Shawn Keller Leads WSOP 2011 $3,000 Limit Hold’em Tournament

American Shawn Keller tops the leaderboard after day two of the $3,000 limit hold’em event at the WSOP with 520,000 chips – a massive lead of 154,500 over second-placed Russian Dmitry Gromov.

The 337-player tournament, which was cut down to 163 as they chase the first prize cheque of $220,817, saw some famous casualties, including defending champion Eric Buchman, Dwyte Pilgrim, Justin Bonomo, David Chui, Barry Greenstein, Chad Brown, Richard ‘nutsinho’ Lyndaker, Ronnie Bardah and Josh ‘JJProdigy’ Field.

However, sneaking into the money – after the bubble was burst at 36th place – were players such as Shawn Buchanan, who picked up $7,019 for his 20th place finish, as well as Jesse Martin (24th for $7,019), Marco Traniello (34th for $5,612) and David ‘ODB’ Baker (36th for $5,612).

Still hoping for a gold bracelet success are fifth-placed American Team PokerStars Pro Victor Ramdin on 287,000 chips, Jeff Shulman, who is sixth on 197,000, Canadian Sorel Mizzi on 85,000 in 12th and the 13th-placed Alex Keating (81,500).

Final 18 players at the WSOP 2011 $3,000 Limit Hold’em event:
1. Shawn Keller (USA) – 520,000
2. Dmitry Gromov (Russia) – 386,500
3. Tyler Bonkowski (Canada) – 289,000
4. Mitch Shock (USA) – 289,000
5. Victor Ramdin (USA) – 287,000
6. Jeff Shulman (USA) – 197,000
7. Ron Burke (USA) – 147,000
8. Brandon Demes (USA) – 128,000
9. Leo Labbe (USA) – 124,500
10. Mark Gryglik (USA) – 120,500
11. Casey McCarrel (USA) – 108,000
12. Sorel Mizzi (Canada) – 88,500
13. Alexander Keating (USA) – 81,500
14. Matthew Suelflow (USA) – 76,500
15. Andrew Brongo (USA) – 73,500
16. 
Matt Sterling (USA) – 58,500
17. Michael Shiffman (USA) – 48,000
18. Jeremy Heartberg (USA) – 36,500