Daniel Negreanu in Contention for Eighth Bracelet in the $2,500 Mixed Big Bet
PLO – PLO 8 – Big O - PLTD: 10,000/20,000, 20,000 Ante
NLFCD & 2-7 NL: 12,000/24,000, 36,000 Ante
It was moving day at the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas, for Event #76: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet as the 101 survivors from the starting field of 458 was cut down to its final 11 players.
This event is a fun combination of all the pot-limit and no-limit variants that many players consider to be their favorite tournament. Mastery of seven different formats is required, and anyone’s fortunes can change on any given hand.
A star-studded field will return for tomorrow’s Day 3 as Aaron Kupin leads the way after he finished with 3,028,000. Kupin rode the momentum of two bluff-catches against Lok Chan and he remained toward the top of the counts for the rest of the day.
Coming back second in chips is none other than Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu with 2,513,000. Negreanu came into the day with a middling stack but was able to showcase his world-class play throughout the day as he navigated some difficult spots to put himself in position to win his eighth bracelet.
Rounding out the podium in third place is Marco Johnson. The mixed game crusher is better known for his limit prowess, but he showed today that he is equally as competent in the big bet games while he chases his third bracelet.
End of Day 2 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds (NLSD) | Big Blinds (PL/NL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Kupin | United States | 3,028,000 | 100 | 126 |
| 2 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | 2,513,000 | 83 | 104 |
| 3 | Marco Johnson | United States | 2,507,000 | 83 | 104 |
| 4 | Bariscan Betil | United States | 1,637,000 | 54 | 68 |
| 5 | Jeff Madsen | United States | 1,464,000 | 48 | 61 |
| 6 | Christopher Vitch | United States | 1,240,000 | 41 | 51 |
| 7 | Steve Billirakis | United States | 1,119,000 | 37 | 46 |
| 8 | Ofir Mor | United States | 1,035,000 | 34 | 43 |
| 9 | Hiroyuki Noda | Japan | 646,000 | 21 | 26 |
| 10 | Robert Mclaughlin | United States | 453,000 | 15 | 18 |
| 11 | Hye Park | United States | 388,000 | 12 | 16 |
Day 2 Action
A stacked field of 101 returned for Day 2 with 44 bracelet winners winners in the mix, but just 69 would be in the money and guaranteed a minimum cash of $5,044.
Some notables who advanced to today but were unable to make the money include Erick Lindgren, Michael Noori, Yuval Bronshtein, Ismael Bojang, Matthew Schreiber, and Dylan Weisman.
Shaun Deeb and Schreiber highlighted the early action, with the two trading several big pots and Schreiber showing a bluff to Deeb. However, Deeb got the last laugh as he eliminated Schreiber short of the money.
After just over two hours of play, the money bubble was upon them. It took just one hand for the bubble to burst, James Stansbury got the rest of his stack in pre-draw against Brian Rast in Pot-Limit 2-7 Triple Draw. Stansbury had a wheel draw, but he bricked three times against the eight-six of Rast and exited on the stone bubble.
The field quickly dwindled as the short stacks gambled after guaranteeing themselves a min-cash.
Many notables who cashed but could not make it to Day 3 include Renan Bruschi (63rd - $5,044), Maxx Coleman (60th - $5,044), Brad Ruben (59th - $5,044), David “Bakes” Baker (47th - $5,296), David Bach (30th - $6,315), Shaun Deeb (29th - $7,237), Chad Eveslage (28th - $7,237), Philip Sternheimer (27th - $7,237), Barry Greenstein (21st - $8,553), Brian Rast (19th - $8,553), and James Obst (13th - $10,415).
Johnson propelled himself to the top of the leaderboard after a Big O confrontation when he eliminated both Sternheimer and Jon Turner after the three got all in preflop. Johnson turned the nut straight as the low bricked out and Johnson scooped a huge one.
Late in the night, Steve Billirakis made kings-full-of-deuces in back-to-back hands of No-Limit Five Card Draw after taking three cards each time. He got paid with raises on the end of each hand, as well.
A few more players departed at the end of the night, and the final field of 11 was set.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $206,982 | 6 | $30,369 |
| 2 | $134,345 | 7 | $22,311 |
| 3 | $89,289 | 8-9 | $16,835 |
| 4 | $60,792 | 10-11 | $13,056 |
| 5 | $42,426 |
Play resumes Tuesday, July 1. at 1 p.m. local time in the Horseshoe Event Center. Action begins in Level 23 with blinds of 12,000/24,000.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates for this event and all news regarding the 2025 World Series of Poker.