by C.J. Hoyt

When Day 2 started, Daniel Pelletier was among the chip leaders with about $100,000. Vegas is a long way from his home in Quebec, north of the border, but he obviously brought his poker game with him. For Day 2, he had a plan and it was to win chips, and lots of them.

Daniel Pelletier


For the first few hours of play, the plan wasn't working. It's not that he was losing chips, it's that he couldn't win many. And then suddenly everything changed. Daniel was moved to a new table and in no time at all, had doubled up. At about $200,000, he wasn't done yet.

With Ad6d, Daniel found himself with the nut flush on the river. He pushed himself all in and his opponent went into the tank. After a long wait, Daniel called for the floor and the clock started. At the end of the clock, Daniel's opponent said he didn't know he was on the clock and wanted another countdown. Daniel wasn't happy with the ruling and the cameras from ESPN were suddenly all around to catch the action.

With the second clock running down, Daniel waited, hoping for the call. His opponent finally did, showing 7d4d, and Daniel won a massive $450,000 chip pot. He was suddenly among the chip leaders and wanting more. Unfortunately, the momentum didn't stick for the rest of Day 2 and he finished up with $334,000.

Daniel's been playing poker for more than two decades, and at 42 years old, he's very confident of his changes to break through now.

"In everything, I believe, in my life I've had very good success," he says about his chances of winning, "and I believe in me."

Today, Daniel was ready for action and wasn't worried about the bubble. However, during the first level, I found Daniel's chair empty. I asked the table and they said he was there, but left with his wife.

It seems missing a few blinds wasn't something Daniel was worried about on Day 3 of the World Series of Poker Main Event. And now that he has $444,000 shortly before the Day 3 dinner break, I can understand why.