Bubble Busts on Day 2 of WPT SHRPS as 101 Players Advance; Josh Reichard Leads

Day 2 of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship wrapped up late on Sunday night as 101 players found bags to advance to Day 3.

Out in front is Wisconsin’s Josh Reichard, who sits tied for second on the all-time WSOP Circuit ring list as he searches for a maiden WPT title. Reichard will enter Day 3 ahead of fellow big stacks Michael Rocco, Anthony Spinella and Scott Baumstein.

There were 236 players left with 234 spots paid when a double elimination took place that made hand-for-hand play unnecessary. Stuart Young was the first to go as his ace-ten couldn’t survive a three-way pot, while Brandon Hamlet was next to go to miss out on a minimum payday of $6,400.

It was an unfortunate finish for Hamlet, who made a splash in poker social media circles after pulling off a wild bluff on Day 1a that saw his opponent folding an ace-high flush on a paired board.

End of Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

Rigby Talks “Dirty Diaper” at WPT SHRPS

Day 2 Action

There were 643 players who entered Day 2 and, despite the 60-minute level structure, they it only took a few hours for that number to half. As the money bubble encroached, some of those who failed to cash included Jason Mercier, Gerome Guitteau and Aditya Prasetyo.

All eyes have been on the upcoming high-stakes crossbook this summer between young poker stars Landon Tice and Jeremy Becker, and both players were in the Day 2 field. This warmup round went to Tice as he advanced to Day 3, while the “King of the Dailies” bowed out in 120th place for $8,200.

Other in-the-money eliminations on Day 2 included Matt Stout (216th – $6,400), Day 1b chip leader Maxwell Young (161st – $7,000), David Jackson (150th – $8,200), Ray Qartomy (137th – $8,200), Raminder Singh, (141st – $8,200), Blake Bohn (127th – $8,200) and poker coach Faraz Jaka, whose small blind three-bet jam was called by an opponent who had his king-seven dominated.

Meanwhile, Day 1a chip leader Eider Da Cruz is still kicking headed into Day 3 after getting life by doubling through Damien Simon during Level 17.

The SHRPS Championship action will continue with Day 3 on Monday, April 22 at noon local time as the event gets closer to crowning a winner. Before that happens, there’s still Day 4 that will play down to a six-handed final table, at which point action will pause until May 29 when the final table plays out in Las Vegas.

PokerNews is here at Seminole Hard Rock and will continue to write about the SHRPS action, while live updates from the event can be found on the WPT site.

WPT SHRPS Championship Remaining Schedule

_{*Images courtesy Joe Giron & WPT}