2023 World Series of Poker

Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship
Day: 2abc
Event Info

2023 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kj
Prize
$12,100,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$93,399,900
Entries
10,043
Level Info
Level
41
Blinds
1,250,000 / 2,500,000
Ante
2,500,000
Players Info - Day 2abc
Entries
4,062
Players Left
1,877

Brammer Continues to Lead After Day 2abc in the WSOP Main Event World Championship

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Christopher Brammer
Christopher Brammer

It was one of the largest restarts in World Series of Poker Main Event history as Day 2abc kicked off with roughly 3,900 players returning to their seats in Event #76: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship. With late registration still open to start the day, that number increased as an additional 196 players joined the field today.

A record number has already been recorded for this year's Main Event, but the tournament staff is looking at possibly cracking the 10,000-player mark when registration finally closes after Level 7 on Day 2d tomorrow. As of right now, there are just over 9,500 entries and the prize pool has surpassed the $90,000,000 mark.

That being said, it was a wild day at the poker tables with over half of the field being eliminated in the five levels that were played. When things got underway at noon local time, tables were scattered in all areas of the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas ballrooms but it was trimmed down to just the Horseshoe by night's end. In total 1,877 players have advanced to Day 3 on Sunday, July 9th where they will be joined by those making it through Day 2d tomorrow.

There wasn't a large increase in chips by most of the leaders from the Day 1 flights. Whereas Yehuda Dayan entered with the largest stack of 389,900 chips, when the day was completed, it was the Day 1c chip leader Christopher Brammer who vaulted to the top and bagged the largest stack with 879,000 chips. Brammer is coming off two very successful days at the table and will hope to keep it rolling for the entirety of the event. Meanwhile, Dayan bagged less than he entered with, being 360,000 chips, while Day 1b chip leader Jean-Pierre van der Spuy knew a much worse day and bowed out in the second level of play.

Other players that managed to build a big stack include Julio Belluscio (825,500), 2019 Main Event final tablist Nick Marchington (716,000), Patrik Antonius (584,500), and Gary Benson (572,000). Ronnie Bardah (519,000) and Shota Nakanishi (500,500) are also bracelet winners who finished with over half a million chips while Stephen Chidwick (472,500) and Cole Ferraro (454,000) were just shy of that mark.

Top Ten Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Christopher BrammerUnited Kingdom879,000352
2Julio BelluscioArgentina825,500330
3Beqir SalihuUnited States801,000320
4John SofillasUnited States780,000312
5Nick MarchingtonUnited Kingdom716,000286
6Heitor SaraivaUnited States665,500266
7Sachin JoshiUnited Kingdom635,500254
8Andrew HulmeUnited Kingdom610,000244
9Patrik AntoniusFinland584,500234
10Nikita LutherIndia572,500229

A New Champion Will be Crowned

Many players were forced to the rail and saw their Main Event hopes slashed as the field was trimmed to just 1,900 players. The most notable elimination came at the expense of the 2022 WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad in the second level of the day. Jorstad flopped a set of sixes but it was no match for the flopped straight of Julian Aguirre. With the defending champion out of contention, the opportunity has opened up for a new player to grab the reigns and make their mark on poker history.

Espen Jorstad
Espen Jorstad

Jorstad wasn't the only notable to bow out on Day 2abc as multiple household names failed to advance to Day 3. Daniel Negreanu acquired a healthy rail of fans over on the Paris side of things but he was unable to spin up his short stack. Negreanu entered the day with just north of 20,000 chips but was never able to get things on track. Joining him on the sideline were the likes of Adrian Mateos, Alex Keating, Jamie Kerstetter, Jeremy Ausmus, and 2004 Main Event champion Greg Raymer.

For the majority of the previous Main Event winners, it was a rather successful day with eight of them finding a bag at the end of the night. Damian Salas (147,500), Scott Blumstein, Joe McKeehen (220,000), Martin Jacobson (128,000), Ryan Riess (151,000), Joe Cada (241,500), Jamie Gold (248,000), Johnny Chan (372,000), and Tom McEvoy (20,000) will all be returning on Day 3 and looking to make their way into the money.

It was a rather tame day at the tables with no lions wreaking any havoc or circus charades taking place. Guy Fieri did make an appearance in the Horseshoe Event Center as the 2023 WSOP bracelet was unveiled, but once again it was done while players were solely focused on the task at hand. Smoke filled the room with drums and a marching band which led to many players making use of their headphones.

Guy Fieri
Guy Fieri

With little-to-no drama unfolding on Day 2abc, one of the most bizarre things that grabbed the attention was the absence of a few players while their stack was dwindled down. Theodore Mcquilkin was away for the entire day due to his wife being in labor. McQuilkin started the day with 85,500 chips and blinded off to just 35,500 chips. Meanwhile, Steven Markowitz (aka Hoodie Allen) bounced from the tournament in the later levels to catch a plane for a wedding tomorrow. Markowitz will be returning on Day 3 to a stack of 124,500, granted that he makes the 7 a.m. flight back to Las Vegas.

Day 3 will be kicking off at noon local time where the entire field will play together for the first time on Sunday, July 9th. As for July 8th, there will be 3,020 players returning for Day 2d with late registration still open for two more levels. The PokerNews live reporting team will be here to grab all of the updates and any exciting highlights throughout the day.

Tags: Adrian MateosAlex KeatingChristopher BrammerCole FerraroDamian SalasDaniel NegreanuEspen JorstadGary BensonGreg RaymerGuy FieriJamie GoldJamie KerstetterJeremy AusmusJoe CadaJoe McKeehenJohnny ChanJulian AguirreMartin JacobsonNick MarchingtonPatrik AntoniusRonnie BardahRyan RiessScott BlumsteinShota NakanishiStephen ChidwickSteven MarkowitzTheodore McquilkinTom McEvoyYehuda Dayan

Saraiva Sends One Out at the End

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Heitor Saraiva
Heitor Saraiva

Heitor Saraiva and an opponent had built a pot of around 140,000 heading to the river on a board of 9?5?8?J?6? when Saraiva slid forward a stack of green 25,000 chips to put his opponent all in.

His opponent, with around 80,000 remaining, tanked for several minutes at the end of the night before calling as Saraiva showed Q?10? for the turned straight.

The all-in player threw his cards into the muck before making a quick exit. The dealer retrieved two fives and flipped them over. "I don't care. Just give me the chips," Saraiva said.

Player Chips Progress
Heitor Saraiva us
Heitor Saraiva
650,000
200,000
200,000

Tags: Heitor Saraiva

Brammer Makes the Call; Wins Massive Pot

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Christopher Brammer
Christopher Brammer

According to the table, in a heads-up pot, the flop was A?8?7? when Christopher Brammer's opponent check-called. The turn was the 4? and this time Brammer's opponent check-raised and Brammer called to create a pot over 170,000.

The J? landed on the river and the initial player shoved for 121,500, putting Brammer into a big decision. After a few minutes, the clock was called and Brammer sent the chips for the call with the higher stack.

The player at risk revealed K?Q? and Brammer tabled Q?J? for the flush to eliminate his opponent and claim the big pot.

Player Chips Progress
Christopher Brammer gb
Christopher Brammer
720,000
300,000
300,000
Day 2ABC Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Christopher Brammer

Weissman Doubles Through Sayegh

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Joey Weissman
Joey Weissman

Following a raise by Andrew Sayegh, at least two players called to see the 6?6?2? flop on which it checked to Joey Weissman on the button. He bet 5,000 and Ori Hasson in the big blind check-called. Sayegh then check-raised to 30,000 only for Weissman to tank and shove for 68,500.

Hasson folded but Sayegh called.

Joey Weissman: A?6?
Andrew Sayegh: 9?9?

The 2? turn and 5? river runout secured the double of Weissman.

Player Chips Progress
Ori Hasson il
Ori Hasson
160,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Joey Weissman us
Joey Weissman
155,000
81,100
81,100
WSOP 1X Winner
StakeKings
Andrew Sayegh us
Andrew Sayegh
45,000
-52,000
-52,000

Tags: Andrew SayeghJoey WeissmanOri Hasson

"Very Main Event Situation" Spells the End For Yoon

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Nick Marchington
Nick Marchington

With around 60,000 already in the middle on a completed board of 2?5?7?7?7?, Nick Marchington slid forward a tower of green 25,000 chips to put Brian Yoon all in.

"Very Main Event situation here. Very Main Event," Yoon said as he let out a deep sigh and tanked for several minutes.

"If you have threes plus you earned this one," Yoon eventually said as he called for around 100,000. Marchington turned over 8?8? and Yoon tapped the felt and showed his 4?4?.

Marchington went over to shake Yoon's hand before Yoon made his exit. His seat was taken was Garry Gates and the two 2019 Main Event finalists exchanged a fist pump to mark their reunion.

Player Chips Progress
Nick Marchington gb
Nick Marchington
700,000
181,000
181,000
Brian Yoon us
Brian Yoon
Busted
WSOP 5X Winner

Tags: Brian YoonNick Marchington

No More Bluffs for Arieh

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Josh Arieh
Josh Arieh

Action was picked up with players heads up on the flop and the board reading Q?10?3?. Josh Arieh checked and his opponent bet 3,000. Arieh put in a check-raise to 8,000 which was called.

On the 4? turn Arieh fired a second barrel, this time for 15,000. His opponent made the call.

The river came the Q?. Arieh bet again, this time for 42,000, sending his opponent deep into the tank.

After about three minutes his opponent folded, mentioning that he was considering calling with king-high.

"You're smart. You knew!" Arieh told his opponent, tabling 9?5? for a missed flush draw.

"I'm done, no more bluffs" Arieh joked as he dragged in a healthy pot.

Player Chips Progress
Josh Arieh us
Josh Arieh
195,000
42,000
42,000
Team Lucky
WSOP 6X Winner

Tags: Josh Arieh

Bardah Flops A Set

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Ronnie Bardah
Ronnie Bardah

A player from under the gun raised to 6,000 and the early position player called as well as Ronnie Bardah in middle position while everyone else folded including Michael Lech in the big blind.

The flop came out 6?3?4? and the under the gun player moved all in for 62,000 which saw only Bardah call.

Opponent: A?A?
Ronnie Bardah: 3?3?

The board ran out 5?10? and the WSOP bracelet winner took down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Ronnie Bardah us
Ronnie Bardah
435,000
75,000
75,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Michael Lech us
Michael Lech
45,500
-46,000
-46,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Michael LechRonnie Bardah

Nakanishi Wakes Up With Queens

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Shota Nakanishi
Shota Nakanishi

Gabriel Andrade had just won a pot with a pre-flop shove before moving all in again the next hand, this time for around 40,000. Action folded around to Shota Nakanishi in the big blind and he snap-called.

Gabriel Andrade: 7?7?
Shota Nakanishi: Q?Q?

Andrade needed help to survive but none arrived on the 2?3?K?4?4? board as his chips were absorbed into Nakanishi's massive stack.

"Lucky," Nakanishi said as he climbed up to 600,000.

Player Chips Progress
Shota Nakanishi jp
Shota Nakanishi
600,000
140,000
140,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Gabriel Andrade ec
Gabriel Andrade
Busted

Tags: Gabriel AndradeShota Nakanishi

Dickerson Likes Big Pots

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Jules Dickerson
Jules Dickerson

A huge pot of 135,000 was already in the middle when the action was caught on a completed board of 8?9?K?5?10?. Jules Dickerson was sitting in the big blind and went all-in for an overbet against Lawrence Chang on the button. Chang played 171,000 back and was facing a decision for his tournament life.

He mulled it over for a bit but eventually opted to let it go, shipping a massive pot Dickerson's way.

Player Chips Progress
Jules Dickerson gb
Jules Dickerson
540,000
135,000
135,000
Lawrence Chang us
Lawrence Chang
171,000
-94,000
-94,000

Tags: Jules DickersonLawrence Chang

The Final Break Dawns Upon the Field

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
Billy Baxter
Billy Baxter

One more 20-minute break is to be had by the remaining players before they play the final 120-minute level of Day 2abc. Below are some highlights from the previous level to enjoy while the action is paused.