When the smoke cleared at the conclusion of Day 1 Friday in the $1,500 Limit Hold ‘em Shootout (Event 50) 64 players were left standing. Those 64 returned Saturday with guns drawn to fight for a spot at the final table. When the night was over only eight remained.

Josephus Van Den Bijgaart, of the Netherlands, was the first player to shoot down his seven opponents and secure his seat at the final table. A short-stacked Qinghai Pan raised from the button, Bijgaart re-raised and Pan three bet all-in. Bijgaart called and showed K 6. Pan turned over J 3 and the board ran out Q 5 9 A K. 

David Williams took aim at his tablemates early in the day and was the second player to advance to Day 3. Williams took out his final opponent when he flopped a flush holding 8 4. When the turn revealed the 2 the opponent was drawing dead holding K 7.

After winning his first World Series Of Poker bracelet just six days ago in the $2,000 Limit Hold ‘em (Event 38), Marc Naaldenwill join fellow Dutchman Bijgaart, at the final table. 

2009 $10,000 World Championship Limit Hold ‘em (Event 33) winner Greg Mueller advanced to the final table after taking down  2007 WSOP Player of the Year Tom Schneider in a heads up battle that lasted just over two hours.  

Naldeen and Mueller will both be aiming to be the first 2009 WSOP player to take home two Limit Hold ‘em bracelets. Brock Parker will not join the two in the race to double up on Limit Hold ‘em bracelets as he was eliminated by Schneider. 

Jose Barbero of Buenos Aires, Argentina will look to bring home the first bracelet of the Series for his country. Barbero advanced to the final table when Johnny  Neckar got all-in after a flop of 9 5 K. Barbero called and showed K [10s] and Neckar turned over J J. The 7 on the turn and 6 on the river cemented Barbero’s spot at his first WSOP final table.

Sweden’s Ken Lennaard was the first to be shot down during Day 2. Lennaard made his exit when committed his remaining short stack to the middle after a flop of J 6 Q. Betting continued between Keith Ray, Steve Kim and Antonio Patelidas and the board ran out 9 7. The other players folded and Ray turned over Q 8 for the flush. Lennaard mucked and made his way to the cash cage.

Some notable players who did not survive Day 2 include 2008 Runner-Up Jean-Robert Bellande, Nick Binger, Humberto Brenes and Dan Heimiller.

The eight players will return Sunday at 2 p.m. to play for a WSOP bracelet and top prize of $194,854.

1. Josephus Van Den Bijgaart
2. David Williams
3. Marc Naalden
4. Greg Mueller
5. Jose Barbero
6. Matthew Sterling
7. Millie Shiu
8. Flaminio Malaguti

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