WSOP: Timothy Su Grabs Chip Lead, Anton Morgenstern Third
WSOP: Timothy Su Grabs Chip Lead, Anton Morgenstern Third

After a crazy Day 1C, Day 2AB of the 2019 World Series of Poker Main Event was actually uneventful and rather peaceful. The 2,383 players who managed to get through Day 1A and 1B combined into one field on Saturday and they were joined by another 100 players who decided to use the late registration option before play began. A little more than half of the players who started the day with chips were able to finish the day with chips.

Timothy Su Goes From Second to First

Timothy Su finished Day 1A with the second biggest stack. He improved on that position on Saturday, ending the day with 791,000 and the chip lead. The next biggest stack belongs to Tony Blanchandin with 744,500.

Sitting in third is German pro Anton Morgenstern. He has been here before. In 2013, Morgenstern built up a massive chip lead heading into Day 7 only to blow up and bust out in 20th. Two years later, history basically repeated itself as Morgenstern was sent home in 22nd place. He’ll return on Day 3 to a stack of 735,000.

Heard ‘Em Say: 100 Take Advantage of Day 2AB Late Registration

For the first time in WSOP history, players can register up until the start of play on each Day 2. There were exactly 100 players who took advantage of this for Day 2AB to push the total field to 8,225 players – 548 short of the record set in 2006.

Official Day 2C numbers won’t be made available until mid-afternoon, but WSOP officials hope to be able to celebrate a massive milestone if the final late registration numbers touch the sky.

Qui Nguyen Builds Stack on Day 2AB; Chainsaw Moving On Up

Bracelet winners Galen Hall, Anthony Spinella and Brian Yoon all ended up in the top ten, but they weren’t the only familiar faces still working with chips. Qui Nguyen (602,400), Day 1B chip leader Adam Owen (511,800), Andre Akkari (467,400), Jeff Lisandro (466,400), and Kelly Minkin (444,500) all ended up in the top 50.

After starting play Saturday with a top five stack, Allen Kessler managed to continue his momentum and bagged up 407,200. Alex Foxen, who is currently ranked #7 on the PocketFives Rankings and #2 on the Global Poker Index, finished with 89,600.

One of Shaun Deeb’s nemesis’, Johnnie Moreno (aka Johnnie Vibes) moved on to Day 3 with 142,500 after starting the day with 184,000.

Igor Kurganov, Connor Drinan, partypoker MILLIONS South America winner Marty Mathis, Kenny Hallaert, Jean-Robert Bellande, Isaac Baron, Olivier Busquet, Phil Hui, Faraz Jaka, Arsenii Karmatckii, Daniel Strelitz, Prahlad Friedman, and Ben Yu also made it through the five levels of play.

Daniel Negreanu Headlines Bustouts

Sad news for fans – and backers – of Daniel Negreanu. The six-time bracelet winner was eliminated on Saturday. Negreanu, who sold pieces of his entire WSOP package, will now be playing the post-lims on the schedule as he continues to hunt for a seventh bracelet and a better ROI for those fortunate enough to have a piece of the Poker Hall of Famer.

He wasn’t the only one who had their “worst day of the year” on Saturday. Chris Ferguson, Randall Emmett, Mark Radoja, Ari Engel, Stephen Chidwick, Mike Watson, Michael Tureniec, Patrick Leonard, Phil Galfond, Ian O’Hara, Justin Bonomo, and Ryan Riess all busted on Saturday. Galfond was disappointed to bust, but happy to pass the torch on to his wife Farah who will play on Day 2C.

Kevin Roster Update

Over the course of the 2019 WSOP, the story of Kevin Roster has touched many people. Struggling with sarcoma, Roster moved to California to be able to end his life legally under the End of Life Option Act. Knowing this would be his last WSOP, Roster played a number of events and was put into the Main Event by 2012 Main Event champion Greg Merson. On Saturday, Roster was unable to bag chips after struggling with his health throughout the day.

Yuri Dzivielevski Leads Former #1s into Day 3

Just a handful of former #1-ranked players made it through the Day 2AB. Just weeks after winning his first bracelet, Yuri Dzivielevski continues to enjoy the run good and ended the day with 290,300. Sweden’s ‘lena900’ isn’t far behind him with 247,000. Paul Volpe, who has cashed four previous times in the Main Event, including a 142nd place last year, ended the day with 190,700. Good friend Taylor Paur bagged up 105,300.

Pennsylvania Poker Players Continue to Represent

Sometime later this month, regulated Pennsylvania online poker will launch, but for now a number of players from the Keystone State are hoping to make a deep run in the Main Event. Donald Dombach leads the 26 players from Pennsylvania who made it through Day 2AB. Dombach ended the day with 314,000.

Not too far behind him is four-time bracelet winner Brian Hastings. He built his stack up to 274,000. He’s followed by Dennis Cronin (251,300), Francis Stempin (202,200), and Volpe.

Other notables from Pennsylvania who finished with chips on Saturday include Matt Brady (181,900), Matt Glantz (166,200), Seth Berger (164,900), and Aaron Overton (136,800).

Top 10 Chip Counts

  1. Timothy Su – 791,000
  2. Tony Blanchandin – 744,500
  3. Anton Morgenstern – 735,000
  4. Florian Duta – 731,500
  5. Galen Hall – 705,900
  6. Gerald Claunch – 699,600
  7. Rachid Amamou – 688,000
  8. Bryan Buonocore – 668,800
  9. Anthony Spinella – 643,700
  10. Brian Yoon – 643,400