PCA 2015 Main Event – Eugenio Mattar Leads Remaining 24

Another day filled with poker action in the Bahamas is now behind us. The field of 58 who returned to play in the PCA 2015 Main Event yesterday has been further reduced to 24. This small field is led by Eugenio Pacelli Mattar, a Brazilian who bagged 2,673,000 chips when the last river card was dealt.

Although a few big names were still in the mix yesterday, one man was stealing all the attention from the cameras and fans alike. Football star from Brazil, Ronaldo, returned with a decent stack and continued his good run in the event and all the eyes were set on him.

Many out there (myself included, I must admit) were rooting for the Brazilian to go as far as possible and make the final table. Some were saying that if Ronaldo was to somehow win the tournament, it would initiate a new poker boom, and there is no doubt it would be great for poker.

Sadly, we will not find out, as he was eliminated just short of making the penultimate day. Ronaldo’s run finally came to an end as his compatriot and the eventual chipleader sent him to the rail in 26th. The football legend cashed for $42,180, an amount that probably doesn’t mean much to him, but a deep run in such a huge (and tough) field, probably does. Next time, maybe?

Ronaldo was, in fact, the last member of the team PokerStars still standing in the event. The others who returned yesterday were sent out earlier in the day, including the first pro member from Japan Naoya Kihara, 2010 world champ Jonathan Duhamelas well as Jason Mercier.

Many other pros came back hoping to capture this prestigious title and start the year with the bang, but they were denied the opportunity. The likes of Ole Schemion, Olivier Busquet and JC Alvarado all fell along the way.

Laura caught up with Andrew Wayman, an unlikely 30th place finisher, who qualified online for just $11 and was able to turn that small investment into $36,500 cash; not bad, not bad at all.

One of the better known names still in with a chance is that of Pratyush Buddiga. A poker professional and a spelling bee champ, Pratyush had a great 2014 and will be looking to extend that run into the New Year. He will return today with 1.6 million in chips and despite of his successes in 2014, winning here (or even finishing second) would constitute Buddiga’s biggest cash to date.

Other names you may have heard of are those of Juan Martin Pastor (Argentina), Jim Collopy (US), Benjamin Polak (United Kingdom), Dylan Linde and Scott Baumstein. The official short stack to start the day belongs to Noah Schwartz and he will need some help if he wants to spin the things around, as he starts the day with just 238,000 in his stack.

The play will continue today in the Bahamas until the final table is formed. It could be a long day or a short day, one can never really tell. Rikard and Laura will be on the spot to try and bring you some more great interviews (if they find time from all the great fun they are having in the Caribbean).