Monday, June 22, 2015 1:38 AM Local Time
Scott Seiver leads the stacked PPC field heading into Day 2
On Sunday, Day 1 of the most prestigious mixed event of the 2015 World Series of Poker kicked off as poker's elite flocked to the felt for Event #44: The Poker Players Championship. After five full 100-minute levels of play, Scott Seiver bagged up the Day 1 chip lead with 350,700.
A grand total of 77 players came out to participate in Day 1 of this prestigious event. This number, of course, is expected to increase by a few digits as registration remains open until the start of Day 2.
While Seiver bagged the lead, fierce competition is hot on his heels. Some of the other players to amass big stacks on Day 1 include David Oppenheim (279,000), Justin Smith (273,300), Abe Mosseri (267,900), Randy Ohel (250,000), David "ODB" Baker (238,000) 2014 WSOP Player of the Year George Danzer (217,800), and Steve Billirakis (214,800).
Previous champions of this event seemed to thrive on Day 1 as well. Defending champion John Hennigan and two-time champion Michael Mizrachi were seated next to one another for a majority of the day. While the two did butt heads quite often, they both bagged well over the starting stack. Mizrachi put 249,500 in the bag while Hennigan finished with a respectable 212,100. Other previous champions to bag include Matthew Ashton (220,800) and David Bach (82,800).
Despite the relatively deep stacks given to the players, the day was not without eliminations. Adam Owen, who is having a remarkably successful WSOP with three cashes and two final tables, was the first player to fall. During a hand of no-limit 2-7 single draw, Owen three-bet all in for his last 67,300. Justin Smith instantly called, sending Owen into the tank for almost four minutes. Ultimately, Smith decided to break and was shown a seventy-six by Smith. Owen was left drawing dead with an eight and he was eliminated from play. Australian James Obst, who was forced to nurture a short stack for a majority of the day, was the next to go when he fell at the hands of fellow countryman Jeff Lisandro during a hand of seven-card stud. Finally, 2011 champion Brian Rast was eliminated from play during the last few hands of the night.
Play resumes on Monday at 2 pm. local time where the players will return to Amazon Tan to play five more 100-minute levels. As always, be sure to keep your browsers locked at WSOP.com for all of the latest from the tournament felt.
Monday, June 22, 2015 1:14 AM Local Time
The tournament staff have announced that each table will play four more hands, and then the remaining players will bag up their chips for the night.
Monday, June 22, 2015 1:13 AM Local Time
Pot Limit Omaha
We arrive at the table to see Justin Smith bet out on a board showing . Brian Rast then moves all in for 115,000 in chips and is snap called by Smith who has 108,400.
Smith:
Rast:
Rast is in the lead with top two pair but Smith has an up-and-down straight draw as well as a flush draw. The drops on the river to see Smith make a flush to double. Rast falls to 6,300 following the hand.
In the following hand Rast pots to 2,800 from the hijack and is called by Jens Lakemeier on the button as well as Justin Smith on the big blind.
The flop comes down and Smith checks. Rast moves all in for 3,500 and is called by both opponents.
The action is then checked down on the turn and river before Lakemeier tables his for a straight.
Rast mucks his hand before packing up his belongings and making his way to the rail right at the end of first day of play.
Brian Rast - Eliminated
Monday, June 22, 2015 1:13 AM Local Time
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
After the draw, Phil Galfond bets 20,000 into a pot of about 16,000. Brian Tate raises all in. Galfond asks for an exact count, which turns out to be 83,000. Galfond thinks for a minute, then pushes out a stack to call.
Tate tables for an eight-low. Galfond mucks his cards, and Tate doubles up on the hand.
Brian Tate - 182,000
Phil Galfond - 115,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 1:07 AM Local Time
No-Limit Hold'em
John Hennigan opens the button with a raise, and Michael Mizrachi three-bets from the small blind. Hennigan calls. The flop comes , and Mizrachi continues out for 6,000. Hennigan calls, and the lands on the turn. Both players check that street, and Mizrachi checks again after the river. Hennigan bets 20,000, and Mizrachi tanks and calls. When he does, Hennigan taps the table and holds his cards near the muck, and Mizrachi tables to win the pot.
The next hand, Elior Sion opens to 2,400 under the gun, and Michael Mizrachi three-bets to 6,500 on the button. Sion calls. The flop comes , and Sion check-calls 6,600 from Mizrachi. The turn goes check-check, and the river puts two pair on board. Sion leads out for 11,000, and Mizrachi calls. Sior just mucks at the news, and Mizrachi shows as the dealer pushes him the second of back-to-back pots.
Michael Mizrachi - 265,000
John Hennigan - 218,000
Elior Sion - 72,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 1:06 AM Local Time
No Limit Hold'em
David Oppenheim raises to 2,000 from the cut off and is called by William O'Neal on the button. Calvin Anderson then thinks for a minute before raising to 7,400 from the small blind. Dan Kelly mucks his big blind before the decision falls back on Oppenheim. He then bumps it up to 20,000 which forces O'Neal out. Anderson makes the call before both players watch the flop come down .
Anderson stalls for a moment before checking before Oppenheim fires out a 17,000 continuation bet. Anderson calls resulting in the falling on the turn. Both players check before the completes the board.
Anderson reaches for his chips and splashes out 38,800 which is called almost instantly. Oppenheim then tables for a full house which sees Anderson muck his hand.
David Oppenheim - 275,000
Calvin Anderson - 158,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:57 AM Local Time
No-Limit Hold'em
Huck Seed and Ben Yu are heads up in a pot where the completed board reads . With about 35,000 in the middle already, Seed reaches into his stack and comes out with a bet of 45,000.
Yu goes deep into the tank, pondering action on his hand for well over two minutes. Dee Tiller calls the clock from the other side of the table and Yu is given 60 seconds to act on his hand before it is declared dead. Yu only needs about 30 more of those seconds to make a decision, as he ultimately opts to throw his cards into the muck.
Huck Seed - 112,500
Ben Yu - 183,500
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:47 AM Local Time
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:45 AM Local Time
Pot-Limit Omaha
Tommy Hang limps into the pot from under the gun and is followed by David Bach in the cut off, Jon Turner on the button as well as Scott Seiver and John Monnette in the blinds.
The flop comes down and all five players opt to check. After the drop on the turn the action checks to Bach who bets out 2,400. Only Seiver makes the call before the two players watch the complete the board.
Both check before Seiver tables his for a pair of kings. The hand is enough to take down the pot as Bach mucks his hand.
Scott Seiver - 290,000
John Monnette - 165,000
David Bach - 140,000
Jon Turner - 73,000
Tommy Hang - 55,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:44 AM Local Time
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
Abe Mosseri raises to 2,100 under the gun, and Daniel Negreanu defends his big blind. Both players draw one card, and Negreanu leads out into the pot for 4,200.
"You better have it," Mosseri says as he calls.
"I do," Negreanu answers, rolling over . "That's considered having it, right?"
Daniel Negreanu - 137,000
Abe Mosseri - 255,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:42 AM Local Time
Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo
Robert Mizrachi completes to 1,500 and Shaun Deeb raises to 3,000. Mizrachi calls and bets fourth as Deeb calls and bets fifth. Both players check sixth before Deeb bets seventh and Mizrachi calls.
Mizrachi: (X)(X) / / (X)
Deeb: (X)(X) / / (X)
Deeb tables his for an eight-seven low and a pair of sixes as Mizrachi tables his for a seven-perfect as both players chop the pot.
Shaun Deeb - 175,000
Robert Mizrachi - 130,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:41 AM Local Time
Badugi
Dee Tiller raises to 3,000 from the cutoff, and Huck Seed three-bets to 4,500 from the button. Brian Hastings calls from the small blind. Tiller then puts in another raise, and both Seed and Hastings call.
Hastings draws two cards, Tiller stands pat, and Seed draws one. Hastings checks, Tiller bets 1,500, and Seed raises. Hastings calls the two bets, and Tiller calls as well.
Hastings draws two, while both Tiller and Seed stand pat. Hastings checks again, Tiller checks, and Seed continues for 3,000. Hastings folds, Tiller calls, and both players stand pat on the final draw. Tiller checks again, and Seed fires another bet. Tiller calls, and Seed announces "Eight" as he tables . Tiller mucks his cards, and Seed wins with his 8 badugi.
Huck Seed - 110,000
Dee Tiller - 137,000
Brian Hastings - 85,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:38 AM Local Time
Fashionably late as usual, Mr. Bracelets himself has just joined the field for the last few minutes of the night. Hellmuth has taken the vacant two seat at a table containing Keith Gipson, Shawn Buchanan, Scott Clements, Mark Gregorich, and Bruno Fitoussi.
There are now 77 players entered in this event with registration open until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:34 AM Local Time
Seven Card Stud
Mosseri: (X)(X / / (X)
Kihara: (X)(X) / / (X)
Picking up with the action on fourth street, Abe Mosseri has first action and he drops out a bet. Naoya Kihara calls and the two are off to fifth street.
On fifth, Mosseri continues his aggression with another bet. Kihara calls and does the same on sixth. Mosseri fires one final time on seventh, sending Kihara deep into the tank. After almost 90 seconds, Kihara reaches for chips and tosses out a call.
"Straight," says Mosseri, showing for a straight to the ten.
Kihara mucks his hand and Mosseri is awarded a pot that boosts him into the chip lead.
Abe Mosseri - 261,000
Naoya Kihara - 180,500
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:34 AM Local Time
Pot-Limit Omaha
Catching the action with the board reading and 4,600 in the middle, David Bach bet out 3,500 from the big blind.
John Monnette was sitting in the cutoff, and he tossed in two 5,000-denomination chips and Bach made the call.
The river lands the and Bach checks to Monnette who opts to bet out 8,000. Bach reaches back into his stack and grabs an assortment of chips and check-raises to 22,000.
Monnette snaps back his bet and gestures with his finger that he's calling and then places the right amount of chips in the middle.
Bach tables his for a straight as Monnette tables his for the same straight.
Although both players missed monster freerolls with Bach having outs to a full house and Monnette outs to a bigger full house and a flush, the pot was eventually chopped up between each of them.
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:30 AM Local Time
No-Limit Hold'em
Paul Volpe opens with an under-the-gun raise, and Daniel Negreanu comes along from the cutoff as the only caller.
The flop comes , and Negreanu calls a continuation bet to see the turn. Volpe checks this time, and Negreanu takes his cue to bet 4,800 at a pot of about twice that. Volpe calls, then checks again on the river. Negreanu bets 12,000, but Volpe stacks up a check-raise and makes it 38,400 total. Negreanu tanks and curses and calls.
Volpe shows for treys full, and Negreanu mucks.
Paul Volpe - 225,000
Daniel Negreanu - 121,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:27 AM Local Time
Limit Hold'em
John Hennigan is under the gun and he opens the action with a raise. It folds around to George Danzer in the small blind who three-bets. The big blind folds and Hennigan calls to see a flop.
The dealer fans and Danzer continues out. Hennigan comes over the top with a raise and Danzer decides to stick around. The pairs the board on the turn and Danzer once again fires out. Hennigan calls and the finishes the board. Danzer bets one final time, Hennigan calls, and Danzer shows . Hennigan mucks and Danzer is awarded the pot.
George Danzer - 215,000
John Hennigan - 235,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:24 AM Local Time
Pot-Limit Omaha
Jesse Martin makes the call from under the gun as does Mike Leah on the button and Marco Johnson on the small blind. Andy Bloch checks from the big blind before the dealer produces the flop.
The action checks to Martin who throws out a 2,000 continuation bet which only interests Leah as the other two players fold.
After the falls on the turn, Martin bets out another 5,000 in chips. Leah thinks for a moment before letting it go, resulting in Martin taking down the pot.
Jesse Martin - 115,000
Marco Johnson - 155,000
Mike Leah - 144,000
Andy Bloch - 115,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:20 AM Local Time
Pot-Limit Omaha
John Hennigan raises to 2,000 and Michael Mizrachi three-bets to 7,000 next to act on the button. The action folds back to Hennigan and he calls as the flop falls .
Hennigan checks and Mizrachi bets out 6,000 which Hennigan calls before checking the on the turn.
Mizrachi tosses in 10,000 and Hennigan makes the call before both players check the on the river.
Hennigan tables his for a full house and Mizrachi mucks.
John Hennigan - 255,000
Michael Mizrachi - 236,000
Monday, June 22, 2015 12:16 AM Local Time
Badugi
Steve Billirakis raises from his button only to have Phil Galfond three-bet from the small blind. Brian Tate folds his big blind and Billirakis calls to see a draw. Galfond takes one at the draw while Billirakis opts for three. Galfond bets, Billirakis calls, and the two are off to the second draw.
For the second draw, Galfond once again takes one card. Billirakis pulls two and faces another bet from Galfond. He calls and the two players once again draw one and two, respectively.
Galfond cuts out one more bet on the final betting round, prompting Billirakis to ditch his cards.
Phil Galfond - 144,500
Steve Billirakis - 225,000