On Sunday night, going up against the nationally-televised New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals NFL game, the 2014 World Series of Poker Main Event continued airing on ESPN. Two hours of action hit the small screen beginning at 9:00pm ET. This author tuned in at 10:00pm ET for an hour after the Sunday Night Football game ceased to be competitive.

To start off the second hour of coverage,
Kyle Keranen(pictured) won a pot to go over three million in chips at the feature table. After raking another pile of chips to pass 3.5 million, ESPN poker commentator Norman Chad quipped, “Kyle Keranen – winning another pot to make it look easy.” Keranen and the flamboyant Curtis Rystadt were the two most heavily featured players during the hour; both had their chairs pulled around the feature table.

Hedge fund manager David Einhorn busted in 173rd place, continuing his impressive showing in the Main Event. Einhorn finished 18th in the 2006 version and told ESPN, “To just hang in there, catch a few cards, and play like I did – I am really happy with this result.” He finished third in the 2012 Big One for One Drop for a mind-numbing $4.3 million.

Meanwhile, USC alum Eddy Sabat(pictured) made a call for 275,000 in chips with a pair of fours and ran into a flush. Sabat asked for the clock to be called on himself and seemed rather indecisive about whether to continue. To quote Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, “He chose poorly.”

Elsewhere in the quickly-shrinking Amazon Room at the Rio in Las Vegas, Andrew Liporace went all-in with Jc-10c on a board of 2-K-K-9. Dan KingDan Smith, holding A-A, insta-called and was 75% to win. The river was the 7h and Liporace was eliminated in 159th place. As a result, Smith boosted his stack to nearly three million.

Following that hand, a piece about Smith and his passion for chess aired. Smith talked about starting to play the strategy-laced game at six years old and pointed out, “I wouldn’t be the poker player I am today if it weren’t for chess, and for that I am grateful.” The 2014 Main Event marked Smith’s 17th WSOP in the money finish.

Back at the feature table, Keranen continued to roll, scooping a pot of almost 700,000 in chips with J-J after forcing a player with third pair to fold. Also at the feature table was Rystadt, who constantly opened his mouth and got under the skin of several of his opponents. Chad asked whether Rystadt had an off switch, to give you an idea of how bad it was. Following that comment, an interview with Rystadt aired in which he talked about the importance of seeing the world. Chad wondered, “I wonder if he trash-talks locals.”

Rystadt (pictured) then busted a player with 10-10 against Q-10 after ducking 15 outs on the river. He had cracked Keranen’s aces with Q-4 on Day 5, then ran his mouth. Apparently Rystadt and Keranen are now BFFs despite the argument, as they were seen joking with each other several times during the hour.

Meanwhile, Limit specialist Maria Ho raised to 53,000 pre-flop with J-10 of clubs. Jack Schanbacher, with Q-Q, popped it to 137,000 and Ho called. The flop came 9-10-K and the action went check-check. The turn was a four and Schanbacher check-called a bet of 160,000. After an ace hit on the river, Schanbacher check-folded to a bet of 350,000 with the board showing two overcards. Chad observed about the California poker player, “She plays Limit and No Limit Hold’em very well.”

When the curtain fell on the second episode on Sunday night, there were 142 players left. Bruno Politanowas on top at 5.6 million. You can see what happens this Sunday, with two new episodes starting at 9:00pm ET on ESPN.

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