Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:57 PM Local Time
Michael Mizrachi Headlines Final Table of Event #27: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better
After five-and-a-half levels of play during Day 3 of Event #27: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi managed to bag the chip lead for the second straight day heading into tomorrow's final table of six. Mizrachi will be looking to add a fifth WSOP bracelet to his mantle, which would give him the family lead over his brother Robert, who also holds four WSOP bracelets of his own. After bagging the chip lead, Mizrachi said he was happy with the way things ended, especially with the big hand against Elias Hourani that helped propel him to the chip lead in the waning moments of the day.
"The key to this game," said Mizrachi, "Is when you're looking to scoop you need to hold these big hands. I had aces and it held; I made two pair and he made queens and tens so that was a big hand for me."
Mizrachi will be looking to close things out in a hurry tomorrow, saying, "I was hoping we'd play really late tonight so that we'd have a shorter day tomorrow, just so we can enjoy the day tomorrow. And go play another tournament, that's the real reason why. But hopefully it ends quick tomorrow, we still have a little bit of play left."
Right on the heels of Mizrachi are Michael Sopko (1,184,000) and Robert Gray (1,028,000). The aforementioned Hourani (425,000) and Jose Paz-Gutierrez (300,000) will have some work to do to take home the bracelet.
The real story towards the end of Day 3 was the doubling heroics of tomorrow's short stack Jan Stein (204,000), who doubled up no less than four times to make it through to Day 4. The key? Play tight.
"You have to play tight and just wait for a premium hand," Stein said. "When you're short-handed you then get the money in and hope the cards break your way."
"I feel great; it's exciting." Stein, who had his first recorded WSOP cash 19 years ago, said about making the final table. "I haven't made a final table in all the events I've played in all the years I've played so it'll be fun to get up there. I've got to get lucky, because I'm the lowest chip stack now, but you never know what's going to happen. It's limit and you can work your way up."
Fast Start To The Day
The short stacks fell quickly by the wayside at the start of the day, as eight of the remaining twenty-two players busted in the first hour-long level of the day. Eric Rodawig had to retire his bear suit early as the first to go, and was followed out the door in quick succession by Matthew Kelly, Tamon Nakamura, Bryan Pimlott, and Patricia Yannuzzi.
Robert Isakson and James Davis fell victim to a double knockout at the hands of Jose Paz-Gutierrez, and just before the level ended, Jon Turner couldn't catch up to Martin Sawtell and his full house to end his deep run in 15th place for $4,747.
Alejandro Torres was next to go, and then this year's $1,500 NL 2-7 Lowball Draw champ Yuval Bronshtein got crippled when he paid off Jan Stein and his flush, and he ended up in 13th when he lost his last ante one hand later. Jason Daly, Anna Wroblowski, and Cory Chaput would be the last to fall before the final table was set.
Final Table Action
First to go at the final table was Joseph Santagata, who was whittled down to a few big bets in a hand with Stein, before getting his remaining chips in on sixth street against Elias Hourani. Hourani's open two pair was ahead of Santagata's pair of aces, and Santagata would fail to improve on seventh street, and was left with ninth-place and $9,211.
Matthew Schultz got it in against Michael Mizrachi on fifth street with a pair of eights, and improved to two pair on sixth, while Mizrachi had just a pair of deuces. Mizrachi asked Schultz, "You want it fast or slow?" before peeling his river card, and Schultz replied, "Fast." Mizrachi obliged and promptly ripped over a third deuce, and Schultz failed to improve. He ended his run in eighth-place, good for $11,986.
For a good chunk of seven-handed play, it looked as if Jan Stein would be the bubble boy of the televised final table, with his stack creeping all the way down to just half a big bet at one point. He fought back, and Martin Sawtell began to slip down the counts. On the final hand of Day 3, Sawtell was dealt aces in the hole, and got the remainder of his chips in on fifth street, against Robert Gray, who held just a pair of deuces and three pieces to a low at the time. Gray would go runner-runner to make a full house, however, and Sawtell had to settle for seventh-place and $15,921.
Final Table Seat Draw and Chip Counts
Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Bets |
1 | Jan Stein | United States | 204,000 | 3 |
2 | Elias Hourani | United States | 425,000 | 7 |
3 | Michael Mizrachi | United States | 1,355,000 | 23 |
4 | Jose Paz-Gutierrez | Bolivia | 300,000 | 5 |
5 | Michael Sopko | United States | 1,184,000 | 20 |
6 | Robert Gray | United States | 1,028,000 | 17 |
Tomorrow's final table will be televised live on CBS All Access with the stream kicking off at 1 p.m. local time. The action will get underway here in the Amazon Room at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino at Noon local time. Be sure to stay tuned right here to the blog and follow all the action with us as Mizrachi chases WSOP bracelet number five!
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:33 PM Local Time
End of Day Chip Counts
Michael Mizrachi | 1,355,000 | 5,000 |
Michael Sopko | 1,184,000 | -41,000 |
Robert Gray | 1,028,000 | 188,000 |
Elias Hourani | 425,000 | 25,000 |
Jose Paz-Gutierrez | 300,000 | -317,000 |
Jan Stein | 204,000 | -101,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:31 PM Local Time
Play Ends For The Day
The final six players are bagging and tagging in anticipation of the final day of Event #27: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better. Stay tuned for updated chip counts and a full recap of the day's action.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:30 PM Local Time
Martin Sawtell Eliminated in 7th Place ($15,921)
Jose Paz-Gutierrez: / - folded on fourth street
Robert Gray: /
Martin Sawtell: /
Martin Sawtell completed, then bet fourth street after Robert Gray and Jose Paz-Gutierrez called. Only Gray called to see fifth street, where Gray bet, and Sawtell put his last 87,000 in. Gray called and said, "I'm way behind."
Gray got a jolt when the peeled off for him on sixth street, giving him three deuces, and Sawtell didn't improve with the . Gray locked the hand up when he flipped the over, giving him a full house and rendering Sawtell's moot.
Martin Sawtell | 0 | -150,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:27 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Takes a Big One With Aces Up
Elias Hourani: / /
Michael Mizrachi: / /
Jose Paz-Gutierrez: / - folded on third
Martin Sawtell: / - folded on fifth
On fourth street, Michael Mizrachi bet, and Martin Sawtell and Elias Hourani called. Mizrachi bet again on fifth street, and only Hourani called. Hourani called bets on the final two streets, and Mizrachi tabled for aces-up.
"Oh man, you got me on the river!" Hourani said, showing .
"I had aces the whole time," Mizrachi told Hourani.
Michael Mizrachi | 1,350,000 | 600,000 |
Elias Hourani | 400,000 | -460,000 |
Martin Sawtell | 150,000 | -100,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:26 PM Local Time
Update from Day 15 of WSOP
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:16 PM Local Time
Sopko Over a Million
Jan Stein: / /
Michael Mizrachi: / - folded on fifth street
Michael Sopko: / /
Michael Sopko completed and Jan Stein called. Michael Mizrachi raised and the two other players called. Mizrachi checked and Sopko bet on fifth street, with both players calling.
Sixth street checked to Sopko who bet with Stein the only caller. On seventh street Stein check-folded as Sopko moved over to 1.2m.
Michael Sopko | 1,225,000 | 325,000 |
Michael Mizrachi | 750,000 | -75,000 |
Jan Stein | 305,000 | -170,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:12 PM Local Time
Stein Doubles, Then Takes From Mizrachi
Jan Stein: / /
Elias Hourani: / - folded on third street
Michael Mizrachi: / /
One hand after scooping a double with a pair of fives and an eight low against Michael Sopko, Jan Stein called when Michael Mizrachi completed on third street. Stein called a bet on fourth street, then both players checked fifth street. Stein bet on the final streets, with Mizrachi calling the whole way. Stein fanned for a straight and an eight low, and Mizrachi tossed the up on the felt before mucking.
Michael Sopko | 900,000 | -100,000 |
Michael Mizrachi | 825,000 | -85,000 |
Jan Stein | 475,000 | 325,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 8:00 PM Local Time
Stein Chips Up Again
Jan Stein: / /
Michael Mizrachi: / /
Michael Sopko: / - folded on sixth street
Robert Gray: / - folded on sixth street
After three limps, Jan Stein completed and Michael Mizrachi, Michael Sopko and Robert Gray all called. Stein bet and was all in on fourth street. The three others called and checked fifth street. Mizrachi bet on sixth street and the other two players both folded.
Mizrachi showed for a low and a flush draw. Stein showed for a pair of nines. Mizrachi drew the and Stein the to chop the pot. After the hand, Sopko said that he had aces and Gray a better low draw as Stein survived.
Michael Sopko | 1,000,000 | 120,000 |
Michael Mizrachi | 910,000 | -75,000 |
Robert Gray | 840,000 | -110,000 |
Jan Stein | 150,000 | 10,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:50 PM Local Time
Level 26 started
Level: 26
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 7000
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:45 PM Local Time
Elias Fires at Sopko
Elias Hourani: / /
Michael Sopko: / /
Sopko brought it in, then called when Hourani completed. Sopko called bets all the way down to seventh street, where Hourani bet, and Sopko looked at his hand, then said, "Good hand," and mucked.
Michael Sopko | 880,000 | 0 |
Elias Hourani | 860,000 | 110,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:36 PM Local Time
Stein Scoops to Triple Up
Jan Stein: / /
Elias Hourani: / /
Robert Gray: / /
Robert Gray brought in and Jan Stein called. Elias Hourani completed and got two calls.
Gray and Stein both checked and Hourani bet. Gray called and Stein was all in.
The pair checked down the rest of the way. Gray announced two pair with for eights and deuces.
Hourani showed for fives and threes and Stein scooped with for tens up and tripled up.
Robert Gray | 950,000 | -70,000 |
Elias Hourani | 750,000 | 40,000 |
Jan Stein | 140,000 | 85,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:32 PM Local Time
Gray Gets a Wheel and a Flush Both
Jan Stein: / - folded on third street
Robert Gray: / /
Martin Sawtell: / /
Jan Stein brought it in, Robert Gray completed, Martin Sawtell called and Stein folded. Gray bet every street, including seventh street in the dark, and Sawtell called him down.
"Wheel and an ace-high flush," Gray said, tabling to the amazement of the table..
"I had the wheel, that was the river." Gray added.
Robert Gray | 1,020,000 | 180,000 |
Martin Sawtell | 250,000 | -270,000 |
Jan Stein | 55,000 | -5,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:21 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts; Stein On Fumes
Jan Stein was able to chop up a pot when he had his last 35,000 in on third street, but still sits with just over one big bet.
Michael Mizrachi | 985,000 | 110,000 |
Michael Sopko | 880,000 | -20,000 |
Robert Gray | 840,000 | 65,000 |
Elias Hourani | 710,000 | 130,000 |
Jose Paz-Gutierrez | 617,000 | -133,000 |
Martin Sawtell | 520,000 | 30,000 |
Jan Stein | 60,000 | -70,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:12 PM Local Time
Matthew Schultz Eliminated in 8th Place ($11,986)
Michael Mizrachi: / /
Matthew Schultz: / /
On fifth street Matthew Schultz bet and Michael Mizrachi was in the tank. Eventually he raised and the two got it in for the rest of Schultz's stack.
"It's not much," said Mizrachi showing his pair of deuces as Schultz showed his pair of eights. By sixth street Schultz had improved to two pair and with no low possible for either player, Mizrachi would have to catch to eliminate his opponent.
"You want it fast or slow," asked Mizrachi.
"Fast," replied Schultz, and Mizrachi swiftly turned over the for trips and took down the pot as Schultz showed and was eliminated.
Michael Mizrachi | 875,000 | 50,000 |
Matthew Schultz | 0 | -195,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 7:00 PM Local Time
Sopko Takes the Chip Lead
Elias Hourani: / /
Michael Sopko: / /
Elias Hourani brought it in, and Michael Sopko completed. Hourani called, then called bets from Sopko all the way to seventh street, where Sopko bet again. Hourani looked at his hand, then told Sopko, "You are so lucky!"
Sopko responded, "I am?"
Hourani turned over and said, "I started with ace-six-five-two, and got the two-two-nine."
Sopko rolled over for sixes full of queens and said, "Crazy game."
Michael Sopko | 900,000 | 260,000 |
Elias Hourani | 580,000 | -200,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 6:50 PM Local Time
Level 25 started
Level: 25
Blinds: 25000/50000
Ante: 5000
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 6:41 PM Local Time
Paz-Gutierrez Scoops Before the Break
Elias Hourani: / /
Michael Mizrachi: / /
Matthew Schultz: / - folded on fourth street
Jose Paz-Gutierrez: / /
Martin Sawtell: / - folded on fourth street
Five players saw fourth street with only Elias Hourani and Jose Paz-Gutierrez calling a bet from Michael MIzrachi. The trio then checked fifth street. Sixth street was checked to Paz-Gutierrez who bet and got two calls.
On seventh street Hourani checked and this time Mizrachi bet. Both opponents called.
Mizrachi announced jacks up with but Paz-Gutierrez showed for a straight seven, six low and scooped two ways.
Here are the full chip counts as the players head on a 15-minute break.
Michael Mizrachi | 825,000 | -75,000 |
Elias Hourani | 780,000 | 165,000 |
Robert Gray | 775,000 | -215,000 |
Jose Paz-Gutierrez | 750,000 | 260,000 |
Michael Sopko | 640,000 | -145,000 |
Martin Sawtell | 490,000 | 20,000 |
Matthew Schultz | 195,000 | -45,000 |
Jan Stein | 130,000 | 5,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 6:32 PM Local Time
Schultz Gets a Double Through Mizrachi
Michael Mizrachi: /
Matthew Schultz: /
Michael Sopko: / - folded on third street
Michael Sopko brought it in, Michael Mizrachi raised, and Matthew Schultz made it two bets. Sopko folded and Mizrachi called. Schultz bet fourth street, and Mizrachi called, then bet fifth street. Schultz called off his last 30,000 and turned up a pair of queens and a gutshot, while Mizrachi needed to improve. Mizrachi peeled the on sixth street, while Schultz received a . Mizrachi flipped up the on seventh street, giving him just a pair of fives, and Schultz secured the double after showing the .
Michael Mizrachi | 900,000 | -50,000 |
Matthew Schultz | 240,000 | 70,000 |
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 6:26 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Relinquishes Chip Lead
Elias Hourani: / /
Michael Mizrachi: / /
Elias Hourani bet on fourth street and Mizrachi called. Mizrachi then check-called with open fives on fifth, sixth and seventh street. Hourani announced aces and showed for aces and an eight-five low. Mizrachi mucked and his stack fell below a million.
Michael Mizrachi | 950,000 | -240,000 |
Elias Hourani | 615,000 | 105,000 |