WSOP 2018: Agarwal Finishes 45th in $1,500 NLHE, Bansal & Java Score in $1,000 Double Stack; Raghav Bansal & Yudhishter Jaswal Make Day 2 in $1,500 Shootout

Even as three Indian challengers Paawan Bansal, Nipun Java and Aditya Agarwal ended their deep runs at the 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments – Bansal and Java in Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold ‘em and Agarwal in Event #37: $1,500 No-Limit Hold em, Raghav Bansal and Yudhister Jaswal kept the torch burning for Team India!

Both Raghav Bansal and Jaswal have progressed to Day 2 in Event #39: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout by winning the opening round.

Agarwal who returned for Day 2 action in Event #37 – $1,500 NLHE, made an exciting run eventually finishing at 45^th place for $6,482 (~₹4.41 Lakhs),

Paawan Bansal added yet another score to his resume with a 74^th place finish in Event #34 – $1,000 Double Stack for $6,803 (~₹4.63 Lakhs) while Java`s quest for a third bracelet ended in 87^th place for $5,752 (~₹3.91 Lakhs).

In Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold ‘em, 62 players returned to compete on Day 3, and 20 remain in contention for the bracelet.

Two other events are reaching their completion and will crown winners tomorrow. In Event #36: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em, the final day will feature heads-up play between Robert Beach and Farhintaj Bonyadi. Meanwhile Event #38: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship will see play resume on the eight-handed final table with Yaniv Birman sitting on top in chips.

Between these two tournaments, Event #37: $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em saw the field whittle down to the final 20 players, who will return tomorrow with Aaron Massey starting off as the chip leader.

Event #39: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout saw through the completion of the opening day of play. With Vlad Darie leading the chip counts, many big names joined the felts including Phil Hellmuth, and Scott Blumstein.

Meanwhile, 51 players remain in Event #40: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet that ran through its inaugural day with 205 entrants in competition. Naoya Kihara will be returning tomorrow as the overnight chip leader.

Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold ‘em

After three consecutive days of battle, the rush in the poker corridors of Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino for Event #34: $1,000 Double Stack NLHE has petered down.

While 5,700 players had converged to enter the event, only 162 returned to the poker tables to compete for the winner’s title. 20 have bagged their stacks for Day 4 with each guaranteed a sum of $22,122, out of the massive prize pool of $5,130,000. But the top prize, the gold bracelet and a payday of $644,224 is what these contenders are going to vie for, now.

Two of Team India’s toughest challengers Nipun Java (498,000) and Paawan Bansal (269,000) resumed the battle on Day 3. While Bansal climbed up the field to finish 74^th for $6,803 (~₹4.63 Lakhs), Java finished 87^th for $5,752 (~₹3.91 Lakhs).

Taking to Twitter, Java narrated his journey in the tournament, keeping the fans abreast of his moves. When 106 players remained in fray, Java shared details of his stack that once climbed up all the way 732,000.

732k going to 16kbb. 106 rem.

— Nipun Java (@nipunjava) June 19, 2018

However, he was eliminated when in a hand he called a shove with pocket tens and his opponent held pocket jacks.

Out in 87. 3 bet called shove with TT < JJ

— Nipun Java (@nipunjava) June 19, 2018

Overall in the event, 855 players made it in the money for a min-cash of at least $1,500. Earlier on Day 2, India’s Nikita Luther was eliminated in the 525^th place for $2,038 (~₹1.38 Lakhs), Akash Malik in 664^th place for $1,717(~₹1.17 Lakhs) and 9stacks qualifier Nishant Sharma exited in 365^th place for $2,508 (~₹1.70 Lakhs).

On Day 3, Daniel Colpoys who started the day as the chip leader with a stack of 1,405,000 was eliminated (77th for $6,803).

Others prominent faces who busted on Day 3 include Matt Berkey (24^th for $22,122), Michael Del vecchio III (51^st for $11,830), Isaac Baron (66^th for $8,115),Tony Dunst (69^th for $8,115), Maria Lampropulos (79^th for $6,803), Anthony Spinella (101^st for $4,215), Phillip Hui (107^th for $4,215) and Jake Bazeley (141^st for $4,215).

Amid the 20 survivors, Keith Ferrera is leading in chips, with 7,550,000. Ferrera has WSOP earnings to the tune of $238,187 and is gunning for his first WSOP bracelet. Behind Ferrera are Tomas Teran Paredes (5,050,000) and Robert Peacock (4,500,000).

Top 10 Chip Counts at End of Day 3

1. Keith Ferrera – 7,550,000

2. Tomas Teran Paredes – 5,050,000

3. Robert Peacock – 4,500,000

4. James Ostrowski – 3,985,000

5. Matt Stout – 3,920,000

6. Joshua Turner – 3,905,000

7. Steven Tymms – 3,575,000

8. Daniel Eichhorn – 3,300,000

9. Don Johnson – 2,690,000

10. Pfizer Jordan – 2,450,000

Event #36: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em

Event #36: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em is down to two finalists at the end of Day 3. Starting with a playing field of 2,191 players, all hoping to win the top prize of $311,451, Robert Beach and Farhintaj Bonyadi will be returning on Day 4 as the two contestants for the WSOP bracelet. Beach is ahead with a gargantuan stack of 9,010,000 as Bonyadi trails behind with 1,975,000 in chips.

Out of the 43 players who began the day, 34 were eliminated to make up the final table that included nine players. Following the eliminations of Paul W Lee (3^rd for $140,273), Linda Iwaniak (4^th for $103,215), Russell Sutton (5^th for $76,655), Alan Denkenson (6^th for $57,465), Charles Thompson (7^th for $43,489), Neil Henley (8^th for $33,227) and Bill Fogel (9^th for $25,633), the heads-up play came down to Beach and Bonyadi.

Other notable eliminations included Day 2 chip leader Jerry Weber and two-time bracelet winner Steve Zolotow.

Heads Up Chip Counts

1. Robert Beach – 9,010,000

2. Farhintaj Bonyadi – 1,975,000

Event #37: $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em

After a massive turnout of 1,330 entries that led to a prize pool of $1,795,500 in Event #37: $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em, there are only 20 runners who have survived the tough field and made it to Day 3.

PokerStars Team pro Aditya Agarwal (71,800) returned to the felts to compete on Day 2, however, his deep run came to an end in 45^th place for $6,482 (~₹4.41 Lakhs).

In his tweets, Agarwal updated thousands of his railbirds about his status through various levels in the tournament. At the start of the tournament he tweeted that he was coming back with 71,800 to blinds of 500/1000 and an ante of 100.

Day 2 of the 1500, 71,800 coming back to 500-1000(100) with 236 remaining and 200 cashing #WSOP2018

— Aditya Agarwal (@AdiAgarwal_int) June 19, 2018

When 158 players remained, he moved up in stacks to 113,000 and eventually reached 200,000 when only 92 players were left.

113k at 800-1600(200) with 158/1330 remaining #WSOP2018

— Aditya Agarwal (@AdiAgarwal_int) June 19, 2018

200k going to 1200-2400(400) with 92 players remaining #WSOP2018

— Aditya Agarwal (@AdiAgarwal_int) June 19, 2018

His stack started dwindling down to 180,000 and ultimately, Agarwal lost three flips and was eliminated in 45^th place.

180k starting 2k-4k(500) with 59 left #WSOP2018

— Aditya Agarwal (@AdiAgarwal_int) June 20, 2018

Lost 3 flips, out 45th #WSOP2018

— Aditya Agarwal (@AdiAgarwal_int) June 20, 2018

It is Aaron Massey who holds the largest stack with 1,198,000 in chips. Trailing him are Jay Farber (1,093,000), Ian Steinman (1,080,000), Michael Finstein (938,000) and Ryan Goindoo (654,000). Others with notable stacks include Ryan Laplante (176,000), Jason Wheeler (430,000), Eric Baldwin (469,000), JC Tran (480,000) and Stephen Song (623,000).

On Day 3 the play will resume at the blinds of 5,000/10,000 with a 1,000 running ante.

Top 10 Chip Count At End of Day 2

1. Aaron Massey – 1,198,000

2. Jay Farber – 1,093,000

3. Ian Steinman -1,080,000

4. Michael Finstein – 938,000

5. Ryan Goindoo – 654,000

6. Stephen Song – 623,000

7. Geoffrey Lavinson -609,000

8. Jason Guarinello – 511,000

9. JC Tran – 480,000

10. Eric Baldwin – 469,000

Event #38: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship

From the 27 players who came for action on Day 2, only eight are still standing. Following the elimination of Al Barbieri (9^th for $19,428), the nine-handed final table was set up.

Leading the final table we have Yaniv Birman with 958,000 in chips, with Jesse Martin (916,000) close behind and Ben Yu (559,000) a distant third in chip counts.

Other significant eliminations of the day included Todd Brunson (10^th for $19,428), Perry Friedman (11^th for $16,700), Nicholas Seiken (12^th for $16,700), Michael McKenna (13^thfor $14,910) and Jordan Siegel (14^th for $14,910). 6-time WSOP bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu became the bubble boy and placed 15^th.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Yaniv Birman – 958,000

2. Jesse Martin – 916,000

3. Ben Yu – 559,000

4. Matt Grapenthien – 507,000

5. Lee Salem – 473,000

6. Joseph Cappello – 360,000

7. James Obst – 216,000

8. Lars Gronning – 168,000

Event #39: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout

With a prize pool of $1,225,800, Event #39: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout began with 908 participants. After 14 levels of play, the day ended with 100 survivors. 14-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth was the first to make it the last ten tables competing against Heidi May and Maurice Hawkins.

Raghav Bansal whose deepest run this series came in Event #21: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em MILLIONAIRE MAKER (21^st for $40,898 – ~₹27.86 Lakhs) won the opening round. Joining him on Day 2 will be another Indian challenger Yudhister Jaswal.

Muskan Sethi had entered the event but failed to make it past the opening round.

Other poker pros who made it to Day 2 feature the likes of WSOP Main Event Champion Scott Blumstein, Thomas Boivin, Steven Wolansky, Rep Porter, 2014 Main Event Champion Martin Jacobson, Matthew Waxman, Georgios Sotiropoulos, Arkadiy Tsinis, Justin Liberto, and William Kakon.

Top 10 Chip Counts at the End of Day 1

1. Vlad Darie – 73,200

2. Alexandru Masek – 72,900

3. Andrew Thompson – 72,600

4. Richard Alati – 72,100

5. Steven Wolansky – 71,900

6. Alexandre Reard – 71,700

7. Zachary Smiley – 71,700

8. Alfredo Pacheco – 71,700

9. Corey Dodd – 71,300

10. James Stahl – 70,700

Event #40: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet

Event #40: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet opened on June 19 with 205 players building up a prize pool of $461,250. Ten levels and an entire day’s play later, only 51 contenders remain in the battle with Naoya Kihara in the lead, holding 119,700 in chips.

Towards the conclusion of Day 1, payouts were also announced. The event winner will take home $122,138 while the runner-up will bag $75,477. This is the second consecutive year for the tournament that was added to the WSOP’s list of events first in 2017.

Kihara, who missed the inaugural event in 2017 jumped into the field right as the registrations opened. He won his first WSOP bracelet in 2012 WSOP $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed event.

Other notables who will be seen in action on Day 2 tomorrow include John Hennigan (111,850), Mike Matusow (72,300), Eli Elezra (70,000), Andrew Kelsall (66,200), David ‘ODB’ Baker (41,075), Barry Greenstein (27,375)and Brian Rast (23,150).

Some notable eliminations featured Iraj Parviji, Jameson Painter, Mike Gorodinsky, Max Kruse, Phillip Hui and Robert Mizrachi, who all busted empty-handed.

Top 10 Chips Counts at the End of Day 1

1. Naoya Kihara – 119,700

2. Dario Sammartino – 117,650

3. John Hennigan – 111,850

4. Jeff Lisandro – 90,000

5. Brandon Shack-Harris – 84,100

6. Daniel Weinman – 73,000

7. Mike Matusow – 72,300

8. Eli Elezra – 70,000

9. Randy Ohel -66,250

10. Andrew Kelsall – 66,200

Content & image courtesy WSOP.com

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