The final day of Event #52: $1,500 Freezeout No-Limit Hold'em commences at 1 p.m today at the World Series of Poker hosted in the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas.
The event drew a huge 2,320 field, creating a total $3,077,145 prize pool, but only 29 players return today to fight for the top prize of $410,426. Yesterday saw a mammoth day of play as the day started with 353 players, of which 348 made the money. There was an epic money bubble which saw three players, including Joe Cada, burst the bubble splitting two minimum cashes between them, which all happened within the first level of the day.
Today players will return just two eliminations off the three table redraw, and there are a number of short stacks in play, so it's expected to move quickly.
Julio Belluscio tops the counts going into Day 3, shortly followed by fellow bracelet winner Asher Conniff. Kurt Fitzgerald is sitting comfortably in third place, and is one of the lesser-known players in the field.
Top Ten Chip Counts According to the WSOP+ App
Rank
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Julio Belluscio
Argentina
6,900,000
115
2
Asher Conniff
United States
5,650,000
94
3
Kurt Fitzgerald
United States
3,960,000
66
4
Stoyan Madanzhiev
Bulgaria
3,955,000
66
5
Carlos Kinil
Mexico
3,425,000
57
6
Carlos Leal Kinil
Mexico
3,425,000
57
7
Mauro Francolini
Italy
3,355,000
56
8
Samuel Rosborough
United States
3,220,000
54
9
Matan Mesika
Israel
2,875,000
48
10
Bryan Piccioli
United States
2,395,000
40
Felipe Ramos
After Day 2 started with nine 25K Fantasy players, only one remains in contention, Felipe Ramos (1,215,000). Ramos returns with around 20 big blinds to start the day.
There are five WSOP bracelet holders retaking their seats on this final day, all of which will be looking to secure another title and the coveted gold bracelet: Belluscio, Conniff, Stoyan Madanzhiev, Bryan Piccioli and Jeremy Saderne.
Madanzhiev saw lots of action during Day 2 and stole a number of pots. In one of the final hands of the day, he secured another pot after eliminating 2006 Main Event champion Jamie Goldby out-kicking him.
Remaining Payouts
Place
Prize
Place
Prize
1
$410,426
8
$48,892
2
$273,545
9
$38,047
3
$200,173
10-11
$23,788
4
$147,952
12-13
$29,923
5
$110,463
14-17
$19,117
6
$83,318
18-26
$15,533
7
$63,494
27-29
$12,762
Play will resume at 1 p.m. local time at Level 26 with 30,000/60,000 blinds and a 60,000 big blind ante. Players will take a 15-minute break every two 60-minute levels, with a dinner break still to be determined.
Stay with Pokernews as we follow all the action for this final day battle, until a winner is crowned.
Ben Gazzola moved all in for his remaining 380,000 from under the gun. Paul Snead was on the button and jammed for 655,000. There was no further action and the players flipped their cards.
Ben Gazzola: K♠9♥
Paul Snead: A♠K♦
Gazzola needed to improve, but the A♦3♦9♣ flop wasn't enough as Snead hit a better pair.
The 5♠ turn and 3♣ river saw Gazzola eliminated from the tournament on the first hand of the day.
Daniyal Gheba limped in the small blind and Samuel Rosborough raised to 180,000 from the big blind. Gheba went all in. Rosborough asked for a count then made the call.
Daniyal Gheba: A♦8♥
Samuel Rosborough: 9♣9♥
The board ran out 2♦3♥K♣4♦8♣ and Gheba's Day 3 came to a quick and adrupt close.
Zachary Hall committed most of his 525,000-chip stack from early position and Paul Snead shoved around 1,100,000 from the button. When it got back to Hall, he dropped in his last few chips.
Zachary Hall: K♠10♦
Paul Snead: A♦K♥
Hall was in trouble as his hand was dominated, but the Q♦8♥10♥ flop gave him a lifeline as he paired his ten. Snead couldn't catch up on either the 4♦ turn nor 2♣ river, meaning Hall doubled up.
David Cook opened from middle position to 125,000 and action folded to Joseph Schreck in the big blind who put his remaining 60,000 chips in play. Cook made a quick call and the players flipped their cards.
Joseph Schreck: J♥10♣
David Cook: A♠Q♠
Schreck was behind and there was a little sweat of a straight on the 9♦2♦7♣ flop, but he missed on the A♥ turn and 4♦ river.
