Matt Wakeman Leads the $5K Challenge into Day 2 (full)
After fourteen 45-minute levels were played out in the first day of the $5,000 Challenge Event, Matt Wakeman will return as the Day 2 chip leader after he bagged an impressive 981,000.
A field of 215 players came together, and 16 of them will return on Thursday, December 6, at 2:15 p.m. local time. The field surpassed the needed 211 to hit the $1,000,000 guarantee that was on offer.
A long way behind Wakeman are Robert Spano (505,000) and Dejan Boskovic (424,000) who round out the top three. Hannah Lee (382,000), Sam Khoueis (370,000),Gautam Dhingra (350,000), Shivan Abdine (206,000)[/B] and Australian Poker Hall-of-Famer Billy Argyros (204,000) all progressed through.
Big names to depart throughout the day and miss out on the top 24 and a payday included; defending champion of this event Brendon Rubie, 2011 WSOP Europe Main Event champion Andrew Hinrichsen, Tristan Bain, Jarred and Connie Graham, last year’s WSOP Circuit Main Event Sydney champion Michael Kanaan, Nurlan Boobekov, Graeme Putt, James Broom, Ash Gupta, Daniel Laidlaw, Stevan Chew, Jonathan Karamalikis, 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe Hachem, Gary Benson and Dean Blatt.
Blatt would finish as the money bubble when he called Isaac Lau's shove holding pocket queens and found himself up against ace-nine. The flop would bring an ace and that would guarantee the remaining 24 players a $9,426 return.
Those to make the money but miss Day 2 include Julius Colman, Australian Poker Hall-of-Famer Jason Gray and Sam Higgs.
When play resumes the blinds will begin at 5,000/10,000/10,000 big blind ante. PokerNews will be back with all the $5K Challenge Day 2 action as the remaining 16 players battle for a place at the final table before playing down to an eventual champion.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
981,000
190,000
|
190,000 |
|
505,000
118,000
|
118,000 |
|
424,000
324,000
|
324,000 |
|
382,000
-53,000
|
-53,000 |
|
370,000
145,000
|
145,000 |
|
356,000
106,000
|
106,000 |
|
350,000
234,000
|
234,000 |
|
309,000
209,000
|
209,000 |
|
273,000
-92,000
|
-92,000 |
|
255,000
-191,000
|
-191,000 |
|
245,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
228,000
-55,000
|
-55,000 |
|
|
223,000
-80,000
|
-80,000 |
|
206,000
-37,000
|
-37,000 |
|
204,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
97,000
-188,000
|
-188,000 |
to see Lau spike and ace on the flop and take down the pot with a higher two-pair. 
. Chew thought for a few moments before check-raising and making it 25,000. Dhingra thought himself before calling. 
and Chew continued firing, making it 45,000. Dhingra took a few moments before calling. 
river, Chew moved all in, shoving for right around 80,000. Dhingra smiled then put in the chips to call. Chew turned up his 
for just a pair of sixes and a missed flush draw and Dhingra had it beat with 
for two pair. With that, Dhingra scooped the massive pot to chip up over 400,000 while Chew hit the rail.
and Lee was unable to find the cards she needed to secure the knockout. With that, Karamalikis was able to survive and he doubled up to right around 80,000 while Lee was left with just over ten big blind.
and after a check, Hachem, heads up for the side pot, put out a bet of 12,000. The other player called and the 
though and with that, Hachem made two pair to earn himself the big side pot while Higgs took down the main pot to triple up with a better two pair.
and Graham doubled up. 
