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Event #39: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold'em
Day 2 Completed
2026 World Series of Poker
Event #39: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 2
Players Left 44 / 844
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
The path to a World Series of Poker gold bracelet grew considerably narrower on Day 2 of Event #39: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold’em. Of the 345 players who began the day, only 44 remain in contention. They will return to the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas on Day 3, each hoping to claim the $673,011 top prize and poker immortality.
After ten levels of play, Manish Madan sits atop the chip counts with 3,000,000. According to The Hendon Mob, Madan has more than $200,000 in live tournament earnings and has enjoyed considerable success in seniors events, including a seventh-place finish last year.
Close behind is Buck Bucceri with 2,600,000 chips. Bucceri brings more than $400,000 in recorded live tournament earnings into Day 3 and is well-positioned for a deep run.
Rounding out the top three is Israel's Arie Kliper with 2,200,000 chips. Kliper is one of the most accomplished players remaining in the field, boasting more than $1.4 million in live tournament earnings and plenty of experience on the tournament circuit.
Top Ten Chip Count
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manish Madan | United States | 3,000,000 | 150 |
| 2 | Buck Bucceri | United States | 2,600,000 | 130 |
| 3 | Arie Kliper | Israel | 2,200,000 | 110 |
| 4 | Marc Wolpert | United States | 1,900,000 | 95 |
| 5 | Quoc Le | United States | 1,800,000 | 90 |
| 6 | Gary Herstein | United States | 1,700,000 | 85 |
| 7 | Marc Rivera | Philippines | 1,700,000 | 85 |
| 8 | Stephen Austin | United States | 1,700,000 | 85 |
| 9 | Luke Graham | United States | 1,600,000 | 80 |
| 10 | Andres Korn | Argentina | 1,600,000 | 80 |
The money bubble proved relatively brief, though it was interrupted by the dinner break before play resumed. The bubble finally burst when Hans Bosman ran into the ace-king of Raymond Kondler and was sent to the rail empty-handed. Once the field reached the money, eliminations came at a rapid pace, and the player count quickly dwindled to fewer than 100 remaining.
Also advancing is JJ Liu, one of Taiwan's most accomplished poker players. With more than $3.5 million in career earnings and a place in the Women in Poker Hall of Fame since 2012, Liu sits third on Taiwan's all-time money list. She bagged 315,000 chips at the end of the night.
Another familiar face returning is Scott Lazar, best known for his sixth-place finish in the 2005 WSOP Main Event. Lazar, who has more than $1 million in recorded tournament earnings, ended the day with 335,000 in chips and will be looking to add another deep run to his résumé.
25K Fantasy Draft Players and Other Notable Cashes
Several 25K Fantasy Draft selections and accomplished veterans found the payout desk, including 25K pick Gary Benson, who earned $9,976. Fellow 25K Fantasy selection, five-time bracelet winner, and Hall of Famer Eli Elezra also collected $9,976 for his 91st-place finish. Another Hall of Famer and five-time bracelet winner, John Juanda bowed out in 94th place for the same amount. Two-time bracelet winner Andrew Frankenberger finished 60th for $12,405, while bracelet winner Marsha Wolak added another cash to her résumé with a 73rd-place finish worth $10,509. The Flying Dutchman ended his tournament near the end of the night in 46th place for $15,855.
Play will resume at Level 21 with blinds of 10,000/25,000/25,000. The tournament is scheduled to restart for Day 3 at 12 p.m. local time on Sunday, June 14th, and will play until only five players remain. All of the returning players have locked up $15,855, but will have their eye firmly on the top prize and the gold bracelet. They will bag up and return for the Day 4 finale at a yet-to-be-determined time on Monday, June 15th.
Remaining Payouts
Stay tuned here at PokerNews for all of the action on Day 3 and beyond.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Play has concluded for the evening with 44 players bagging to return for Day 3. Standby for the recap on Pokernews.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Action was picked up with two players engaged in an all-in showdown.
Chad Layne: Q♥J♦
Marc Wolpert: A♠10♣
The board ran 5♠A♦J♣Q♦2♠, making Layne survive and advance to Day 3.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Manish Madan opened to 90,000 under the gun and was reraised by Robert Cohen in middle position. Scott Lazar, to Cohen's left, shoved all-in for 115,000. Madan called, and Cohen, who only had 5,000 behind, called as well.
Robert Cohen: 7♠7♥
Scott Lazar: K♦K♠
Manish Madan: 6♦4♦
Lazar's kings held on the board that ran A♠9♠J♥5♦10♣, tripling him up during the last hands of the day.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
The clock has now been paused and the players will be dealt five more hands for the night.
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Level 20
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Action folded to Richard Head in the cutoff, who open-jammed all in for 300,000. Gregory Baird sat in the button also then moved all in for 340,000. The blinds folded.
Richard Head: A♦2♦
Gregory Baird: A♥K♦
Head needs some help and got none on the 8♣J♠6♥ flop, nor the 4♥ turn, but when the 2♠ peeled off on the river Baird was left in shock at being outdrawn, and he was left with half a bowl of rice to play with.
