WSOP 2018: Team India’s Nikita Luther Likely to Multi-Table as She Reaches Day 3 in $3,000 Big Blind Antes & Day 2 in $1,000 Tag Team Event

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  • PG News June 28, 2018
  • 8 mins Read

The 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is in its fifth week and the electrifying action shows no sign of slowing down. Team India has been in peak form for the last few weeks as the seasoned pros and newcomers alive have been making deep runs in several events. India had pinned its hopes on the poker icon Aditya Agarwal whose fabulous run in Event #48: $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em Monster Stack ended in 27th place for $35,819 (~₹24.60 Lakhs) after a brutal bad beat. Even though Agarwal missed out on winning a gold bracelet for India, the nation’s hopes have been kept alive by Nikita Luther.

Luther, ranked 45th in the India All Time Money List, is participating in two events, namely, Event #54: Big Blind Antes $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em and Event #55: $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em. She has performed exceedingly well in the former and is placed among the top stacks at the end of Day 2 with 392,000 in chips. In the latter, she along with teammate Guiseppe Pantaleo have reached Day 2 with a commendable stack of 14,000. Jasven Saigal and Aditya ‘Bitti’ Agarwal made it to Day 2 as well with 56,500 chips.

Nipun Java and Aditya Sushant once again joined hands to defend their $1,000 Tag Team NLHE bracelet win last year but failed in their mission for back-to-back titles. Similarly, Aditya Agarwal and Kartik Ved`s joint venture failed to make it to Day 2.

The event has found chip leaders in the team of Juan Ramirez, Isai Coello and Dustin Pattinson (193,000), who will return to the felts along with 242 other teams to contest for the top honours.

Event #51: $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em Bounty is down to four remaining players with Ryan Leng (5,440,000) holding the biggest stack. Ranno Sootla (3,835,000), Christian Notle (3,405,000) and Jay Farber (2,195,000) are the other three contenders in the running.

In Event #53: $1,500 PLO Hi-Lo 8 Or Better, the second consecutive day ran its course with 191 players returning to the felts and 20 now remain to take on the battle.

With a massive stack of 2,725,000, Jonathan Abdellatif is leading the remaining 31 runners of Event #54: Big Blind Antes $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em in Day 2.

After its inaugural run, Event #56: $10,000 Razz Championship that kicked off with 112 players has 52 players left in the fray, with John Hennigan (302,000) in the lead.

WSOP 2018 Coverage
WSOP 2018 Coverage

Event #51: $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em Bounty

When Event #51: $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em Bounty kicked off there were 1,983 players in contention for the title. Three consecutive days of play later, the event still has to crown a winner and the four remaining survivors will now resume action to play for the top prize of $272,504. All the four finalists are guaranteed a minimum of $89,079 and Ryan Leng is leading the way with a stack of 5,440,000.

From the Indian contingent, Paawan Bansal was seen in action and made Day 2 with a stack of 98,700 but ended his deep run in 73rd place for $2,952 (~₹2.02 Lakhs).

Leng had a roller coaster ride through the day and frequently reached the top, only to slide down after losing pots. Ranno Sootla (3,835,000), Christian Nolte (3,405,000) and Jay Farber (2,195,000) are the remaining finalists.

Eliminations came quick and surprised many, as some of the players who were riding strong busted out through the day.

At the unofficial final table, Quyen Hoang (10th for $16,928) busted out first and joining her on the rail were Mikhail Semin(9th for $21,741), Mark Mazza (8th for $28,225), John Gulino (7th for $37,034), Russel Rosenblum (6th for $49,107) and Javier Gomez (5th for $65,799).

The play will now resume with blinds at 50,000/100,000 and a running ante of 10,000.

Ryan Leng
Ryan Leng

Final Table Chips Counts

1. Ryan Leng – 5,440,000

2. Ranno Sootla – 3,835,000

3. Christian Notle – 3,405,000

4. Jay Farber – 2,195,000

Event #53: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 Or Better

As Event #53: $1,500 PLO Hi-Lo 8 Or Better narrowed down from the original field of 935 entries to 191 on its second consecutive day, competition was stiff and thrilling between these immensely motivated participants. Of them, only 20 have carried their bags to the next day of battle and will resume play to vie for the gold bracelet and the tournament win.

Nathan Gambleholds the chip lead with 834,000 and he’s followed by Joseph Couden (776,000), Robert Campbell (565,000), Brad Albrinck (564,000) and Mike Matusow (436,000) on the leaderboard. Team India’s Aditya ‘Bitti’ Agarwal had entered the event but busted out in 187th place.

Some of the brightest stars of poker are still in contention for the title and this includes Eli Elezra (419,000), Bryce Yockey (400,000), Chris Conrad (364,000) and Garrett Garvin (347,000), two-time bracelet winner Quinn Do (300,000), Bruno Fitoussi (262,000) and Daniel Negreanu (96,000)

Notables who busted out today include Brandon Cantu (24th for $6,927), Lee Watkinson (27th for $6,927), Dylan Linde (38th for $4,823), Phil Hellmuth (43rd for $4,823), Adam Hendrix (51st for $4,125), Andreas Klatt (79th for $2,857), Roland Israelashvili (93rd for $2,441) and John Racener (121st for $2,319).

Nathan Gamble
Nathan Gamble

Top 10 Chip Counts At The End of Day 2

1. Nathan Gamble – 834,000

2. Joseph Couden – 776,000

3. Robert Campbell – 565,000

4. Brad Albrinck – 564,000

5. Mike Matusow – 436,000

6. Dustin Pattinson – 432,000

7. Eli Elezra – 419,000

8. Bryce Yockey – 400,000

9. Lee Armstrong – 364,000

10. Christopher Conrad – 364,000

Event #54: Big Blind Antes $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em

Day 2 of Event #54: Big Blind Antes $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em witnessed 221 eliminations. By the end of the day only 31 players remain in contention for the bracelet and the top prize worth $522,715. Dominating the leaderboard with a chip count of 2,725,000 is Jonathan Abdellatif followed by Barry Hutter (953,000) and Marciano Cruz (807,000).

Making India proud was our very own female pro Nikita Luther. Luther already has 4 prior WSOP cashes to her name. Debuting in 2017, in Event #58: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em, Luther ran deep to place 242nd for $2,249 (~₹1.54 Lakhs). This year, she got off the mark in Event #34: $1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold’em where she placed 525th for $2,038 (~₹1.39 Lakhs). She is currently placed 16th with a healthy stack of 392,000.

She even updated her Twitterrati followers.

Team PokerStars pro Muskan Sethi was another top female pro who made it to Day 2 but was sent to the rail before the money bubble burst. Other pros who missed the money line were Sam Phillips, Arne Ruge and Chance Kornuth.

Nevertheless, there were some others who did somewhat better to earn paydays and this list includes names like Scotty Nguyen (45th for $10,387), Bertrand Grospellier (65th for $6,712), Michael Ruane (85th for $5,441), Calvin Anderson (111th for $4,720), Matt Salsberg (118th for $4,720), Kathy Liebert (139th for $4,513) and Athanasios Polychronopoulos (153rd for $4,513).

Jonathan Abdellatif
Jonathan Abdellatif

Top 10 Chip Counts At The End of Day 2

1. Jonathan Abdellatif – 2,725,000

2. Barry Hutter – 953,000

3. Marciano Cruz – 807,000

4. Todd Ivens – 780,000

5. David Yan – 714,000

6. Kevin Song – 675,000

7. Kris Homerding – 628,000

8. Ryan Hall – 603,000

9. Radoslav Stoyanov – 583,000

10. Tom McCormick – 533,000

Event #55: $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em

Attracting a total of 1,032 teams, Day 1 of Event #55: $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em had had more teams register than its predecessors. Culminating into a prize pool of $928,800, only 242 teams will return on Day 2 to take an onward journey towards the gold bracelet and the top prize of $175,805.

Leading the chip count is the three-person team of Juan Ramirez, Isai Coello and Dustin Pattinson with 193,000. The teams of Michael WangDan ZackAjay Chabra (113,800) and Alex RochaMegan MilburnJoanne Milburn (102,400) take up the top three spots.

Jasven Saigal and Aditya ‘Bitti’ Agarwal made it to Day 2 as well with 56,500 chips.

Defending their title win from last year in Event #10: $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em for $75,319 was the Team of Nipun Java and Aditya Sushant. Java announced their second time collaboration on Twitter.

The duo however failed to make it through the day.

But it is the team of Guiseppe Pantaleo and Nikita Luther that is to watch out for. Following in the footsteps of WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb, who had participated in Event #14: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw and Event #13: $1,500 Big Blind Antes No-Limit Hold’em simultaneously, Luther too finds herself in a similar predicament though she still has it better than Deeb since her second event is a Teams Event. Having played tremendously well to reach Day 2 of Event #54: Big Blind Antes $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em, Luther-Pantaleo’s tag team has also made it to Day 2 of this event with stack of 14,000. Although not impossible to do, it will be interesting to see how Luther manages to juggle the two events.

Juan Ramirez
Juan Ramirez

Top 10 Chip Counts At The End of Day 1

1. Juan Ramirez – Isai Coello – Dustin Pattinson – 193,000

2. Michael Wang – Dan Zack – Ajay Chabra – 113,800

3. Alex Rocha – Megan Milburn – Joanne Milburn – 102,400

4. Steven Wolansky – Zach Efland – 99,100

5. Team Du – 89,600

6. Victor Chong – Pete Chen – Michael Soyza – Phachara Wongwichit – 86,900

7. Erwann Pecheux – Sarah Herzali – Jonathan Therme – 86,400

8. Mohsin Charania – Sunny Patel – 78,700

9. Jason Wheeler – Ludovic Geilich – 64,500

10. Alan Lau – Edward Yam – Ying Chan – 63,900

Event #56: $10,000 Razz Championship

The 2018 WSOP Event #56: $10,000 Razz Championship opened with a total of 112 runners and after the first day’s run, only 52 players have advanced further in the event. John Hennigan is the chip leader with 302,000 in chips and he is followed by Ted Forest (221,500), Per Hildebrand (221,000) Julien Martini (193,000) and Bart Hanson (187,000).

Others who will be returning on Day 2 include Robert Mizrachi (183,500), Allen Kessler (183,000), Dzmitry Urbanovich (179,000), Larry Wright (167,000), Mike Leah (126,500), Paul Volpe (116,500), Shaun Deeb (82,500) and Calvin Anderson (79,500).

John Hennigan
John Hennigan

Top 10 Chip Counts At The End of Day 1

1. John Hennigan – 302,000

2. Ted Forrest – 221,500

3. Per Hildebrand – 221,000

4. Julien Martini – 193,000

5. Bart Hanson – 187,000

6. Robert Mizrachi – 183,500

7. Allen Kessler – 183,000

8. Dzmitry Urbanovich – 179,000

9. Robert Campbell – 175,500

10. Larry Wright – 169,000

WSOP 2018 Coverage
WSOP 2018 Coverage

Content & image courtesy WSOP.com

Keep following the latest updates from WSOP 2018 right here on PokerGuru!

Related Articles:

1. WSOP 2018: Scott Seiver Wins 2nd Bracelet in Event #52 – $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship For $296,222

2. WSOP 2018: Tommy Nguyen Ships $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em Monster Stack For $1,037,451, Aditya Agarwal Gets Unlucky to Finish 27th For ₹24.60 Lakhs

3. WSOP 2018: Team PokerStars Pro Aditya Agarwal Makes Final 29 in Event #48 – $1,500 No-Limit Hold ‘em Monster Stack

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