Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:59 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts from Table 370
Abe Mosseri | 215,000 | 25,600 |
Matthew Ashton | 210,000 | 4,000 |
James Obst | 175,000 | -5,000 |
Sergii Baranov | 135,000 | -2,000 |
Paul Volpe | 130,000 | -5,000 |
Bryn Kenney | 120,000 | -10,000 |
Phil Galfond | 81,500 | -18,500 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:52 PM Local Time
Baranov Raises, Obst Folds
No-Limit Hold'em
Sergii Baranov raised it up to 1,200 from the cutoff and Abe Mosseri called from the button. The small blind folded and James Obst called from the big blind. The three saw a flop and Obst checked. Baranov continued for 2,200 and Mosseri shot his hand to the muck. Obst, however, elected to stick around.
The turn was the and both players checked to see the hit the river. Obst led for 2,200 and Baranov raised to 5,000 straight. Obst instantly picked up his hand and dropped it into the muck. Baranov was pushed the pot and now has about 137,000 in chips.
James Obst | 180,000 | -15,000 |
Sergii Baranov | 137,000 | 17,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:50 PM Local Time
Sion Keeps the Pressure On
No-Limit Hold'em
Elior "Crazy Elior" Sion opened for 1,300 from middle position and Brian Rast, who won this event back in 2011, called from the cutoff. The button and blinds all folded, and it was heads-up action to the flop. Sion led out for 1,800, Rast called, and the appeared on the turn.
Sion bet again, this time 4,800, and Rast came along for the ride. When the {Q} completed the board on the river, Sion fired a third bullet for 13,600, and this time it did the trick as Rast quickly released his hand.
Brian Rast | 238,000 | -23,000 |
Elior Sion | 175,000 | 19,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:50 PM Local Time
Monnette Back Up
No-Limit Hold'em
The board showed and with about 30,000 chips already in the middle John Monnette bet 18,300 from the small blind. Steve Billirakis tanked for a long time but in the end he folded his hand to give this big pot to Monnette.
Steve Billirakis | 174,000 | 20,000 |
John Monnette | 140,000 | 9,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:45 PM Local Time
Roaring Start for Rast
No-Limit Hold'em
Brian Rast continues to accumulate chips at a furious pace early on.
Philip Sternheimer opened for 1,200 in middle position in a recent pot, and Rast three-bet to 4,000 from the big blind. Sternheimer made the call, and the two took in a flop, on which Rast bet 4,800. Sternheimer called, and Rast kept the barrels coming with 8,500 on the turn. Sternheimer again called, and the emerged on the river. At this, Rast fired out 27,000. Sternheimer tanked for awhile, asked for a count of the bet, and then decided to look his opponent up.
Rast flipped for trips, and that was enough to rake in the pot.
Brian Rast | 261,000 | -4,000 |
Philip Sternheimer | 126,000 | -46,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:34 PM Local Time
A Big Hand For Shakerchi
2-7 Triple Draw
On the second draw we saw Jeff Lisandro take one card from the small blind after which Talal Shakerchi, in the big blind, stood pat and Scott Seiver took one card as well. Lisandro checked to Shakerchi who bet, Seiver raised, Lisandro called and Shakerchi followed suit.
On the final draw Lisandro took one card and both Shakerchi and Seiver stood pat.
Lisandro and Shakerchi checked to Seiver who immediately checked behind. Shakerchi showed , and Seiver shook his head as he mucked his cards.
Talal Shakerchi | 160,000 | 45,000 |
Jeff Lisandro | 152,000 | -3,000 |
Scott Seiver | 131,000 | -42,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:34 PM Local Time
Five More Players to Watch Here in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship
The 2014 WSOP's incarnation of the $50,000 Poker Players Championship is underway, but prior to its start PokerNews put together a list of players to look out for as things get up and running. The original list, which can be viewed here, is comprised of eight players, but here we're only going to examine five of them (courtesy of Marty Derbyshire), all of whom are currently in the field.
Alexandre Luneau
After final tabling three different Stud events in the lead up, Brit Matthew Ashton won this event one year ago. But the player he's got his eye on coming into this year's Poker Players Championship is France's Alexandre Luneau.
"One player who hasn't played in Vegas the last couple of years but decided to come this year is Alexandre Luneau, who is one of the very best all around players there is," Ashton told PokerNews. "He's one of the biggest mixed game winners online and has had a couple of results this year already."
Luneau had three WSOP cashes on his resume prior to this year, but none since 2011. If the start of the 2014 WSOP is any indication of his mixed-game prowess, it appears Luneau is ready for big things. Since returning to Las Vegas this summer, he's already booked a fifth-place finish in the $1,500 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo for $58,769 and an eighth-place run in the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw for $38,961.
Marco Johnson
Marco Johnson had finished runner-up in World Series events an amazing three times before finally winning a bracelet in the $2,500 Limit Hold'em Six-Handed event last year.
In all, he's booked 26 cashes at the WSOP for $1,416,204 and his record reads like a list of poker variants available on the World Series felt. He's earned money in everything from eight-game to H.O.R.S.E. and has built a reputation as one of the best high-stakes mixed-game cash players in the Las Vegas scene.
In fact, Johnson booked his second cash of the 2014 WSOP Saturday, bubbling the final table of the $1,500 Dealers Choice Six-Handed event, finishing seventh in a tournament that featured 16 variations of poker, including two that had never been played at the WSOP before.
"He's a very strong, very good player and he knows how to play all the games," said Baker.
Paul Volpe
Ashton believes many players overrate the importance of ability in the limit games compared to the big bet games in the tournament.
"The no-limit hold'em plays really big with the size of the antes and some of the older players play very weak tight in both no-limit hold'em and pot-limit Omaha thinking they can make up for it with their edge in limit games," he said. "I think that idea is overrated. I would take the skilled big bet player who is competent in the limit games over the specialist limit player playing scared in the big bet."
With that idea in mind, Ashton says he likes the chances of a player like Paul Volpe. Volpe won his first bracelet earlier this year in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball event, beating Daniel Negreanu heads-up and a final table full of multiple bracelet winners. He also has career live tournament earnings of $2,719,461, and if you're looking for no-limit hold'em chops, Volpe proved he has them with an amazing run in early 2013 that included two World Poker Tour final table appearances in a row at the L.A. Poker Classic and Bay 101 Shooting Stars.
The Brothers Mizrachi
After winning the $50,000 Poker Players Championship in both 2010 and 2012, Michael Mizrachi would have to be considered a favorite in the event year in, year out. But he doesn't really see it that way.
"It's a tournament," he said. "There are so many favorites; you just have to get lucky in critical spots."
But if the three-time WSOP bracelet winner and Main Event finalist with 35 cashes worth a whopping $6,931,580 at the WSOP had to pick a favorite to do well in the Poker Players Championship, it would have to be his closest comrade in the poker world: His brother Robert Mizrachi.
Not only did Robert Mizrachi finish fifth to Michael in the inaugural $50k Poker Players Championship back in 2010, but Saturday he closed out the warm-up to this year's event, winning the bracelet in the first ever Dealer's Choice 16-game event.
"Rob plays all the games really well," Michael said. "If I have to pick someone to win a tournament it'll always be Robert, especially in the mixed games."
No matter how you slice it, at least one player with the last name Mizrachi is going to be one to watch in this year's $50k Poker Players Championship – possibly both.
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:30 PM Local Time
Negreanu Bests Selbst
No-Limit Hold'em
Vanessa Selbst opened to 1,300 from under the gun and Ben Yu called from the next seat over. Action folded around to Daniel Negreanu in the big blind and he came along for the party.
The trio took a flop of and Negreanu checked. Selbst continued for 2,400 and Yu quickly got out of the way. Negreanu flatted and the fell on the turn. Negreanu checked for a second time and Selbst waited about 20 seconds before announcing a bet of 3,000. Negreanu called.
The board completed with the and Negreanu checked once more. Selbst checked behind and Negreanu rolled over for a pair of tens. Selbst threw her cards away and Negreanu took down the pot. He's now up to around 216,000 in chips while Selbst has dropped to 112,000.
Daniel Negreanu | 216,000 | 32,700 |
Vanessa Selbst | 112,000 | -8,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:27 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts from Table 361
Chris Bell | 180,000 | 30,000 |
Justin Smith | 175,000 | 50,000 |
Dan Heimiller | 165,000 | 15,000 |
David Chiu | 163,000 | -3,000 |
Luis Velador | 145,000 | -15,000 |
Jonathan Duhamel | 140,000 | -3,000 |
Calvin Anderson | 120,000 | -32,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:27 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts from Table 372
Brian Rast | 233,000 | 38,000 |
Philip Sternheimer | 172,000 | 22,000 |
Elior Sion | 156,000 | 51,000 |
Jesse Martin | 150,000 | |
Michael Mizrachi | 132,000 | -9,000 |
Mike Leah | 121,000 | -59,000 |
Phil Ivey | 110,000 | 8,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:24 PM Local Time
Gorodinsky's Raise Doesn't Pay Off
Stud
Mike Gorodinsky raised Brock Parker on the river with the two having the following boards:
Gorodinsky: / /
Parker: / /
Parker made the call, and Gorodinsky showed for aces up. Parker had it beat though, with for a flush.
Brock Parker | 188,000 | 28,000 |
Mike Gorodinsky | 131,500 | 5,500 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:16 PM Local Time
Mosseri Gets Galfond to Fold
Limit Hold'em
Sergii Baranov raised under the gun, and Abe Mosseri made it three bets in the next spot. Phil Galfond tossed in a T5,000 chip and announced a raise, and Baranov called.
"Oh my God, Clay Aiken," Mosseri said as he tossed in a call, referencing one of Galfond's online poker handles.
Baranov checked the flop, and Mosseri bet out. Galfond called, and Baranov folded. The made a four-flush and resulted in two checks, and Mosseri bet the river. Galfond mucked his hand.
Abe Mosseri | 189,400 | 9,400 |
Phil Galfond | 100,000 | -15,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:13 PM Local Time
Rast Over Mizrachi
Stud 8
Rast: / /
Mizrachi: / /
Brian Rast completed and Michael Mizrachi made it two bets from the next seat over. Action folded back around to Rast and he called. Rast checked fourth and Mizrachi continued out. Rast called to see fifth.
On fifth street, Rast had seven-queen-four showing and took the lead with a bet. Mizrachi called and did so again on sixth. Both players checked seventh street.
"Sevens," said Rast, showing in the hole. His exposed pair was good as Mizrachi mucked his hand and Rast was pushed the pot. Rast now has about 195,000 in chips.
Brian Rast | 195,000 | 10,000 |
Michael Mizrachi | 141,000 | -9,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:12 PM Local Time
PokerNews Impromptu: Jeremy Ausmus on Where He Has an Edge in the $50K
Jeremy Ausmus talked to PokerNews on the second break of the $50,000 Poker Players' Championship to discuss his table, not late registering, and where he has an edge in the tough field.
Sunday, June 22, 2014 8:02 PM Local Time
Level 3 started
Level: 3
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Sunday, June 22, 2014 7:55 PM Local Time
Don't Miss Multi-Table Madness On WSOP.com
Inside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino isn't the only place for you to satisfy your World Series of Poker appetite. WSOP.com is the leading online poker site in Nevada and has plenty of action running around the clock, seven days a week.
All summer long, a special promotion labeled Multi-Table Madness will be running from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. PST each night. The promotion will select one random hand at a random cash-game table during those hours that will award every player dealt into the hand with a cash bonus up to $100.
What's more is that WSOP.com will be sweetening the prize by giving players as much as $100 more for each additional table they're playing at during the time of the drawing. That means if you're playing in four different cash games when your table is selected, you could walk away with up to $400 in bonus money.
For complete information regarding WSOP.com's Multi-Table Madness promotion, please click here.
Sunday, June 22, 2014 7:48 PM Local Time
Second Break
Players are now on their second 15-minute break of the evening.
Sunday, June 22, 2014 7:48 PM Local Time
Kessler Makes the Nuts
2-7 Triple Draw
Allen Kessler, Bruno Fitoussi, and Stephen Chidwick each put in two bets after the second draw, and Kessler stood pat. Fitoussi and Chidwick drew one apiece, and Fitoussi folded to Kessler's bet. Chidwick raised, and Kessler instantly reraised. Chidwick called, and Kessler tabled for a number one.
Allen Kessler | 152,000 | 12,000 |
Stephen Chidwick | 116,000 | -4,000 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 7:46 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts from Table 366
David Benyamine | 225,000 | 75,000 |
Josh Arieh | 152,000 | 2,000 |
Mike Wattel | 142,000 | -8,000 |
David Oppenheim | 140,000 | -10,000 |
Brian Tate | 118,500 | -27,700 |
Erick Lindgren | 109,200 | -40,800 |
Sunday, June 22, 2014 7:45 PM Local Time
Ausmus Gets Some Back
Pot-Limit Omaha
On a flop it was Talal Shakerchi who bet 3,000 and Jeremy Ausmus raised it up to 8,500. Scott Seiver, on his left, tanked for a while before folding and Kevin Song, on the button, made the call. Shakerchi also folded creating heads-up action on the turn.
The turn brought the and Ausmus bet 19,000 into Song who tanked for a bit before letting go of his hand.
"Well I'm glad I didn't get involved in that," David Bach said, as he explained he would've flopped a set in this hand that created plenty of fireworks.
Scott Seiver | 173,000 | 18,000 |
Kevin Song | 148,000 | -27,000 |
Jeremy Ausmus | 146,000 | 12,000 |
Talal Shakerchi | 115,000 | 0 |