Another day of play has concluded and as we sit and wait for Day 3 of the World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table to get underway we look back at Day 2.
Two more dreams came to a close as Czech Vojtech Ruzicka busted in 5th and Michael Ruane from New Jersey in 4th for $1,935,288 and $2,576,003 respectively.
Now chip leader (for the second day running) Qui Nguyen, will battle Gordon Vayo and Cliff Josephy for the $8 million first place prize money. Tune in to ESPN at 9:00 pm ET to watch.
But let’s take a closer look at the men who make up the final three.
Qui Nguyen — 197,600,000 (164 bbs)
Qui Nguyen the 39 year old poker pro from Las Vegas goes into Day 3 as the chip leader. He has just $9,029 in WSOP earnings – less than the $10,000 it cost to enter the Main Event. He has just one previous WSOP cash and only $52,986 in lifetime tournament poker winnings. This will be Nguyen’s first cash at a WSOP Main Event— overall his best finish was his 54th place finish in a 2009 WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event.
Cliff Josephy — 50,000,000 (41 bbs)
The 50 year old New Yorker, Cliff Josephy is perhaps the most seasoned professional left at the table having already 2 WSOP bracelets to him name—winning the $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em event in 2013 and a $1,500 Seven Card Stud event at the 2005 WSOP. Josephy has won $2,641,420 lifetime in live poker tournaments and has cashed twice previously in the WSOP Main Event, in 2008 (386th place) and last year in 956th place.
Gordon Vayo —89,000,000 (74 bbs)
The youngest of the pack at 27, Gordon Vayo from San Francisco has 26 career WSOP cashes under his belt worth $608,136. This marks Vayo’s first time to cash in the WSOP Main Event, but he kept his head down this summer playing 21 WSOP gold bracelet events and cashing in eight of them.
The Runners Up
Here is what Vojtech Ruzicka has to say on being eliminated in 5th place $1,935,288.
And Michael Ruane in 4th for $2,576,003.
Before Day 2 kicked off PokerNews caught up with the Poker Brat Phil Hellmuth. See what his final table predictions are, his thoughts on the WSOP’s real winner William Kassouf along with him reminding us what the phrase white magic means.
If you want more post Day 2 analysis, here Chicago Joey and Christian Harder sit down to a late night podcast.
If you missed all the action from Day 1 you can catch up here.
