000 and Carroll called.
Carroll checked again on the 
river, and Reichard jammed, putting Carroll at risk for his last 725,000. Carroll tanked for a minute before folding, and Reichard flashed the before pulling in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,900,000 | 275,000 |
|
|
725,000 | -250,000 |
Yoo Loses a Flip to Bethyo
Level 25
: 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Evan Bethyo raised to 75,000 from the cutoff, and Josh Yoo three-bet shoved for 580,000 in the small blind. Bethyo tanked for a minute, then flicked a single chip in the pot to call.
Josh Yoo:
Evan Bethyo: 
Bethyo found a set on the 
flop, but Yoo picked up a gutshot on the 
turn to stay alive. The 
river gave Bethyo a full house and sent Yoo to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,200,000 | 600,000 |
|
Busted |