The survivors from the two separate flights of Day 1 combined into one field on Sunday at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Jacksonville stop, the first WPT event ever held in the northern Florida city. Day 1A saw 88 of 188 players stay alive for today’s Day 2, while 80 made it through Day 1B of the original 205 entrants. Many of those Day 1B entrants may have actually been the same as ones from Day 1A, as anyone who busted during the first flight was able to try again in the second flight. All told, 168 of 393 made it to Day 2. Just 42 runners survived to today’s Day 3, with Vitor Coelho sitting on monster chip lead. With 945,000 chips, he towers over Connor Drinan, who, with 605,000, sits in second place.
Perhaps the highlight hand of the day was one featuring Allie Prescott, currently in 6th place, and Dann Turner. It was a big hand, to be sure, but it was an attention grabber for the controversy involved. Pre-flop, Alex Venovski raised and Turner, Prescott, and the big blind all called. Four-handed, they saw a flop of Ad-Ts-2c. Action checked to Turner, who started the betting at 12,000. Prescott raised to 35,000, the other two players folded, and Turner called. When the 3s was dealt on the turn, Prescott fired out a 55,000 chip bet and Turner shoved for about 145,000. Prescott asked for a count and after confirming how much more he’d have to risk, thought for a minute and then said quietly, according to the World Poker Tour report, “Okay, I call. Do you have deuces?”
Prescott flipped over Ac-Tc for top two pair, while Turner had 7s-8s, giving him a flush draw. Then, to the surprise of everyone, the dealer moved Prescott’s cards to the muck and then spread the stub (the remaining cards in the deck). Taken aback, Prescott asked the dealer what he was doing, reminding him that he called. Dwyte Pilgrim and Venovski confirmed that Prescott did, in fact, call, with Venovski adding that given what Prescott had, it would have been silly for him to fold.
The dealer said he heard Prescott say, “I guess I fold. Do you have deuces?” but to his credit, he stopped the process of ending the hand as soon as he was questioned. The floor was called over and, based on the reports from the players at the table, ruled that Prescott called. Fortunately, the dealer had left the stub in order and Prescott’s cards were still readily available, so he was able to deal the river Jd without any problem.
While Turner was upset at the ruling, considering the hand was in the muck and the stub had already been fanned out, this seems like a reasonable ruling. Since the cards were all still in order and everyone agreed that Prescott called, it makes sense to continue the hand as if no confusion had happened. Turner was busted and Prescott was up to 520,000 chips.
Play continues this afternoon, with just two more eliminations needed to burst the money bubble. The minimum payout for the $3,500 buy-in tournament is $7,510. The tourney will continue all the way until the six-handed final table is determined, at which point play will be paused before the champion is decided on Tuesday.
World Poker Tour Jacksonville Main Event – End of Day 2 Chip Leaders
1. Vitor Coelho – 945,000
2. Connor Drinan – 605,000
3. Alexander Venovski – 592,500
4. Darryll Fish – 579,000
5. Sam Soverel – 510,000
6. Allie Prescott – 441,500
7. Micah Raskin – 437,000
8. Matt Ezrol – 435,500
9. Michael Swimelar – 399,000
10. Andy Philachack – 398,000
