Ring Event #9: $1,675 MAIN EVENT

Krzysztof Stybaniewicz (pictured) will lead the final 25 players into Day 3 when play resumes Monday in the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Main Event.

In the largest circuit main event of the year to date, Day 2 started with 281 players returning to play in the event featuring a $2 million prize pool and $356,043 first place prize.

After 10 hour-long levels of play, Stybaniewicz bagged up 2,390,000, joined only by Mike Younan (2,185,000) above the two million chip mark.

Joining Stybaniewicz and Younan for Day 3 will be Joe Kuether, Kelly Minkin, Kevin Saul, WSOP Bracelet Winner Aaron Steury, Tom Koral, and Kenny Nguyen.

Peter Vitantonio, who won the Circuit Main Event at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in September, is also returning for Day 3 and he will be looking to win his second main event in as many months.

The money bubble burst in Level 19 with an elimination by Daniel Flanigan after hand-for-hand play went for more than 40 minutes.

Those who cashed include Blake Bohn (119th), Aaron Massey (118th), Aditya Prasetyo (111th), Matt Kirby (75th), Mo Nuwarrah (59th), Sal DiCarlo (56th), and Harrison Gimbel (48th).

Play will resume at noon central time as play will continue until a winner has been determined. Those remaining are guaranteed a $11,435 payday, but all will be chasing the aforementioned six-figure first place prize, entry into the WSOP Global Casino Championship, and Circuit ring.

Be sure to check wsop.com for complete coverage of the final day of the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Hammond Main Event.

Complete Chip Counts

1. Krzysztof Stybaniewicz - 2,390,000
2. Michael Younan - 2,185,000
3. Kevin Saul - 1,970,000
4. Joe Kuether - 1,740,000
T5. Kristopher Bradshaw - 1,605,000
T5. Hao Sun - 1,605,000
7. Mike Comisso - 1,560,000
8. Kelly Minkin - 1,480,000
9. Andre Cosentino - 1,460,000
10. Robert Kuhn - 1,375,000
11. Lance Ha - 1,175,000
12. Hassan Tahsildar - 1,125,000
13. Peter Vitantonio - 1,080,000
14. Thomas Ruzecki - 860,000
15. James Kasputis - 735,000
16. Matthew Davis - 715,000
17. Christopher Dasch - 710,000
18. Lytle Allen - 625,000
19. Jeff Landherr - 580,000
20. Danny Flanagan - 575,000
21. Taylor Black - 565,000
22. Tom Koral - 530,000
23. Ben Beever - 420,000
24. Aaron Steury - 365,000
25. Kenny Nguyen - 70,000

That's a wrap on Day 2. A complete recap with chip counts will be posted shortly.

In middle position, Hao Sun limps and action folds around to Richard Bai in the cutoff.

Bai moves all in for 250,000 and the button folds, as do the blinds. Sun quickly calls, and tables his pocket aces   . Bai holds   .

The     flop gives Bai a pair, but the   turn and   river are no help, and he is eliminated in 27th place.

Hao Sun - 1,670,000 (69 bb)
Richard Bai - Eliminated in 27th ($11,435)

Lance Ha opens with a raise to 68,000 and the player directly to his left moves all in for about 500,000. The action folds to Peter Vitantonio, in the small blind, and he moves all in, as well.

The big blind folds, and it's back to Ha, but he folds.

Vitantonio, who has his opponent covered, holds    to his opponent's   .

The       board runs clean for Vitantonio and he rakes in the pot, while sending one to the rail.

Vitantonio has about 1.5 million in chips, but on the very next hand, he's called the all in bet of Kristopher Bradshaw.

This time, Vitantonio holds    and Bradshaw is all in for 410,000 with   . Vitantonio dodges an eight on the     flop, but the   hits the turn.

Vitantonio needs a ten on the river to knock out Bradshaw, but the river is the   and Bradshaw doubles up.

Peter Vitantonio - 1,100,000 (45 bb)
Kristopher Bradshaw - 840,000 (35 bb)

Richard Bai raises to 45,000 from middle position, Christoher Dasch three-bet shoves from the next seat over for 347,000 and Bai calls.

Bai:   
Dasch:   

The board comes down      , safe for Dasch to score the double.

Christopher Dasch - 745,000 (37 bb)
Richard Bai - 485,000 (24 bb)

Joe Kuether and Hassan Tahsildar are heads up on a       board.

There's more than 500,000 in the pot already and Tahsildar checks to Kuether. Kuether bets 250,000 and Tahsildar tanks for a moment, but calls.

Kuether flips    for a straight and Tahsildar mucks his hand, sending the million chip pot over to Kuether.

Joe Kuether - 1,550,000 (77 bb)
Hassan Tahsildar - 990,000 (49 bb)

In early position, Paul Bianchi open-shoves for 195,000. Two seats to Bianchi's left is Greg McCurry, and he takes a moment before announcing he is all in for 831,000.

The action folds around to Lance Ha, in the big blind, and he tanks briefly before calling McCurry's all in.

Ha has both Bianchi and McCurry covered and he's out in front with   . Bianchi holds    and McCurry has   .

The     flop keeps Ha out in front. The   turn changes nothing and the   river sends the massive pot over to Ha.

Since they've been seated at the same table for the past few levels, Kelly Minkin and Hassan Tahsildar have traded jabs, raising and three-betting each other often.

In the last hand before break, Minkin and Tahsildar are heads up on an      board. There's already about 380,000 in the pot and Tahsildar checks from the big blind.

Minkin bets 260,000 and Tahsildar takes little time before tossing his cards into the muck. As she rakes in the pot, Minkin shows   .

Kelly Minkin - 1,770,000
Hassan Tahsildar - 1,277,000