Paul Volpe Bags Day 2 Chip Lead in Event #60: $50K Poker Players Championship
Day 2 of the $50,000 Poker Players Championship has been played to its conclusion with Paul Volpe emerging as the new chip leader after another six levels of play. Volpe, who holds three gold bracelets, was the only player to bag over a million chips (1,092,000).
Play began on Day 2 with 44 players (up from the 39 players that bagged from Day 1) and increased periodically throughout the day until reaching a total of 63 by the time late registration ended. Among the new entries were Jesse Klein (656,000), Alex Livingston (872,000), Chris Brewer (715,000), Nick Schulman (723,000), Cary Katz (197,000) and Dan “Jungleman” Cates (944,000) – who made his 2021 WSOP debut and will be looking to improve on his sixth-place finish in the 2019 Poker Players Championship.
Notably absent was the defending champion Phil Hui, who has yet to make an appearance at the series this year.
$50K Poker Players Championship Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Volpe | United States | 1,092,000 |
| 2 | Dan Cates | United States | 944,000 |
| 3 | Adam Friedman | United States | 913,000 |
| 4 | Alex Livingston | Canada | 872,000 |
| 5 | Chris Vitch | United States | 849,000 |
| 6 | George Alexander | United States | 820,000 |
| 7 | Brian Rast | United States | 790,000 |
| 8 | Yuval Bronshtein | Israel | 775,000 |
| 9 | Chad Campbell | United States | 764,000 |
| 10 | Nick Schulman | United States | 723,000 |
Other players who managed to bag into Day 3 include Day 1 chip leader Bryce Yockey (510,000), Eli Elezra (700,000), Anthony Zinno (415,000), and Daniel Negreanu, who managed to run his 77,000 in chips at the beginning of Day 2 up to 655,000 by the day’s end.
By the end of the day, just 35 players remained. Some players who were less fortunate include Frank Kassela, George Wolff, Benny Glaser, Shaun Deeb, and previous PPC champions Michael Mizrachi and Freddy Deeb – all of whom were eliminated over the course Day 2.
Phil Hellmuth, who entered late into Day 2, was also unable to survive after being eliminated by a turned gutshot of George Alexander and failing to improve with a set.
The 63 entries generated a $3,016,125 total prize pool. Ten spots will pay, with the eventual winner taking home $954,020 in addition to a WSOP gold bracelet and the right to have their name engraved in the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.
Event #60: $50,000 Poker Players Championship Payouts
| Place | Prize (USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $954,020 | |
| 2 | $589,628 | |
| 3 | $404,243 | |
| 4 | $286,983 | |
| 5 | $211,235 | |
| 6 | $161,422 | |
| 7 | $128,256 | |
| 8 | $106,120 | |
| 9 | $91,595 | |
| 10 | $82,623 |
The remaining field will return Tuesday at 2 p.m. local time to play another six levels. As with past days, levels will last 100 minutes each and players will get 15-minute breaks after each level. Players will go on an hour-long dinner break after Level 16 (around 9:20 p.m.)
Continue to stick with PokerNews to follow the action as the remaining field thins and the surviving players get ever closer to being crowned the next Poker Players Champion!
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flop and Phil Hellmuth bet 26,000 in the cutoff. Ryan Leng folded on the button and Adam Friedman did so in the small blind. George Alexander check-called out of the big blind and then checked the 
on the turn.
for a gutshot that had filled up.
but missed on a blank 
river. He vaulted out of his seat, gave a short speech and then stormed out of the tournament area.
. Grospellier check-called all in for the remainder of his stack against a bet from Yitzhaki. 
turn and 
river left Yitzhaki best with a flush — eliminating Grospellier from contention.
flop and Cates called. 
for two pair. Cates mucked and Rast scooped the pot.
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fold on fourth
for jacks full of fours. A frustrated Barbero showed 
, before leading and getting called on the 
river.
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