LAS VEGAS -- Day 2B of the World Series of Poker Main Event began with 2,734 players, including Phil Ivey. The day ended with 1,476 players -- and no Ivey.
Poker's most dominant player busted out of the tournament during the first hour of play Saturday. His demise began when he went all in with
pocket queens against Yuji Masaki. Masaki had pocket kings, but it looked like Ivey would win the hand when a queen hit on the turn, giving Ivey a set. But a king hit on the river, giving Masaki the win. The tough beat left Ivey with about 1,900 in chips, and he exited the tournament a few hands later.
Ivey wasn't the only top pro to exit the tournament early.
Doyle Brunson, Todd Brunson, Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, J.C. Tran, Hevad Khan, Freddy Deeb, Gavin Griffin, Alexander Kravchenko and Cyndy Violette were all bounced from the event as well.
Some well-known amateurs who failed to survive the day include Shannon Elizabeth, Orel Hershiser, Trishelle Cannatella and last year's second-place finisher, Darvin Moon.
Saturday's action kicked off in style when UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer put his unique spin on the traditional call to shuffle up and deal.
"We are liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive from the Rio All-Suite Resort and Casino, where 7,319 warriors of the cards have come to compete for $68,798,600 in prize money," Buffer told the Main Event players.
"Now, this is the moment we've all been waiting for. It's time to go to war on the green felt battlefield of champions. Let's shuffle up and deal!"
And with that, the players began their efforts to reach Day 3 of the Main Event. Vanessa Selbst, who won the NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Event earlier this year, made a big move up the leaderboard and ended the day with 265,000 in chips.
The
chip leader among Day 2B players was David Assouline, who ended play with 387,800 in chips.
Doyle Brunson had a large following on the
rail, but he just couldn't seem to get any traction on the felt.
Midway through Saturday's play, Brunson faced a re-raise from a player on his left. Brunson thought about things for a couple of minutes before deciding to
fold. His opponent showed the table a two as he mucked the other card face down.
"I've won plenty of hands with that last card," Brunson said smiling.
"You didn't have a ten with that, did you?" Brunson asked.
"That would be like killing me with my own blood," Brunson added, referring to the 10-2 hand that he won the 1976 and 1977 Main Events with.
Brunson busted out late in the day and received an ovation from the crowd as he exited the Amazon Room in the Rio.
The Main Event continues Monday when the 1,476 Day 2B and 1,295 Day 2A survivors play together as one field for the first time.
For more on the action at the felt, check out our Day 2B photo gallery below and
this page.
