Rafael Mota Bags Chip Lead at End of Day 2
A total of 126 players returned for battle on Day 2 of Event #72: $1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha returned to the Amazon room at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, and after ten levels of play only eight hopefuls remain.
Leading the way heading towards the gold bracelet is Rafael Mota with 7,515,000, almost double the next closest Motoyoshi Okamura with 3,835,000. Nick Yunis is right on Okamura's tail with 3,190,000.
The day was action-packed right from the get-go as 126 remaining players turned into just 50 players in the first couple of hours of play. Mota had gotten chips early as he made it to the final three tables with a total of 2,700,000 and managed to keep climbing, reaching the final two tables with 4,560,000.
World Series of Poker bracelet winner Mike Takayama is also still in contention, looking to claim his second bracelet with a total of 1,900,000 in chips. Takayama won his bracelet in 2018, taking down the 2,065 player field in Event #59: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty. With this victory, he claimed the grand prize of $198,568.
Event #72 Final Table Seat and Chip Counts
| Table | Seat | Player | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table 414 | 1 | Nick Yunis | 3,190,000 |
| Table 414 | 2 | Leonid Yanovski | 2,070,000 |
| Table 414 | 3 | Marc Lange | 535,000 |
| Table 414 | 4 | Rafael Mota | 7,515,000 |
| Table 414 | 5 | Tim Grau | 360,000 |
| Table 414 | 6 | Jordan Spurlin | 1,740,000 |
| Table 414 | 7 | Mike Takayama | 1,900,000 |
| Table 414 | 8 | Motoyoshi Okamura | 3,835,000 |
Not all champions were lucky enough to survive through Day 2, though, including Andrew Donabedian finishing in 24th place, four-time bracelet winner Josh Arieh in 40th place, Manig Loeser in 45th Place, and Joao Vieira in 50th.
Day 3 will resume at 2:00 p.m. with the eight remaining players having $20,737 locked up and playing for the grand prize of $209,716. Play will continue until there is a new champion is crowned. Blinds will resume at 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 big blind ante.
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