While the Main Event was playing down to its final six up on the feature table, dozens of the world’s best were battling down on humbler ground. This $25K High Roller returned for Day 2 with 65 beasts, and ended with just 12.

Thomas Muehloecker is the biggest beast of them all, if you rank beastliness based on the size of chip stacks anyway. He went on a tear in the last level to end with 1.42 million, picking off a triple barrel bluff from Italy’s Gianluca Speranza (see 12:30am), then eliminating Bartlomiej Machon.

Just behind him is fellow Austrian Markus Durnegger with 1.38 million. He was chip leading when our coverage started today, and he was almost chip leading at the end after his pocket nines held up to beat ace-king and bust Ben Heath.

It was Speranza who provided many of the highlights though, arguably playing three of the session’s most entertaining hands. The first saw him eliminate Cary Katz with Q♥5♠ (scroll down to 2:35pm for that one), and the second saw him pull off a huge bluff versus Sean Winter on the bubble (check 6:15pm for that one).

The third was the aforementioned hand against Muehloecker, and you know how that ended: Muehloecker grabbed the chip lead and hasn’t looked back since.

These things are never easy though. Not with a $25,000 buy-in and $895,000 waiting for whoever can take it down.

Here’s a look at how the final 12 stack up:

Sam Greenwood is still in contention, looking for his second high roller title of this PCA. If he can pull off that double, it will be very special indeed.

Then you’ve got Max Silver, who won EPT Prague’s equivalent in December. He ended short though, and joining him at the bottom of the counts are Davidi Kitai, Tom Askel-Bedell, and Sean Winter. Still, you’d be wise never to rule them out.

Spare a thought for Mike Watson. He was today’s bubble boy, busting when he couldn’t hit his flush draw versus Dominik Nitsche.

We’ll be crowing a champion tomorrow, with live updates kicking off at 12:30pm. We’ll also find out who takes down the Main Event and $1.5 million prize.

Until then, scroll down and catch up on all of today’s action. Then get some rest. –JS

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DAY 2 COVERAGE ARCHIVE

• PLAYERS: 12 remaining (162 entries, including 47 re-entries)
• $25K: CHIP COUNTS | PAYOUTS
• MAIN EVENT: UPDATES | STREAM
• ALL PCA INFO | TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
• DOWNLOAD POKERSTARS | Follow @PokerStarsBlog on Twitter

1:05am: That’s a wrap

Play has ended with 12 players bagging up. We’ll be back with the day’s recap shortly. –JS

12:59am: Ben Heath out in 13th
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

Ben Heath just lost a big flip against Markus Durnegger to bust.

Nick Petrangelo had opened to 32,000 before Durnegger three-bet to 110,000. Heath moved all-in for around 450,000, and when it folded to Durnegger he called.

It was A♥K♠ for Heath versus 9♦9♠, and the K♦J♦T♠9♥K♥ board gave Durnegger nines full.

Durnegger’s up to 1.18 million now. –JS

12:54am: Stretching it out
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

We’re nearing the end of the day, and it’s been a long one. Ten minutes left and counting. –JS

12:35am: Machon falls to Muehloecker
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

Thomas Muehloecker’s tournament is going from strength to strength as he’s just eliminated Bartlomiej Machon in 14th.

Machon jammed under the gun with K♣J♦ and Muehloecker called on the button with 8♠8♥. An eight hit the flop, and that was all she wrote.

Muehloecker’s up to 1.37 million, while Machon collects $59,680. –JS

12:30am: Muehloecker and Speranza trade stacks
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

Thomas Muehloecker is our new chip leader, following a huge collision with the former, Gianluca Speranza.

Picking up the action on a 2♥8♦4♥ flop, Muehloecker checked and Speranza fired 34,000. That was called bringing the 2♣ turn. When it checked to him again, Speranza continued for 78,000 and Muehleocker didn’t budge.

The 9♣ completed the board and Muehloecker tapped a final time. Speranza led for 215,000, and Muehloecker used two time banks before making the call.

Speranza wasn’t happy, showing J♣7♦ for pure air. Muehloecker tabled 7♥7♠ for third pair on the board, and is up to 1.15 million while Speranza dips to 785,000. –JS

12:18am: K-K for K.K. ends the tourney for Cortes
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

After nursing a short stack for several hours, Jesus Cortes has taken his leave by Kelvin Kerber’s hand. Cortes open-shoved under the gun for around 210,000 and Kerber re-shoved to isolate from the cutoff.

Kerber was successful and found his K♣K♦ up against Cortes’s Q♦J♥. The 6♥3♦5♠2♠T♠ runout gave Cortes no help and he’s out in 15th place. Kerber’s now on 625,000. –JK

12:15am: Sammartino sent to the rail
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

Not so boring anymore, is it Sam Greenwood and Ben Heath?

Over on the other table we’ve just lost Dario Sammartino. His short stack went in pre-flop with A♥6♦ versus Dominik Nitsche’s T♥T♦, and the Q♠Q♦J♦T♠9♦ board gave Nitsche a boat.

He’s on 685,000 now, while Sammartino collects $53,900. –JS

12:12am: So boring in here
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

Those are the words of Ben Heath and Sam Greenwood, not us.

Gianluca Speranza had opened to 26,000 on the button and Ben Heath defended from the big blind to bring a 2♥2♠3♦ flop. Both checked, but when the 5♣ was laid Heath led out big for 118,000. Speranza thought about it, then called.

The T♣ completed the board and Heath sized down to 48,000, with 260,000 behind. Speranza used a time bank, but laid it down.

Heath and Greenwood then chatted about how boring it has been these past two levels, with nobody busting. They were both sure Speranza would raise at some point in the hand, but it didn’t happen.

Heath’s on 455,000, Speranza’s on 1.11 million. –JS

12:05am: Taking things to another level
Level 20 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (BB ante 16,000)

We’ve now entered the final level of the day, with 16 players still remaining. –JS

12:04am: Two big pots at once
Level 19 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (BB ante 12,000)

Big pots are like buses. You wait ages for one to come along, then two show up at once.

On one table Tom Aksel-Bedell opened under the gun to 26,000 and it folded around to Dario Sammartino in the big blind. He called to see a T♠4♣9♥ flop, which both checked through to the 8♦ turn. Sammartino then led out for 30,000, only for Bedell to pop it up to 65,000. Call.

The river was the T♥ and Sammartino checked once more. Bedell slid out 100,000, and Sammartino –who had 114,000 behind–gave it up. Bedell’s up to 420,000 after that.

Over to the other table.

Ben Heath kicked things off opening to 24,000 under the gun, and Thomas Muehloecker defended his big blind. The dealer spread a 3♦8♥7♥ flop, on which Muehloecker check-called a 39,000 c-bet.

The Q♣ hit the turn and when Muehloecker checked again Heath continued for 92,000. That was enough to get a fold.

Muehloecker dips to 745,000, while Heath’s on 480,000. –JS

11:50pm: The slow hour
Level 19 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (BB ante 12,000)

We’re one of only two tournaments left running here in the Imperial Ballroom now that the Main Event has wrapped its penultimate day, and with 16 players left and a pay jump of nearly $60,000 between here and the final table the action is understandably slow. That doesn’t mean nothing’s happening, just that the swings between stacks are smaller than usual. That’s mostly because raises are being met with re-raises, which themselves tend to be answered with folds. With another hour and 15 minutes remaining, it doesn’t seem like that pattern can hold all night — but then again, stranger things happen on the regular in tournaments like these. –JK

11:22pm: Now it’s Kitai’s turn
Level 19 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (BB ante 12,000)

You get a double. You get a double. EVERYONE GETS A DOUBLE!

OK, only three people so far have doubled, with Davidi Kitai the latest in line. His A♦7♦ shove for 147,000 was called by Ben Heath with A♥J♣, and the 9♣Q♠7♠8♦K♦ paired Kitai for the win.

He’s now on 327,000, while Heath’s down to 275,000. –JS

11:15pm: Silver also doubles
Level 19 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (BB ante 12,000)

Over on the other table, Max Silver has followed in Nick Petrangelo’s footsteps.

Kelvin Kerber opened to 25,000 in the +1 seat before Silver three-bet huge to 280,000, leaving himself 4,000 behind. Back to Kerber, he jammed and Silver time banked before calling it off.

He had the best of it with J♣J♠ against Kerber’s T♣T♥, and the A♦4♣2♣2♠8♥ board kept Silver in front.

He’s up to 586,000 now, while Kerber drops to 355,000. –JS

11:12pm: Petrangelo gets a double
Level 19 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (BB ante 12,000)

Nick Petrangelo has started this penultimate level about as well as could have hoped.

He jammed from middle position for 153,000 and it folded around to the big blind of chip leader Gianluca Speranza. He asked for a count, gave it some thought, then called with K♥Q♥. It was a flip, as Petrangelo had 6♦6♠.

There was a queen on the flop, but also a six, great news for Petrangelo. By the end the board read 7♣Q♠6♥4♣4♦ and Petrangelo doubled to 324,000. Speranza dips to 1.3 million.

“You must have really thought I had it,” said Petrangelo.

“I had ace-king or ace-queen in my head,” replied Speranza. –JS

11:05pm: Back to business
Level 19 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (BB ante 12,000)

The final 16 are back for another two levels. They’ll then bag up for the night. –JS

10:49pm: Break time

Our 16 remaining players are on a 15-minute break. See you when they return. –JK

10:45pm: Winter doubles before break
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Martin Zamani opened to 23,000 under the gun and it folded around to Sean Winter in the small blind. He shipped it in for 93,000, and Kelvin Kerber called out of the small blind. Zamani stepped aside.

Winter: A♥Q♥
Kerber: A♠K♣

The board was kind to Winter, running 3♥T♦4♣Q♠9♥ to pair his queen and give him the double. He’s on 219,000 now, while Kerber dips to 430,000. –JS

10:35pm: Final two tables
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Here’s how the final 16 shape up:

Table 1:

1. Thomas Muehloecker – 920,000
2. Ben Heath – 420,000
3. Nick Petrangelo – 175,000
4. Bartlomiej Machon – 345,000
5. Markus Durnegger – 710,000
6. Sam Greenwood – 565,000
7. Davidi Kitai – 212,000
8. Gianluca Speranza – 1.39 million

Table 2

1. Max Silver – 338,000
2. Sean Winter 125,000
3. Kelvin Kerber – 530,000
4. Martin Zamani – 840,000
5. Dario Sammartino – 230,000
6. Tom Askel-Bedell – 220,000
7. Domimik Nitsche – 630,000
8. Jesus Cortes – 365,000

10:25pm: Satubayev jams, jams again, falls in 17th
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Shyngis Satubayev is out in 17th place, but it took two tries for the table to eliminate him.

Dominik Nitsche raised to 22,000 on the button on the first hand and Satubayev re-raised to 55,000 in the small blind, leaving himself 12,000 behind. The action returned to Nitsche and he moved all-in; Satubayev spent a time bank card as he watched to see if anybody else might bust before he had to make a decision. As it happened (see 10:20pm below), Preben Stokkan did just that, so Satubayev called all-in with Q♦J♦. That was ahead of Nitsche’s J♠T♦ but they split the pot after the board fell J♥6♣K♠6♥A♠.

Nitsche opened the next hand for 22,000 in the cutoff and Satubayev, now guaranteed an extra $5,400, moved all-in for 87,000 on the button. Then Bartlomiej Machon moved in from the big blind, chasing Nitsche to set up a showdown with his A♠J♣ and Satubayev’s K♠Q♥. The J♠2♠3♦5♠8♥ baord was no help and the Kazakh player was eliminated in 17th place.

That has the field down to its final two tables. Redraw time! –JK

10:20pm: Stokkan sent home
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

The bust-outs are coming thick and fast all of a sudden.

Prebben Stokkan is the latest to fall. Thomas Muehloecker set him all in with 6♥6♦ and Stokkan called with K♦9♦. The pocket pair held up, and Muehloecker is up to 920,000 now. –JS

10:15pm: Lim not far behind
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Chin Wei Lim busted in the very next hand to Ariel Celestino.

He was all in and at risk with A♣T♦ for around 250,000, called by Martin Zamani with A♠J♣. The board fell J♣6♠8♥4♦2♦, improving Zamani to top pair.

Lim’s out in 19th, Zamani’s up to around 800,000. –JS

10:10pm: Celestino falls to Speranza
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Ariel Celestino was all in and in good shape with ace-queen versus the five-four or Gianluca Speranza. However, a five and a four hit the board, giving Speranza the winner.

Celestino’s out in 20th, and Speranza’s up to 1.33 million. –JS

10:05pm: Hollink departs
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Chin Wei Lim opened to 22,000 in the +2, and Martin Zamani flatted one seat over. It folded over to Rob Hollink in the big blind and he shipped all in for around 120,000, which got a quick fold from Lim and a quick call from Zamani.

Hollink: A♦Q♦
Zamani: 8♣8♦

The board fell 3♠T♥6♠J♦4♣ keeping the pocket pair in front. Zamani’s up to 620,000 now. –JS

10pm: Kitai doubles through Machon
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Davidi Kitai found a crucial double just a moment ago. His chips went in with A♣7♥ on a very friendly 5♣7♣2♣ flop against Bartlomiej Machon’s K♣T♥. The 9♥ turn and A♠ river changed nothing but the rank of Kitai’s hand, giving him a boost to 232,000. Machon drops to 225,000. –JK

9:55pm: Wild times for Celestino, Sammartino
Level 18 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (BB ante 10,000)

Ariel Celestino and Dario Sammartino have both seen their stacks go down following the bubble. And both of them just watched them go back up.

Celestino and Sammartino clashed in the blinds a moment ago. Celestino open-shoved from the small blind with 4♠2♠ and Sammartino called off his last 94,000 with K♣9♦. The board fell 2♦K♥Q♥5♥T♠ to give the Italian pro a pair of kings and 198,000 chips to Celestino’s 41,000.

The very next hand saw Gianluca Speranza open for 22,000 in the hijack. Celestino re-raised to 35,000, leaving himself 6,000 behind, and his bet was followed by Sammartino’s shove. Speranza confirmed how much he had to call and tossed in a handful of white 25K chips, and Celestino called off his last chips too.

Speranza: A♥J♥
Celestino: K♣K♥
Sammartino: A♣K♠

The board ran out 8♦6♥2♣K♦2♠, Celestino chipped up to 130,000 with his main pot victory, while Sammartino took 315,000 in the side pot. Speranza still has 1.25 million. –JK

9:45pm: Rough ride to 22nd place for Reeves
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (BB ante 8,000)

Two losses in a row have sent Luke Reeves to the rail.

The first hand saw Reeves jam over the top of Chin Wei Lim’s 50,000-chip opener. Lim called for 103,000 total with K♣Q♣, which was racing with Reeves’s 7♣7♦. The board ran out K♦5♣A♦4♠9♣ and Reeves was left with just 34,000 chips.

The next hand saw Reeves opened for 20,000 under the gun with J♠T♦ and call when Gianluca Speranza re-raised to 38,000 behind him. Reeves held J♠T♦ and couldn’t catch up to Speranza’s A♥K♥ on the 3♣K♠5♦4♥7♦ board, eliminating him in 22nd place. –JK

9:35pm: Great call by Greenwood
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (BB ante 8,000)

Sean Winter opened the button and Sam Greenwood defended the big blind to see a T♦8♦6♣ flop. Both checked, just as they would on the 4♠ turn.

Greenwood checked a final time on the Q♥ river, and Winter fired out a huge bet of 118,000.

Greenwood called, and it’s what he called with that made it a great play. Winter turned over K♠J♠ for king-high and started berating himself under his breath.

“I’m so stupid,” he said as he saw Greenwood roll over A♣6♦ for a pair of sixes. “I don’t even know why I play poker.”

Perhaps for the more than $11M you’ve earned throughout your career, Sean? Don’t be so hard on yourself!

Winter’s down to 170,000 now, while Greenwood’s up to 571,000. –JS

9:25pm: Zamani doubles through Sammartino
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (BB ante 8,000)

A few minutes ago Martin Zamani was in danger of busting on the bubble. Now he’s in great shape after a fortunate break.

Zamani limped in for 8,000 in the hijack seat. That prompted limps behind him from Gianluca Speranza (cutoff) and Ariel Celestino (small blind) before Dario Sammartino jammed in the big blind. Zamani snap-called and the other two folded.

Zamani: 9♣9♥
Sammartino: A♠A♦

The 7♠9♦2♦2♥K♥ board provided Zamani with a set of nines. “I really felt it coming,” Zamani said as he began building his new stack of 489,000 chips — not that Sammartino cared to listen as he counted down his remaining 105,000 chips. –JK

9:20pm: Romero falls to Zamani
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (BB ante 8,000)

“All-in and a call!”

Our first player out after the bubble is James Romero. He got his last 90,000 chips in the middle with K♦8♦ against Martin Zamani’s K♥9♠ and caught a pair of eights on the 8♥5♣J♥ flop. It looked like he would double through Zamani to leave the latter short, but the T♦ turn and Q♥ river gave Zamani a king-high straight to end Romero’s day in 23rd place. That’s good for $44,660.

Zamani is now on around 300,000. –JK

9:10pm: Mike Watson bubbles $25K High Roller
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (BB ante 8,000)

Mike Watson has had many great days in this very room at the Bahamas Atlantis. After all, he won the PCA Main Event back in 2016.

This one won’t make the list.

Dominik Nitsche had been raising every hand (where there wasn’t action in front of him), and he did so again to 18,000 under the gun. It folded around to Watson in the big blind who defended and then checked a J♠5♠8♠ flop.

Nitsche grabbed a handful of blue 5K chips–enough to cover Watson’s 50,000 stack–and splashed them down. Watson shrugged and called it off.

When the hands were over at the other tables the cards were flipped: A♠9♣ for Watson (flush draw, backdoor straight draw, overcard) and 8♣6♦ for Nitsche (pair of eights, backdoor straight draw).

The turn was the 7♦ which changed nothing other than giving Nitsche more straight outs. The Q♥ river completed the board, and that was all she wrote for Watson.

He’s our bubble boy, Nitsche now has 545,000, and everyone is now guaranteed $44,660. –JS

8:58pm: Kerber clips Winter
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (BB ante 8,000)

We’re still on the bubble, but we saw a healthy pot play out between Kelvin Kerber and Sean Winter.

It started with a 16,000 min-open from Kerber in the hijack and Winter defended his big blind to bring a 7♠T♥2♠ flop. Winter checked to the raiser, and Kerber continued for 12,000. Winter then bumped it up to 50,000, and Kerber stuck around.

The 3♦ hit the turn, slowing down the action. After two checks the dealer completed the board with the K♦, and when Winter checked Kerber fired 105,000. Winter folded quicky.

Kerber’s up to 740,000 now, while Winter drops to 370,000. –JS

8:38pm: Play set to resume
Level 17 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (BB ante 8,000)

We’re ready to get back to the action and see who will get paid and who will bubble. Here’s a look at our chip counts as we return.

–JK

7:17pm: Dinner break

It’s time for an 80-minute dinner break. Afer that’s done we’ll return to try to pop this bubble. –JK

7:02pm: Cortes gets a double bubble
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (BB ante 6,000)

Ben Heath opened all-in from the small blind and Jesus Cortes used a time bank card before calling for his tournament life with K♦Q♠. That was ahead of Heath’s K♣8♥ and remained so after the J♣2♥4♣T♣7♦ runout, giving Cortes the 330,000-chip pot. Heath still has 470,000.

Hand-for-hand play continues. Mike Watson is the shortest stack on 85,000 and James Romero is next shortest with 123,000. –JK

6:55pm: Pure sickness
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (BB ante 6,000)

This one was sick on so many levels.

Thomas Boivin limped on the button. Ben Heath jammed for 217,000 in the small blind. And Prebben Stokkan called from the big blind.

Boivin then jammed for 284,000 total. Stokkan called.

Boivin: A♦A♣
Heath: 8♠8♦
Stokkan: Q♠Q♣

Pretty sick to get three pocket pairs in the button and blinds, right? Well hold your horses.

The flop: Q♥5♠J♣

Stokkan now took the lead with top set, and Boikin’s aces were in dire straits. He had two outs, while Heath needed running cards.

The turn: 9♣

That was certainly one of the cards Heath wanted to see. He now had an open-ender, while Boikin still needed one of the two aces.

The river: T♠

Heath had done it! He’d back-doored his way into a straight for the full triple up, while Stokkan collected the remaining 67,000 from Boikin’s stack.

Stokkan’s on 245,000 now, while Heath is up to 657,000.

With 24 remaining, we’re officially on the bubble. Players are drawing for the final three tables. –JS

6:45pm: Greenwood takes from Lim, hand-for-hand play begins
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (BB ante 6,000)

Sam Greenwood opened the action for 15,000 in the lojack seat. Chin Wei Lim called in the big blind to see the K♠J♠2♦ flop, then check-called 10,000 to see the T♦ turn. Both players checked there, bringing the T♠ on the river. Lim check-called another 15,000 with his A♥J♥ for jacks and tens but that had been rivered for trip tens by Greenwood’s Q♥T♥.

Greenwood is on 290,000 to Lim’s 220,000 now. Meanwhile, Pablo Melogno’s elimination on another table has us playing hand-for-hand. The next bustout will take us to 24, where we’ll redraw seats, and then the next elimination after that will pop the money bubble. –JK

6:40pm: Another lucky KO for Kerber
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (BB ante 6,000)

Just seconds after eliminating Koray Aldemir, Kelvin Kerber has felted another player with a worse pocket pair.

Pablo Melogno opened to 12,500 under the gun before Kerber three-bet to 38,000 in the cutoff. Back to Melogno, he jammed for around 75,000 and Kerber snap-called.

He had 7♥7♦, which trailed Melogno’s K♣K♠. Until the 7♣T♠5♥ flop that is. The J♠5♠ turn and river gave Kerber the double, and Melogno shook everyone’s hand before departing.

“What the f**k! Two hands in a row!” laughed Kerber’s tablemate and fellow Brazilian Ariel Celestino when Melogno had left. Kerber’s on 610,000. –JS

6:33pm: Aldemir ousted
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (BB ante 6,000)

We’ve just lost Koray Aldemir. He was all-in for around 90,000 with pocket tens against the pocket sixes of Kelvin Kerber, and couldn’t hold when a six hit the turn of the Q♦J♦9♠6♥2♦ board.

Aldemir could only shake his head as he saw Kerber stack up 490,000. –JS

6:25pm: Kruk crumbled
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (BB ante 6,000)

Word from the floor is that Chris Kruk is out, taking us down to 27 remaining.

It was Thomas Muehloecker who claimed his chips, and he’s up to 700,000 now. –JS

6:15pm: Huge bluff takes Speranza up over a milly
Level 16 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (BB ante 6,000)

The blinds have now gone up, and a long, drawn-out hand between Gianluca Speranza and Sean Winter closed Level 15.

It started with a 10,000 open from Speranza in the cutoff, then folded to Winter in the big blind. He thought for around 25 seconds before sliding out a three-bet to 50,000, which Speranza would call. It’s worth noting that these two were the second and third biggest stacks in the tournament, five away from the money.

The flop fell T♣9♥4♠ and Winter decided not to c-bet. He checked, and Speranza came in for 43,000 bet. Back to Winter, he used a time bank before check-raising to 150,000. Speranza didn’t budge.

When the 5♦ turn landed Winter checked again, and now Speranza checked it back. Maybe this hand was calming down?

Nope. Not at all.

The river was the 3♠ and Winter used another time bank (all 30 seconds of it) before checking. Speranza used a time bank too, then set Winter all-in for his remaining 346,000.

Winter folded after just three seconds.

Speranza started giggling to himself, in what seemed to be relief. Some players at the table asked to see what he had.

“You wanna see?” said Speranza, and everyone nodded. He then flipped over 7♣8♣ for complete air. He’d flopped an up-and-down draw, but that bricked.

“Oh no…wait…I thought I had six-seven!” Speranza joked, as he began to stack up his new 1.1 million stack. He’s the first player to eclipse a million.

“You had a very polarized range,” laughed Winter.

“You too man, I thought you had aces when I shove!” Speranza replied. –JS

5:57pm: Zamani feeling flush
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

Martin Zamani has just doubled through the big stack of Max Silver. The latter opened to 11,000 and Zamani jammed over the top with T♥T♣ for roughly 110,000. Back to Silver, he snap-called with A♥Q♦.

The 8♣2♣3♣ kept Zamani in front, but the A♠ turn improved Silver. The Q♣ quickly switched things back though, and with a flush Zamani doubles to 230,000. Silver’s on 436,000 now. –JS

5:55pm: Kerber-ing Kruk’s enthusiasm
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

Chris Kruk’s not out yet by any means, but his path to a repeat victory in this event just got a lot tougher after a loss to Kelvin Kerber.

The action opened with a 12,500 button raise from Ariel Celestino. Kerber re-raised to 40,000 in the small blind and then Kruk squeezed all-in, his stack covering both opponents. Celestino folded but Kerber called immediately.

Kerber: J♠J♦
Kruk: A♠2♠

The 7♣T♣6♠9♥T♥ runout was no help to Kruk, who drops to 70,000. Kerber is now on 365,000. –JK

5:40pm: Ace-high good for Machon
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

The sole Pole in the field, Bartlomiej Machon, opened to 11,000 on the button and picked up a caller in chip leader Markus Durnegger out of the big blind. Durnegger then checked the 2♣9♦9♣ flop, before check-raising Machon’s 7,500 c-bet to 22,000. Call.

The J♠ turn brought checks from both, resulting in a river card: 4♥. There’d be no more betting, and Durnegger showed K♣5♠, having flopped a backdoor king-high flush draw. Machon’s A♥5♣ for ace-high was best, and he’s up to 240,000 while Durnegger’s on 735,000. –JS

5:30pm: Two more down
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

Michel Dattani and Kristina Holst have been eliminated, taking us down to 28. The bubble bursts at 23, after which everyone will be guaranteed $44,660. –JS

5:27pm: Winter’s coming for Greenwood’s profits
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

All of the chips Sam Greenwood just won from Michel Dattani now sit in front of Sean Winter.

We picked up the action with Winter (cutoff) and Greenwood (big blind) heads-up to a 3♠T♦5♥ flop, on which Greenwood check-called 22,000. He then checked the 6♦ turn, and Winter checked it back.

Greenwood checked a third time on the T♠ river, and Winter fired out 49,000. Greenwood asked for a count, then made the call. He’d quickly muck when Winter showed A♥6♥ for a pair of sixes to go with the tens on board.

Winter’s on 555,000 now, while Greenwood drops back to 245,000. –JS

5:20pm: Current top 10 chip counts
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

Following that last win for Sam Greenwood, here’s a look at the top 10 chip counts.

–JK

5:15pm: Greenwood shoves, collects
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

Sam Greenwood is in good shape to make a run at his second high roller of the 2019 PCA.

After Michel Dattani opened to 11,500 from the hijack, action folded to Greenwood in the big blind and he defended. The dealer spread an A♣3♦K♥ flop which checked to the raiser, and Dattani continued for 7,000. Call.

The 6♥ arrived on the turn bringing another check from Greenwood. Dattani didn’t slow down, and fired again, this time for 24,000. Greenwood called once more.

He then checked the 9♠ river and saw Dattani slide out a bet worth 47,000. Greenwood used a time bank, then announced all-in. Dattani snap-folded and dropped to 75,000, while Greenwood increases to 320,000. –JS

5:07pm: We’re back
Level 15 – Blinds 2,500/5,000 (BB ante 5,000)

Time to get back to the game. We’re seven spots away from the money. –JK

4:52pm: Break time

It’s time for our second 15-minute break of the day. Back to the action soon. –JK

4:50pm: Nitsche takes, table breaks
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

Dominik Nitsche’s stack has been fluctuating in his typical fashion today. He’s just moved back up to double his starting stack with a nice win.

James Romero opened the betting for 9,000 in the lojack seat and picked up calls from Nitsche (hijack), Ben Heath (cutoff), and Rob Hollink (button). All four players checked both the K♦3♠4♥ flop and Q♥ turn, bringing the 5♣ on the river. Romero checked and Nitsche bet 30,000; Heath and Hollink folded, while Romero called only to muck when Nitsche showed K♠J♠ for top pair.

And just as Nitsche (who’s now on 205,000) dragged that pot, his table was broken as we’ve made it down to 32 players. –JK

4:48pm: Bonomo busts
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

That’s the end of Justin Bonomo’s high roller.

Picking up the action on a 9♠A♥3♠ flop, Bonomo bet 4,000 from the small blind seat only for Winter to raise to 13,000 from the big blind position. Call.

The 7♦ turn saw Bonomo check and Winter continue his aggression for 38,000. Bonomo woudn’t budge, meaning this one would come down to the river. It was the J♥ and when Bonomo checked again Winter stacked up 150,000 and slid it over the line.

Bonomo only had around 130,000 in front of him, so this decision was for it all. He took around 30 seconds before making the call, and Winter flipped A♦7♣ for two pair. Bonomo also had two pair, but his 7♥3♦ was inferior this time.

He’s out, while Winter climbs to 450,000. –JS

4:40pm: Speranza surges
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

Gianluca Speranza has just busted Henrik Hecklen to take the chip lead. The Italian is on 755,000 now. –JS

4:35pm: Multi-way, all day
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

Two multi-way pots were playing out simultaneously on adjacent tables, and it took all of our best reporting skills to capture it. You’re welcome.

On one table, Luke Reeves opened to 9,000 from the hijack and Bartlomiej Machon called from the cutoff. Nick Petrangelo then three-bet squeezed to 35,000 on the button, only for Max Silver to four-bet out of the big blind to 60,000. Reeves and Machon folded quickly, and Petrangelo would ultimately lay it down too.

On the other table, Henrik Hecklen kicked things off opening to 8,500 in the hijack, which Michel Dattani flatted on the button. Both Justin Bonomo (sb) and Sean Winter (bb) were getting good prices to call, and they did just that.

The flop fell Q♥7♦K♦ and it checked to Hecklen. He continued for 11,000, which only Dattani called, taking them heads-up to the 3♦ turn. Hecklen slowed down and checked, and Dattani was able to take it down with a 22,000 bet.

Chip counts after all that are as follows. –JS

Max Silver – 410,000
Sean Winter – 300,000
Bartlomiej Machon – 275,000
Luke Reeves – 253,000
Michel Dattani – 160,000
Justin Bonomo – 149,000
Nick Petrangelo – 118,000
Henrik Hecklen – 92,000

4:25pm: More for Muehloecker
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

After entering Day 2 with 91,500 remaining on his second bullet, Thomas Muehloecker has found another gear.

Muehloecker just called from the small blind against a cutoff raise to 8,000 from Kelvin Kerber. Muehloecker checked the T♣6♥5♥ flop to Kerber, who bet 11,000, and then came back with a check-raise to 30,000. Kerber thought for about 15 seconds and called.

The turn was the 2♠ and this time Muehloecker led for 33,000. Kerber used most of his shot clock and called again. The K♦ then hit the river and Muehloecker used a time bank card before checking. Kerber checked, too, and then threw his cards into the muck when Muehloecker rolled over A♠T♥ for a pair of tens.

Kerber dips to 215,000 with that loss, while Muehloecker is challenging for the chip lead with 550,000. –JK

4:22pm: More eliminations
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

Jack Salter, Pedro Marques, Ryan Riess, Alex Foxen, and Ramin Hajiyev have all hit the rail this level. –JS

4:20pm: Hecklen doubles through Bonomo
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

Justin Bonomo opened to 9,000 in the +1 seat. The only action he saw after was Henrik Hecklen ripping it in for 52,000 out of the big blind, and when Bonomo got a count he made the call.

He had 5♣5♠ while Hecklen had the best of it with 9♦9♣. He flopped a set on the T♥9♥3♣A♦4♥ to hold.

Bonomo dips to 155,000, while Hecklen’s now playing 110,000. –JS

4:05pm: Kitai straightens out Marques
Level 14 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (BB ante 4,000)

Pedro Marques opened to 9,000 in the cutoff and it folded over to Davidi Kitai in the big blind. He came along to see a dangerous looking 8♦T♥J♠ flop, then checked. Marques checked it back.

When the 9♠ turn put four to a straight on board, Kitai checked a second time before Marques made a delayed c-bet of 9,000. Call.

The 7♥ river only added to the straight. Kitai checked a final time, and when Marques checked back he flipped Q♥T♠ for the higher end of it. Marques mucked.

Kitai’s on 250,000 now while Marques dips to 140,000. –JS

3:55pm: Durnegger takes, Marques gives
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

The last hand of this level was another good one for Markus Durnegger. Not so much for Pedro Marques.

Marques opened the betting for 7,000 in the cutoff and Durnegger (button) and Davidi Kitai (big blind) called. Kitai checked the 9♠4♥3♦ flop to Marques, who bet 8,500; Durnegger called and Kitai folded.

Marques and Durnegger both checked the J♦ turn, bringing the 7♠ on the river. Marques led for 36,500 but had a decision to make when Durnegger raised to 105,000. That decision was to fold.

Marques falls to 150,000 with that loss, while Durnegger’s tournament-leading stack grows to 565,000. –JK

3:45pm: Big stack battle
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

Two of the largest stacks currently in the tournament happen to be sat right next to each other (albeit with the dealer in between).

Max Silver had opened under the gun and it folded around to Markus Durnegger in the big blind. He called to see a K♥7♣8♠ flop, then check-called Silver’s 6,000 c-bet.

The 7♥ landed on the turn, and now Durnegger led out for 13,000. Silver stuck around though, and the dealer laid the 2♣ river. Both checked quickly.

Durnegger flipped K♣3♣ for top pair, getting Silver to muck. Silver’s on 470,000 now, while Durnegger’s in front with 495,000. –JS

3:40pm: Out-Foxen-ed by Cortes
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

Speaking of Jesus Cortes…scratch Alex Foxen from our lineup. Foxen got in before the flop with Q-Q against Cortes’s 4-4, made a set of queens on the flop, and then watched as the runout produced a six-high straight for Cortes. Nasty stuff.

Cortes is on 330,000. –JK

3:30pm: Cortes on cruise control
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

Jesus Cortes probably wishes this PCA would never end. After finishing third in the $100K Super High Roller and and second in the $25K Single-Day High Roller for a combined $1.1 million earlier this week, he’s back at the tables in this event looking for another big score.

Cortes came into today with 239,000 chips from his second bullet. He’d dropped a few of those early on but now he’s back above that level. Most recently he came in for a 26,500-chip three-bet over Preben Stokkan’s 6,500 opener. Stokkan thought for about 10 seconds and then let it go.

With that, Cortes is back on 260,000. –JK

3:27pm: The departed
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

The bust-outs are coming thick and fast this level. Here are a few names no longer with us:

Daniel Dvoress, David Peters, Brock Wilson, Joseph Cheong, Joao Vieira, Fabiano Kovalski, Xixiang Luo, Timothy Adams, and Chris Hunichen. –JS

3:25pm: Chen put through the wringer
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

We arrived to see a 9♦6♠6♣K♠Q♣ board out there, on which Chris Kruk had checked. James Chen then bet 26,000, only for Kruk to check-raise him all-in.

Chen used seven of his time banks before decided to lay it down. He’s now on 65,000 while Kruk climbs to 165,000. –JS

3:15pm: Petrangelo vs Greenwood
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

Nick Petrangelo was in Sam Greeenwood’s Super High Roller winner’s shot just a few days ago, so the two are clearly good friends and great poker minds alike. There ain’t no friends at the tables though.

Petrangelo opened to 7,000 from middle position and Greenwood defended his big blind to see a 5♣9♥T♠ flop. Greenwood check-called a chunky 13,000 c-bet, taking them to the K♣ turn. Check check.

The T♦ completed the board and Greenwood let his shot clock tick down before betting 13,000. Petrangelo snap-called, then snap-mucked when Greenwood showed K♠J♦ for top pair to go with the tens on board.

He’s on 165,000 now, while Petrangelo has ever so slightly more with 167,000. –JS

3:05pm: Five-way pot goes to Kerber
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

Kelvin Kerber just took down a healthy pot without having to invest many of his own chips.

The hand kicked off with Pabloa Cabrera, who limped in from the hijack seat. Then Ariel Celestino (cutoff), James Chen (button), and Kerber (small blind) all called and Chris Kruk checked in the big blind.

Kerber checked the T♦9♥7♣ flop and Kruk bet 9,000. Cabrera called, Celestino folded, and Chen and Kerber came along for the J♣ turn. Kerber and Kruk both checked this time; Cabrera stabbed for 14,000 and everyone else called.

The river was the J♠ and this time Kerber used a time bank card before firing 77,000. Kruk folded immediately; Cabrera used a time bank card before folding, and then Chen folded as well.

With that Kerber is up to 325,000. –JK

2:55pm: Great call from Silver eliminates D’Auteuil
Level 13 – Blinds 1,500/3,000 (BB ante 3,000)

Max Silver just made a superb call against Canada’s Philippe D’Auteuil.

Silver kicked it off opening to 6,500 in the +1 seat, before D’Auteuil three-bet to 16,000 one seat over. It folded back to Silver and he made the call, bringing a T♣9♣Q♠ flop. Silver checked it over to the raiser who made a small continuation bet of 12,000. Call.

The 7♥ hit the turn and when Silver checked again D’Auteuil jammed for 58,000, almost the size of the pot. Silver sighed and started thinking it over, using two time banks.

He then called, showing 8♠8♦ for fourth pair and an up-and-down straight draw. That was well in front of D’Auteuil’s A♦8♦ for one over and the same draw.

The 5♣ river changed nothing, sending D’Auteuil to the rail. Silver’s up to 390,000 now. –JS

2:35pm: Break time

We’ll back in 15 minutes.

2:35pm: Speranza unspools Katz
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,500 (BB ante 2,500)

Cary Katz bought in at the start of play today, and he’s already out after tangling with Gianluca Speranza.

Katz opened for 6,000 on the button and Speranza defended his big blind. Speranza checked the Q♦J♣5♦ flop and Katz almost immediately bet 6,000. Speranza took most of his time bank before raising to 18,000; Katz insta-jammed and Speranza called just as quickly.

Katz: A♦K♦
Speranza: Q♥5♠

“Oh, is that all?” Katz said as his opponent’s cards were turned over. The K♥ turn gave Katz a few more outs to go with his flush and straight draws but the 4♠ eliminated him from play. He stormed away from the table and flung his remaining time bank cards toward Speranza, who gave a “what, me worry?” shrug as he collected the pot.

Speranza, who entered play today with just 28,000 chips remaining on his second bullet, is now up to 330,000. –JK

2:32pm: Kaverman left with crumbs
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,500 (BB ante 2,500)

Byron Kaverman is left with just five big blinds after this hand.

Pavel Plesuv opened to 5,500 in the cutoff, which Daniel Dvoress flatted on the button. Over to Kaverman in the big blind, he pushed all in for 77,000 total.

Plesuv got a count, then moved all in himself for 64,000. Dvoress looked interested, but opted to lay it down. Kaverman saw the bad news: not only was his 9♠9♦ in bad shape versus Plesuv’s T♦T♠, his suits were covered too.

The board ran 5♦7♥A♦3♥7♠ changing nothing. Plesuv’s up to 137,000, while Kaverman’s left with 13,000 heading to the break. –JS

2:25pm: Durnegger’s chip leader
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,500 (BB ante 2,500)

Austria’s Markus Durnegger is currently leading the field. It looks like he’s the only player up over the 400K mark right now.

He just added a few more to his stack courtesy of $100K Super High Roller runner-up Henrik Hecklen. He’d opened to 5,500 in the lojack and it folded to Durnegger in the big blind. He asked Hecklen for a better look at his stack, then bumped it up to 25,000. Hecklen called.

The flop fell 7♦9♦Q♥ and Durnegger opted for a check rather than a c-bet. Hecklen checked it back, bringing the T♠ turn. Durnegger then made a delayed c-bet of 45,000, getting Hecklen to lay it down.

He’s on 145,000, while Durnegger’s up to 485,000. –JS

2:15pm: Chen chips away at Celestino’s stack
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,500 (BB ante 2,500)

Last year’s APPT Macau HK$100,000 High Roller champ James Chen survived on his second bullet yesterday and returned with 109,500 chips for today’s action. He just boosted that by about 50 percent in a pot with Ariel Celestino.

Celestino opened for 5,500 under the gun and picked up calls from Chen (UTG+1) and Chin Wei Lim (cutoff) before the J♠J♣9♣ flop. Celestino checked there and Chen bet 6,500, losing Lim before Celestino called. The turn was the A♠ and Celestino, eyeing Chen’s stack, check-called another 20,500.

That brought the 8♥ on the river. Celestino checked a final time and Chen used a time bank card before betting 55,000, leaving himself about 30,000 behind. Celestino used a time bank card himself but eventually tossed his cards into the muck with a look of disgust. He’s now on around 180,000, while Chen climbs to 165,000. –JK

2:10pm: No flush, no worries
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,500 (BB ante 2,500)

Ben Heath and Sam Greenwood were tangling in a heads-up pot when we arrived.

The board read 6♥T♥J♣3♥ and Greenwood checked from the big blind position over to Heath on the button. He led for 21,500 and Greenwood made the call to see the K♥ river.

With four to a flush out there, Greenwood checked and Heath instantly checked it back. Greenwood announced he had a jack (showing J♠2♠), but he was outkicked against Heath’s K♦J♦.

Heath’s up to 135,000 now, while Greenwood drops to 70,000. –JS

2:05pm: Foxen doubles through Peters
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,500 (BB ante 2,500)

Alex Foxen will be sticking around a while longer. He just doubled his 16,000 stack through David Peters with A♣Q♦ versus K♠T♣, when the board ran 2♠9♥7♠A♦3♦.

Peters is on 110,000 after that loss. –JS

2pm: Our coverage begins
Level 12 – Blinds 1,000/2,500 (BB ante 2,500)

Let us bring you up to speed.

Just 56 players are currently still in this thing, including last year’s champion Christopher Kruk. Overall we had 162 entries (including 47 re-entries), creating a first place prize of $895K.

PokerStars Ambassador Liv Boeree is a recent bust-out.

Now let’s get down to the action. –JS

12pm: High Rolling

All the usual suspects are in town for the $25,000 High Roller event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA). Day 1 played out yesterday (Monday) and drew 151 entries (including 42 re-entries). At least 65 players will return for Day 2, which kicks off at 12:30pm in the Imperial Ballroom at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

Late registration remains open overnight, meaning plenty more will either enter for the first time, or re-enter, before play resumes. As ever, this will be a huge one — significantly bigger than last year’s 144-entry event, from which Christopher Kruk prevailed for $836,350.

We will have updates here from 2pm until the tournament ends. — HS

KEY FACTS:

PCA High Roller — Day 2
Buy-in: $25,000 (inc. $750 fee)
Re-entry: Single re-entry allowed
Registration: Open for new players and re-entries until start Day 2
Schedule: 10 x 60-minute levels
Breaks: 20 mins after Levels 12, 14 & 18.
Dinner: 80 mins after Level 16

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PokerStars Blog reporting team on the $23,000 High Roller: Jason Kirk and Jack Stanton. Photography by Neil Stoddart.

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