2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Potawatomi

$1,700 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2020 World Series of Poker Circuit Potawatomi

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$151,284
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,700
Prize Pool
$793,860
Entries
524
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
524
Players Left
8

Pupillo In Control as Eight Remain at the WSOP Circuit Potawatomi Main Event

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
James Pupillo
James Pupillo

Day 2 of the 2020 World Series of Poker Potawatomi $1,700 Main Event saw 84 players hit the felt out of 524 entrants from two Day 1 flights, and after just over ten levels of play, only eight players survived.

James Pupillo leads tomorrow's final table with a 3,365,000 chip stack. Pupillo, who finished fourth here in September's WSOPC Main Event for $46,017, will be looking to improve on that finish tomorrow, and was able to pad his stack nicely in the final levels, including notching the final knockout of the evening, when his ace-king was able to hang on against the ace-queen of Fadi Hamad (9th - $14,514).

Cero Zuccarello (3,115,000) spent most of the latter stages of the day with the chip lead, and Tsz Shing (2,930,000) joins Zuccarello and Pupillo as the only players above two-million. Marcus Yofon (1,775,000), who busted Javier Zarco (10th - $11,727) on the first hand of the unofficial final table, sits in the middle of the pack, while Ken Donarski (1,285,000), Mike Hartzheim (1,280,000), Day 1a chip leader Chris Roth (1,125,000), and John Gallaher (880,000) round out the remaining field.

Day 3 Seat Draw

TableSeatNameChip Count
Final1Chris Roth1,125,000
Final2Mike Hartzheim1,280,000
Final3Cero Zuccarello3,115,000
Final4James Pupillo3,365,000
Final5Ken Donarski1,285,000
Final6Marcus Yofon1,775,000
Final7Tsz Shing2,930,000
Final8John Gallaher880,000

Day 2 Action

79 players were slated to be paid from the 84 that returned, meaning five players were stuck going home without a payday. After a short stint on the bubble, Jesse Vilchez ran his king-ten into the ace-king of Andres Garcia, and when Vilchez failed to improve, he was the last player to head home outside of the money.

From there, a bevy of notable names headed out the door with a chunk of the prize pool, including Hank Sitton (12th - $11,727), Cody Brinn (18th - $7,980), Mike Shin (23rd - $5,747), Aaron Johnson (34th - $3,556), Allen "The Chainsaw" Kessler (46th - $3,067), Day 1b Chip Leader Igor Hot (49th - $3,067), former champs Michael Hudson (52nd - $3,067) and Richard Bai (60th - $2,917), and Josh Reichard (70th - $2,819).

Richard Bai
Defending Champ Richard Bai

Final Table Payouts

PositionNameHometownPrize Money
1TBD $151,284
2TBD $93,498
3TBD $68,947
4TBD $51,484
5TBD $38,937
6TBD $29,829
7TBD $23,152
8TBD $18,209
9Fadi HamadDanvers, Illinois$14,514

Day 3 will kick off at noon local time on Monday at the start of Level 27 (25,000/50,000/50,000). Play will continue until a winner is crowned. Be sure to stay tuned right here to PokerNews as we determine which of the eight remaining players will walk out of Potawatomi Hotel and Casino with $151,284, a coveted WSOPC ring, and a seat at the 2020 WSOPC Global Championship!

Tags: Aaron JohnsonAndres GarciaCero ZuccarelloChris RothCody BrinnFadi HamadHank SittonIgor HotJames PupilloJavier ZarcoJesse VilchezJohn GallaherJosh ReichardKen DonarskiMarcus YofonMichael HudsonMike HartzheimMike ShinRichard BaiTsz Shing

Fadi Hamad Eliminated in 9th Place ($14,514)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Fadi Hamad
Fadi Hamad

James Pupillo raised to 115,000 from the cutoff, and Fadi Hamad three-bet shoved for 765,000 from the button. Pupillo quickly called.

Fadi Hamad: {a-Diamonds}{q-Diamonds}
James Pupillo: {a-Spades}{k-Diamonds}

Hamad picked up the nut flush draw on an {a-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds} flop, but improved no further on the {7-Hearts} turn or {9-Hearts} river to fall two hands short of bagging up for Day 3.

Player Chips Progress
Fadi Hamad us
Fadi Hamad
Busted

Tags: Fadi HamadJames Pupillo

Gallaher Doubles Through Zuccarello

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
John Gallaher
John Gallaher

John Gallaher jammed for 440,000 from middle position, and Cero Zuccarello called on the button.

John Gallaher: {5-Hearts}{5-Spades}
Cero Zuccarello: {j-Hearts}{j-Clubs}

Gallaher spiked a five on the {5-Diamonds}{3-Spades}{q-Clubs} flop, and Zuccarello couldn't find a jack on the {k-Diamonds} turn and {8-Hearts} river to ship the double to Gallaher.

Player Chips Progress
Cero Zuccarello us
Cero Zuccarello
2,750,000
John Gallaher us
John Gallaher
980,000

Tags: Cero ZuccarelloJohn Gallaher

Javier Zarco Eliminated in 10th Place ($11,727)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Javier Zarco
Javier Zarco

Action on the table folded around to Ken Donarski who opened for 110,000 and Javier Zarco who moved all in from the small blind for 800,000. Marcus Yofon called from the big blind while Donarski folded.

Javier Zarco: {a-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}
Marcus Yofon: {a-Diamonds}{k-Spades}

Zarco was at risk and didn't get any help from the {7-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{3-Spades}{k-Diamonds} runout ending his Main Event run in 10th place.

Player Chips Progress
Marcus Yofon us
Marcus Yofon
2,000,000
765,000
765,000
Ken Donarski us
Ken Donarski
2,000,000
300,000
300,000
Javier Zarco es
Javier Zarco
Busted

Tags: Javier ZarcoMarcus YofonKen Donarski

Pratap Golla Eliminated in 11th Place ($11,727)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Pratap Golla
Pratap Golla

Mike Hartzheim opened for 100,000 from early position, James Pupillo called on the button along with Pratap Golla from the big blind.

The {4-Hearts}{2-Hearts}{5-Diamonds} flop was checked to Pupillo who fired out 175,000 and Golla raised all in for 805,000. Hartzheim mucked his hand and after getting a confirmed amount, Pupillo called.

Pratap Golla: {6-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}
James Pupillo: {9-Clubs}{9-Spades}

Pupillo's held a better-made hand but he still had to fade some outs.

Luckily for Pupillo, the {8-Clubs} turn and {10-Clubs} river were some of those safe cards as he eliminated Golla in 11th place.

Player Chips Progress
James Pupillo us
James Pupillo
2,800,000
1,050,000
1,050,000
Mike Hartzheim us
Mike Hartzheim
1,000,000
-325,000
-325,000
Pratap Golla us
Pratap Golla
Busted

Tags: Pratap GollaMike HartzheimJames Pupillo

Hank Sitton Eliminated in 12th Place ($11,727)

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

Cero Zuccarello opened for 85,000 from the cutoff and Hank Sitton three-bet to 175,000 on the button. Action folded to Javier Zarco who four-bet jammed for 935,000 from the big blind and was called by Sitton after Zuccarello folded.

Javier Zarco: {q-Spades}{q-Diamonds}
Hank Sitton: {a-Spades}{q-Clubs}

Sitton needed to spike an ace but couldn't find one with the {4-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} runout leaving himself with only 60,000.

The very next hand saw Sitton get his remaining stack in the middle from the cutoff with {a-Hearts}{10-Spades}, but Tsz Shing made a straigh with his {9-Diamonds}{8-Spades} to bust Sitton, who finished third in this very event last year.

Player Chips Progress
Javier Zarco es
Javier Zarco
2,000,000
650,000
650,000
Cero Zuccarello us
Cero Zuccarello
1,100,000
-300,000
-300,000
Tsz Shing us
Tsz Shing
1,100,000
50,000
50,000
Hank Sitton us
Hank Sitton
Busted

Tags: Cero ZuccarelloHank SittonJavier ZarcoTsz Shing

Spencer Alexander Eliminated in 13th Place ($9,607)

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

Mike Hartzheim opened for 60,000 from middle position and Spencer Alexander three-bet jammed for 265,000 on the button. The blinds folded and action was back on Hartzheim who called.

Mike Hartzheim: {9-Spades}{7-Spades}
Spencer Alexander: {a-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}

Alexander was ahead and nothing changed after the {2-Diamonds}{8-Hearts}{4-Diamonds} flop.

The turn brought the {10-Hearts} giving Alexander a sweat as Hartzheim picked up open-ended staright draw outs.

The dealer then dropped the {9-Hearts} on the river pairing Hartzheim and eliminating Alexander from the tournament.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Hartzheim us
Mike Hartzheim
1,400,000
150,000
150,000
Spencer Alexander us
Spencer Alexander
Busted

Tags: Mike HartzheimSpencer Alexander

Vincent Torcolese Eliminated in 14th Place ($9,607)

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

James Pupillo opened for 55,000 from early position and Vincent Torcolese defended his big blind.

The {5-Spades}{9-Spades}{a-Diamonds} flop was checked to the {3-Spades} river where Torcolese check-jammed after Pupillo fired out 80,000 and was snap-called.

James Pupillo: {a-Clubs}{k-Spades}
Vincent Torcolese: {a-Hearts}{4-Hearts}

Torcolese was drawing to any two or four but the river fell the {k-Hearts} ending his run in 14th place.

Player Chips Progress
James Pupillo us
James Pupillo
2,025,000
825,000
825,000
Vincent Torcolese us
Vincent Torcolese
Busted

Tags: James PupilloVincent Torcolese

Kenneth Brunette Eliminated in 15th Place ($9,607)

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

James Pupillo raised to 55,000 from middle position, and Kenneth Brunette three-bet shoved for 600,000 from the small blind. Ken Donarski four-bet shoved for 1.175 million in the big blind, and Pupillo folded.

Kenneth Brunette: {a-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}
Ken Donarski: {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs}

Brunette couldn't find a jack on the {3-Diamonds}{7-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{9-Clubs} board, and he headed to the payout desk.

Player Chips Progress
Ken Donarski us
Ken Donarski
1,850,000
900,000
900,000
James Pupillo us
James Pupillo
1,200,000
195,000
195,000
Kenneth Brunette us
Kenneth Brunette
Busted

Tags: James PupilloKen DonarskiKenneth Brunette

Sitton Doubles Through Golla

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

Pratap Golla raised to 60,000 from under the gun, and Tsz Shing called on the button. Hank Sitton three-bet shoved for 510,000 in the big blind, and Golla four-bet shoved, chasing out Shing.

Hank Sitton: {7-Clubs}{7-Hearts}
Pratap Golla: {a-Hearts}{k-Hearts}

"I can't beat ace-king," Sitton told Golla.

The {j-Diamonds}{q-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} flop prompted a "Fun!" from Chris Roth, as Golla picked up more outs with a gutshot.

"More fun!" Roth said when the {j-Clubs} turn added a host of counterfeit outs for Golla. Sitton's premonition wouldn't come to pass, however, as the {5-Clubs} river bricked off, securing Sitton the double.

"That's the Cherokee nuts!" John Gallaher noted about Sitton's pocket sevens after the hand.

Player Chips Progress
Pratap Golla us
Pratap Golla
1,500,000
-550,000
-550,000
Hank Sitton us
Hank Sitton
1,125,000
675,000
675,000
Tsz Shing us
Tsz Shing
1,050,000
50,000
50,000

Tags: Chris RothHank SittonPratap GollaTsz Shing