The buzz of excitement filled the air at the Resorts World Las Vegas as Day 2 of the 2024 PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) $5,300 Main Event unfolded over seven intense 90-minute levels of play. After beginning the day with 287 returning players from three starting flights and an additional 60 entries following late registration, the tournament attracted a total of 347 entries, a testament to the electric atmosphere and competitive spirit prevalent at this year’s event. By the end of the night, only 77 players remained, all fighting for the coveted title and a slice of a lucrative prize pool.
Rising Stars: The Leading Chip Counts
The spotlight shone brightly on Masato Yokosawa, who emerged as the Day 2 chip leader with a remarkable stack of 845,000 chips, translating to 106 big blinds for Day 3. Close on his heels was Andrew Voor, holding 836,000 chips, while Andre Abreu claimed the third spot with 795,000 chips. The competition is set to become increasingly fierce as these top players look to maintain their momentum in the upcoming rounds.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masato Yokosawa | Japan | 845,000 | 106 |
| 2 | Andrew Voor | United States | 836,000 | 105 |
| 3 | Andre Abreu | Portugal | 795,000 | 99 |
| 4 | Manuel Fritz | Austria | 732,000 | 92 |
| 5 | David “ODB” Baker | United States | 693,000 | 87 |
| 6 | Michael Bohmerwald | United States | 693,000 | 87 |
| 7 | Brock Wilson | United States | 686,000 | 86 |
| 8 | Casey Stewart | United States | 668,000 | 84 |
| 9 | Daniel Perrier | Canada | 579,000 | 72 |
| 10 | Nicholas Manganaro | United States | 567,000 | 71 |
Day 2 Action: Notable Moments
The day commenced with Sami Bechahed, the defending champion, demonstrating his skills early on by eliminating Maxx Coleman and Diego Sanchez with an impressive river flush. Bechahed’s momentum saw him finish the day with 240,000 chips.
Contrastingly, Stephen Song’s run ended abruptly in the first level after he was eliminated in a showdown with Nicholas Marchington, with both players flopping sets in a dramatic preflop collision. Song had just won the $25,000 NAPT Super High Roller event the previous day, making his early exit all the more surprising.
Several prominent players met untimely exits, including Bill Klein, Nick Schulman, and Maria Ho, underscoring the challenging nature of the competition. One notable elimination belonged to Christian Harder, who was taken down just before the money bubble, living a classic poker heartbreak as his pocket aces were marred by Brock Wilson’s ace-queen.
As the evening progressed, the pressure intensifying, the money bubble burst late in the night. Michael Lavenburg, holding pocket sixes, went all-in against Jared Jaffee’s pocket sevens but failed to improve, marking his exit on the stone bubble. Following this elimination, all remaining players qualified for at least a min-cash of $8,900.
Remaining Players and Future Prospects
Amidst the excitement, Bin Weng, who initially held the chip lead, saw his journey come to an end after an ill-timed predicament left him facing off against Nikolai Tulin, only to succumb shortly after the money bubble burst.
Fortunately, several notable players made it through to Day 3, including David “ODB” Baker (693,000), Brian Yoon (558,000), and PokerStars Team Pro Maria Konnikova (243,000), all eager to contend for the prestigious title and substantial prize money.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $765,200 | 14-15 | $39,550 |
| 2 | $478,450 | 16-17 | $34,400 |
| 3 | $341,750 | 18-20 | $29,900 |
| 4 | $262,900 | 21-23 | $26,000 |
| 5 | $202,250 | 24-27 | $22,600 |
| 6 | $155,550 | 28-31 | $19,650 |
| 7 | $119,650 | 32-39 | $17,100 |
| 8 | $92,000 | 40-55 | $14,900 |
| 9 | $70,800 | 56-71 | $12,950 |
| 10-11 | $56,950 | 72-77 | $11,300 |
| 12-13 | $47,450 |
Day 3 is set to kick off tomorrow, November 8, at noon local time, with players entering Level 18, featuring blinds at 4,000/8,000 and an 8,000 big blind ante. The introduction of shot clocks will add an extra layer of intensity, ensuring rapid-fire decisions among the players.
Stay tuned as the PokerNews live reporting team covers all the action on the ground at Resorts World for Day 3 of the NAPT Las Vegas Main Event! Whether you’re an ardent poker enthusiast or a newcomer to the game, the unfolding drama promises an edge-of-your-seat experience as the best vie for victory.
