RYAN TEPEN HEADLINES DAY 3 OF CHOCTAW MAIN EVENT

Durant, Okla. (January 19, 2015)The largest WSOP Circuit stop of the year is down to its final 16 players and everybody is chasing Sochetra Chansan, the chip leader heading into the final day.

Chansan finished the day with 2.9 million in chips, but Alex Greenblatt and Ryan Tepen are right on his heels with 2.815 million and 2.405 million, respectively.

Tepen is a regular on the Circuit and has over $160,000 in WSOP earnings. He will be searching for his second career ring and first in a main event. He can earn his largest career score with a first or second place finish.

Tepen isn’t the only player searching for multiple rings on Monday afternoon. Ben Reason and Ben Keeline also head into the final day searching for another ring to add to their trophy case.

Reason is currently eighth in chips and is looking to earn his third Circuit ring and second of the series. Reason is the current Casino Championship points leader for this stop with two final tables and four cashes (including the main event). If he doesn’t win the main event, Reason can still find himself with a seat in the National Championship if he holds onto his lead for the Casino Championship.

When cards got in the air Sunday at noon, there were 279 players still vying for a Circuit title, but only 153 of those hopefuls would leave with a payday. It wasn’t until roughly halfway through the third level of the day that the money bubble popped and everybody remaining was guaranteed at least a $2,740 min-cash.

Jeff Gibralter, last year’s fifth place finisher in this event, was the unfortunate bubble boy, finishing in 154 place. Gibralter tried to run a bluff against Roy Upshaw just as the tournament staff had ordered the dealers to finish the hand they were on and stop dealing so that round-for-round play could begin. Upshaw turned a full house and called Gibralter’s bluff-shove on the river with queen-high to burst the bubble without round-for-round play taking place.

Last year’s champion Tyler Morris was also eliminated before the money. Jonathan Gaviao, Jesse Wilke, La Sengphet, John Land and Bracelet winners Bryan Campanello and Tex Barch were among the notable pros who were eliminated without a cash.

Kevin McColgan, Ting Ho, James Hellerer and Austin Buchanan were among the notables who cashed in this event. 2013 November Niner David Benefield made a deep run in this event as well, busting at the end of the day when he ran A-K into Nancy Nguyen’s aces. Benefield finished in 20 place and took home $15,804.

Play wrapped up at 2 am with 56 minutes remaining in the current level with blinds of 20,000/40,000 and a 5,000 ante. The levels from here on out are 75 minutes in length with short breaks after every level. The 16 players remaining are guaranteed $18,953, but they all have their sights set on the $352,669 first place prize, the ring and the seat in the National Championship.

WSOP.com will have complete coverage of the day’s action as they play down to a winner. Here are a look at the chip counts of the final 16 players.

Day 3 chip counts:

1. Sochetra Chansan - 2,900,000
2. Alex Greenblatt - 2,815,000
3. Ryan Tepen - 2,405,000
4. Nancy Nguyen - 2,355,000
5. Doug Fusella - 2,270,000
6. Noah Nodine - 1,865,000
7. Jose Montes – 1,790,000
8. Benjamin Reason - 1,715,000
9. Bronson Tucker - 1,665,000
10. Mohammad Arani - 1,560,000
11. Mary Haught - 1,390,000
12. Ben Keeline - 1,250,000
13. Bill Donnelly - 1,250,000
14. James Moon - 1,090,000
15. Rick Leipsic - 525,000
16. Marc Maxey - 520,000