LA SENGPHET IN CONTENTION HEADING TO DAY 2 OF HARVEYS LAKE TAHOE MAIN EVENT
Stateline, Nev. (November 9, 2014) — The World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Harveys Lake Tahoe began Friday with the first of two starting flights. The opener in the $1,675 championship drew 166 entries that paired with Saturday’s 214 to create a total field of 380. Each start day logged 15 levels narrowing the field to 72 players heading to Day 2. Dann Turner leads the way with 241,500 chips. He’s trailed by the likes of George Saca in second with 222,000 and Justo Avalos in third with 218,000.

Others fortunate enough to punch their ticket to a second day of play include three-time ring winners La Sengphet (148,000) and Daniel Lowery (41,500), the Bike’s 2013 Casino Champion Nathan Bjerno (90,500) and bracelet winner Sean Drake (82,000).

Play resumes Sunday at 12 p.m. with the top 45 players finishing in the money and a $125,401 first prize, a berth in the season-ending National Championship and a Circuit gold ring on the line.

The Harveys Lake Tahoe finale drew the likes of notables such as bracelet winners Loni Harwood, Phil Hui, Howard Andrew and Robert Cheung. Harwood and Hui took a shot in both flights but ultimately fell short of a Day 2 berth. Howard and Cheung, meanwhile, chose to only enter Saturday’s Flight B but found the same fate as their bracelet-winning counterparts.

Those unfortunate enough to bust both start flights include five-time ring winner Valentin Vornicu, Casino Championship leader Steve Foutty, 44-time Circuit casher Rex Clinkscales, five-time National Championship qualifier Charles “Woody” Moore and Mark “Banzai” Bonsack.

Defending champion Daniel Harmetz returned to take another shot at the property where he captured his poker career’s crowning achievement just one year ago. Harmetz couldn’t get anything going in Flight A and exited during the early stages of play. He exercised his option to re-enter the same flight and gave it another go just a few minutes later. Alas, the result was the same as his run at a follow-up title came up well short.

Others watching the Main Event from the rail include Jesse Capps, Cary Marshall, Candace Collins and Erle Mankin.

Cards go in the air for Day 2 Sunday at 12 p.m. with blinds of 1,500/3,000 and a 500 ante. With 72 players still alive and just the top 45 cashing, play is just three tables away from the money. Day 2 is set to play 10, 60-minute levels and staff expects the field to shear itself down to the final table in that time.

Top 10 Day 2 chip counts:

1. Dann Turner - 241,500
2. George Saca - 222,000
3. Justo Avalos - 218,000
4. Stan Solis - 213,000
5. Shawn Van Asdale - 207,500
6. Robert Donahue - 205,500
7. David Miller - 203,500
8. Gerald Morrell - 203,000
9. Jasthi Kumar - 195,000
10. Chris Savage - 191,500

Full chip counts available on WSOP.com.