Kelly, already the owner of one bracelet and one of the most respected players in the game, managed to navigate the 6,000+ players in the record-breaking Millionaire Maker to hit the final table second in chips.
Makhija, another highly respected pro, did likewise in Event #7, $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em to join a stacked unofficial final table that includes Eric Baldwin, Matt Waxman, Jason Koon and Brent Hanks.
Meanwhile Daniel Negreanu, one of the hottest players in poker but yet to really make a splash at the 2013 WSOP, got back to basics in the Limit Hold'em event.
Benny Chen Leads Kelly, Hunichen into Millionaire Maker Final
The massive 6,343-player field in the $1,500 Millionaire Maker has reached its final nine with Canadian grinder Benny Chen on top of the chip counts with 5,865,000.
Bracelet winner Kelly proved himself equally as tough throughout the day and finished with 4,130,000. Major online winner Chris "big_Huni" Hunichen will join them with 3,430,000 as will pro Joe Kuether with 1,365,000. The final 10 and chip counts:
1. Benny Chen 5,865,000 2. Jonathan Gray 2,745,000 3. Justin Liberto 3,800,000 4. Chris Hunichen 3,430,000 5. Joe Kuether 1,365,000 6. Dan Kelly 4,130,000 7. Robert McVeigh 3,175,000 8. Michael Benningto 2,995,000 9. Upeshka DeSilva 550,000 10. Theron Eichenberger 595,000A stunning $1,198,780 is on the line for first with $741,903 for second. Follow along live with our WSOP coverage direct from the Rio starting at 1 pm.
Makhija Heads Pros in Control of Event #7
Another big-field, low buy-in No-Limit Hold'em event has been whittled down to its final 10 with several notable names navigating the amateur-heavy waters.
Amit Makhija has the best of it after bagging up 1,101,000 for the chip lead heading into the final table.
Matt Waxman, Jason Koon, Brent Hanks and Eric Baldwin all join him. Baldwin is looking for his second bracelet while the rest are eyeing their first.
The "unofficial" final table of 10 plus chip counts:
1. Amit Makhija 1,101,000 2. Jess Dioquino 921,000 3. Matt Waxman 892,000 4. Jason Koon 692,000 5. Brent Hanks 533,000 6. Tuu Ho 419,000 7. Eric Baldwin 348,000 8. Robert Dreyfuss 297,000 9. Jacob Jung 240,000 10. Scott Yelton 167,000Johnson, Mueller, Mizrachi Lead 8-Game Final 20
Plenty of notables are also in contention with 20 left in Event #8, $2,500 Eight-Game Mixed with Marco "CrazyMarco" Johnson leading the way.
Johnson bagged up 354,300 for the overnight lead but he has plenty of talent chasing him.
Chris Tryba, Italy's Dario Alioto, Greg "FBT" Mueller - runner-up in this event last year - and Robert Mizrachi all finished n the top 10.
Randy Ohel, Eric Crain, Josh Arieh, Chris Reslock and Mike Wattel also advanced. The top 10 and chip counts:
1. Marco Johnson 354,300 2. Steven Wolansky 321,400 3. Chris Tryba 287,800 4. Dario Alioto 261,400 5. Greg Mueller 258,200 6. Michael Hurey 213,300 7. Robert Mizrachi 157,000 8. Michael Malm 135,100 9. Benjamin Pollak 133,000 10. Randy Ohel 120,600Salsberg Advances in Shootout, Negreanu Average Stack in Limit
Event #9, the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout advanced to its final 60 players with dozens of impressive names both getting through and falling by the wayside.
WPT Player of the Year Matt Salsberg had to beat EPT Grand Final champ Steve O'Dwyer in an epic heads-up battle to move on, but he did.
Antonio Esfandiari, Dario Minieri, Steven "Zugwat" Silverman, James "mig.com" Mackey and Cherish Andrews also advanced.
Play picks up again with 10 six-handed tables today and will play down until the final 10 remain.
Meanwhile over in the less-popular, old school $1,500 Limit Hold'em event, the man many have their eye on this series, Daniel Negreanu, managed to get through to Day 2 with an average stack.
Negreanu is one of the hottest players in poker at the moment and a very strong Limit player so it could bode well for a big Day 2.
Another 177 players will join him including Nick Schulman, Kevin MacPhee, Terrence Chan and a short-stacked Phil Ivey.
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