Jonathan Little Bags Day 2 Lead, Handful Could Make WPT History

As the first WPT Main Tour event at ARIA Resort & Casino, the Bobby Baldwin Classic was certain to make WPT history this week. More history could be made when the final table streams live on PokerGO on Wednesday though, as multiple superstars are still in contention. Phil Hellmuth might be poker’s biggest star, but two-time WPT champion Jonathan Little bagged the biggest stack after Monday’s Day 2 session.

Little’s two World Poker Tour titles came in Season VI and Season VII, but a win in the Season XVI finale would put him in rare WPT company. Only six players have ever won three WPT titles and one of those players, Darren Elias, is still in contention at ARIA. A win for Elias would make him the first four-time champion, but the short stack has some work to do to even make the Bobby Baldwin Classic final table.

Sam Panzica and Day 1 chip leader Kevin Eyster are also looking to become three-time WPT champions. On the other end of the spectrum, WPT Raw Deal host Phil Hellmuth is looking to make his second final table of Season XVI, after finishing 2nd at WPT Legends in August. The 14-time WSOP bracelet winner returns for Day 3 just outside the top-ten.

Hellmuth isn’t the only former WSOP Main Event champion in the field though, as WPT Player of the Year contender and 2015 Main Event champion Joe McKeehen bagged a top-five stack. McKeehen needs to win the Bobby Baldwin Classic to claim Player of the Year honors.

Jared Jaffee, Dietrich Fast, U.S. Poker Open champion Stephen Chidwick, and 2018 WSOP Main Event final tablist Brian Piccioli round out the 20-player Day 3 field. The field is already in the money, but the better part of a $1.5 million prize pool is still up for grabs. The Bobby Baldwin Classic champion will earn $387,580 and earn a spot into the Tournament of Champions.

For live updates, follow along on WPT.com, and subscribe to PokerGO to watch the final table on Wednesday.