Sunday, July 17, 2016 11:28 PM Local Time
Chip Leader Vojtech Ruzicka
There is now officially one day of poker remaining until the 2016 November Nine is set. After nine days and 6,710 eliminations, there are only 27 players remaining. They’re led by Vojtech Ruzicka of the Czech Republic. Ruzicka has 26,415,000 in chips, edging out Michael Ruane, who is second with 24,565,000.
It’s a star-studded field coming back for Day 7, and perhaps no face in the final 27 is more famous than Cliff Josephy, one of poker’s original online heroes who already has two WSOP bracelets to his name. Josephy is currently third on the leaderboard with 23,860,000. He’s followed by James Obst in fourth (19,560,000). Obst is having a career summer, having already cashed in seven events, including a runner-up finish in the $10,000 HORSE championship.
Cliff Josephy
Valentin Vornicu, one of the WSOP Circuit’s most successful players, is still alive as well. Vornicu has eight Circuit rings – tied for second place all time – but is still looking for his first bracelet. Vornicu currently sits in sixth with 17,450,000.
Tom Marchese, a candidate for best player without a bracelet, also advances to Day 7, and just might make his first WSOP win a big one. He’s in tenth with 15,420,000.
Griffin Benger, another online poker hero, made a deep run in the Main Event a couple years ago. He finished 90th in 2014, and has already bettered that finish this year. He enters Day 7 in 20th place with 6,530,000. Despite Benger’s deep run a couple years ago, he’s now in uncharted territory. Only one player among the final 27 has been in this position before. Antoine Saout made the November Nine in 2009, finishing in 3rd place. He’s currently in 24th with 5,525,000
Day 6 began at noon on Sunday with 80 players. Each of them was already guaranteed a payout of at least $80,721. Action was fast-paced at the start of the day, and 17 players were eliminated before the end of the first level, including bracelet winner Michael Banducci (69th place). Another 11 players busted out before the next break. Among them were bracelet winner Dietrich Fast (55th place) and two-time bracelet winner Brian Yoon (60th place). Fast was eliminated when Cliff Josephy cracked his aces, pushing Josephy toward the top of the leaderboard.
Josephy continued his climb during the next level, and he sat securely at the top on dinner break when there were 39 players left. Also during that level, Chris Klodnicki (45th place) and bracelet winner Tony Gregg (50th place) were eliminated. Gregg won the first $111,111 One Drop High Roller event in 2013, but will. He have to wait to add a Main Event bracelet to his collection.
Gregg was outlasted by another player with success in a One Drop event. Dan Colman, who won the $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop in 2014, was still in at the dinner break, but eventually bowed out in 31st place. Two place later, Paul Volpe was eliminated in 29th. Volpe is another two-time bracelet winner. He earned his second earlier this summer in Event #15: $1,500 Eight-Game Mix.
Then with Elliot Peterman’s elimination in 28th place, there were only 27 players left. Play was stopped with 1:24:00 remaining in Level 31, with blinds at 100,000/200,000 and a 30,000 ante.
Play resumes at noon on Monday.
Valentin Vornicu
Here are the top 10 players heading into Day 7. Full chip counts and seat assignments are available in the Reports Tab, above.
1. Vojtech Ruzicka - 26,415,000
2. Michael Ruane - 24,565,000
3. Cliff Josephy - 23,860,000
4. James Obst - 19,560,000
5. Mike Shin - 19,345,000
6. Valentin Vornicu - 17,450,000
7. Fernando Pons - 17,270,000
8. Thomas Miller - 17,185,000
9. Kenny Hallaert - 15,465,000
10. Tom Marchese - 15,420,000
Sunday, July 17, 2016 11:25 PM Local Time
Table 1
Seat 1: Gordon Vayo - 8,795,000 (44 bb)
Seat 2: Michael Niwinski - 10,660,000 (53 bb)
Seat 3: Matthew Moss - 15,250,000 (76 bb)
Seat 4: Cliff Josephy - 23,860,000 (119 bb)
Seat 5: Christopher Kusha - 6,350,000 (31 bb)
Seat 6: Jared Bleznick - 8,300,000 (41 bb)
Seat 7: Kenny Hallaert - 15,465,000 (77 bb)
Seat 8: William Kassouf - 6,095,000 (30 bb)
Seat 9: Valentin Vornicu - 17,450,000 (87 bb)
Table 2
Seat 1: James Obst - 19,560,000 (97 bb)
Seat 2: Qui Nguyen - 4,790,000 (24 bb)
Seat 3: Fernando Pons - 17,270,000 (86 bb)
Seat 4: Philip Postma - 2,225,000 (11 bb)
Seat 5: Tommy Miller - 17,185,000 (86 bb)
Seat 6: Jeff Hakim - 4,375,000 (22 bb)
Seat 7: Tom Marchese - 15,420,000 (77 bb)
Seat 8: Mike Shin - 19,345,000 (96 bb)
Seat 9: Michael Ruane - 24,565,000 (122 bb)
Table 3
Seat 1: Joshua Weiss - 11,580,000 (58 bb)
Seat 2: Adam Krach - 7,540,000 (37 bb)
Seat 3: Vojtech Ruzicka - 26,415,000 (132 bb)
Seat 4: Griffin Benger - 6,530,000 (32 bb)
Seat 5: Andrew Christoforou - 9,450,000 (47 bb)
Seat 6: Jerry Wong - 12,975,000 (65 bb)
Seat 7: Antoine Saout - 5,525,000 (27 bb)
Seat 8: Kakwan Lau - 15,110,000 (75 bb)
Seat 9: John Cynn - 5,760,000 (28 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:55 PM Local Time
The final 27 players have bagged and tagged their chips and will be back in action at 12 pm on Monday. A full recap of the action will be posted shortly.
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:50 PM Local Time
Elliott Peterman
Elliott Peterman raises all in for 3,290,000 from under the gun and Vojtech Ruzicka calls in the cutoff to put Peterman at risk.
Peterman:
Ruzicka:
The board runs out and Ruzicka's top two pair is good. Peterman is out in 28th place. Players are now redrawing for seats at the final three tables and bagging and tagging for the night.
Vojtech Ruzicka - 26,310,000 (132 bb)
Elliott Peterman - Eliminated in 28th place for $216,211
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:49 PM Local Time
Jason Mercier
With Paul Volpe's elimination in 29th place, Jason Mercier has officially become the 2016 World Series of Poker Player of the Year. Mercier earned a grand total of 11 cashes over the course of the 2016 WSOP. Of those 11 cashes, four were final table appearances and two were bracelet wins.
The centerpiece of Mercier's incredible summer came during a one week stretch where he made it to heads-up play three separate times. Mercier's first bracelet win was in Event #16: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Championship, where he defeated Mike Watson heads-up for $273,335 in prize money. Just three days later, Mercier again made it to heads-up in Event #20: $10,000 Seven Card Razz Championship. Mercier fell just short of the bracelet, losing a hard-fought battle to Ray Dehkharghani. Immediately afterwards, Mercier hopped in Event #24: $10,000 HORSE Championship, where he once again rose to the top of the field. Mercier bested James Obst heads up for $422,874.
Mercier's total earnings at the 2016 WSOP amount to $960,424. More information on the 2016 WSOP Player of the Year race can be found here.
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:45 PM Local Time
Tom Marchese raises to 500,000 from middle position and is called by Michael Niwinski in the cutoff as well as Jared Bleznick in the big blind.
The flop comes and all three players check.
The turn brings the and the action checks around to Niwinski, who bets 650,000. Bleznick folds. Marchese then raises to 2,150,000. Niwinski calls.
The completes the board and Marchese slides out 4,800,000. Niwinski tanks for several minutes, shifting his gaze from the board back to Marchese and back, before opting to fold.
Tom Marchese - 15,420,000 (77 bb)
Michael Niwinski - 10,660,000 (53 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:43 PM Local Time
Joshua Weiss raises to 450,000 from under the gun, Kenny Hallaert calls from the small blind, and Qui Nguyen defends his big blind to create three-way action.
The flop is . It checks to Weiss, who continues for 750,000, and only Hallaert calls. Both players check the turn and the river.
Hallaert shows , winning the pot with nines up. As he stacks the pot, he admits he didn't see Weiss' opening raise, intending to raise from the small blind. It worked out just fine in the end for the Belgian pro, however, and he climbs up into the top ten with that win.
Kenny Hallaert - 16,950,000 (85 bb)
Joshua Weiss - 10,915,000 (55 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:35 PM Local Time
Paul Volpe
Paul Volpe raises to 450,000 from under the gun, then Thomas Miller three-bets to 1,150,000 from middle position. The action folds back around to Volpe, who moves all in for 5,220,000. Miller snap-calls.
Volpe:
Miller:
The board runs out and Volpe is unable to improve and he hits the rail in 29th place. Volpe was the last player left in the field who could've caught Jason Mercier in the WSOP Player of the Year race, so with his elimination Mercier has now locked up the honor of 2016 WSOP Player of the Year.
Thomas Miller - 17,540,000 (88 bb)
Paul Volpe - Eliminated in 29th place for $216,211
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:34 PM Local Time
David L'Honore
David L'Honore raises to 500,000 in the cutoff and Vojtech Ruzicka calls in the big blind.
The flop comes . Ruzicka checks, L'Honore bets 675,000, Ruzicka check-raises to 1,910,000, and L'Honore goes all-in for 9,190,000. Ruzicka calls, putting L'Honore at risk for his tournament life.
L'Honore:
Ruzicka:
Ruzicka's top set is ahead, but L'Honore has flush and straight outs.
The turn and the river provide no help for L'Honore and he is eliminated.
Vojtech Ruzicka - 22,730,000 (114 bb)
David L'Honore - Eliminated in 29th place for $216,211
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:28 PM Local Time
Kenny Hallaert opens to 475,000 from the cutoff only to have Qui Nguyen three-bet to 1,125,000 from the button. The two blinds release their hands, putting action back on Hallaert.
Hallert moves out all of his 500,000-denomination chips for a raise of enough to put Nguyen all in. Nguyen is put to the test for his last 3,810,000. He thinks for about two minutes before letting go of his cards.
Kenny Hallaert - 13,350,000 (66 bb)
Qui Nguyen - 3,180,000 (15 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:24 PM Local Time
Fernando Pons and Adam Krach get it all in from the small and big blind, respectively, and expose their cards. Krach is all in for 3,780,000 and at risk.
Pons:
Krach:
The board runs out . Krach doubles up through Pons to stay alive in the tournament.
Adam Krach - 7,430,000 (37 bb)
Fernando Pons - 17,050,000 (85 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:17 PM Local Time
Michael Niwinski raises to 450,000 from middle position, then Thomas Miller three-bets to 1,075,000 from the button. Niwinski moves all in for 6,285,000. Miller snap-calls.
Niwinski:
Miller:
The board runs out , and Niwinski doubles up though Miller when his overpair holds.
Michael Niwinski - 13,050,000 (65 bb)
Thomas Miller - 11,930,000 (59 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:08 PM Local Time
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 30,000
Sunday, July 17, 2016 10:06 PM Local Time
Michael Ruane
Level 30 reaches its conclusion and the final 30 players are now on their final 15-minute break of the night.
Leading the pack heading into the final break is Michael Ruane with 24,795,000. Rounding out the top three are Fernando Pons with 22,520,000 and Cliff Josephy with 22,270,000.
The first elimination back from dinner came just a few hands into the level. Daniel Retallick found himself all-in and at risk with king-jack before the flop. Unfortunately for Retallick, Michael Ruane held pocket queens. The ladies held through a five-card run out and Retallick was eliminated in 39th place.
Alex Keating, who was one of the more colorful characters of the 2016 Main Event, was also eliminated from play during this level. Keating's final hand saw him all-in and at risk before the flop holding ace-jack against David L'Honore's pocket nines. Keating failed to improve and he hit the rail.
Following Keating out the door were the likes of noted tournament professional Max Silver and 2014 $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop winner Dan Colman. Colman's final hand was played against Fernando Pons. All of the money went in on the turn of a jack-high board. Colman tabled jack-nine for top pair, but was out-kicked by Pons' ace-jack. Pons held through the river and sent one of poker's all-time money winners to the rail in 31st place. Both Colman and Silver collected $216,211 for their efforts.
Play will resume at 100,000/200,000 blinds with a 30,000 ante. This will be the final level of the night. Here's how they'll stack up when they return, with the average stack just over 56 big blinds:
Table 1
Seat 1: William Kassouf - 5,345,000 (27 bb)
Seat 2: --empty--
Seat 3: Philip Postma - 2,550,000 (13 bb)
Seat 4: --empty--
Seat 5: Andrew Christoforou - 8,665,000 (43 bb)
Seat 6: Jeff Hakim - 4,970,000 (25 bb)
Seat 7: Kenny Hallaert - 11,615,000 (58 bb)
Seat 8: Qui Nguyen - 5,775,000 (29 bb)
Seat 9: Joshua Weiss - 14,710,000 (74 bb)
Table 2
Seat 1: David L'Honore - 9,610,000 (48 bb)
Seat 2: Mike Shin - 18,290,000 (91 bb)
Seat 3: Christopher Kusha - 8,350,000 (42 bb)
Seat 4: Vojtech Ruzicka - 13,385,000 (67 bb)
Seat 5: James Obst - 21,195,000 (106 bb)
Seat 6: --empty--
Seat 7: Valentin Vornicu - 14,280,000 (71 bb)
Seat 8: Antoine Saout - 5,585,000 (28 bb)
Seat 9: Elliot Peterman - 4,230,000 (21 bb)
Table 3
Seat 1: Adam Krach - 3,780,000 (19 bb)
Seat 2: --empty--
Seat 3: John Cynn - 4,120,000 (21 bb)
Seat 4: Cliff Josephy - 22,270,000 (111 bb)
Seat 5: Michael Ruane - 24,795,000 (124 bb)
Seat 6: --empty--
Seat 7: Kakwan Lau - 15,750,000 (78 bb)
Seat 8: Matthew Moss - 14,870,000 (74 bb)
Seat 9: Fernando Pons - 22,520,000 (113 bb)
Table 4
Seat 1: Griffin Benger - 6,510,000 (33 bb)
Seat 2: --empty--
Seat 3: Paul Volpe - 3,590,000 (18 bb)
Seat 4: Tommy Miller - 18,350,000 (92 bb)
Seat 5: Jared Bleznick - 11,190,000 (56 bb)
Seat 6: Gordon Vayo - 9,335,000 (47 bb)
Seat 7: Jerry Wong - 11,825,000 (59 bb)
Seat 8: Tom Marchese - 12,750,000 (64 bb)
Seat 9: Michael Niwinski - 6,315,000 (32 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:55 PM Local Time
Matthew Moss raises to 360,000 from under the gun and Michael Ruane calls from the small blind. Kakwan Lau calls in the big blind and they go three-handed to a flop of .
All three check and the turn is the . Ruane bets 670,000 and Lau calls, Moss folds and the river is the . Ruane checks and Lau bets 2,000,000. Ruane folds and Lau takes the pot.
Kakwan Lau - 15,300,000 (77 bb)
Michael Ruane - 24,820,000 (124 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:53 PM Local Time
Valentin Vornicu raises to 350,000 from under the gun, Christopher Kusha calls on the button, and James Obst calls in the big blind.
The flop is . Obst checks, Vornicu checks, and Kusha bets 600,000. Obst folds and Vornicu calls.
The turn is the . Vornicu checks, Kusha bets 1,050,000, and Vornicu lets it go. Kusha picks up the pot.
Christopher Kusha - 8,390,000 (52 bb)
Valentin Vornicu - 14,160,000 (89 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:51 PM Local Time
Thomas Miller raises to 360,000 from under the gun, then Jerry Wong three-bets to 900,000 from the hijack. Miller calls.
The flop comes and Miller checks. Wong bets 1,100,000. Miller calls.
The turn brings the and Miller checks again. Wong thinks for a minute, then bets 2,800,000. Miller stares at the board, then his stack, then moves all in. Wong instantly mucks his hand.
Thomas Miller - 18,710,000 (116 bb)
Jerry Wong - 11,820,000 (73 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:50 PM Local Time
Matthew Moss raises to 385,000 from early position and Michael Ruane calls from the big blind.
The flop is and both players check.
The turn is the . Ruane bets 675,000 and Moss calls.
The river is the . Ruane bets 850,000 and Moss calls.
Ruane shows for two pair, and he wins the pot.
Michael Ruane - 25,870,000 (162 bb)
Matthew Moss - 15,700,000 (98 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:40 PM Local Time
William Kassouf raises to 365,000 from the cutoff, and Jeff Hakim defends his big blind.
The flop is . Hakim checks, Kassouf bets 520,000, and Hakim check-raises all in for 3,910,000 total. Kassouf deliberates for about five minutes before folding. Hakim wins the pot.
Jeff Hakim - 5,050,000 (32 bb)
William Kassouf - 6,600,000 (55 bb)
Sunday, July 17, 2016 9:36 PM Local Time
Thomas Miller raises to 360,000 from the cutoff before Jared Bleznick comes over the top with a bet totaling 900,000 on the button. Miller calls.
The flop comes and both players check.
The turn brings the and Miller bets 1,050,000. Bleznick mucks and Miller takes down the pot.
Thomas Miller - 13,950,000 (87 bb)
Jared Bleznick - 10,050,000 (63 bb)