Joseph Conor has been maintaining his half-million-chip stack throughout the second half of Day 2ab. Charlie Carrel and Melanie Weisner have been continuously increasing their stacks throughout the day, as well, and both have put themselves in a good position heading toward Day 3.
On the other hand, Liv Boeree and Tim Reilly are looking to double-up before the day ends.
Kenny Hallaert, who finished in sixth place for $1,464,258 in this event last year (which would possibly make him one of the last-ever November Niners), sits on a very comfortable stack of 223,500. Part of that is owed to his most-recent pot.
The player under the gun opened to 4,700, and Hallaert called in the big blind. Hallaert check-called a bet of 6,100 on 
flop and check-called another 11,000 on the 
turn. The 
river saw Hallaert check again. His neighbor tanked for some time before reluctantly checking behind.
Hallaert showed 
full of confidence, and his opponent mucked.
Hallaert has cashed eight times this summer, including a deep run in the Millionaire Maker (17th, $53,962) and a final table in the $5,000 6-handed (3rd, $238,85). Whatever happens in this event, it's already a successful summer for the Belgian here in Vegas.
One player opened in middle position with a raise to 3,500. Action folded to Doug Polk who was seated in the small blind. He put in a three-bet to 11,500. Back on the original raiser and he moved all in for roughly 41,000. Polk snap called.
Polk: 
Opponent: 
Polk had his opponent crushed and he remained in the lead as the board rolled out 
offering no trace of a sweat.
With that pot Polk moved over 200,000 after toeing the line several times throughout the day.
"It is your day," someone over on Table 20 said while Grayson Ramage raked in yet another pot. This one was in dramatic fashion, though, as Ramage's 
cracked the 
of an opponent on a board of 
.
Ramage started the day in the middle of the pack and may very well close in on a half million chips soon.
Cherish Andrews was in the small blind, and Joe Hachem was in the big. A player in late position limped, and Andrews raised to 4,700. Hachem took about twenty seconds to re-raise, making it 12,500. The limper folded. Edwards four-bet to 24,700, and Hachem took a moment to decide his next move. He then five-bet to 56,500, and Edwards was the one with a decision. She eventually folded.
After the hand, Hachem received a shot of Crown Royal from someone at the next table over. The waitress had a tray full, and Hachem offered one to Edwards, who accepted.
Matt Lushin raised to 4,000 from early position, and a player in middle position three-bet to 11,000. It folded back around to Lushin, and he moved all in. His opponent had the dealer pull in the 11,000 from each of them, and it was 38,100 more to call. He thought for about a minute and called to put Lushin at risk.
Lushin: 
Opponent:
Lushin's kings were ahead. The board ran out 
, clean for Lushin, and he got the double-up.
Marc Convey just open-shoved for around 25,000 and claimed the blinds and antes. The British poker commentator and former live reporter remains short-stacked and faces tough competition with the likes of Thomas Muehloecker, Chi Zhang, Michael Song, and Usman Siddique at his table. However, the table talk is lively, and Convey remains in good spirit.
Mike Matusow called a raise to 4,000 from an a under-the-gun raiser in middle position. The player in the cutoff called, as well as the player in the small blind.
On the 
flop, action checked to Matusow. He bet 8,400 and everyone released their hands without much tanking or struggle.
Matusow has made some slow but steady progress with his stack today after starting the day with 94,000. He has nearly doubled where he began the day.
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