Saturday, October 30, 2021 3:00 AM Local Time
Julia Holds Big Lead With 17 Remaining; Matusow, Racener and Mizrachi Among Contenders
Another mixed game contest of the 2021 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas is one step closer to crowning a champion. Out of a field of 319 entries in Event #54: $2,500 Nine-Game Mix 6-Handed, just 17 players remain in the hunt for the coveted gold bracelet. The tournament, dubbed as the mini version of the pinnacle Poker Players Championship, will award the lion's share of the $709,775 prize pool on the final day on Saturday, October 30, 2021.
Nicholas Julia holds a commanding lead over his final 16 opponents as he bagged up an impressive stack of 2,150,000, which is more than two times of what Robert McLaughlin (1,013,000) has at his disposal. Among the other big stacks are three-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Aditya Prasetyo, the WSOP bracelet winners Kenny Hsiung and Justin Liberto, as well as actor and mixed game aficionado James Woods.
Mike Matusow continues his string of deep runs during the festival so far as he sits inside the overnight top ten and chases a fifth WSOP bracelet. A potential repeat victory at the WSOP is also possible for John Racener, Bradley Ruben, and the 2005 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem.
Top 10 Chip Counts After Day 2
Position | Player | Country | Chip Count |
1 | Nicholas Julia | United States | 2,150,000 |
2 | Robert McLaughlin | United States | 1,013,000 |
3 | Aditya Prasetyo | United States | 829,000 |
4 | Kenny Hsiung | United States | 822,000 |
5 | Kristan Lord | United States | 820,000 |
6 | Justin Liberto | United States | 715,000 |
7 | James Woods | United States | 649,000 |
8 | Matt Vengrin | United States | 635,000 |
9 | Marco Johnson | United States | 603,000 |
10 | Mike Matusow | United States | 559,000 |
Julia began his rise to the top of the leaderboard in the second level of the day when he knocked out Greg Mueller with the flopped nut flush against a rivered inferior flush. From there on, he was a wrecking ball at his alternating tables and remained in the top three on the leaderboard for the rest of the day. Many other notables such as Brian Rast, Yuri Dzivielevski, Max Pescatori, John Monnette, Jason Somerville, Day 1 chip leader Kao "Flexx" Saechao, and Daniel Negreanu were among the casualties before the money.
Eli Elezra was multi-tabling and had stacks in play for the mixed game contest and Day 2 of the Seniors Event. He paced back and forth between two different rooms in the and was ultimately eliminated by Joshua Rhodes not far away from the money bubble. Donny Rubinstein ended up as the bubble boy in a Razz hand against Kenny Hsiung and the eliminations thereafter came at a rapid pace once the players returned from the dinner break.
Notables in the money included WSOP bracelet winners such as Andrew Barber, Adam Owen, Andrew Kelsall, Kevin Gerhart, Jim Collopy, Carol Fuchs, Frankie O'Dell, and Naoya Kihara. Fuchs was denied a second final table of the festival when her ace-king came up second-best against ace-queen in a preflop contest. Kihara succumbed in a roller coaster Stud Hand against Rhodes.
Maria Ho made it to the final four tables before she bowed out in 23rd place and Matt Waxman followed soon after when his overpair ran into the flopped wheel of runaway chip leader Julia.
The remaining 17 players will return to their seats in the Amazon Tan section at 2pm local time and determine the latest WSOP gold bracelet winner. They have $7,626 locked up so far but the eyes will be set on the top prize of $168,608. Stay tuned right here on PokerNews to find out who joins the winner's circle.
Saturday, October 30, 2021 2:36 AM Local Time
Seat Draw Day 3 Event #54: $2,500 Nine-Game Mix 6-Handed
Room | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chips |
Amazon | 423 | 1 | Marco Johnson | United States | 603,000 |
Amazon | 423 | 2 | Robert Mizrachi | United States | 423,000 |
Amazon | 423 | 3 | Drew Scott | Canada | 201,000 |
Amazon | 423 | 4 | Matt Vengrin | United States | 635,000 |
Amazon | 423 | 5 | James Woods | United States | 649,000 |
Amazon | 423 | 6 | Joe Hachem | Australia | 433,000 |
| | | | | |
Amazon | 431 | 1 | Kenny Hsiung | United States | 822,000 |
Amazon | 431 | 2 | Bradley Ruben | United States | 437,000 |
Amazon | 431 | 3 | Nicholas Julia | United States | 2,150,000 |
Amazon | 431 | 4 | Kristan Lord | United States | 820,000 |
Amazon | 431 | 6 | Aditya Prasetyo | United States | 829,000 |
| | | | | |
Amazon | 432 | 1 | Justin Liberto | United States | 715,000 |
Amazon | 432 | 2 | Mike Matusow | United States | 559,000 |
Amazon | 432 | 3 | Anthony Mender | United States | 161,000 |
Amazon | 432 | 4 | Robert McLaughlin | United States | 1,013,000 |
Amazon | 432 | 5 | Young Phan | United States | 223,000 |
Amazon | 432 | 6 | John Racener | United States | 495,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 2:27 AM Local Time
End-of-Day 2 Counts
Nicholas Julia | 2,150,000 | -50,000 |
Robert McLaughlin | 1,013,000 | 13,000 |
Aditya Prasetyo | 829,000 | -71,000 |
Kenny Hsiung | 822,000 | -28,000 |
Kristan Lord | 820,000 | 20,000 |
Justin Liberto | 715,000 | 70,000 |
James Woods | 649,000 | 9,000 |
Matt Vengrin | 635,000 | 215,000 |
Marco Johnson | 603,000 | 133,000 |
Mike Matusow | 559,000 | 94,000 |
John Racener | 495,000 | 15,000 |
Bradley Ruben | 437,000 | -13,000 |
Joe Hachem | 433,000 | 178,000 |
Robert Mizrachi | 423,000 | -102,000 |
Young Phan | 223,000 | -77,000 |
Drew Scott | 201,000 | 6,000 |
Anthony Mender | 161,000 | 26,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 2:14 AM Local Time
Day 2 Completed With 17 Players
The remaining 17 players have bagged and tagged their chips for the night. Full counts and a recap of today's action are to follow.
Saturday, October 30, 2021 2:12 AM Local Time
Lord Doubles Through Ruben
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
Bradley Ruben raised to 26,000 in the hijack and Kristan Lord three-bet to 75,000 on the button. Ruben jammed and Lord snap-called for 395,000. Lord patted a and Ruben's patted was no good.
Kristan Lord | 800,000 | 380,000 |
Bradley Ruben | 450,000 | -550,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 2:07 AM Local Time
Ruben Chips Up
No-Limit Hold'em
Bradley Ruben defended the big blind and then check-called twice on a board of . Aditya Prasetyo checked behind the river and mucked when he was shown the for the second pair by Ruben.
Bradley Ruben | 1,000,000 | 300,000 |
Aditya Prasetyo | 900,000 | -45,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 2:00 AM Local Time
Christian Roberts Eliminated in 18th Place ($7,626)
No-Limit Hold'em
Christian Roberts raised all-in preflop and was called by Aditya Prasetyo. The cards were turned face-up and it was pocket held by Roberts versus the held by Prasetyo.
The dealer spread the flop of and Roberts flopped a flush draw.
The turn was the and gave Prasetyo the lead with a pair of tens.
The river card missed Roberts and Prasetyo had the winner with his pair of tens, which eliminated Roberts in 18th place and he took home $7,626 in cash.
Aditya Prasetyo | 945,000 | 75,000 |
Christian Roberts | 0 | -85,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:56 AM Local Time
Redraw of the Final Three Tables
Seat | Table 406 | Chip Count | Table 414 | Chip Count | Table 421 | Chip Count |
1 | Marco Johnson | 470,000 | Kenny Hsiung | 850,000 | Justin Liberto | 645,000 |
2 | Robert Mizrachi | 525,000 | Bradley Ruben | 700,000 | Mike Matusow | 465,000 |
3 | Drew Scott | 195,000 | Nicholas Julia | 2,200,000 | Anthony Mender | 135,000 |
4 | Matt Vengrin | 420,000 | Kristan Lord | 420,000 | Robert McLaughlin | 1,000,000 |
5 | James Woods | 640,000 | Christian Roberts | 85,000 | Young Phan | 300,000 |
6 | Joe Hachem | 255,000 | Aditya Prasetyo | 870,000 | John Racener | 480,000 |
Nicholas Julia | 2,200,000 | 350,000 |
Robert McLaughlin | 1,000,000 | 40,000 |
Aditya Prasetyo | 870,000 | -205,000 |
Kenny Hsiung | 850,000 | 200,000 |
Bradley Ruben | 700,000 | -400,000 |
Justin Liberto | 645,000 | 155,000 |
James Woods | 640,000 | -10,000 |
Robert Mizrachi | 525,000 | 0 |
John Racener | 480,000 | -70,000 |
Marco Johnson | 470,000 | 230,000 |
Mike Matusow | 465,000 | 230,000 |
Kristan Lord | 420,000 | -145,000 |
Matt Vengrin | 420,000 | -210,000 |
Young Phan | 300,000 | -130,000 |
Joe Hachem | 255,000 | 35,000 |
Drew Scott | 195,000 | -25,000 |
Anthony Mender | 135,000 | -45,000 |
Christian Roberts | 85,000 | -355,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:52 AM Local Time
Long Eliminated by McLaughlin
2-7 Triple Draw
Prior to the second draw, Colleen Long check-raised all-in for the last 30,000. Robert McLaughlin had bet and Drew Scott called, which then re-opened the action as it was exactly 50% of a raise by Long. McLaughlin raised to 50,000 and Scott called.
Long took two while both her opponents patted. McLaughlin bet and Scott called. Long drew one, McLaughlin patted and Scott took one. Another bet by McLaughlin isolated as Scott folded.
McLaughlin tabled and Long needed an eight as she had made a . Instead, she paired the and bowed out in 19th place.
Robert McLaughlin | 960,000 | 160,000 |
Drew Scott | 220,000 | -360,000 |
Colleen Long | 0 | -160,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:50 AM Local Time
Hachem Eliminates Rhodes
Seven Card Stud
Joe Hachem: / /
Joshua Rhodes: / /
The hand was discovered with Rhodes all-in and at-risk against Hachem.
Seventh street saw Hachem catch two pair, kings and deuces, and that bested the ace-high held by Rhodes after he missed a world draw with his final card.
With this hand Rhodes was eliminated in 19th place and took home $7,626 in cash.
Joe Hachem | 220,000 | -10,000 |
Joshua Rhodes | 0 | -135,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:40 AM Local Time
Julia Storms Into Bigger Lead as Waxman Departs
No-Limit Hold'em
Matt Waxman has become the 21st place finisher as he sent over his stack to Nicholas Julia, the latter of which has become the commanding chip leader. Waxman was the preflop aggressor and bet two third of the pot on. a flop. Julia jammed with the superior stack and Waxman called with for the overpair.
Julia had the for a wheel and two bricks later, Waxman was heading to the payout desk.
Nicholas Julia | 1,850,000 | 500,000 |
Matt Waxman | 0 | -600,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:33 AM Local Time
Julia Eliminates Nakamura
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
The action was discovered with Tamon Nakamura all-in and at-risk versus Nicholas Julia. After the draw, Julia tabled for a ten-eight low. That sent Nakamura's cards into the muck, and he was eliminated from the tournament in 22nd place and took home $6,142 in cash.
Nicholas Julia | 1,350,000 | 175,000 |
Tamon Nakamura | 0 | -130,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:29 AM Local Time
A Chop and a Double for Mender
Stud Hi-Lo
Anthony Mender: / /
Justin Liberto: / /
Anthony Mender was at risk and trailed against the pair of queens of Justin Liberto. He didn't make any pair but spiked the low on the river for a chop.
Anthony Mender: / /
James Woods: / /
Mender was then at risk with aces in the hole and James Woods took the lead with two pair. Woods bricked his additional straight draw and made "three pairs" while Mender spiked the broadway straight for the double.
James Woods | 650,000 | -115,000 |
Kristan Lord | 565,000 | 20,000 |
John Racener | 550,000 | 90,000 |
Robert Mizrachi | 525,000 | 95,000 |
Justin Liberto | 490,000 | 20,000 |
Anthony Mender | 180,000 | 0 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:22 AM Local Time
Long Gets Short Again
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
After her double-up, Colleen Long paid off a bet worth 75,000 by Drew Scott after the draw. Scott revealed the and Long mucked, mentioning in table chat she had a ten-nine.
"Which one did you draw?" Long asked and Scott pointed to the five of diamonds.
Drew Scott | 580,000 | 100,000 |
Colleen Long | 160,000 | -60,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:13 AM Local Time
Hsiung and Waxman Chop
Stud Hi-Lo
Kenny Hsiung: / /
Matt Waxman: / /
Kenny Hsiung check-called on fourth and fifth street before then betting on sixth after a check by Matt Waxman. He earned a call and Waxman also checked seventh. Hsiung bet and Waxman reluctantly called to get shown the for a low only. Waxman chopped as his had made a pair of nines.
Nicholas Julia | 1,175,000 | -85,000 |
Aditya Prasetyo | 1,075,000 | 115,000 |
Kenny Hsiung | 650,000 | -165,000 |
Matt Waxman | 600,000 | 180,000 |
Tamon Nakamura | 130,000 | -30,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:06 AM Local Time
Level 20 started
Level: 20
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 0
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:06 AM Local Time
Ho Eliminated by Scott
Limit Hold'em
After losing a bigger pot previously, Maria Ho had the vast majority of her remaining stack invested until the turn. She then checked the river with 7,000 behind and Drew Scott bet. Ho gave it some 10 seconds of consideration and called it off. Scott rolled over the and Ho's cards were tossed into the muck as she departed in 23rd place.
Colleen Long is now the last woman standing with 22 players still in the mix.
Robert McLaughlin | 800,000 | 150,000 |
Drew Scott | 480,000 | 230,000 |
Christian Roberts | 440,000 | 290,000 |
Marco Johnson | 240,000 | -220,000 |
Colleen Long | 220,000 | -10,000 |
Maria Ho | 0 | -115,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:04 AM Local Time
Long Wins One Against Ho
Limit Hold'em
The hand was discovered on a board of and Maria Ho check-called the bet of Colleen Long.
The dealer placed the river card and Ho checked, which prompted Long to fire another big bet. After she tanked for a while, Ho found the fold, and Long was awarded the pot.
Colleen Long | 230,000 | -20,000 |
Maria Ho | 115,000 | -115,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 1:01 AM Local Time
Showdown Pot for Mender
Limit Hold'em
On a flop of , Anthony Mender check-called a bet by Justin Liberto and they checked the on the turn. Mender also check-called the river when Liberto bet and his was good enough to win the pot, as Liberto had bluffed with .
James Woods | 765,000 | -95,000 |
Kristan Lord | 545,000 | 185,000 |
Justin Liberto | 470,000 | -85,000 |
John Racener | 460,000 | -90,000 |
Robert Mizrachi | 430,000 | 100,000 |
Anthony Mender | 180,000 | 10,000 |
Saturday, October 30, 2021 12:56 AM Local Time
Prasetyo Wins Bigger Pot Against Waxman
Limit Hold'em
Aditya Prasetyo four-bet in the big blind and Tamin Nakamura called for Matt Waxman to then cap it with a five-bet on the button. Prasetyo and Nakamura called as the trio headed to the flop. Prasetyo now check-raised and Nakamura folded, Waxman then ended up capping it with a five-bet once more and Prasetyo called.
The turn was checked and Prasetyo bet the river to pick up a call by Waxman. He tabled the for jacks full and Waxman mucked.
Nicholas Julia | 1,260,000 | -70,000 |
Aditya Prasetyo | 960,000 | 385,000 |
Kenny Hsiung | 815,000 | 5,000 |
Matt Waxman | 420,000 | -110,000 |
Tamon Nakamura | 160,000 | -75,000 |