Event 8 (Day 2): Break Time, Three Tables Remain

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 25 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/4,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 27

Players are heading on another (15) minute break, and will be returning to Level 25, with new blinds of 15,000/30,000/4,000 (1,100,000 chip average).  Updated chip counts from the full field will be posted shortly, but here are the seating assignments for the final three tables at break:

Table 5:

1. Aris Gomez
2. Bill Napier
3. James Salmon
4. Joshua Beckley
5. Patrick Peduto
6. Rafael Reis
7. Christian Rodriguez
8. Joseph Duchman
9. Tom Cuce

Table 6:

1. Goerge Ruby
2. Marty Mordechai
3. Jeffrey Kessler
4. Guillermo Irving
5. Peter Garijanian
6. Yigal Hen
7. Ariel Williams
8. Rifiki Brown
9. Sheldon Gross

Table 10:

1. Preecha Toepakdee
2. Arnaldo Alzualde
3. Eddie Uehara
4. Michael Amato
5. Gene Cavaceci
6. Scott Watson
7. James Wang
8. Steve Bennett
9. Rob Kessler

Event 8 (Day 2): Uehara's Pocket Queens Put Him On Top

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 24 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/3,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 29

Approaching Table 7, Alcides Gomez (Miami, FL) would be all-in and at risk against Eddie Uehara, for a pot worth close to 700,000:

Gomez: A♠ Q♣

Uehara: Q♠ Q♥

Runout: 4♣ 10♦ 2♥ 3♦ 7♦

Gomez gained some extra outs on the turn, but when the dealer dropped the 7 on the river, Alcides would be headed to the payout podium.  That pot would bring Uehara's stack to just over 2,500,000, making him the chip leader of the (29) players that remain.

Event 8 (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts As Level 24 Begins

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 24 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/3,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 34

Eddie Uehara (Lake Worth, FL)

Day 2 play has just transitioned to Level 24, with blinds now 12,000/24,000/3,000, and a chip average of 865,000 (36bb).  Ariel Williams is still holding strong at the top of the leaderboard, but a new name has found his way to the second spot.  Eddie Uehara (Lake Worth, FL) currently has 1,800,000, and is looking to add a second Isle Poker trophy to his mantle.  Eddie won a $330 No Limit Hold'em event during the 2012 Isle Poker Open, and boasts a live tournament resume with over $46,000 in earnings.

Ariel Williams - 2,300,000

Eddie Uehara - 1,800,000

Rafael Reis - 1,500,000

Patrick Peduto - 1,400,000

Scott Watson - 1,400,000

Jeffrey Kessler - 1,200,000

Event 8 (Day 2): 37th-45th Places ($1,257)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 23 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 35

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $1,257:

37. Stephen Ekin (Brooklyn, NY)

38. Zachary Mullenix (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

39. Paul Grigsby (Pompano Beach, FL)

40. Rotem Halbani (Miami, FL)

41. Elias Nassif (Plantation, FL)

42. Raul Vargas (Coral Springs, FL)

43. Andre Rukasa (Miami, FL)

44. Ory Hen (Cooper City, FL)

Event 8 (Day 2): Conniff Eliminated As Four Tables Remain

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 23 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 35

Asher Conniff (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) had been playing a below average stack for most of Day 2, and although he began to find some traction, two key hands would send him to the rail in 36th place.  After chipping up to just over 400,000 (and basically peaking for the day), Conniff got it in blind v. blind against James Wang, with Wang at risk for his 100,000 stack (5 big blinds).  Conniff's J♦ 2♦ < 7♥ 7♠ of Wang on the 6♦ 7♦ 8♥ 9♦ 9♥ runout, leaving Asher with just under 300,000.  He would shove for 283,000 over Steve Bennett's open a few moments later, and after being called, his A♠ 9♣ < A♥ J♥ of Bennett (3♠ 3♣ 7♠ Q♥ 5♥ runout).  The former WPT World Champion would collect $1,494 for his 36th place finish.

Event 8 (Day 2): 46th-54th Places ($1,087)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 23 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 42

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $1,087:

46. Michael Wojcieszek (South Windsor, CT)

47. Gyorgy Cseke (Tamarac, FL)

48. Dmitry Agrachov (Delray Beach, FL)

49. Miguel Martinez (Parkland, FL)

50. Steve Smith (Juno Beach, FL)

51. Robin Marshman (Sunrise, FL)

52. Antonio Albanes (Key Largo, FL)

53. Daniel Mijac (Winter Gardens, FL)

54. Daniel Blum (Gainesville, FL)

Event 8 (Day 2): Top Stacks At Break

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 23 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 46

Jeffrey Kessler (Plantation, FL)

The remaining Day 2 players are taking another scheduled (15) minute break, and will be returning to Level 23, and new blinds of 10,000/20,000/3,000 (635,000 chip average).  This tournament was scheduled to end today, but with the (50) minute levels and such deep play, there is a good chance we will see a Day 3 tomorrow.  Any update on the change of schedule will be posted here on the blog, the minute things are decided.  Posted below are the top four stacks at break:

Ariel Williams - 2,100,000

Jeffrey Kessler - 1,700,000

Scott Watson - 1,650,000

Joshua Beckley - 1,600,000

Event 8 (Day 2): Beckley Blasts Up The Leaderboard

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 22 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 48

Joshua Beckley (West Palm Beach, FL)

2015 WSOP Main Event runner-up Joshua Beckley opened the action at Table 11 to 36,000 (from the button), with Dmirty Agrachov three-betting to 101,000 from the small blind.  The big blind would fold, and with action back on Joshua, he four-bet to 235,000 (with over 600,000 behind).  Agrachov wasted little time before five-bet shoving (having Beckley covered), with Beckley calling immediately:

Beckley: A♥ A♦

Agrachov: A♣ Q♠

Runout: 2♣ K♠ K♥ 5♣ 8♣

Beckley's pocket aces would never be in danger on that runout, and one of the most dangerous players in the field chips up to 1,725,000.

Joshua Beckley - 1,725,000

Dmitry Agrachov - 60,000

Event 8 (Day 2): 55th-63rd Places ($985)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 22 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 52

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $985:

55. Andrew Blake (Boynton Beach, FL)

56. Ryan Gianquitti (Boca Raton, FL)

57. Louis Leo IV (Boca Raton, FL)

58. Nagui Yassa (Deerfield Beach, FL)

59. Damien Simon (Hialeah, FL)

60. Amir Sujak (Palisades Park, NJ)

61. Manuel Soltero (Miami, FL)

62. Raymond Ruskowski (Miami, FL)

63. Frank Scala (Boca Raton, FL)

Event 8 (Day 2): Full Field Update (Part II)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 22 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 53

Listed below are the second half of the six tables that remain active in the Event 8 field:

Table 7:

1. (Empty)
2. Guillermo Irving
3. Mark Duquette
4. Patrick Peduto
5. Josh Sidman
6. Steven Bennett
7. Alcides Gomez
8. Raul Vargas
9. Asher Conniff
10. James Wang

Table 8:

1. Jason Young
2. James Salmon
3. Daniel Blum
4. Zach Mullinax
5. Pete Garajanian
6. Michael Amato 
7. (Empty)
8. Ory Hen
9. Robin Marshman
10. Goerge Ruby

Table 11:

1. Daniel Mijac
2. Rafael Reis
3. Elias Nassif
4. Joshua Beckley
5. Dmitry Agrachov
6. Tom Cuce
7. (Empty)
8. Steve Ekin
9. Yigal Hen
10. Arnaldo Alzualde

Event 8 (Day 2): Full Field Update (Part I)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 21 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 55

Listed below are the seating assignments for three of the six tables in play, with the second half of the field to be posted shortly thereafter:

Table 5:

1. Aris Gomez
2. Billy Napier
3. Stephen Smith
4. Sheldon Gross
5. AJ Umstattd
6. Ken Toepakdee
7. (Empty)
8. Christian Rodriguez
9. Joseph Duchman
10. Paul Grigsby

Table 6:

1. Andrew Rukasa
2. Rotem Halbani
3. Jeffrey Kessler
4. Mike Wojcieszek
5. (Empty)
6. Fariborz Zojaji
7. Ariel Williams
8. Rafiki Brown
9. Miguel Martinez
10. Gyorgy Cseke

Table 10:

1. Marty Mordechai
2. Eddie Uehara
3. Raminder Singh
4. Antonio Albanes
5. Gene Cavaceci
6. Scott Watson
7. (Empty)
8. Zach Milchman
9. Seth Gilson
10. Rob Kessler

Event 8 (Day 2): Marshman Still In, Playing With A Heavy Heart

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 21 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 57

Robin Marshman (Sunrise, FL)

The cards are back in the air for Day 2, and of the (57) players that still remain, three of them are women. Here are their updated chip counts:

Ariel Williams - 2,000,000 (chip leader)

Rotem Halbani - 230,000

Robin Marshman - 100,000

Robin Marshman (Sunrise, FL) may be the shortest stack in the field, but she's playing with a purpose this evening.  Robin learned during yesterday's flight, that one of her great friends (and poker playing partner Sean Krasnick) had passed, and is now donating all of her winnings from this event to his families funeral costs.

Event 8 (Day 2): 64th-72nd Places ($883)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 21 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 58

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $883:

64. Calixto Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, FL)

65. Jordan Meltzer (Decorah, IA)

66. Isaiah Goldman (Boynton Beach, FL)

67. Jian Zhao (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

68. Mark Salerno (Ontario, Canada)

69. Martin Markov (Key West, FL)

70. Roy Potts Jr. (Jensen Beach, FL)

71. Abraham Alonzo (Miami, FL)

72. Craig Bateman (Royersford, PA)

Event 8 (Day 2): Updated Counts As Players Head To Dinner

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 20 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 62

Steve Ekin (Vero Beach, FL)

The remaining Day 2 players are heading on their scheduled (45) minute dinner break, with play resuming around 6:25pm.  Once the field is down to four tables, we will bring you a full field update, allowing blog followers to know each and every player still in the running.  Posted below are some updated chip counts tallied in the later stages of Level 20:

Ariel Williams - 1,800,000

Aris Gomez - 900,000

Andre Rakusa - 850,000

Patrick Peduto - 840,000

Jason Young - 790,000

Guillermo Irving - 760,000

Rafael Reis - 750,000

Scott Watson - 730,000

Joshua Beckley - 600,000

Steve Ekin - 525,000

Event 8 (Day 2): 73rd-81st Places ($781)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 20 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 76

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $781:

73. Paul Vierira (Pompano Beach, FL)
74. Charlie Odenz (Hollywood, FL)
75. Frank Katana (Toronto, Canada)
76. Gerald Mortensen (Syracuse, NY)
77. TJ Shulman (Boynton Beach, FL)
78. Dennis Rodriguez (Sunrise, FL)
79. Steve Karp (Miami, FL)
80. Michael Brand (Boca Raton, FL)
81. Daniel Letts (Miami Beach, FL)

Event 8 (Day 2): 82nd-90th Places ($713)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 20 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 76

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $713:

82. Jonathan Marks (Weston, FL)

83. Eric Polirer (Coconut Creek, FL)

84. Michael Tate (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

85. Fraser Short (Red Deer, Alberta)

86. Christopher Zollo (Boynton Beach, FL)

87. Haim Shrayer (Miami, FL)

88. Michael Batherwich (Hollywood, FL)

89. Benjamin Robinson (Coral Springs, FL) 

90. David Lawrence (Madeira Beach, FL)

Event 8 (Day 2): Williams Grabs the Lead, Newly Updated Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 20 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 79

Ariel Williams (Miami, FL)

As Level 19 winds down, Ariel Williams (Miami, FL) now stands atop the leaderboard, sitting with over 1,500,000.  Even though the play is still super deep (chip average is almost 50 big blinds), we are still seeing players bust at a steady pace.  For those in the tournament (and those following the blog), the scheduled dinner break is after Level 20, and will run from 5:40-6:25pm.

Ariel Williams - 1,520,000

Gyorgy Csekes - 1,300,000

Rafael Reis - 810,000

Aris Gomez - 780,000

Andre Rakusa - 720,000

Scott Watson - 630,000

Sheldon Gross - 600,000

Steven Bennett - 600,000

Event 8 (Day 2): 91st-99th Places ($645)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 19 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 85

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $645:

91. Jhonny Diaz (Carracas, Venezuela)

92. Blake Robbins (Boca Raton, FL)

93. Nigel Murray (Miami, FL)

94. Luke McIntosh (Pompano Beach, FL)

95. Oneil Mcalla (Miramar, FL)

96. Rafael Oropesa (Clermont, FL)

97. Stewart Newman (Weston, FL)

98. Marcin Plewinski (Coconut Creek, FL)

99. Joseph Igron (Princeton, NJ)

Event 8 (Day 2): 100th-108th Places ($611)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 19 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 102

The following players have been eliminated from Event 8 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach, and have cashed for $611:

100. Michael Rizzuto (Coral Springs, FL)

101. Matthew Vetstein (Boca Raton, FL)

102. Igor Merda (Miami, FL)

103. Joseph Verrastro (Hollywood, FL)

104. Marc Sachelli (Miami Beach, FL)

105. Michael Newman (Nanuet, NY)

106. Hollander Preap (Jacksonville, FL)

107. Robert Johnson (Deerfield Beach, FL)

108. Ido Ashkenazi (Davie, FL)

Event 8 (Day 2): Cseke First Over 1,000,000 At Second Break

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 19 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 102

Gyorgy Cseke (Tamarac, FL)

Day 2 players are heading on their second break of the day, and will be returning to blinds of 4,000/8,000/1,000 (Level 19).  The tournament staff will be coloring off the purple chips (500 denomination) during the break, which will make things a little easier to eye-down (for updated counts).  The pot of the tournament was played at one of the outer tournament tables moments ago, as Gyorgy Cseke becomes the first player to join the millionaires club. 

Cseke opened to 17,000, with Michael Newman then three-betting to 75,000.  After action folded back around to Gyorgy, he would four-bet rip for over 560,000.  Newman immediately called, turning over pocket kings, and waiting to see Cseke's hand:

Cseke: A♠ K♣

Newman: K♥ K♦

Runout: 10♥ J♠ 2♣ 5♥ Q♣

Newman had some choice words for Cseke after the river gave Gyorgy a straight, continuing to lament his misfortune as he headed towards the payout podium.

Gyorgy Cseke - 1,125,000 (141bb)

Michael Newman - Eliminated 

Event 8 (Day 2): There Would Be No Hand-For-Hand, Event 8 ITM!

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 18 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 108

The clock is currently paused, as tournament staff breaks an outer table, with Event 8 play resuming in the money.  Tournament Director Ralph Brandt made the announcement for dealer to stop dealing and wait for instructions, but the field lost three players on that final hand (before hand-for-hand), and everyone now remaining is guaranteed $611.  The official payouts will now be posted by pay jump, with a flurry of eliminations expected over the next 30-45 minutes.

Event 8 (Day 2): Lots Of Chips Finding New Homes As Money Bubble Looms

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 18 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 116

Elias Nassif (Plantation, FL)

The field is only a handful of eliminations away from entering hand-for-hand play, at which point the clock will be paused, and each table will play hands simultaneously until the money is reached.  There has been a small group of players to make a push up the leaderboard over the last level, including Flight 1C chip leader Tom Cuce (Boca Raton, FL):

Miguel Martinez - 670,000

Rafael Reis - 630,000

Tom Cuce - 625,000

Elias Nassif - 530,000

Rafael Oropesa - 510,000

Event 8 (Day 2): Jason Young Vaults Up The Leaderboard

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 18 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 126

Jason Young (New York, NY)

WSOP bracelet winner Jason Young (New York, NY) is now one of the top five stacks in the field, after his pocket aces held in a massive three-way all-in.  After an open to 16,000, and a three-bet to 48,000, Young looked down at A♠ A♥ on the button.  Jason four-bet to 105,000, with the original opener shoving for 180,000.  The player to have three-bet just called the 180,000, but the amount of the player's all-in allowed for Young to five-bet shove for just over 288,000.  The extra 108,000 would be called, and the three hands would be tabled:

Young: A♠ A♥

Player X: A♦ K♣

Player Y: J♠ J♣

Runout: 5♥ 7♥ 7♣ 3♦ 7♦

Young's aces were never at risk on that board, and he'd almost triple up to just under 750,000.  Jason came into the day with 150,000, and is now primed to make a deep run towards his first five-figure tournament score since 2011.

Event 8 (Day 2): ...And The Rich Get Richer, Gomez Continues To Climb

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 17 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 141

Aris Gomez (Coral Springs, FL)

From 161,500 to start the day, Aris Gomez (Coral Springs, FL) continues to climb, moments ago assuming the top spot on the leaderboard.  Gomez was heads up in a pot with Bryce McVay (Jupiter, FL), having just bet 34,000 on the turn of a board reading 6♦ 9♦ 9♣ 2♣.  McVay took a lot of time with his decision, and with the 34,000 in his hand, announced himself all-in as he pushed it forward.  Gomez quick made the call, with his 10♥ 9♥ in great shape against Bryce's Q♠ Q♦.  The river would bring no help to Bryce, and with that pot, Gomez would chip up to 880,000.

Aris Gomez - 880,000 (176bb)

Bryce McVay - Eliminated

Event 8 (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts From The Field

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 17 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 144

With players away from the tables, it allowed for easier visuals of chip stacks, which entail yields the first updated counts of the day.  While Manuel Soltero (Miami, FL) leads the field, the story of the day is Scott Watson (Parkland, FL), who bought in before registration closed today...and has over 505,000!  Watson has over $108,000 in live tournament earnings, most notably finishing runner-up to Danny Shiff in the 2012 Isle Poker Open $2,500 Main Event ($66,951).

Manuel Soltero - 720,000

Aris Gomez - 630,000

Michael Newman - 545,000

Marty Mordechi - 510,000

Scott Watson - 505,000

Gyorgy Cseke - 490,000

TJ Shulman - 475,000

Calixto Rodriguez - 450,000

Event 8 (Day 2): A Trio Trending Up To Start The Day

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 17 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 151

Manuel Soltero (Miami, FL)

The remaining players in the Day 2 field are taking their first break of the day, and will be returning to Level 17, with blinds increasing to 2,500/5,000/500.  While many of the chip leaders to start the day have been steadfast in their numbers, a trio of players have made big moves up the leaderboard over the first two levels of the day:

Aris Gomez - Started Day 2: 161,500  After Level 16: 625,000

Michael Newman - Started Day 2: 156,500   After Level 16: 500,000

Manuel Soltero - Started Day 2: 102,500   After Level 16: 360,000

The field is still over (40) players away from reaching the money, and while we've seen the "money bubble" burst fairly quickly in recent events, the deep stacks (and deep play) in this tournament could lead to a longer hand-for-hand process.

Event 8 (Day 2): Sitting In His Comfort Zone

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 168

Christian Rodriguez (Miami, FL)

Massive fields, lots of chips, and long levels are all things that Christian Rodriguez experienced in his way to a life-changing score.  Rodriguez finished in fifth place of the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" during the 2015 WSOP, earning himself $335,938.  The tournament was one of the largest the WSOP has ever seen, with 7,192 entries, and a eye popping prize pool over $9,700,000.  Christian bagged the chip lead during the final starting flight of this event (Flight 1F), and is still hovering around the 340,000 mark that he started Day 2 with.  Rodriguez was seated next to Day 2 entry Francis Margaglione, who has since busted since the last published update.

Event 8 (Day 2): First Level Of The Day In The Books

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Entries: 1,143

Players Remaining: 186

Play in Day 2 of Event 8 just transitioned to Level 16, with the first level of the day full of action...and movement.  The field lost over (70) players in the first fifty minutes, including the likes of:

Jack Sumner

Tom Gity

Gili Prizament

Kimberly Jones

Frederico Dabus

We've seen a pair of Day 2 entrants (seated at the same table) start the "spin," as Francis Margaglione ended the first level with 60,000, and Stewart Newman with just under 100,000 (both from the 25,000 starting stack).  The field is still over (80) eliminations from the money, so the "money bubble" is still a few levels away (108 players make the money in this event).