Ante Up For Day 2: Ryan D'Angelo Leads
The popularity of the Ante-Only tournament at the World Series of Poker continues to grow as 714 players put up the $1,500 buy-in this year, generating a $963,900 prize pool with $212,093 going to the winner.
Ryan D'Angelo is the man to catch going into Day 2 with 120,400 in chips. D'Angelo came out on the right side of a frenetic last couple of levels to return as one of only two players to sit with over 100,000. Anton Smirnov is the other player with 106,600.
Dan Kelly, fresh from winning a bracelet in the $1,500 Limit Hold��em tournament, showed his versatility by bagging up 98,400, running it up in the last few hands of the night.
Max Silver (73,700), Eddy Sabat (56,800), Jason Somerville (51,800), and Maria Ho (50,300) all return in decent shape with above-average stacks.
Other notables enjoying themselves in this seldom played format of the game are Daniel Negreanu (49,900), George Danzer (49,300), Martin Finger (46,000), Erik Seidel (24,600), and Phil Hellmuth (23,400), who will continue his chase for that elusive 14th bracelet.
It��s sure to be another fascinating day as some of the finest minds in poker try to outthink each other with contrasting styles and theories on how best to survive and thrive in this form of the game.
The fast-paced action resumes at 1 p.m. and with 72 places set to be paid and only 80 players left the money bubble is likely to burst fairly soon after the cards are in the air. PokerNews live reporting team will bring all the updates over the next 10 levels as the tournament plays down to the final table.
While we wait for action to start, here's Jason Mercier discussing how a couple of years ago he discussed the "mini-raise" with Phil Ivey.