World Series of Poker -- World H.O.R.S.E. Championship Day TwoGun Hansen Chip Leader and Vying For First Bracelet |
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The disappointment for the turnout of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship has slowly faded, as one of the best in the world without a World Series of Poker bracelet emerged as the chip leader in one of poker’s most prestigious events.
Prolific cash game player and multiple World Poker Tour champion Gus Hansen, is looking to end the WSOP drought that he has endured over the years. Hansen is leading the way in the elite field with 686,000 in chips.
Defending champion Scotty Nguyen, who eased the pain from his 2007 main event 11th place finish by winning the $50K H.O.R.S.E. the following year, is sixth in chips with 463,000. Hansen has a serious shot to do the same after deep runs in the main event the last two years. However, he will have to contend with the 1998 main event winner who looks poised for a repeat.
Hansen isn’t the only big name that still has a chance to win the first career bracelet in the $50K H.O.R.S.E. Cash game legend Patrik Antonius has played in few events this summer, as he has been dueling against online phenom Tom “durrrr” Dwan in their Durrrr Challenge. Dwan is currently up $726,546.5 with just over 40 percent of the match completed. Antonius could win all of it back and more if he could take home his first bracelet in the event. Antonius currently sits near the bottom with 131,000.
Phil Ivey is still in the hunt for his third bracelet of the series with 154,000 in chips. Ivey first won event no. 8 ($2,500 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball) and then followed up with an encore performance at his next final table in event no. 25 ($2,500 Omaha 8 or better/ seven card stud 8 or better).
Ivey is looking to equal Jeff Lisandro’s three wins for the summer. The seven-time bracelet winner has already been in this position before and succeeded. Ivey took home three WSOP titles in 2002. Lisandro was eliminated on day two and will have to win one of the few remaining tournaments to became the first ever to win four at a single series.
Ahead of Ivey in the chip counts with 224,000 is ten-time bracelet winner Doyle Brunson. Brunson has already added a final table from this year’s WSOP to his list of legendary poker accomplishments. Brunson finished seventh in the seven card stud 8 or better world championship, which was won by Lisandro.
Both Brunson and Johnny Chan have had their opportunities at this year’s series to join Phil Hellmuth atop the poker world with 11 bracelets. Chan finished fifth in the world championship heads up no-limit hold’em event but was one of the day two causalities in the $50K H.O.R.S.E.
Hellmuth did not participate in the event because he was still in event no. 48 ($1,500 pot-limit Omaha 8 or better) that was going on during day one of the $50K H.O.R.S.E. Hellmuth made a deep run, but ultimately busted out just before the final table.
Rising Russian poker star, Vitaly Lunkin is very healthy with 330,000 in chips. He has already won the largest prize of the series so far when he captured the bracelet in event no. 2 ($40,000 no-limit hold’em) for a payday of $1,891,012. With his victory in one of the toughest no-limit hold’em fields ever assembled, Lunkin added another huge score when he finished second in event no. 40 ($10,000 world championship pot-limit Omaha). Lunkin walked away there with $419,832 for his efforts.
The two-time bracelet winner still has a chance to add another seven-figure payday to his immensely profitable 2009 WSOP. With a win in the $50K H.O.R.S.E, Lunkin would have $3,604,295 this summer in earnings.
Barry Greenstein, the only player to cash in the event ever year since its creation, is still alive with 284,000 in chips. In the three years that the event has been played, Greenstein has finished in 12th, 7th and 6th, respectively.
Hasan Habib held the chip lead going into day two of the event. He did not start off as hot as he did on day one, but still managed to accumulate chips in the tough field. Habib added 53,000 to his stack and currently sits in fifth position with 490,000.
A total of 37 players were eliminated on day two, as action increased from a day one that saw just five players hit the rail.
The 53 survivors will resume play on Sunday at 2:00 PDT.
Here are the official chip counts heading into day three:
1. Gus Hansen — 686,000
2. Ray Dehkharghani — 643,000
3. Erik Sagstrom — 560,000
4. Todd Brunson — 549,000
5. Hasan Habib — 490,000
6. Scotty Nguyen – 463,000
7. Frank Cremen – 457,000
8. David Bach — 451,000
9. Antanas Guoga – 433,000
10. Jani Sointula – 412,500
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