WSOPE – Cheong heads Main Event, Juanda on top in €50k High Roller
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Joseph Cheong is the man to beat with just 24 players left in the WSOPE Main Event. The runner up in this year's WSOP $5k Mixed Max event returns with 1,381,000 followed by Paul Tedeschi (1,071,000) and Sergii Baranov (1,055,000) who were the only other members of the seven figure stack club.
Chris Brammer heads a very strong British challenge in fourth place with 956,000 with 2010 UKIPT Dublin winner Max Silver (656,000), Toby Lewis (456,000) and EPT San Remo Liv Boeree (411,000) very much still in contention.
As you'd expect from a quality starting field, the final two dozen is absolutely stacked with Jason Mercier (824,000), Phil Hellmuth (741,000), Scott Seiver (251,000), David Benyamine (217,000) and Andy Frankenberger (186,000) still in the hunt for the bracelet.
That is no longer the case for the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Eugene Katchalov and Bertrand Grospellier who all made the money but busted yesterday.
Players returning today are guaranteed a score of at least €26,611 but will no doubt have eyes on the €1,022,376 on offer to the winner. Blinds are at 4,000/8,000 with a 1,000 ante with the average stack 525,000.
The chip leaders are as follows:
1. Joseph Cheong – 1,381,000
2. Paul Tedeschi – 1,071,000
3. Sergii Baranov – 1,055,000
4. Christopher Brammer – 956,000
5. Jason Mercier – 824,000
6. Phil Hellmuth – 741,000
7. Max Silver – 656,000
8. Curt Kohlberg – 607,000
9. Timothy Adams – 577,000
10. Joe McGowan – 518,000
€50k Majestic High Roller – Juanda leads
There may not be a bracelet on offer to the winner of the €50k High Roller at the WSOPE but the prospect of a huge score attracted many of the games most deep pocketed players. All told, 43 players entered on the opening day with John Juanda finishing with the lead.
The former WSOPE Main Event winner amassed a stack of 538,000 giving him a healthy advantage over closest rival Richard Yong 408,200 and David Benefield (375,100). Other notables to finish in the top ten included Tony G (350,000), Daniel Negreanu (320,200) and Erik Seidel (293,800).
Play resumes at 4pm local time today with registration (and rebuys) open for the first level. It looks like it's going to be a biggie.
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