Simeon Naydenov Leads Final 19 of WPT National Prague

By the time the weekend ends the 2014 partypoker WPT National Prague Main Event will have crowned its champion. Day 3 kicks off at 13:00 CET with only 19 players remaining and it is Bulgaria’s Simeon Naydenov who leads them all.

Naydenov won a World Series of Poker bracelet in 2013 when he took down a $1,500 No Limt Hold’em Shootout event and now has a very real chance of adding a WPT National title to that impressive win. The professional poker player from Sofia goes into the final day armed with 821,000 chips, enugh for the chip lead, but only just.

Chris Hunichen flying high

Chris Hunichen, an online poker legend who has more than $7 million in winnings, starts Day 3 with 794,000 chips and is hot on Naydenov’s heels. Hunichen’s only other WPT cash came in 2010 when he finished 16th in the World Poker Finals in Mashantucket for $33,016 and we would bet good money on “Big Huni” besting that impressive finish once this event is over.

Among the 19 returning players are some talented players who are going to have a major say in where the title ends up. Starting the day in third place is Zo Karim (615,000) who finished third in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown for $252,190 in 2013, while Artur Voskanyan (564,000) will be hoping to go one better than his runner-up finish in the 2012 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic.

Alex Goulder starts Day 3 seventh in chips

Others include Alexander Lakhov (554,000), British pro Alex Goulder (484,000) and Sebastian Langrock (441,000).

2014 partypoker WPT National Prague Day 3 Chip Counts

Place	Player	Chips
1	Simeon Naydenov	821,000
2	Chris Hunichen	794,000
3	Zo Karim	615,000
4	Artur Voskanyan	564,000
5	Alexander Lakhov	554,000
6	Jonathan Klupfel	521,000
7	Alex Goulder	484,000
8	Sebastian Langrock	441,000
9	Sergej Barbarez	427,000
10	Oliver Heidel	412,000
11	Niclas Adolfsson	396,000
12	Vladimir Malak	347,000
13	Andy Seth	332,000
14	Koray Aldemir	235,000
15	Mathias Kurshner	207,000
16	Manuel Sanchez Morito	120,000
17	Salvatore Pepi	112,000
18	Jean-Phlippe Piquette	99,000
19	Vladimir Velikov	82,000

Each of the 19 returnees is guaranteed no less than €4,600 for their efforts thanks to the money bubble bursting on Day 2, but with €105,000 reserved for the eventual champion none of the players will want to collect that sum.

Seth Berger: The unfortunate bubble boy

The bubble burst when Steve Watts raised to 15,000 with A♣ 9♣, Seth Berger raised all-in for 33,500 with A♦ Q♣. Watts called to put Berger at risk and when the five community cards fell 6♣ 5♣ 10♥ 7♠ 9♦ and Berger was gone.

Once Berger busted, the waters became less shark infested with the exits of Ben Dobson, Ankush Mandavia, Tom Hall, David Yan, David Vamplew, the aforementioned Watts, Pawel Kapczynski, and Stephen Chidwick.

Play resumes at 13:00 CET and continues until the 2014 partypoker WPT National Prague Main Event champion is crowned. Who will that champion be? Tune into the partypoker blog on Monday to find out!

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