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Tuesday, June 19, 2018 3:05 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Applying Infinite Pressure
Pot-Limit Omaha
John Hennigan opened with a raise to 100,000 from under the gun and Aaron Katz called in the cutoff. On the button, Michael Mizrachi made it 425,000. Hennigan quickly folded while Katz called.
The flop was and both players checked to the on the turn. There, Katz checked again. Mizrachi plopped out a bet of 800,000 and Katz dropped into the tank. He exchanged a few words and a smile with Mizrachi before eventually deciding to fold after a couple of minutes.
Mizrachi flashed his for top set before raking in another pot.
| Michael Mizrachi | 8,800,000 | 600,000  |
| Aaron Katz | 690,000 | -660,000  |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 3:00 PM Local Time
Monster for Grinder
Pot-Limit Omaha
John Hennigan raised to 100,000 for the second straight hand — in the first, Michael Mizrachi defended big blind and potted a flop and won — and Mizrachi called in the small blind, as did Benny Glaser in the big. The board read after three checks and Mizrachi potted for 300,000.
The others folded quickly and Mizrachi showed for a straight and a set.
| Michael Mizrachi | 8,200,000 | 200,000 |
| John Hennigan | 2,800,000 | 0 |
| Benny Glaser | 2,200,000 | -100,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:56 PM Local Time
Smith Wins on Fifth
Razz
Dan Smith: /
Aaron Katz: / - fold
Benny Glaser: / - fold
Dan Smith completed on third street, Aaron Katz called and Benny Glaser called. Fourth street wasn't particularly good for anybody and Katz checked with the best board. Glaser checked, Smith bet and both Katz and Glaser called. Smith seized the on-board lead on fifth and bet, chasing out both Katz and Glaser.
| Dan Smith | 5,400,000 | 600,000 |
| Benny Glaser | 2,300,000 | -400,000 |
| Aaron Katz | 1,350,000 | -750,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:45 PM Local Time
Chop it Up for Smith and Glaser
Omaha Hi-Lo
Benny Glaser opened from the cutoff and Dan Smith called from the big blind.
The flop came down and Smith checked to Glaser who put out a bet. Smith called.
On the turn, Smith checked to Glaser who bet again. Smith then check-raised making it two bets and Glaser called.
The river was the and Smith bet and Glaser didn't waste time calling. Smith showed for a straight and eight-three for a low, but Glaser earned half the pot with for a better low with his seven-three.
| Dan Smith | 4,800,000 | -100,000 |
| Benny Glaser | 2,700,000 | 0 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:35 PM Local Time
Clubs Scare Off Smith
Stud
After a Benny Glaser call first to act, John Hennigan completed with the and Dan Smith raised in the next seat with the . That convinced everyone else to muck but Hennigan came along. He caught running clubs and came out betting on fifth after calling fourth.
John Hennigan: /
Dan Smith: /
Smith didn't think long before mucking to the bet.
| Dan Smith | 4,900,000 | -300,000 |
| John Hennigan | 2,800,000 | 220,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:28 PM Local Time
Glaser Bets Leah Out
Stud
Benny Glaser: /
Mike Leah: / - fold
Benny Glaser completed on third street, Mike Leah raised and Glaser called. Leah bet with his better board on fourth street, Glaser called, then Glaser led out on fifth street with the better board. Leah mulled it over for about 90 seconds before he folded.
| Benny Glaser | 2,700,000 | 490,000 |
| Mike Leah | 1,900,000 | -300,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:25 PM Local Time
Leah Back in the Thick of It
Stud
Aaron Katz completed with the and Michael Mizrachi called with the . Mike Leah made it two bets with the and Katz and Mizrachi both called.
Mike Leah: / /
Michael Mizrachi: / /
Aaron Katz: / - folded on fifth
On fourth street, each of the three players checked. On fifth street, Mizrachi took initiative with his pair of fives and he bet. Leah called while Katz folded.
On sixth street, Mizrachi bet again and Leah called. On seventh street, both players checked. Leah showed down his for two pair and it was good. Grinder flashed his for two pair as well, but it was no good and went into the muck shortly after.
Leah earned a near double with the hand, moving back into the middle of the pack with over two million chips.
| Michael Mizrachi | 8,000,000 | -710,000 |
| Mike Leah | 2,200,000 | 980,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:18 PM Local Time
Katz Folds the End
Stud
Dan Smith completed with the last to act and Aaron Katz defended with the . He led the betting after picking up a and , with Smith calling down.
Dan Smith: / /
Aaron Katz: / /
On the river, Smith resumed his aggression with a bet though, and Katz didn't think long before letting it go.
| Dan Smith | 5,200,000 | 715,000 |
| Aaron Katz | 2,100,000 | -500,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:13 PM Local Time
Level 22 started
Level: 22
Blinds: 100000/200000
Ante: 0
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:12 PM Local Time
Hennigan Wins One Against Mizrachi
No-Limit Hold'em
Michael Mizrachi opened to 85,000 from the cutoff and John Hennigan defended his big blind.
They checked to the turn of an board where Hennigan bet 125,000. Mizrachi folded, giving Hennigan the pot.
| Michael Mizrachi | 8,710,000 | -155,000 |
| John Hennigan | 2,580,000 | 180,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:04 PM Local Time
Level 21 started
Level: 21
Blinds: 80000/160000
Ante: 0
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:02 PM Local Time
Two Former Poker Players Championship Winners Seek Another Victory as the Final Day Looms
Michael Mizrachi has made a name for himself among the poker community due largely in part to his success in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. It's been eight years since his first victory in the event, but he's proved time and time again that he belongs here, going toe to toe with some of the greatest poker players in the world. As the final day of the 2018 Poker Players Championship looms, Mizrachi, once again, sits atop the leaderboard with the chip lead over the final six players.
Standing in his way is another player who has once conquered this event, John Hennigan. Hennigan has already captured World Series of Poker gold once this series, and he's looking for another win to add a second Poker Players Championship to his already impressive résumé.
The rest of the field seeks their first victory in this event. Multiple-bracelet winner Benny Glaser seeks another title, hoping to add would be a crown jewel to his already remarkable career. Aaron Katz, who finished 11th in this event last year, is looking for vindication after already surpassing his finish from last year. Mike Leah hopes to build further on an illustrious career by taking down one of the most prestigious poker events. A win here would give Leah his second World Series of Poker bracelet.
And then there is Dan Smith. Smith has been a staple of the high-stakes poker community for many years, with much success all over the world. He boasts over $20 million in recorded live tournament earnings with over $5 million of that coming from the World Series of Poker and he has multiple appearances at World Series of Poker final tables. But despite all that, Smith still doesn't have a World Series of Poker bracelet, and many players consider him to be one of the best players without one. Smith comes into the day second in chips and will look to close this one out to lock up his first WSOP victory.
| Seat | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds | Big Bets |
|---|
| 1 | Dan Smith | United States | 4,485,000 | 112 | 28 |
| 2 | Aaron Katz | United States | 2,600,000 | 65 | 16.5 |
| 3 | Michael Mizrachi | United States | 8,865,000 | 222 | 55.5 |
| 4 | Benny Glaser | United Kingdom | 2,210,000 | 55 | 14 |
| 5 | Mike Leah | Canada | 1,220,000 | 31 | 7.5 |
| 6 | John Hennigan | United States | 2,400,000 | 60 | 15 |
Action is set to begin in at 2 p.m. local time with action kicking back off in the no-limit hold'em round of play. The button with start on Katz with four hands left in the game rotation, and just three minutes left on the clock in Level 21. Action today will be live streamed from start to finish.
PokerNews will continue to provide coverage of the event and we'll be here until a winner is crowned. Make sure to stay tuned in to see if "The Grinder" can lock up an astonishing third Poker Players Championship, or if a new winner will be crowned.