Day 3 Ends at the Money Bubble

The five levels scheduled for Day 3 finished with the field one spot away from the money — so TD Matt Savage had them keep playing into the money. When the dust settled, 63 players were left, guaranteed at least $23,052, and Kofi Farkye continued his hot streak from the end of Day 2 to lead the field: 

1.  Kofi Farkye  –  837,500
2.  Mike Sowers  –  741,500
3.  Donnie D’Auria  –  666,500
4.  Jeremy Kotter  –  574,000
5.  Chris Karagulleyan  –  543,000

These counts are unofficial, and they’ll be updated when the official counts are released later tonight. 

Antonio Esfandiari had the lead coming out of Day 2, but he had far less luck today, watching his stack steadily dwindle until he was busted by Mike Sowers on a bad beat. They were all in preflop, but a queen on the turn let Sowers’ A-Q defeat Antonio’s A-K. Antonio won this event back in 2004, but he won’t be winning this one. 

The money bubble was exciting with several players getting crippled down to less than a few big blinds, but surviving through. David Daneshgar was crippled and then tried to limp into the money until his last 500 was forced in the ante. He ended up winning the pot to finish the day with 4,000, and he was hoping to forfeit and not have to come back tomorrow. But TD Matt Savage wouldn’t have it; if Daneshgar wants his money, he’ll have to return tomorrow. 

Daneshgar isn’t alone in his short-stacked state, because there are five players returning with less than two rounds’ worth of blinds and antes. 

Return to WorldPokerTour.com tomorrow at 12:00 noon for continuing live coverage of all the action, including video interviews with Amanda Leatherman.