Day 41 of the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas was a whirlwind of excitement, tension, and unexpected outcomes. As thousands of hopefuls took their seats, dreams of poker glory filled the air. However, the nature of tournament poker is unforgiving, and while some players thrived, many found themselves recounting tales of bad beats to sympathetic friends.
Aditya Agarwal’s Triumph in Event #82
One of the most memorable moments of Day 41 was Aditya Agarwal’s victory in Event #82: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em. India’s Agarwal outlasted a field of 214 returning players, clinching his first WSOP bracelet along with $189,661 in prize money. The day was grueling, stretching into the early hours of the morning. By 2:00 a.m., six players remained, and WSOP staff considered halting the event. However, a flurry of eliminations within the next hour crowned Agarwal the champion just before 3:00 a.m.
Main Event Day 2abc: Anthony Marsico Takes the Lead
Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship saw an additional 206 players register on Day 2abc, bringing the total to 3,349 participants for that stage. With 9,493 entries overall, the Main Event edged closer to breaking last year’s record of 10,043 entrants. Late registration remains open until the end of the second level on Day 2d, keeping hopes alive for a new record.
Anthony Marsico emerged as the chip leader with an impressive stack of 797,000. Marsico’s rise to the top was marked by a key hand where he held pocket kings against an opponent’s ace-king. The board held for Marsico, and he never looked back. Trailing him were Christopher Vincent with 772,000 and Manuel Machado with 680,500 chips.
Falling Giants: Former Main Event Champions Bow Out
Day 2abc was a tough day for several past Main Event champions. Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem, Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker, and Qui Nguyen all busted out, dashing their hopes of becoming a two-time Main Event winner until at least 2025. However, the dream remains alive for Hossein Ensan (353,000), Koray Aldemir (242,000), and Scott Blumstein (236,000), who all survived to Day 3.
Notable Day 2abc Survivors
Among the 1,549 players who made it through Day 2abc were several prominent names in the poker world. Diogo Veiga (615,500), John Hennigan (461,500), John Duthie (419,500), Parker Talbot (416,500), Nacho Barbero (375,500), Bin Weng (350,500), Adrian Mateos (330,000), Erik Seidel (319,000), David “Bakes” Baker (258,000), and Daniel Negreanu (95,000) all bagged chips and advanced to the next stage.
Marco Johnson Leads $1,500 8-Game Mix; Viktor Blom in Pursuit
Marco Johnson topped the leaderboard in Event #83: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed with a stack of 325,300 after 15 levels of play. Johnson, a mixed game specialist with two WSOP bracelets to his name, outshined the 103 survivors from an initial 494 entrants. Viktor Blom, known in the poker world as “Isildur1,” closely followed with 296,600 chips. Blom has been in fine form this summer, cashing seven times, including three final table appearances.
The Chase for a Third Bracelet
Scott Seiver, sitting in fifth place with 253,700 chips, is aiming to make history by winning his fourth bracelet in a single series. Seiver’s remarkable performance this summer has already earned him three bracelets, and he remains a formidable force in this event. Other notable players in contention include Qiang Xu (251,800), Calen McNeil (221,000), Jared Bleznick (168,300), John Cernuto (145,200), Dylan Weisman (118,300), John Racener (103,100), Josh Arieh (93,500), Maxx Coleman (57,100), and short-stack Yuri Dzivielvski (17,600).
Michael Bell Shines in $600 Ultra Stack; Shannon Elizabeth Exits Early
In Event #84: $600 Ultra Stack No-Limit Hold’em, Michael Bell bagged the chip lead with a colossal 2,365,000 stack. Bell’s dominant performance stood out among the 284 players who made it through Day 1a. Lee Clark (1,620,000) and Yijie Zhang (1,590,000) followed in second and third place, respectively.
While Bell excelled, actress Shannon Elizabeth, known for her poker enthusiasm, did not fare as well. Elizabeth, who last cashed at the WSOP in 2010, exited the tournament before the end of Day 1a. Despite her early departure, the field was filled with notable names, including Bhavin Khatri (1,555,000), Felix Weis (1,485,000), Steve Wilkie (1,340,000), Yucel Eminoglu (755,000), Kenny Hallaert (665,000), boxer Audley Harrison (595,000), Daniel Smiljkovic (595,000), and Mike Leah (220,000).
What to Expect on Day 42 of the 2024 WSOP
As the WSOP progresses, Day 42 promises to be action-packed. The spotlight remains on the Main Event, with Day 2d of Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship drawing at least 3,823 players. Late registration is open until the end of the second level, ensuring the possibility of surpassing last year’s record attendance. The cards go in the air at 12:00 p.m. local time.
Day 2 of Event #83: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed also commences at noon, with 103 players returning to the tables. The fast-paced Event #84: $600 Ultra Stack No-Limit Hold’em continues with its second starting flight, beginning at 2:00 p.m. local time. Players will compete through 20 levels, each lasting 30 minutes.
A new event, Event #85: $1,000 Flip & Go No-Limit Hold’em presented by GGPoker, kicks off at 10:00 a.m. local time. The “flip” part of the tournament starts on July 8, with Day 2, the “go” part, running from 11:00 a.m. on July 9. Reigning champion Dong Meng returns to defend his title, while poker enthusiasts recall Scott Seiver’s infamous run of 43 consecutive lost flips in 2022.
As Day 41 of the 2024 WSOP concludes, the stories of triumph, heartbreak, and sheer determination continue to unfold. The journey to poker glory is far from over, and each day brings new twists and turns in this ultimate test of skill and endurance.