Day 1B of the Harrah’s Rincon Main Event is complete. After 15 levels of play, Thomas Beckstead is the chip leader with 367,000.
There were 182 entries on Day 1B. At the end of the night, only 38 remained. The two Day 1 flights combined attracted a total of 330 entries. Thirty-two players survived Day 1A, and the 70 total surviving players will return on Sunday in a combined field for Day 2. Over half of them will walk away empty-handed, as only 33 players will make the money. The minimum payout is $2,955. All nine players who make the final table will earn a five-figure score, and the winner will be paid $116,325, as well as a WSOP Circuit ring and a free entry in the National Championship at Caesars Atlantic City in the spring.
Beckstead surged into the chip lead when he busted three-time bracelet winner Jeff Madsen from the tournament, nearly doubling up and winning a massive pot in the process. On a , Beckstead flopped a flush with against Madsen, who held for top pair. On the turn, Beckstead made a huge all-in overbet, sending Madsen into the tank for seven minutes before he called and saw the bad news. The pot sent Beckstead above the 300,000 chip mark, and he continued building his stack the rest of the night.
Beckstead leads the combined field with his 367,000 in chips. He is well ahead of the the chip leader from Day 1A, Mary Anne Madruga, who bagged 257,500. Madruga is in second place overall in the combined field. She is followed by Paul Sokoloff (241,000), Soi Nguyen (214,500), Peter Lipton (208,500), and David Miscikowski (204,000).
Other players who survived Day 1B include Arkadiy Tsinis, Chris DeMaci, Dan Alspach, Kenna James, Mike Ruter, Cary Marshall, Christina Lindley, and 1983 WSOP Main Event Champion Tom McEvoy. They’ll join several notable names from Day 1A: Eric Baldwin, Brent Hanks, and seven-time ring winner Alexandru Masek.
There were several WSOP bracelet winners who played in this event but failed to advance to Day 2. In addition Madsen, Leo Wolpert, Howard “Tahoe” Andrew, Dana Castaneda, and David Singontiko were eliminated today. Other players who entered the Main Event but no longer have chips include Matt Salsberg, Bernard Lee, Kevin O’Donnell, Zal Irani, and defending Casino Champion Val Vornicu.
Here are the top ten chip counts entering Day 2. The full list of chip counts is available on WSOP.com:- Thomas Beckstead - 367,000
- Mary Anne Madruga - 257,000
- Paul Sokoloff - 241,000
- Soi Nguyen - 214,500
- Peter Lipton - 208,500
- David Miscikowski - 204,000
- David Lin - 201,000
- Michael Frazin - 191,500
- Alexandru Masek - 178,500
- Dan Alspach - 169,000