Event #41: $1,500 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed

Robert Mizrachi began the day as the chip leader and just seven and a half hours later he was awarded his second career World Series of Poker bracelet. Mizrachi overcame a severe chip deficit and bested Aaron Schaff during heads up play to earn $147,092 in first-place prize money as well as the prestige of being the champion of the first-ever dealer's choice event.

The day began with 10 players returning to the felt with hopes of claiming the aforementioned title. The day was filled with potential storylines including those of two-time bracelet winner Jen Harman and Melissa Burr. Not only were these two the last women standing in the event, but both were on the hunt for number three. For Harman, it was potentially a day to win her third bracelet. Burr, on the other hand, was looking for her third final table of the 2014 WSOP. Unfortunately for both ladies, these goals were dashed early on as they became the first casualties of the day with Harman busting in tenth and Burr falling in ninth.

Soon after Burr's elimination, Arthur Morris was sent to the rail in eighth place, allowing the rest of the field to combine to the unofficial final table of seven. Marco Johnson came into the unofficial final table as the short stack and despite an early double up, he was ultimately unable to gain further momentum. Johnson was eventually eliminated by Mizrachi in 2-7 triple draw and the official final table was set.

The final table had interesting shifts in dynamic with players slowly chipping away at each other's stacks in limit games one moment and suddenly changing pace by playing large pots for entire player's stacks in primarily pot-limit Omaha. The first large confrontation and eventual elimination did indeed come in PLO, and unfortunately for 2010 WSOP Player of the Year Frank Kassela, his quest for bracelet number three was cut short. During Kassela's final hand, four players committed 70,000 before the flop after it was potted by Daniel Idema. After the flop, Kassela found himself all in and at risk against Aaron Schaff with an inferior draw and hand. Kassela failed to improve on his hand on the turn or the river and he was eliminated from play in sixth place. Schaff, on the other hand, was sitting pretty with 68% of the chips in play five-handed.

The next key hand saw not one, but two players hit the rail. Once again, Schaff was the executioner and his weapon of choice was pot-limit Omaha. Schaff, Idema, and Bill Chen took a flop together where a short-stacked Idema moved all in from the get-go. Schaff potted and Chen announced that he was all in as well. By the end of the hand, Schaff made top two pair which was good enough toeliminate both of his competitors. Schaff held a commanding lead and was suddenly two eliminations away from his first bracelet.

Shane Abbott had been riding a short stack for a good portion of the day and had survived three all in confrontations up to this point. When the choice came around, he picked no-limit hold'em and this ultimately turned out to be an ill-timed decision. During a key hand, Mizrachi opened with a button raise and Abbott three-bet jammed from the small blind. Action folded back to Mizrachi and he snap-called.

Mizrachi:   
Abbott:   

Mizrachi was in a dominating position with his pocket aces and his lead extended even further after the     flop hit the felt. Just for good measure, Mizrachi drilled the fourth ace on the turn ( ), giving him quads and an insured victory. Abbott hit the rail in third and took home $58,414 in prize money.

Despite his victory over Abbott, Mizrachi was still at a severe chip disadvantage against Schaff. That, however, did not stop the bracelet-winner from grinding his opponent in limit games to quickly increase his stack. Mizrachi seized the chip lead not too long into the heads up bout and never relinquished it for the rest of the match. Schaff considered pot-limit Omaha to be his best game and was consistently picking that when the choice fell upon him. Mizrachi, on the other hand, mixed it up consistently with his most-picked game being Omaha 8.

On the final hand of the match, Mizrachi had worn Schaff down to about 3.5 big bets in the draw games. Mizrachi had the game selection and chose A-5 triple draw. The two got it all in for Schaff's tournament life before the second draw. Mizrachi stood pat for the final two draws while his opponent opted for one card on each pull. To clinch the match, Mizrachi tabled his made       and saw that Schaff's      left him drawing dead. Mizrachi jumped up from the table and greeted his rail, which included his brother and three-time bracelet winner Michael Mizrachi. Schaff, on the other hand, was forced to settle for a runner-up finish and $90,854 in prize money.

Final Table Payouts

That does it for our coverage of the inaugural Dealer's Choice event! Gauging from player reactions and the constantly jovial tournament atmosphere, this event proved to be a huge success and will likely return in years to come. PokerNews extends its congratulations to Robert Mizrachi for overcoming the field and becoming the first-ever Dealer's Choice Champion!

Pot-Limit Omaha

Aaron Schaff selected PLO.

Schaff tossed out 25,000, not enough for a raise, but Robert Mizrachi threw out a quick call and the dealer quickly spread a     flop. Mizrachi and Schaff each checked, and a   hit. Mizrachi bet out 35,000, and Schaff made the call. The   river prompted 65,000 out of Mizrachi, and Schaff paused, cutting down his stack as he tanked.

"What are the blinds?" Schaff said. Informed the big blind was 16,000, he continued: "Well, how can I make it 25?"

The dealer said it should have been 32,000, but Schaff pointed out there was nothing that could be done now. Finally, he made the call, and Mizrachi showed      for three deuces.

Robert Mizrachi	1,660,000	143,000
Aaron Schaff	225,000	-143,000

Players are taking a quick break rather than the scheduled 60-minute dinner break.

Omaha 8

Robert Mizrachi had the button and limped. Aaron Schaff checked.

The flop fell     and Schaff check-called a bet from Mizrachi. The   hit the turn and Schaff checked for a second time. Mizrachi kept up his aggression with a bet and Schaff stuck around. The   was the final community card and Schaff checked. Mizrachi bet one last time and this time Schaff slowed. He threw his hand at the muck and Mizrachi pulled in the pot.

Robert Mizrachi	1,380,000	380,000
Aaron Schaff	505,000	-380,000

Pot-Limit Omaha

Aaron Schaff selected pot-limit Omaha.

Robert Mizrachi limped the button and Schaff checked, allowing     to grace the felt. Schaff checked and Mizrachi fired 20,000. Schaff called and the   fell on the turn. Both players checked and the   completed the community cards.

Schaff led for 54,000 and Mizrachi quickly announced a call. Schaff showed      for nut straight and picked up the pot. He's now sitting around 610,000 in chips.

Robert Mizrachi	1,275,000	-225,000
Aaron Schaff	610,000	225,000

Pot-Limit Omaha

Aaron Schaff selected pot-limit Omaha.

On the second hand of PLO, Schaff opened his button to 25,000. Robert Mizrachi called and the two saw     hit the felt. Mizrachi checked and Schaff continued out for 32,000. Mizrachi called and the   fell on the turn. There were two checks, allowing the   to complete the board. Mizrachi bet 75,000 and Schaff quickly called.

Mizrachi showed      for a turned set of tens. Schaff shook his head and flashed    for a flopped set of eights before mucking his hand. After this hit, Schaff was down to 655,000.

Omaha 8

Mizrachi selected Omaha 8 for the next round. He limped his button and Schaff checked his option. The flop fell     and Schaff led out. Mizrachi called, allowing the   to turn. Schaff checked, Mizrachi fired, and Schaff tossed out a call. Both players checked the   river and Mizrachi fanned      for jacks and fives.

Schaff threw his hand away and Mizrachi raked in another pot. He now sits at 1.305 million to Schaff's 580,000.

Robert Mizrachi	1,305,000	255,000
Aaron Schaff	580,000	-255,000

Pot-Limit Omaha

Aaron Schaff raised the button to 25,000 in his game of choice, and Robert Mizrachi called. Mizrachi check-called 15,000 on the     flop, and both players checked the  . Mizrachi checked again on the   river, and Schaff bet 55,000. Mizrachi quickly announced a call.

"Ace-jack?" Schaff said.

"Straight," Mizrachi responded, throwing      into the middle.

Robert Mizrachi	1,135,000	135,000
Aaron Schaff	750,000	-135,000

Pot-Limit Omaha

Aaron Schaff selected PLO.

"You know, I won a bracelet in PLO," Robert Mizrachi said.

"Yeah," Schaff responded. "I wasn't playing that event."

"You were probably still in high school."

The banter was more exciting than the hands that round.

Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better

Schaff raised from the button in Mizrachi's game selection, and Mizrachi three-bet. Schaff called, and the flop came    . Mizrachi bet, and Schaff raised. Mizrachi made it three bets, and Schaff called. Mizrachi fired bullets on the   turn and   river, but Schaff mucked on the end, showing     for a set.

Pot-Limit Omaha

Back on Schaff's game, he potted out of the big blind after Mizrachi limped the button, and Mizrachi called to see a     flop. Both players checked, and Schaff bet 45,000 on the   turn. Mizrachi quickly called, and Schaff checked the   river. Mizrachi fired 120,000, and Schaff folded.

Robert Mizrachi	985,000	285,000
Aaron Schaff	900,000	-285,000