Event #2: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

Vladimir Schmelev is the big wildcard at this final table with only a sprinkling of previous tournament results to his credit, including two previous WSOP cashes. This will most definitely be a new experience for the former Chess protege, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure against experienced pros such as Mizrachi, Juanda, Alaei and Oppenheim.

We believe Schmelev's skills have been developed in the big cash games in Russia, so we're certain he holds no fears as he strives to become the first European to win the coveted Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.

At the moment he's doing a fine job of things as a clear chip leader with around 3.5 million chips.

Vladimir Schmelev has the button in Seat 3. David Oppenheim raises to 135,000 and wins the blinds and antes.

Robert Mizrachi has the button in Seat 8. Daniel Alaei raises to 140,000 and Vladimir Schmelev calls from the big blind.

The flop is    . Schmelev checks to Alaei, who bets 185,000. Schmelev raises to 725,000 and Alaei gives up his hand.

Michael Mizrachi has the button in Seat 6. John Juanda opens for 150,000 from the hijack seat and Robert Mizrachi calls from the big blind.

The flop is    . Mizrachi checks to Juanda, who bets 250,000. Mizrachi calls. The turn is the   and Mizrachi leads out for 375,000. Juanda folds and Mizrachi wins the pot.

Hand #38 -

John Juanda has the button in Seat 4. David Baker opens for 140,000, Mikael Thuritz tosses in his last 55,000, and Michael Mizrachi calls from the big blind.

The flop is    . Mizrachi checks to Baker, who bets 180,000. Mizrachi raises to 400,000 and Baker folds.

Mizrachi   

Thuritz   

Mizrachi couldn't have asked for a better flop, making sixes full. The turn is the  , the river is the   and Thuritz is the first player eliminated from this final table. For his eighth place finish, he'll take home $182,463.

Mikael Thuritz has the button in Seat 2. Michael Mizrachi opens for 125,000 and David Baker three-bets to 350,000 from the cutoff. Thuritz, who has 15,000 of his 100,000 chips committed in the ante, thinks for quite a while before folding, both blinds fold and the action is back on the Grinder. He folds and Baker wins the pot.

Vladimir Schmelev - 3,170,000

Robert Mizrachi - 2,850,000

Daniel Alaei - 2,725,000

John Juanda - 2,455,000

David Baker - 2,280,000

David Oppenheim - 2,235,000

Michael Mizrachi - 1,575,000

Mikael Thuritz - 100,000

The button is with David Baker in Seat 1. On the final hand before the break, Michael Mizrachi opens for 100,000 and David Oppenheim makes the call. Mikael Thuritz is all in for less from the small blind, as Vladimir Schmelev comes along in the big blind.

They see a flop of     and action checks to Mizrachi who tosses out 100,000. Oppenheim folds but Schmelev makes the call. The turn is the   and this time Schmelev checks, then folds to the 225,000-chip bet from Mizrachi.

Mizrachi:   

Thuritz:   

The crowd roars as Grinder tables the nuts, leaving the Swede drawing to just three queens for a chop. You couldn't have written a better script as incredibly the river was the   and the players chop it up!

The button is with David Oppenheim in Seat 7.

Mikael Thuritz raises it up to 110,000 from under the gun, before next to speak, Vladimir Schmelev makes it 325,000 to play. The table folds around and Thuritz quickly moves all in and Schmelev insta-calls!

Thuritz:   

Schmelev:   

The classic cooler on one of the biggest final tables at the WSOP. Ouch!

The dealer spread the board       and after a count down of chips it appears that Thuritz is left with just 5,000 in chips as Schmelev doubles to around 3.3 million!

The button is with Daniel Alaei in Seat 5. The action folds around to Alaei and he raises to 115,000 to take it down.