Event #26: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day 2 Started
2013 World Series of Poker
Event #26: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2013 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$1,000
Entries
4,407
Level
32
Blinds
80,000 / 160,000
Ante
20,000
Day 2 of Seniors Championship Ready to Kick Off!
![[user253725]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Day 2 of Event #26: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship is set to begin. The first day of competition featured a record-breaking field of 4,407 entrants. By the end of the day, all but 491 had been whittled away. With 441 getting paid, the money bubble will loom large at the beginning of day 2 as the remaining players work their way toward the first-place prize of $634,809.
Alexander Kunichoff is the current chipleader with 151,400. He is being chased by James Miller (125,300), George Wright (119,700), and Gary LaDuca (101,300), the only players who finished day 1 above the six-figure mark. There are also several notable players in contention, including one former Main Event Champion, Robert Varkonyi (39,900). He is joined by Young Ji (51,800), "Captain" Tom Franklin (48,100) Hoyt Corkins (48,100), and T.J. Cloutier (29,400).
Day 2 begins play at 11 a.m. so check back with PokerNews throughout the day to follow your favorite golden oldies, as they play their way into the money, and maybe even the final table.
While you're waiting for the money bubble to burst in the Seniors Championship, check out Sarah Grant's recap of all of yesterday's action here at the Rio:
Level: 12
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 200
Rindone Doubles Up
Play is slow at many tables as players are tightening up in anticipation of making the money. At other tables, though, the money bubble is having the opposite effect as professionals try to take advantage of tight play and short stacks try to chip up.
Bracelet winner Dan Heimiller is doing his part to try to knock out players and bring the tournament closer to the money. In a recent hand, he raised to 3,000, and Ron Rindone three-bet all in from the small blind. Heimiller called with 
. Rindone showed 
. The board ran out 
, and Rindone doubled up with his two pair, aces and queens.
Money Bubble Approaching
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
The official tournament clock says we now have 446 players remaining. With 441 making the money, the bubble will burst shortly, and the tables will likely begin hand-for-hand play soon.
Impressive Bubble Play
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
We have lost 43 players in the first 30 minutes of play bringing us to within 7 players of the money. Walking down the aisles of The Senior's Championship, it was impressive to see the big stacks putting the small stacks to the test. With the small stacks hoping to cash, the big stacks are using that to their advantage in quite an impressive manner. Of five tables that we passed, three of them had the big stack 3-bet all in forcing their short stack opponent to fold as we get closer to the money.
John Strzemp Won't (Set)tle for Second Best
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
If not for an unfortunate deuce on the river way back in 1997, casino executive John Strzemp would have a banner hanging from the Rio's rafters. Instead, Stu Ungar finished off his improbable, and sadly unsustainable, comeback from drug and alcohol abuse, winning the 1997 World Series of Poker Main Event by making the wheel straight on fifth street.
Strzemp has achieved extraordinary success since that fateful river card fell, rising to the position of Chief Administrative Officer for Wynn Resorts, but one accomplishment that has eluded him is the one all poker players desire most: a gold WSOP bracelet.
Strzemp entered the day with a respectable stack, but the longtime tournament player knew he needed to build during the protracted money bubble to give himself a realistic shot at returning to the WSOP final table stage.
In a recent hand, Strzemp did just that, doubling up with 
after getting his last 14,900 all in on the river. The final board showed 
, and with top set on the flop, Strzemp had strung his opponent along perfectly to notch the elimination.
Despite four cards to the wheel straight arriving on board yet again, Strzemp did not let lingering memories of that hand against The Kid affect him.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
42,500 | 9,800 |
Cloutier Charming His Table
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
The veteran "senior" T.J. Cloutier was giving the "youngsters" at the table a lesson on bubble play by raising and taking at least two pots in a row - with a short stack no less. One of the youngsters told him he wasn't in a position to abuse the bubble and then he folded to Cloutier.
Cloutier went on to say: "There are socks down deep in my drawer almost as old as you." Keep in mind the minimum age for this event is 50 years old.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
18,000 | 18,000 |
In the Money!
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
The tournament staff paused play in preparation for hand-for-hand play, but by the time all tables had completed their current hands, enough players had been knocked out to make hand-for-hand unnecessary. All remaining players have now made the money and are guaranteed a minimum payout of $1,903.
Some Chip Counts at the Bubble
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
74,000 | 24,100 |
|
|
66,000 | 15,500 |
|
66,000 | 10,400 |
|
38,600 | 12,000 |
|
33,000 | -6,900 |