2006 World Series of Poker Circuit
Grand Casino-Resort – Tunica, Mississippi
Official Report
Day Two
No-Limit Hold’em
Buy-In: $9,800 (+200)
Number of Entries: 241
Number of Players Remaining: 27
Total Prize Money: $2,289,500
End of Day Two Standings (Chip Counts):
Don Barton Pahrump, NV 244,200
Brian Lamkin Austin, TX 218,900
Lee Markholt Eatanville, WA 169,600
Daniel Alaei Las Vegas, NV 140,900
Daniel Negreanu Las Vegas, NV 140,000
Ernie Shepherd Lizella, GA 132,500
Khosrow Naraghian Memphis, TN 131,500
Brandon Adams Boston, MA 111,400
Bryant King Spokane, WA 110,300
Bill Edler Las Vegas, NV 106,100
George Bronstein Tampa, FL 98,300
Hertzel Zalewski Houston, TX 95,100
Chad Brown Los Angeles, CA 86,100
Phil Galfond Gaithersburg, MD 79,400
Kia Mohajeri Bockledge, FL 77,600
Wendell Barnes Charcton, MA 67,900
Willis D. Fillers Greenville, TN 54,000
Robert Schulz Southaven, MS 49,000
Mark Gregorich Las Vegas, NV 45,300
Michael Tait Ft. Lauderdale, FL 40,400
Roland Israelashvili New York, NY 40,000
Galen Kester Sabatia, MS 39,800
Todd Brunson Las Vegas, NV 36,900
Larry Satterwhite Houston, TX 34,600
Miguel Mateo San Juan, PR 31,800
Don Mullis Mooresville, TN 18,300
Bruce Sturgeon Bedford, IN 13,600
Tournament Veteran Don Barton is the Chip Leader in WSOP Circuit Championship at Tunica Grand
Day Two ends as many of the biggest names go bust; final 27 players set to return for Day Three
During the first two days of the World Series of Poker Circuit championship event at the Tunica Grand, many observers remarked that this one of the toughest major events of the year. The main event attracted a brutally-tough field -- at least half of which consisted of former WSOP gold bracelet winners and world class players. However, most of the big names hit the rail as bust-outs on Day Two leaving a wide mix of players with different backgrounds and levels of experience to compete for more than $2 million in prize money.
At the top of the standings is Don Barton, from Pahrump, NV. Barton is a familiar name to those who follow tournament poker. He has appeared at countless final tables in his storied poker career. Barton has finished in the money 22 times and has won nearly half a million dollars at the World Series of Poker alone.
The chip leader’s closest rival is Brian Lamkin, from Austin, TX. Lamkin is the 37-year-old owner of a commercial flooring company. He has been playing poker for 20 years and has entered three WSOP events, to date. His best cash was in a major tournament at the Bellagio (Las Vegas) last month. Lamkin and Barton are currently the only two players with over 200,000 in chips.
The most notable big names remaining include Daniel Negreanu, Todd Brunson (who won his first WSOP gold bracelet in 2005), and Galen Kester, who is arguably Mississippi’s top tournament player in recent years.
Play is expected to get more intense over the next day. ESPN will begin full coverage, as the tournament shifts to the Tunica Grand Special Events Center. Nine players will eventually be eliminated, just short of a payout. Prize money will go to the top 18 finishers. On Day Three, play will continue down to the final table of nine players – who will make up the final table. Play resumes tomorrow at 12 noon CST.
Note: All content in this report may be re-printed by media.
Report by – Nolan Dalla (Media Director)
Photographs available through Eric Harkins
Tunica Grand Poker Room Manager – Karen Kaegin
Tournament Director – Johnny Grooms
Co-Tournament Director – Jack Effel
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