2024 WSOP Daily Recap: Final Table Set in Record-Breaking Main Event; Gary Bolden & Jared Bleznick Win Maiden Bracelets

Day 48 of the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas was another action-packed day. Eight events ran simultaneously, and two new champions were crowned. But all eyes were on the Main Event, where the final table was finally set, leaving just nine players vying for the ultimate poker glory.

The $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship, the biggest and most prestigious poker tournament on the planet, is down to its final table. After a gruelling Day 8, only nine players remain from the record-breaking field of 10,112 entries, each with a million dollars already in their pocket and the dream of a lifetime within their grasp.

Illinois native Jordan Griff is currently in the lead with a massive stack of 143.7 Million chips (90 BBs), but he’ll have to fend off fierce competition from the likes of Brian Kim (94.6 Million) and Niklas Astedt (94.2 Million), and six other hungry contenders, all with their eyes on the title. The players get a well-deserved rest day on July 15, but mark your calendars for July 16 because that’s when the final table action resumes, with a new World Champion to emerge on July 17.

Day 48 saw two new poker champions crowned. Gary Bolden took down Event #91: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed), winning his first-ever WSOP bracelet after a thrilling heads-up battle against John Racener, who was gunning for his second bracelet of the series. Over in Event #92: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em, Jared Bleznick emerged victorious, claiming his first WSOP bracelet and a jaw-dropping $2+ Million prize.

The Indian poker community had a lot to cheer about on Day 48. Abhishek Paul and Ashish Munot, both seasoned Indian pros, made it to Day 2 of Event #93: $777 Lucky 7’s No-Limit Hold’em with healthy stacks, giving India a solid presence in Day 2. And in Day 1B of Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em, two-time GPI POY (India) Ankit Ahuja and Natural8 India’s Kunal Patni also made it to Day 2, giving India a fighting chance at another bracelet.

Aditya Agarwal, the Indian poker legend who recently won his first bracelet, also had a great run in Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes No-Limit Hold’em Championship. He finished in 116th place with $8,989 (~₹7.51 Lakhs), adding another cash to his impressive 2024 WSOP resume.

Day 48: What Happened?

The record-breaking Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship has reached its final table, and boy, is it a nail-biter! Nine players remain, each guaranteed a cool million bucks, with the ultimate champion taking home a jaw-dropping $10 Million and poker immortality.

Leading the pack is Illinois native Jordan Griff, who entered poker’s biggest event with just $47,192 in live earnings. Now, he’s locked in a minimum cash that’s over 50 times his previous best score of $18,104. Griff charges into Day 9 with an impressive 143.70 Million chips (90 BBs) after a lucky first hand of the day.

Reflecting on a pivotal hand, Griff shared, “It was a roller coaster of emotions. The first hand of the day, I pick up queens. I was excited but nervous with a big pay jump on the line. I got most of my stack in pre-flop, and then he beat me to the pot on the flop. I saw the threes and was in shock… Then I heard the noises and saw the queen. I let out some sort of noise, just pure emotion.”

Griff faces a tough challenge as two of poker’s most accomplished players, American high roller Brian Kim (94.60 Million) and Swedish online poker legend Niklas “Lena900” Astedt (94.20 Million), are hot on his heels, both returning to the final table with over 50 big blinds.

Astedt, widely considered one of the greatest online players of all time, aims to shed his “best without a bracelet” title, while Kim seeks redemption after finishing 23rd in the 2022 Main Event and winning his second WSOP bracelet.

“I think that run is the only reason why I’m here today,” Kim reflected. “I never really played tournaments, just the Main Event each year. That run sparked my interest, and now I have quite a bit of experience.”

Astedt, known for his online prowess, joked about the transition to live play. “(This is a) piece of cake compared to SCOOP,” he laughed. “People say this is a marathon; they should try 23 tables for 40 days during SCOOP.”

Joe Serock (83.60 Million), New Mexico’s all-time money leader and the only player at the final table with a bracelet other than Kim, seeks his second WSOP title after winning last year’s online $500 PLO 8-Max and qualifying for the Main Event on GGPoker.

Boris Angelov (52.90 Million) seeks redemption after finishing runner-up in this year’s EPT Monte Carlo Main Event. Day 7 chip leader Malo Latinois (25.50 Million) finds himself toward the bottom of the counts alongside Texan four-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Jonathan Tamayo (26.70 Million) and Spain’s Andres Gonzalez (18.30 Million). Canada’s Jason Sagle (67.30 Million) rounds out the final nine with a middling stack.

2024 WSOP Main Event Final Table Chip Counts

1. Jordan Griff – 143,700,000 (90 BBs)
2. Brian Kim – 94,600,000 (59 BBs)
3. Niklas Astedt – 94,200,000 (59 BBs)
4. Joe Serock – 83,600,000 (52 BBs)
5. Jason Sagle – 67,300,000 (42 BBs)
6. Boris Angelov – 52,900,000 (33 BBs)
7. Jonathan Tamayo – 26,700,000 (17 BBs)
8. Malo Latinois – 25,500,000 (16 BBs)
9. Andres Gonzalez – 18,300,000 (11 BBs)

Day 8 Action

Day 8 of the WSOP Main Event began with 18 hopefuls returning to the felt. Right off the bat, Jordan Griff found himself all-in with queens, facing Jessie Bryant’s flopped set of threes. It seemed like the end for Griff, but the river brought one of the two remaining queens, keeping his tournament dreams alive and propelling him towards the final table.

The action is officially underway on Day 8 of the @WSOP Main Event.

WOW ????

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— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 14, 2024

Gerardo Hernandez was the first casualty of the day. He finished 18th for $350,000 after a double-paired board counterfeited his pocket sixes, losing to ace-high.

A pair of 6’s and an all-in for Gerardo Hernandez against Ace-King.

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Day 8 continues on PokerGO from the @WSOP Main Event.

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— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 14, 2024

Jessie Bryant followed soon after, doubling up Boris Angelov and then falling in 17th place for $450,400.

Jessie Bryant running low on chips looks to double up.

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— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 14, 2024

After the first break of the day, Guillermo Sanchez Otero’s looked strong against Jason Sagle’s , but a seven on the river sent Otero out in 16th place for $450,400.

Around this time, Kristen Foxen, looking to make history as the first woman to make a WSOP Main Event final table in three decades, seized the chip lead by out flopping Diogo Coelho in a three-bet pot with her ace queen against Coelho’s Big Slick.

????Kristen Foxen (@krissyb24poker) has taken the chip lead at the @WSOP Main Event! ????

Tune in now: https://t.co/Il1uCc7DJP pic.twitter.com/n5dao9etNN

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

The poker community was thrilled at the prospect of the first female Main Event champion, but the excitement was short-lived. As the field thinned with the eliminations of Jason James (14th for $450,400) and Yegor Moroz (15th for $450,400), Foxen suffered a major setback.

Defending her big blind with against Joe Serock’s , she check-called on a flop and then check-jammed on the turn . Serock, holding top two pair, called, and Foxen’s Broadway draw missed on the river, leading to her exit in 13th place for $600,000.

Kristen Foxen (@krissyb24poker) goes all-in on the turn in the 2024 @WSOP Main Event!

????: https://t.co/lYtICNZq5J pic.twitter.com/t1xZ2qucMV

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

Kristen Foxen, ladies & gentlemen…one of the best players in the world: pic.twitter.com/03vSb015Zl

— Jeff Platt (@jeffplatt) July 15, 2024

She left the table to applause and consolation from her husband, Alex Foxen.

After the dinner break, action intensified. Brazil’s Gabriel Moura, supported by one of the loudest rails, went out in 12th place for $600,000 when his middle pair couldn’t hold against Sagle’s straight draw, which hit on the turn.

Jason Sagle down to his last four outs against Gabriel Moura ????

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— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

France’s Malcolm Franchi followed, his ace-queen dominated by Griff’s ace-king, finishing 11th for $800,000, leading to the formation of the unofficial final table.

A collision course of AK and AQ as we inch closer to the final table at the 2024 @WSOP Main Event!

????: https://t.co/lYtICNZq5J pic.twitter.com/E8GLO09UO4

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

Griff’s momentum continued as he hit quads before eliminating Portugal’s Diogo Coelho, who entered the ten-handed table short-stacked and ran ace-jack into Niklas Astedt’s ace-king, ending Day 8.

Ladies and gentlemen…The 2024 @WSOP Final Table has been REACHED.

Coverage of the Final Table begins Tuesday at 3 P.M. PT on PokerGO.

We made it. ????

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— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

The moment the Final Table of the @WSOP Main Event was reached ???????????? pic.twitter.com/ayWijtqxcc

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

As the last chips were bagged and the cameras flashed, these nine players left the Horseshoe Event Center, ready to take a well-deserved day off to rest, recharge, and prepare for the biggest battle of their lives.

The next time we see them, it’ll be on July 16, when they’ll return to the felt to play down to the final four. Then, on July 17, the grand finale will take place, and one lucky player will walk away with the most coveted WSOP gold bracelet and a mind-blowing $10 Million top prize!

This picture though ????

The Final 9.

????: @themcpstudio pic.twitter.com/USJBKywleM

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

After an intense three-day battle that even went into Day 4 overtime, Gary Bolden emerged victorious in Event #91: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed), grabbing his first WSOP gold bracelet and a sweet $206,321 prize. Bolden outlasted a competitive field of 357 entrants, with two-time bracelet winner John Racener finishing as the runner-up, earning $135,877.

Bolden, known for his cool and collected demeanour, simply said, “business as usual,” when asked about his victory. He even joked about his heads-up match against two-time bracelet winner John Racener, a good friend, saying, “I knew it would be this way.”

Even though Racener started Day 4 with an over 2:1 chip lead, Bolden wasn’t intimidated. He showed up fashionably late to the final day, joking about Racener’s text message saying the cards were in the air, to which he replied, “Good because you’re going to need a head start today.”

Bolden’s confidence never wavered throughout the gruelling heads-up battle. “Oh no, I’m never going to lose my confidence,” he declared. “Like I told John, I learned this game on the rooftop where the losers jump, but I’m still here, so I’m winning.”

Looking ahead, Bolden had ambitious plans. “I already had it planned to go back-to-back in H.O.R.S.E., so I’m going to hop in this 25K later today and see what happens.” True to his word, he jumped into Event #96: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed) but didn’t make it to Day 2.

Day 4 began with Racener holding a commanding chip lead with 10.050 Million to Bolden’s 4.275 Million. Bolden wasn’t just all talk, though. He backed it up with some serious poker skills. After a big win in Omaha Hi-Lo, he quickly closed the chip gap with Racener. Then, in the Stud round, he pulled off a massive bluff, forcing Racener to fold on seventh street. From that point on, it was all Bolden, and he eventually sealed the deal in a Stud Hi-Lo hand, winning his first bracelet and a whole lot of cash.

This tournament also saw another poker legend make history. Jeremy Ausmus tied Phil Hellmuth‘s record for the most final table appearances in a single WSOP summer, finishing seventh in this event ($23,952). Ausmus has been on fire this year, and he’s a serious contender for the WSOP Player of the Year title and can possibly even win his seventh bracelet.

The final table was stacked with talent, including poker pros like David “ODB” Baker (6th for $32,274) and Luis Velador (5th for $44,591). Racener eliminated David Tarbet in fourth place ($63,134) in a huge pot, while Bolden knocked out Travis Trail in third ($91,547) with trip sevens in a Stud Hi-Lo hand.

The top 54 finishers shared the $953,190 prize pool. Other notables who made the money included Arash Ghaneian (17th for $8,042), Barry Greenstein (18th for $8,042), Sean Troha (21st for $8,042), and Ryan Hughes (28th for $7,040).

The final day of Event #92: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em was an absolute nail-biter. Five poker giants returned, each with a guaranteed payday of at least $499,097, but with their eyes firmly set on the life-changing $2+ Million top prize and the prestigious WSOP bracelet.

When the dust settled, Jared Bleznick emerged as the champion, outplaying a star-studded field of some of the world’s best No-Limit Hold’em players. His final opponent, Jesse Lonis (who snagged his second bracelet in the 2023 WSOP Event #71: $50,000 HIGH ROLLER Pot-Limit Omaha), put up a fierce fight, but Bleznick’s skill and determination ultimately earned him the win and that jaw-dropping $2,037,947 payout. Plus, this marked his very first WSOP bracelet, a dream come true for any poker player.

Lonis may not have walked away with the gold, but he definitely didn’t go home empty-handed. His second-place finish earned him a massive $1,358,633, the second-largest score of his career. Not a bad consolation prize, right?

Bleznick, known primarily as a cash game player and heads-up specialist, was ecstatic about his victory. “This win means more to me for my friends, family, and everyone who doubted my ability to win a bracelet,” he shared. “I’ve always known I could compete at the highest level, and now I want to play more tournament poker. Winning in No-Limit Hold’em without much experience is unbelievable.”

Bleznick started the final day second in chips, behind Christoph Vogelsang, who had a considerable lead. But that didn’t faze him one bit. He went head-to-head with Vogelsang in several massive pots, fearlessly putting his chips on the line.

“I was targeting Vogelsang,” Bleznick admitted. “I didn’t care if he had more chips. I wanted to play against him because he plays like a computer, and that’s the type of player I thrive against. Even with his chip advantage and position, I played to win. My comfort in high-stakes situations is my biggest edge.”

Turns out, a little friendly competition with fellow poker pro Shaun Deeb also fueled Bleznick’s drive. “I made side bets with Shaun Deeb, which pushed me to play these tournaments. Without those bets, I wouldn’t have entered this event,” Bleznick confessed. “Shaun has been a friend for a long time, and this summer was about proving I could win in a tournament structure. And I just did it.”

The final day action was intense from the start, with Justin Saliba (5th for $499,097) getting knocked out early. Then, Jesse Lonis doubled up twice through Nacho Barbero, but it wasn’t enough to keep Barbero in the game, who exited in fourth place with $685,405.

The turning point for Bleznick came in a pivotal hand against Christoph Vogelsang. With the blinds skyrocketing and the stacks getting short, Vogelsang went all in with ace-nine, only to run into Bleznick’s pocket tens. Bleznick’s hand held, sending Vogelsang to the rail and giving Bleznick a massive chip lead heading into the final heads-up match against Lonis.

The heads-up battle was intense but short-lived. Lonis won a few small pots early on, but Bleznick quickly turned the tide and put the pressure on. In the final hand, Lonis shoved with pocket sevens, but Bleznick woke up with ace-four. An ace on the flop sealed the deal, giving Bleznick his first-ever WSOP bracelet and a life-changing $2+ Million score!

The top 27 places were paid, with notables like Erik Seidel (8th for $213,624), David Peters (11th for $132,612), Timur Margolin (19th for $102,299), and Chris Brewer (24th for $102,299) cashing in.

India’s poker mogul Santhosh Suvarna, known for his high-roller prowess, joined the action on Day 1 but faced an early exit.

Day 3 of Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes No-Limit Hold’em Championship was a wild ride, with a massive field of 3,177 players whittled down to just 17. These final contenders are now on the cusp of poker glory, vying for a whopping $1,041,989 top prize and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

Leading the charge is Taylor Black, a US player who’s stacked up an impressive 20.725 Million chips (83 BBs). Hot on his heels is Adam Owen with 15.175 Million chips (61 BBs), and WSOP bracelet winner Dong Chen is also in the mix with a healthy 10.95 Million chips (44 BBs).

The top ten is a real mix of seasoned pros and up-and-comers, including Clement Richez (9.575 Million), Boris Kuzmanovic (9.35 Million), Stefan Dimitrov (8.90 Million), David Uvaydov (8.725 Million), David Brehme (8.575 Million), the well-known Alec Torelli (7.80 Million), former bracelet winner Xing He (5.75 Million).

Other players like Luis Dorneles (4.125 Million), Samuel Wilkinson (3.85 Million), Mihai Niste (3.35 Million), Tjan Tepeh (3.10 Million), Andrey Pateychuk (2.80 Million), Aristeidis Moschonas (2.10 Million), and Hannes Jeschka (1.25 Million) are also still in the running, ready to make their move on Day 4.

India’s poker legend Aditya Agarwal, fresh off his first bracelet win, made it all the way to Day 3, showing everyone he’s still got it. Starting the day with 540,000 chips (22 BBs), he finished in 116th place, adding $8,989 (~₹7.51 Lakhs) to his 2024 WSOP earnings, which now total a whopping $208,613 (~₹1.74 Crores) across three deep runs.

Six other Indian players also cashed in the event, with Aditya Systla (214th for $7,032; ~₹5.87 Lakhs), Ashish Munot (249th for $7,032; ~₹5.87 Lakhs), Siddarth Singhvi (250th for $7,032; ~₹5.87 Lakhs), Natural8 India Executive Director and Ambassador Kunal Patni (255th for $7,032; ~₹5.87 Lakhs), Avneesh Munjal (329th for $6,006; ~₹5.02 Lakhs), and Sriharsha Doddapaneni (348th for $6,006; ~₹5.02 Lakhs) all making it into the money but falling out on Day 2.

Day 3 saw some big names hit the rail, like John Riordan (34th for $34,253), Asi Moshe (45th for $23,270), Jim Collopy (50th for $23,270), Patrick Leonard (90th for $10,302), Evan Sandberg (97th for $10,302), Taylor Paur (98th for $10,302), Manig Loeser (99th for $8,989), Eric Baldwin (105th for $8,989), 2017 Main Event champion Scott Blumstein (109th for $8,989), Alex Livingston (119th for $8,989), Pete Chen (142nd for $8,989), and Brock Wilson (145th for $8,989). It was a day of intense poker action and some heartbreaking eliminations, but that’s tournament poker for you!

Day 1B of Event #93: $777 Lucky 7’s No-Limit Hold’em wrapped up with a bang, attracting a whopping 1,559 players to the tables, bringing the total to 3,057 entries after two flights. Out of that massive field, only 77 lucky ducks managed to bag chips and move on to Day 2, joining the 69 survivors from Day 1A for a total of 146 players still in the running.

Leading the charge is Brazilian player Victor Dermendjian, who’s stacked up a hefty 2.82 Million chips (71 BBs). He’s already made a splash in the $800 NLHE Deepstack 8-Handed, and it looks like he’s hungry for more.

Right behind Dermendjian is former bracelet winner Dominick Sarle, who bagged 2.15 Million chips (54 BBs). Brandon Hamlet is also sitting pretty with almost 2 Million with 1.975 Million (49 BBs). These guys are all serious contenders, and Day 2 is going to be a real showdown.

The top ten is a who’s who of poker talent, with names like Jason Daly (1.77 Million), bracelet winners Jason Wheeler (1.725 Million) and Shawn Daniels (1.60 Million), along with Anastasia Knapp (1.455 Million), Anthony Ruttler (1.45 Million), Seth Fischer (1.425 Million), and two-time bracelet winner Dan Heimiller (1.42 Million) all in the mix. These guys know how to play, and they’re definitely not going down without a fight.

There are many other big names in the running. Maurice Hawkins (1.39 Million), Avi Cohen (945,000), and David Mzareulov (525,000) also made it through to Day 2, proving that anything can happen in this game. And even though they’re a bit short on chips, players like Dejaunte Alexander (245,000) and Paul White (240,000) are still in the hunt, ready to spin it up and make a run for the bracelet.

Indian players are also holding their own in this event. Abhishek Paul, who’s already had three cashes in this series and $9,607 (~₹8.03 Lakhs) in total winnings, bagged a healthy 975,000 chips (24 BBs).

And Ashish Munot, who’s been killing it with seven cash finishes and $41,355 (₹34.57 Lakhs) in winning on his WSOP debut, is also in the mix with 535,000 chips (13 BBs). These guys are flying the flag for India, and we’re rooting for them to go all the way!

Vijay Chander (520,000) and Dipanjan Chattopadhyay (435,000), two Indian-origin players, also made it through to Day 2, adding to the excitement.

Day 2 of Event #94: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship (6-Handed) was packed with big names, high stakes, and plenty of drama. From the original 418 entrants on Day 1, the late surge of 84 additional entries just before late registration closed brought the total to a whopping 502. With a massive $3,887,400 prize pool up for grabs, the tension was palpable as only 76 would make the money, each securing at least $20,040.

By the end of the day, only 28 players remained, and Bulgaria’s Fahredin Mustafov carried the heaviest bag to Day 3 with a whopping 3.30 Million chips (132 BBs). This guy is having a killer summer, with multiple cashes already under his belt, including deep runs in in Event #28 (10th for $30,304) and Event #87 (24th for $26,212), and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Hot on his heels is Spain’s Adrian Mateos, a four-time bracelet winner with a poker resume that could make anyone jealous. He bagged 2.86 Million chips (114 BBs), and you can bet he’s got his eye on that bracelet.

James Chen, the bracelet winner who started Day 1 as the chip leader, is still holding strong in third place with 1.895 Million chips (76 BBs). He’s already had a successful summer with a notable cash in $25K High Roller, and he’s definitely a player to watch out for.

The rest of the top ten is packed with talent, including Brad Albrinck (1.605 Million), Aleks Dimitrov (1.56 Million), Alejandro Lococo (1.29 Million), Rodrigo Daher (1.265 Million), Michael Rocco (1.215 Million), Toshikazu Ishii (1.20 Million), and the legendary Viktor Blom (1.16 Million), each bringing a unique style and storied history to the tournament.

We’ve also got some other big names still in the mix, like Alexandre Reard (1.06 Million), Aram Zobian (770,000), Daniel Smiljkovic (620,000), Pierre Calamusa (600,000), and Eric Baldwin (535,000).

But Day 2 wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for everyone. Some of the biggest names in poker, like Phil Hellmuth, Alex Foxen, Daniel Negreanu, Justin Saliba, Bryn Kenney, Phil Ivey, Stephen Chidwick, Jason Koon, and Shannon Shorr, all busted out before the money bubble even burst.

Several big names made it into the money but couldn’t survive the day, like Julien Sitbon, Moshe Refaelowitz, Ryan Riess, Jonathan Little, Alex Livingston, Koray Aldemir, and Joe McKeehen.

Day 1 of Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em saw a bustling Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas as 1,124 contenders threw their hats into the ring. The prize pool swelled to a juicy $1,979,713, making for some high-stakes action, but only 167 players survived to bag chips and make it to Day 2, all vying for the top prize of $313,370 and the prestigious WSOP bracelet.

Preston McEwen from Memphis emerged as the chip leader with an impressive 780,000 chips (98 BBs), showing everyone who’s boss. He’s already a big name in the poker world, with almost $2 Million in tournament winnings, but he’s still chasing that elusive first WSOP bracelet.

Luan Coelho and Yang Lei aren’t far behind, with 699,000 (87 BBs) and 616,000 chips (77 BBs), respectively. They’re both looking strong, so it’s anyone’s game at this point.

The top ten is a real mix of established pros and up-and-comers. Xiaowen Zhao (614,000), Daniel Marques (609,000), Daisuke Ogita (593,000), former bracelet winner Martin Finger (554,000), former bracelet winner Roman Korenev (529,000), Yuzhou Yin (525,000), and Naseem Salem (470,000) are all in the running, ready to make a deep run.

But what really makes this tournament unique is the bounty on Poker Hall of Famers. Every time anyone knocks out one of these legends, they get a cash prize equal to the year they were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Poker Hall of Famer Jack McClelland, the former WSOP Tournament Director and 2014 Hall of Fame inductee, showed he still has the skills to pay the bills by bagging a respectable 209,000 chips (26 BBs).

Erik Seidel (95,000), another poker legend with over $46 Million in tournament winnings and 2010 POF inductee, also made it to Day 2, along with 2018 POF inductee Mori Eskandani (46,000), rounding out the trio of PHOFs heading to Day 2.

India also had a strong showing on Day 1. Ankit Ahuja, a two-time GPI Player of the Year (India), bagged a healthy 417,000 chips (52 BBs) and is looking to add another cash to his already impressive run at this year’s WSOP, which already boasts four cashes and $55,586 (~₹46.46 Lakhs) in winnings.

Kunal Patni, the big boss at Natural8 India, also made it through to Day 2 with 172,000 chips (22 BBs). Despite being a late arrival this year, this poker veteran has already snagged five deep runs with $43,054 (~₹35.99 Lakhs) in winnings and is in good shape for a sixth.

Some other Indian-origin players, like Sandeep Koralla (416,000) and Rohit Kwatra (415,000), also bagged big stacks, while Paul Dhaliwal (62,000) and Tarun Gulati (57,000) are still in the game with smaller stacks.

Other notables to bag for Day 2 included David Simon (449,000), Rafael Reis (365,000), Adam Hendrix (320,000), Weiran Pu (310,000), Matthew Lambrecht (303,000), Maria Konnikova (192,000), Tobias Peters (183,000), Stoyan Madanzhiev (154,000), Martin Jacobson (154,000), Brian Green (145,000), Alexandre Vuilleumier (141,000), Rajaee Wazwaz (139,000), Robert Schulz (117,000), Nicholas Seward (115,000), Christian Roberts (113,000), Stanislav Zegal (107,000), Sean Troha (81,000), Giuseppe Pantaleo (80,000), and Jeff Gross (32,000).

But the day wasn’t without its casualties. Billy Baxter, a poker legend, was the first Hall of Famer to be knocked out, his set of sixes losing to Adam Croffut’s straight. Other Hall of Famers like Barbara Enright, Tom McEvoy, Eli Elezra, Johnny Chan, Scotty Nguyen, Barry Greenstein, and even Phil Hellmuth also had their bounties claimed.

Day 1 of Event #96: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed) was a whirlwind of action! After a gruelling ten hours of play, 58 players remained from the starting field of 95. It was a day of big pots, strategic manoeuvring, and a few surprises along the way.

Paul Volpe, a three-time bracelet winner, emerged from the day`s onslaught clutching the chip lead with a towering stack of 650,000 chips. He’s definitely the one to watch as the event heads into Day 2.

But don’t count out the competition just yet. Xixiang Luo (637,000), Kazuhiko Yotsushika (587,000), and Scott Bohlman (574,000) are all hot on his heels with big stacks of their own. The competition is fierce, and anyone could snatch the lead.

One of the most exciting hands of the day came in a round of Omaha Hi-Lo, where Matt Glantz managed to scoop a huge pot after turning a full house. He’s sitting pretty with 308,000 chips and is definitely a player to keep an eye on.

Another highlight of the day was a massive pot in Omaha Hi-Lo involving Scott Seiver, Andrew Kelsall, Jesse Lonis, and Elior Sion. After relentless betting on fourth, fifth, and sixth streets, Seiver and Sion ended up all-in. They both had monster hands, and the pot was chopped, leaving Sion with a healthy 282,500 chips. Unfortunately, Seiver, Kelsall, and Lonis weren’t so lucky and were eliminated on Day 1.

Gary Bolden, fresh off his win in Event #91: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed) earlier in the day, decided to try his luck in the High Roller. Aiming for a “back-to-back” triumph in H.O.R.S.E. tournaments, he entered after the second break and got off to a great start, building a stack of over 250,000 chips. But in the end, he couldn’t quite keep up the momentum and was eliminated in a Razz hand against Chris Vitch and Nick Guagenti. Guagenti and Vitch bagged up 380,000 and 224,500 chips, respectively, for Day 2.

The Day 2 field is littered with poker royalty like Phil Hellmuth (269,000), Bryn Kenney (224,500), Chris Brewer (126,500), Jeremy Ausmus (172,000), and Jason Mercier (120,000), all in the mix and looking to add another WSOP title.

And for those who busted out on Day 1, there’s still a chance to get back in the game. Players get one rebuy, and late registration is open until the end of the first level on Day 2. So, we might see some familiar faces and fresh blood joining the fray.

Day 49: What’s Happening?

July 15 marks the 49th day of an exhilarating 2024 WSOP, and the action shows no signs of slowing down. With just a couple of days left, the excitement continues to build.

Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship will give its nine-handed final table a day off on Monday, July 15. The contenders will reconvene on Tuesday, July 16, at 1:30 PM (local time) to resume play with 51:20 left in Level 39, with blinds at 800K/1.6M and a 1.6M big blind ante. Day 10 will play down to the final four players, featuring TV breaks and no extended pauses.

Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes No-Limit Hold’em Championship will see 17 players return on July 15 at 11 AM (local time) for Day 4. They will resume at Level 31, with blinds at 125K/250K and a 250K big blind ante. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high, so expect some serious poker fireworks as these players battle for a WSOP gold bracelet.

Day 1C of Event #93: $777 Lucky 7’s No-Limit Hold’em (7-Handed) kicks off at 10 AM (local time) on July 15 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. Participants will battle through 22 Levels, each lasting 30 minutes, with a 20-minute break every four levels and a 75-minute dinner break after Level 17, around 7 PM. Survivors from all three Day 1 flights will merge on July 16 for Day 2, followed by the final showdown on Day 3, July 17.

Event #94: $10,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship will see its 28 remaining players return at 1 PM (local time) on July 15 at the Horseshoe Event Center. The game picked up at Level 21, with blinds at 10K/25K and a 25K big blind ante, as players battle down to the last contender aiming for the championship title.

Event #95: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No-Limit Hold’em will reconvene at 12 PM (local time) with 167 players left. Action will resume at Level 17, with blinds at 4K/8K and a big blind ante of 8K. The competition will continue until a champion is crowned, with scheduled breaks every two levels and a dinner break around 6:30 PM (local time).

Day 2 of Event #96: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. (8-Handed) starts at 1 PM (local time) on Monday. Picking up at Level 11 with blinds at 3K/6K and betting limits of 6k/12K, the 58 returning players, possibly joined by new entrants or re-entrants, will compete through ten intense levels, with 15-minute breaks every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after Level 16.

But that’s not all! Day 49 also sees the start of two brand-new bracelet events.

Event #97: $3,000 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha, a three-day event, starts at 2 PM (local time). Late registration is open for eight levels and allows two reentries. There will be 15-minute breaks every two levels, with Levels 1-6 lasting 40 minutes each and increasing to 60 minutes from Level 7 onwards.

Event #98: $1,500 The Closer is the penultimate event of the 2024 WSOP. This two-day event features two Day 1 flights, beginning at 4 PM (local time). Late registration is open for 12 levels with unlimited reentries. There will be 15-minute breaks every four levels, with Day 1B starting earlier at 12 PM (local time) on July 16.

Here’s what went down on Day 48.

Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker

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