ULTIMATE POKER CHALLENGE MAIN EVENT DAY 2 RECAP

21 players returned to action on Day 2 of the the $10K Ultimate Poker Challenge no limit main event, which was held at the Plaza Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Players begin with $30K in chips and levels are 60 minutes in length. The action is seven handed which is a unique twist to this year’s event. In all, 55 players started on Monday and they competed for a prize pool worth over $540K. Erik Seidel ended Day 1 as the chip leader with $180,900 and Chau Giang was a close second.

Here’s who survived the first day: Blair Rodman, Scott Fischman, Gavin Smith, Joe Bartholdi, Senthil Kumar, Ted Forrest, James English, Erick Lindgren, Andy Bloch, William Rockwell, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, David Plastik, Mike Wattel, John Juanda, Cyndy Violette, Ray Faltinsky, David Levi, Minh Ly, and Cary Katz.

Notable bustouts on Day 1 included: David Williams, Chris Jesus Ferguson, Layne Flack, Kevin “The Man” Chan, and Dennis Ethier.

Here’s the payout structure:

1st = $167,500

2nd = $100,750

3rd = $54,600

4th = $44,300

5th = $32,500

6th = $27,100

7th = $21,500

8th = $18,300

9th = $15,200

10th and 11th = $13,500

12th – 14th = $11,000

Early on The Grinder and Minh Ly were embroiled in a heads up battle. Minh Ly won the first with 5-5 versus The Grinder’s A-Q. The Grinder did much better the second time when his Hilton Sisters held up against A-5. Minh Ly was eventually eliminated by David Levi. Erik Seidel’s stack took a hit when he doubled up David Plastik on the featured TV table. Chau Giang slipped into the chiplead. Andy Bloch doubled up and cracked Minh Ly’s pocket aces when he rivered a straight. Cyndy Violette won a race with the Hilton’s against Gavin Smith’s A-K.

David Levi knocked out William Rockwell in 16th place. Levi flopped a flush with A6s and cracked Rockwell’s Hilton Sisters despite flopping a set. Rockwell could not pair the board or catch the case Queen and he was eliminated. The fact that William Rockwell is playing poker at all is an amazing story. He played in the WSOP too, despite losing the use of both his arms. He had a busty blonde counting his chips and doing the betting for him. During his exit interview Rockwell said he didn’t feel sad about getting bad beated, “I’m so lucky to be here and I outlasted some of the best players in the world.” Even David Levi came over and gave him an apologetic big hug.

Ted Forrest doubled up Erik Seidel and The Grinder just before David Levi bubbled out in 15th place. The Grinder was the next one busted in 14th place, followed by John Juanda in 13th. The UPC and the Plaza pays the players in casino chips. John Juanda walked over the the craps table and bet on a few throws. When Erick Lindgren was busted a few minutes later, he ran over to the craps table shouting “I’m coming to save Juanda!” The two played craps for a few minutes before they walked over to the cage and cashed out.

David Plastik was knocked out in 11th when his A-Q ran into Chau Giang’s pocket Queens. Andy Bloch doubled up against Gavin Smith, and then let Eirk Seidel double up against him. Bloch was left with a short stack. Chau Giang and Scott Fischman went heads up in a big pot. With 7-7, Chau flopped a set. He got all his money in the pot on the turn when an ace fell. Fischman called and showed pocket aces to double up.

Gavin Smith finished in 10th place and at the dinner break, Mike Wattel was the chip leader with 9 players remaining. After dinner, Cyndy Violette was knocked out by Sentil Kumar. Cyndy had A-8 and Kumar had K-8. The both checked on a flop of Q-8-8 and all the money went in on the turn. Kumar caught a King on the river to knocked out Cyndy Violette in 9th place. That hand pushed Sentil Kumar into the chip lead.

Andy Bloch’s A-K lost to Scott Fischman’s J-10 when Fischman rivered a straight on Bloch. Chau Giang doubled up against Fischman when he won a coin flip. Chau eventually knocked out Erik Seidel in 8th place. Seidel moved all in with Q-10 and Chau’s A-8 held up. Erik Seidel started the day as the chip leader and missed the final table by one spot. Mike Wattel ended day 2 as the chip leader.

End of Day 2 Chip Counts:

1. Mike Wattel $351K
2. Senthil Kumar $331K
3. Andy Bloch $305K
4. Chau Giang $234K
5. Blair Rodman $169K
6. Scott Fischman $139K
7. Ted Forrest $124K

The final seven players will return to the Plaza at 2pm on Wednesday for the completion of the UPC Main Event. First place will win $167,500 and the prestigious gold bracelet.