The Player of the Year standings have been one of the biggest talking points all summer here at the WSOP, and right now, it is two established pros who are one-two in the race: John Monnette and John Racener.
Every point counts for these guys as the summer is about to wrap up, and that is evident by the fact that both of them have entered this final event. Not only are they both here, but it just so happens that they are sitting right next to each other.
We will be sure to keep tabs on this table as the day progresses. Both players are around their starting stack, with Monnette holding a slight advantage at the moment.
With about 2,000 in the pot and the board reading , Ricardo Abundis found himself all in for 8,125 against a player in the small blind who had him just covered. Abundis showed and his opponent tabled .
The board ran out and , giving Abundis the full double-up with his pocket rockets.
Players have been steadily streaming in as play is moving on here, as the clock is up to over 500 players now. One of the latest to take his seat is 2014 WSOP Main Event Champion Martin Jacobson. The Swedish pro won a cool $10 million for his victory there, but he fell short in making another deep run this year, busting earlier today. He hasn't let that phase him though, as he is here now looking for another WSOP bracelet in this event.
Ryan Nelson is from the Midwestern United States in Iowa and has chipped up very nicely so far in the first flight. He hasn't had any big hands but lots of small ball pots and is taking them down consistently in the first two levels of play.
Nelson got to his first-ever WSOP event through a contest that was put on by OPMH E-liquid. He won a free entry into this event courtesy of Eddy LeBlanc, part owner of the company, who has a WSOP Circuit ring and almost $200,000 in career WSOP earnings. The company didn't just buy Nelson into the event but also donated the $111 for him to get the extra 5,000 in chips while supporting a great cause.
Nelson said, "I want to thank OPMH for giving this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the WSOP for running such an incredible event. I hope to know what a Day 2 feels like."
Good luck to him in his first-ever WSOP experience and stay tuned on his progress.
Chris "Jesus" Ferguson was all in preflop for just a few hundred chips and he was called by two players, including recent bracelet winner Thomas Koral. The flop came down and Koral fired 800. His opponent in the side pot called and they both checked the turn.
The river was the and Koral's opponent led out for 1,200. Koral thought it over for a bit before calling, and his opponent showed for a pair of queens. It was no good though, as Koral had him one-upped with .
Ferguson revealed his cards one at a time, first, then the , for an inferior pair. "I'll be back," Ferguson said as he got up to leave.
"I thought you might," Koral responded as he raked in the chips.
ChenBin Xu was on the button and got it all in preflop for his last 5,150 against an opponent in the hijack. Xu tabled and the hijack showed . The board ran out and Xu got the double with his two pair to vault himself over starting stack.
Planning a wedding can be a BUZZKILL, but it doesn't have to be. The Little Vegas Chapel offers unique weddings including getting married by The King himself, Elvis.
Ryan Nelson was in the cutoff and raised to 450. David Farah was in the small blind and defended.
The flop was and Farah checked. Nelson bet 1,000 and Farah check-raised to 2,200. Nelson called.
The turn was the and Farah led for 4,000. Nelson raised to 10,000, and after Farah saw Nelson had about 17,000 behind, he moved all in having him well covered. Nelson thought about it for a short while before relinquishing his hand and tapping the table.
Farah has jumped out to the early chip lead after winning this pot to follow a huge pot earlier on. He was all in against two other players and he held ace-king versus pocket jacks and five-six off-suit. He hit a king and held on to take it down.