A busy day of action saw Swiss player Alexandre Vuilleumier win the $25,000-entry High Roller Event #2 in Las Vegas last night as Chance Kornuth was denied at the last. Having sold his action on PokerStake, Kornuth still made an incredible return for his investors, but will be devastated at getting so close to his fourth WSOP title.

Vuilleumier the Swizz Superstar as Kornuth Conquered

The Swiss player Alexandre Vuilleumier is the name on the lips of poker fans around the world today after he triumphed against Chance Kornuth in Event #2, the $25,000-entry High Roller, in thrilling fashion. Just six players reached the final table, but it was the fourth-placed player Vuilleumier who rose to the top of the leaderboard and saw off the competition to bag the $1.2 million top prize in Las Vegas under the lights.

The first final table to be played in the ‘Thunderdome’ at the Horseshoe Las Vegas is always an exciting one, and this was no different. Vuilleumier didn’t lead coming into the action but soon made waves. He took out the first player to leave too, as super short stacked Joey Weissman shoved with for a little under three big blinds and saw Vuilleumier’s hit trips on the flop. The turn and river made no difference and Weissman busted for $188,219 in sixth place.

Next to go was Ren Lin, as the Chinese, who earlier in the event had teased Kornuth that it was impossible to bust him fell victim to irony as he busted to that opponent. Lin was all-in with but lost to Kornuth’s as the brutal runout of gave the three-time WSOP bracelet winner unassailable quad kings on the turn.

French player Axel Hallay had come into the day leading the field but busted in fourth for just over $363,000. His stack was short enough to call off his stack with but he only had one live card as Sean Winter flipped over . A king on the flop was all she write and Winter, who had been down to less than two big blinds a short while earlier had laddered into the top three.

That was where Winter’s event ended, but not before a protracted battle he was a little unfortunate to leave. Eventually, his flopped top pair was out-kicked by the eventual winner and Winter collected $518,106 for his efforts, while the Swiss player edged into a heads-up lead of 19.8 million to 11.3 million.

The lead heads-up proved pivotal, as Vuilleumier saw off Kornuth, with the latter shoving when short with . Vuilleumier called with and the board of gave the Switzerland player a turned straight to see him collect the $1.2 million top prize. Kornuth, for all his control in the latter stages of the competition, had to be happy with over $750,000 in second place and a near-miss. It is, however, a great start to the WSOP for the PokerStake participant. Look out for his latest offerings on the WSOP Staking page.

Davis Leads Mystery Millions After Huge Day 1b

The second day of Event #3, the $1,000-entry Mystery Millions event, saw a bumper field swell the overall number to 4,980 as players battled to reach Day 2 and the possibility of drawing the million-dollar bounty. With Shaun Davis (2,475,000) marginally head of the Israeli player Tal Avivi (2,380,000) and American Joseph Dornish (2,250,000), other stars of the felt such as 2014 world champion Martin Jacobson (1,180,000) and German footballer Max Kruse (1,560,000) made the cut in style.

Tournament of Champions Reaches Final Day as Wilson on Course to Win

Scott Wilson (2,885,000) bagged the biggest stack on Day 2 of the three-day Tournament of Champions event. With three other players – Brent Gregory (2,000,000), Dakota Britton (1,400,000) and Vincent Moscati (1,120,000) – the only other hopefuls to bag a seven-figure stack, it is Jason Somerville (405,000) who is the only former bracelet winner still in with a chance of making it two when the final day takes place tomorrow.

Kelsall King After Day 2 of Dealer’s Choice

There are only 11 players left in Event #5, the $10,000-entry Dealer’s Choice event, where Phil Hellmuth finished 20^th on the day. That’s a great result from 456 entries but for the Poker Brat, it was all disappointment as he slid out of contention.

Man! 20th in @WSOP $1,500 “Dealers Choice” tourney. 456 started. Bummed out to finish 20th. Had a real shot at bracelet #17. Walking on Las Vegas blvd w my guy @PlaymakerDavid at midnight: he’s still alive in WSOP online tourney: go go Woodley! #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/fr6PAIzI1B

— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) June 2, 2023

Of the remaining 11 players, bracelet winners Chad Eveslage (1,095,000) and John Racener (565,000) will both be major threats to anyone hoping to claim gold, but Andrew Kelsall (1,950,000) holds a big chip lead heading into the home straight.

Two More Events Complete Exciting Opening Days

Two more bracelet events wrapped up on Day 3 of the WSOP, with the $5,000-entry Mixed NLHE/PLO Event #6 seeing 567 entries whittled down to 50 survivors, with Swiss player  Fernando Habegger (1,625,000) leading from Ukraine’s Roman Rogovski (1,325,000) and Christian Harder (1,125,000) in the top five. Kristen Foxen (895,000), Alex Livingston (785,000) and Joao Vieira (750,000) all remain in the hunt for gold, but Ryan Riess, Stephen Chidwick and Shannon Shorr all failed to make Day 2.

In Event #7, 527 entries were reduced to 169 survivors as Dana Davidson (208,500) led from Canada’s Mike Leah (200,000) at the close of play. Other star names to make the cut included Nick Schulman (180,500), Jim Collopy (85,000) and Patrick Leonard (79,500), while Humberto Brenes and Nick Guagenti bowed out short of glory.

With Phil Hellmuth encamped in Las Vegas for two straight months, you might be wondering what is fuelling the Poker Brat’s incredible mission to win his 17^th gold bracelet. Wonder no more (it’s a sweet tooth!).

I just ran into @phil_hellmuth at the 2023 @wsop and he was very excited to show me his break room for the summer stocked with all the essentials to fuel a 16-time bracelet winner!

You got the Nutter Butter, Oreos, Jelly Belly, beef jerky, and more!

Fuel like a champion! pic.twitter.com/QqLbBgBG3i

— Chad Holloway (@ChadAHolloway) May 31, 2023

If you stay at a Vegas Air B’n’B over the next seven weeks, it might be an idea to give it a once over, especially considering food options in cupboards.

Reminder to all my WSOP peeps to check their AirBNB ovens for leftovers when you arrive AND when you checkout at the end of summer! Good Luck and retweet for visibility! ?✌️?? pic.twitter.com/yuKda7v3CR

— Ross Bybee (@GamerTex) June 2, 2023

Finally, WSOP Main Event final table player Alex Livingston needs to up his fruit consumption. Or at least his conversion.

My bananas purchased : bananas consumed ratio is not good

— Alex Livingston (@rumnchess) June 1, 2023

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