John Bednarczyk has found a hot seat at his new table and after a couple big pots he now finds himself at the top of the leaderboard.
On a board reading and with around 5,800 in the middle already, Bednarczyk moved all in for 9,400 from early position. His opponent thought for a couple minutes before eventually making the call for his remaining 6,300.
Bednarczyk:
Opponent:
Bednarczyk had the win locked up with the ace-high flush and scooped a big pot.
In the very next hand after joking around with his next opponent, Sunni Pil about being the chip leader, Bednarczyk woke up with another monster. After the flop came , Bednarczyk moved all in with and Pil called with . Unfortunately for Pil, her pocket jacks were not able to catch up and she was sent to the rail as well.
Bednarczyk now sits with over 31,000 chips heading into the first break of the day.
While a lot goes into the success of a tournament, and eventually the glory of completing a final table, the hard work of dealers is something that never goes unnoticed.
Shaun Harris and Heather Alcorn are seated at the same table and are looking to be on the other side of the final tables that they normally deal here at the World Series of Poker. The table also includes Media Contributor Molly Mossey, clearly making their table the most fun one in the room.
Harris has cashed this event twice, in 2010 and 2016, while Alcorn looks to book her first-ever WSOP cash to go with her nine WSOP Circuit cashes.
Dana Castaneda, a 2013 WSOP bracelet winner, has joined the field today and is setting a fast pace early on. With over $460,000 in live tournament earnings, Castaneda is looking to add to that total in the 48th running of the WSOP.
Just now Castaneda was involved in a hand in which the board read , and the small blind led out for 700 into a pot of around 1,000. Castaneda raised to 2,200 and her opponent called. The river was the and her opponent checked. Castaneda bet 2,300 and once again her opponent called. Castaneda showed for a straight and her opponent knocked the table and mucked his cards.
Castaneda shortly after announced to her opponent that she is a "luck-box," but with her previous results showing otherwise, she may just be toying with her opponents.
Johnny Gagelonia limped in from late position, and the player in the cutoff raised to 400. Gagelonia limp-raised to 1,000 and his opponent thought for a minute before deciding to call.
The flop came and Gagelonia quickly moved all in for 1,500. His opponent snap-called.
Gagelonia tabled and his opponent showed for a gut-shot straight draw. The turn was the and the river was the , giving Gagelonia the double-up he was looking for.
Gagelonia finished in 15th place for $3,618 in this event two years ago and looks to top that this year.
With the board reading and roughly 3,000 in the pot, Thida Lin moved all in from the small blind for 2,900. Her opponent was on the button and was left with a decision for his tournament life. He eventually slid out his remaining 2,400 chips and Lin showed for a straight. Her opponent threw his cards face up in disgust showing for top set.