Day 2 of Event #32: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Mix began with 224 players remaining from the starting field of 688. After another 10 levels of play, there are still 29 players left in the hunt. Leading the way into Day 3 is Howard Smith with 466,500. He is followed by Erle Mankin with 465,000, Yueqi Zhu with 448,500 and Igor Sharaskin with 445,000.
Smith was among the chip leaders at the dinner break, then things started to go downhill. However, a quick rush catapulted Smith back to the top of the counts. The key hand came against Day 1 chip leader Daniel Zack. The chips went into the middle after the turn and Smith held a full house. Zack had flopped a flush, but was no longer in the lead for the high. He did have a plethora of outs to make a low and had outs to win the high, but the river was a brick, sending the massive pot Smith's way.
Other who bagged today include Vladimir Shchemelev (256,000), Mark Herm (200,000), Nikolai Yakovenko (120,000), Allyn Shulman (109,500), Allen Kessler (74,500), and John Racener (27,000).
Play resumes on Sunday at 2 p.m. with hopes of reaching a winner, though the most likely scenario is another 10 levels will be played, with the remaining players returning on Monday for a Day 4.
With a few limpers before him, Daniel Zack raised from the big blind. Only Howard Smith tagged along from the small blind.
The flop came down , and Smith check-called a bet from Zack. The turn was the , and Smith led out. Zack raised, Smith reraised, and Zack tank-called all in for about 170,000.
Zack:
Smith:
Smith had taken the lead with a deuces full of jacks against Zack's flush, but Zack still had outs to a better full house and the low. However, the river completed the board, eliminating Zack from the tournament.
Following a flop of , Felipe Ramos (with a few thousand committed) was in the tank on the button for his remaining 6,000 after John Racener had set him to a decision for the rest of his chips from the big blind.
After a little while mulling it over, Ramos called all in.
Racener:
Ramos:
The turn and river completed the board — no help to Ramos, ending his tournament a few places shy of the money.
As recapped to us by Allen Kessler and fellow players at his table, Kessler raised from the hijiack and Alex Luneau called from the big blind.
The flop came down and a flurry of action resulted in Luneau all in for roughly 70,000. Kessler had him barely covered.
Kessler:
Luneau:
Kessler held the nut straight and second best low, while Luneau held top set with the nut low.
An turn and river completed the board, giving Kessler the high with his eight-high straight and the low with a wheel, eliminating Luneau in what was easily the largest pot of the tournament.
With about 8,000 chips already in the middle and the board reading , the player in the small blind bet 2,500, Alan Sternberg raised to 12,500 from middle position, and John Racener moved all in from the button for about 27,000. The small blind folded, Sternberg called to put Racener at risk, and the two players tabled their hands.
Sternberg:
Racener:
Both players had the nut low draw, but Sternberg had the lead for the high half with his pair of kings and Racener had a wheel wrap. The on the turn made Racener's wheel and put him firmly in the lead, the river changed nothing, and Racener scooped the pot to double up.
A total of 688 players took to the felt on Day 1 of Event #32: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Mix at the 2017 World Series of Poker, but only 224 will return to play Day 2 at 2 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Leading the way is Daniel Zack, who bagged 92,375 after 10 levels of play on Friday, and nipping at his heels are Igor Sharaskin (85,500), Allen Kessler (73,450), and Leif Force (70,050). Sharaskin has been on a heater this summer, as he made final tables in two earlier Omaha events, ultimately finishing third and fifth.
The chip leaders are joined by a slew of other talented players who still have their eyes on the title and the top prize of $194,323. Sam Farha (43,775), Lee Markholt (32,900), Nikolai Yakovenko (32,800), Yuval Bronshtein (28,125), Mike Matusow (23,175), Phil Hellmuth (21,650), Rob Mizrachi (18,850), Mike Sexton (18,450), and Benny Glaser (15,300) are all still in the hunt for WSOP gold.
Play on Day 2 will consist of 10 one-hour levels and 104 of the remaining 224 players will cash.
Be sure to check back here to follow all the action in this event from the PokerNews live reporting team.
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, and Smith check-called a bet from Zack. The turn was the 
, and Smith led out. Zack raised, Smith reraised, and Zack tank-called all in for about 170,000.
river completed the board, eliminating Zack from the tournament.
, Felipe Ramos (with a few thousand committed) was in the tank on the button for his remaining 6,000 after John Racener had set him to a decision for the rest of his chips from the big blind.
turn and 
turn and 
river completed the board, giving Herm eights full of sevens and the nut low to eliminate Hellmuth.
and a flurry of action resulted in Luneau all in for roughly 70,000. Kessler had him barely covered.
river changed nothing, and Racener scooped the pot to double up.
river completed the board, no help to Beckley, giving Matusow the pot with a pair of fives.
