Day 3 of Event #17, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em, Set for Star Studded Final Table
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After two full days of play here at the Rio, another $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event will conclude today, and the enormous field of 2,105 runners has been whittled to our last two tables. Day 1 felted nearly 1,800 players in a bloodbath of bustouts, and yesterday's Day 2 was the end of the line for experienced pros like James Dempsey (150th), Jake Cody (126th), Vanessa Selbst (60th), Matt Jarvis (37th), Jacob Balsiger, (31st), Joe Kuether (26th), and Amnon Filippi (18th).
Two days ago hundreds of amateurs lined up for their chance to compete with poker professionals, and while many of the lower buy-in events at the World Series of Poker are captured by recreational players, today's run to the final table will be dominated by some of the most recognizable names.
The chip leader entering play today is none other than David "Bakes" Baker (1,384,000), who is experiencing the run of his life here at the 2013 edition of the WSOP. The online legend has successfully translated his skills from the virtual felt to the live tournament floor, and with two final tables to his credit already this summer (Event # 9, $5K Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo & Event 13, $3K No Limit-Hold'em), he is looking to make a serious run at WSOP Player of the Year with yet another run at his third gold bracelet.
Joining Bakes will be Barry Greenstein (367,000), one of poker's sages and a truly respected figure in the poker world, along with 2009 Main Event Champion Joe Cada (540,000), who is looking to validate that tremendous accomplishment with a second bracelet win here today.
The only other million dollar men threatening Baker's chip leadership status are Athanasios Polychronopoulos (1,135,000) and Samuel Taylor (1,216,000), and with both starting today's action at the same table, there is a chance for fireworks before the final table is decided.
The table draw entering Day 3 competition can be found below, so keep it here with PokerNews throughout the day as we bring you continuous live coverage of today's thrilling run to crown the next WSOP champion.
| Table | Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 446 | 1 | Thomas Nicotera | 398,000 |
| 446 | 2 | Samuel Taylor | 1,216,000 |
| 446 | 3 | Manuel Mutke | 619,000 |
| 446 | 4 | Paul Francoi Tedeschi | 850,000 |
| 446 | 5 | Athanasios Polychronopoulos | 1,135,000 |
| 446 | 6 | Brian Ray | 778,000 |
| 446 | 7 | Yi Wang | 192,000 |
| 446 | 8 | --empty-- | -- |
| 446 | 9 | Everett Carlton | 663,000 |
| 447 | 1 | Joe Cada | 540,000 |
| 447 | 2 | Michael Kurth | 402,000 |
| 447 | 3 | --empty-- | -- |
| 447 | 4 | --empty-- | -- |
| 447 | 5 | Barry Greenstein | 367,000 |
| 447 | 6 | Chad Chavez | 90,000 |
| 447 | 7 | David "Bakes" Baker | 1,384,000 |
| 447 | 8 | Joseph Michael | 278,000 |
| 447 | 9 | Joseph Ward | 669,000 |
in the big blind, and he called instantly to put Michael at risk. Baker got out of the way, and Michael was disgusted at the turn of events, revealing a decent hand in 
, but one which was crushed nonetheless by Wards pocket rockets.
and Michael didn't hit a piece, sending him home as our first elimination of the day. He will pocket over $23,000 for his run, however, so his summer is off to a good start.
, and the grizzled tournament veteran called him down with 
. Although he was in the lead, Chavez would need to dodge paint cards to avoid an early exit.
on the turn sealed the deal, and the 
and moved his last 99,000 forward out of the big blind. Having already limped in for 16,000 on the button, and holding over a million chips already, Samuel Taylor had an easy call with a marginal holding in 
, as Taylor paired up to take the lead in the hand. When the 
on the river only improved Taylor's hand.
arrive on board.
to the table.
on the turn changed things entirely, giving Bakes the lead with one card to come.
.
) were blanks for Greenstein, and he was eliminated one spot short of the unofficial final table.
on the turn wiped them all away, as Mutke's full house trumped any flush Tedeschi could find. The 
