The second starting flight for this year’s World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in NLHE Main Event attracted 2,378 entries Wednesday, but only 1,801 survived to go further in the competition when the survivors of all three starting days combine.
The second starting day field this year was up 10 percent on 2017, and combined with the 925 first flight starters (up 16 percent) brings entries so far to 3,303 – a 12 percent improvement on the 2017 numbers at this point.
The organisers anticipate an even bigger entry list for the third and final starting list.
659 players survived the first flight, so the field from both starting days headed to the combined next stage of the competition is already 2,460 strong.
When the second starter flight ended the chip leader was Smain Mamouni on 311,600, chased by Samuel Bernabeu (309,500) and Barbara Rogers (307,000).
The survivors included Brit grandad and caravan salesman John Hesp playing in his second WSOP Main Event in his signature rainbow jacket and panama hat. Hesp made fourth last year for around $2.6 million and is a popular and positive character; he ended the day with 63,900 chips, after launching the day’s activity with the shuffle up and deal call.
Other notables who made it through were Alex Foxen, two-time main event winner and ten-time bracelet winner Johnny Chan (151,100), Shaun Deeb (143,000), 2000 main event winner Chris Ferguson (134,900), George Danzer (117,800) and Barry Shulman (88,000).
Those who were eliminated included poker streamer Jason Somerville, 2006 main event champion Jaime Gold, Noah Schwartz, three-time bracelet winner Doug Polk, Belgian ace Kenny Hallaert, 2004 world champion Greg Raymer and 2015 main event fourth-place finisher Max Steinberg.
Making a grand entrance and reprising his Roman emperor performance in past years was Phil Hellmuth, who still has the largest number of WSOP bracelets. This year he chose the fantasy theme Thor and arrived in costume, brandishing the legendary hammer and surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women dressed as Wonderwomen. Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5J_yzENIUg.