Upeshka De Silva Leads US WSOP Main Event

December 14th, 2020 | by Kaycee James

The US leg of the WSOP Main Event got underway on Sunday with many of the world’s top pros putting up $10,000 to try and win poker’s coveted title.

Upeshka De Silva is the man to beat on Day 2 of the WSOP Main Event American leg. (Image: Twitter/WSOP)

With players only allowed to ante up on WSOP.com if they were located in Nevada or New Jersey, the likes of Phil Helmuth had to travel specifically for the online MTT.

However, that didn’t seem to matter as the opening session attracted 705 players. That was more than international leg. Moreover, it broke the record for largest online tournament in the regulated US market.

Record-Breaking US WSOP Main Event

With the prizepool topping $6.7 million, 107 players were slated to get paid as Day 1 played out. Adrian Buckley, aka ParTee, had the dubious honor of being the WSOP Main Event bubble boy.

The American got his money in the middle with pocket queens. Samthedog76 called with A♣ K♦ and it was off to the races.

The 7♥ 7♦ 7♣ flop was good for Buckley. However, a fourth seven on the turn put Samthedog76 ahead in the most unlikely fashion. The 10♥ on the river didn’t change anything and, with that, Buckley was out in 108^th place and everyone else locked up $14,890.

With the bubble burst, short stacks started to take their shot. Among those making the money but falling short was Daniel Negreanu.

Kid Poker can’t seem to catch a break at the moment. As well as losing almost $1 million in his match against Doug Polk, Negreanu busted in 92^nd place when his up and down straight flush draw failed to hit.

Also running deep but missing out on a place in Day 2 was Phil Hellmuth, Phil Galfond, and Michael Lech.

Upeshka De Silva Going for Gold

As that cast of WSOP stalwarts fell by the wayside, Upeshka De Silva seized his opportunities. The three-time bracelet winner bagged just short of 2 million chips to end Day 1 ahead of 70 other survivors.

Play resumes on December 14 when the likes of Jason Somerville, Mohsin Charania, and 2013 WSOP Main Event champion Ryan Riess will try to topple De Silva.

The plan is to play down to a final table of nine. At that point, the action will stop, and the finale will take place inside the Rio, Las Vegas, on December 29.

From there, the winner will bank $1.5 million and take on the European Main Event champion in a final showdown. Whoever emerges victorious from that match on December 30 will win an extra $1 million and become the 2020 WSOP Main Event champion.