Thayer Rasmussen Leading WPT Borgata Poker Open After Day 2

Online poker phenom Thayer “THAY3R” Rasmussen appears to be doing his best to win the World Poker Tour’s Borgata Poker Open sooner rather than later. After starting the second day of play in ninth place with 183,325 Rasmussen barreled through the field in Atlantic City and ended up on top with 904,500 in chips.

Rasmussen grabbed the chip lead on the final hand of the night when he called the all-in of an opponent who held K-3 to his K-Q. Right behind Rasmussen is Ryan Young, the 2007 World Series of Poker bracelet winner has 837,700. Of the 302 players who started the day only 68 remained in pursuit of the WPT title and the $1,424,500 first place prize.

By far the biggest mover and shaker of Day 2 had to be Michael Binger who started the day just below the average stack of 70,000 chips. Thanks to an early double-up, followed by a 20-minute period where he built his stack to 210,000 before the end of the day’s first level of play. When Day 3 play starts on Tuesday Binger will sitting on a stack of 521,800 – good enough for seventh best. Should he manage to make the final table he could put himself in position to challenge John Phan for BLUFF Magazine Player-of-the-Year (see standings).

Also still alive is Tiffany Michelle. The last woman remaining in the 2008 WSOP has 265,400 which puts her just below the average stack of 300,386. But it wasn’t all good news for the names and faces most poker fans know. David “the Dragon” Pham, Jared Hamby, Dan Shak and Kenny Tran all failed to make it through the day. Jose Torres, who lead after the first day of play, was also sent to the rail despite starting the day with 263,775 chips.

The 68 remaining players will head back to the tables Tuesday at 11am ET.

Bluff Magazine

News Added: 16 September, 2008

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