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2021 52nd Annual World Series of Poker The Official WSOP Live Updates

Sunday, October 31, 2021 to Thursday, November 04, 2021

Event #60: Poker Players Championship 6-Handed

download official winner photo
  • Buy-in: $50,000
  • Prizepool: $3,016,125
  • Entries: 63
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Saturday, November 6, 2021 3:45 AM Local Time
Dan Cates is The Newest Poker Players Champion

Dan Cates

Dan Cates has won his first WSOP gold bracelet in Event #60: $50,000 Poker Players Championship after overcoming a stacked final table and defeating Ryan Leng heads-up. The mixed game contest attracted an elite field of 63 entries and the top 10 finishers earned a portion of the $3,016,125 prize pool.

In addition to a bracelet, Cates will also take home the $954,020 first-place prize and the right to have his name engraved into the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy. It was only Cates' third cash ever at the WSOP, after a deep run in the 2015 WSOP Main Event and a sixth-place finish in the 2019 Poker Players Championship for $168,305.

Final Table Result Event #60: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (in USD)
1Dan CatesUnited States$954,020
2Ryan LengUnited States$589,628
3Paul VolpeUnited States$404,243
4Eli ElezraIsrael$286,983
5Chris BrewerUnited States$211,235
6Josh AriehUnited States$161,422

Cates was one of many players to take advantage of the extended late registration period and ran up a stack on Day 2. He even predicted his own victory and showed up for the final table ready to battle with his hair dyed in green and a streetfighter costume.

"I said I was gonna win, so I won. But it was pretty important because now I have more money to help the world and to continue a career outside of poker," Cates said in his interview after the hard-fought victory. The endurance challenge on the final day lasted for more than 13 hours, with Cates denying Leng his fourth career bracelet and earning his maiden one in the early morning hours in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Dan Cates
Dan Cates

The victory may have never happened if it wasn't for a gutsy play of Cates against Leng when he check-raised the river on an ace-high board for just half a big bet more. Leng folded and showed his top pair for Cates to vault out of his chair and triumphantly smash his inferior pair of kings on the table.

When asked if that was one of the life-changing hands he has ever played, the high stakes player replied with "maybe, one of them, yeah actually" — the call with massive pot odds by Leng would have resulted in the certain elimination of Cates in third place. Leng was labeled by his opponent as the sunflower king as he was indeed wearing a sunflower for most of the final table.

"It is actually pretty cool and I am glad to have won one. I think I have one of each now, the Alpha 8, the World Poker Tour, and I have a Triton [victory]. I think that gives me the trifecta, I am not sure how that works. But it is pretty cool, especially a tournament that's named after Chip Reese who has passed away," Cates remarked with regards to the importance of his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet.

As far as his plans for the rest of the ongoing WSOP 2021 in Las Vegas is concerned, Cates is looking forward to do some charity efforts, do a hike and go to the gym a lot to get strong and play some poker. "I may play the Main [Event]. I can't be in god mode for the Main, that's not fair," the high stakes pro concluded.

The Action of the Final Day

The live-streamed final table on PokerGO kicked off with five players, with Eli Elezra entering the final day as the chip leader in pursuit of his fourth WSOP bracelet. However, he quickly became the shortest stack with Leng chipping up early to go in the opposite direction. Chris Brewer was the first casualty when his dominated pair of sevens found no help against the pocket jacks of Leng.

Elezra survived numerous all-in showdowns and jumped back into the middle of the pack with four players remaining. A string of costly big bet games reduced the stack of Elezra once more and he bowed out in fourth place in a Razz hand against Paul Volpe.

Three-handed play saw the lead change back and forth. Neither Leng nor Cates were able to close out a commanding lead before Volpe's fortune ran out against Cates. Heads-up play commenced with an overwhelming lead for Cates. Leng would double twice but couldn't turn the tide in his favor.

For Leng, it was the second runner-up finish of the ongoing festival in Las Vegas during which he also earned his third WSOP gold bracelet in Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed. "I had a blast and the most fun in a long time when playing poker," he said leaving the main stage with a smile on his face.

Ryan Leng
Ryan Leng

This concludes the PokerNews coverage for this event but the WSOP 2021 has now all eyes set on the flagship $10,000 Main Event, which has already concluded the first two of six starting days.

Saturday, November 6, 2021 3:22 AM Local Time
Ryan Leng Eliminated in 2nd Place ($589,628)

Ryan Leng

Limit Hold'em

Dan Cates received a walk and turned over the   . One hand later, Ryan Leng was in the big blind and had 400,000 in already from the big blind ante. Cates raised and Leng called as they got it in after the     flop.

Ryan Leng:   
Dan Cates:   

The   turn gave Cates the superior pair and the   river only improved Cates to two pair. Leng's run comes to an end in 2nd place for a payday of $589,628 while Cates records his third WSOP cash, first WSOP gold bracelet and top prize of $954,020.

Dan Cates18,900,0001,100,000
Ryan Leng0-1,100,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 3:20 AM Local Time
Cates Leaves Leng Critically Short

Limit Hold'em

Dan Cates raised on the button and Ryan Leng called.

Leng check-called bets from Cates on the     flop,   turn, and   river.

Cates showed    for two pair and Leng mucked.

Dan Cates17,800,0002,800,000
Ryan Leng1,100,000-2,800,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 3:15 AM Local Time
Two in a Row for Cates

Pot-Limit Omaha

Dan Cates raised the button to 600,000 and Ryan Leng called. The flop brought     and Leng checked after 17 seconds. Cates then bet 800,000 and Leng instantly let go.

Leng limped in and Cates raised the pot to 600,000, which resulted in a call from Leng. The     flop was bet by Cates for 700,000 and Leng folded once more to drop below four million.

Dan Cates15,000,0001,900,000
Ryan Leng3,900,000-1,900,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 3:09 AM Local Time
Leng Gets a Fold From Cates

Razz

Ryan Leng:   /    / 
Dan Cates:   /    / 

Dan Cates completed and Ryan Leng raised. Cates called.

Leng called a bet from Cates on fourth and then Cates called bets from Leng on fifth and sixth.

Cates folded facing a bet from Leng on seventh and Leng took down the pot.

Dan Cates13,100,000-3,300,000
Ryan Leng5,800,0003,300,000
Gorilla Gaming
Saturday, November 6, 2021 3:04 AM Local Time
Leng on The Brink Once More

Omaha Hi-Lo

Dan Cates raised on the button and Ryan Leng called.

The flop came     and Leng check-folded to a bet from Cates.

Dan Cates16,400,0001,000,000
Ryan Leng2,500,000-1,000,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 3:01 AM Local Time
Cates Adds a Few Chips to His Big Stack

Omaha Hi-Lo

Dan Cates raised the button and was called by Ryan Leng as they headed to the     flop on which Leng check-raised. Cates called and they checked down the   turn and   river. Cates tabled the      and that won the pot.

Dan Cates15,400,0001,600,000
Ryan Leng3,500,000-1,600,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:58 AM Local Time
Leng Gets Some Back

Seven Card Stud

Ryan Leng:   /   
Dan Cates:   /    - folded on fifth street

Dan Cates completed and Ryan Leng raised. Cates called.

Leng called a bet from Cates on fourth and Cates then check-folded on fifth and Leng took down the pot.

Dan Cates13,800,000-1,500,000
Ryan Leng5,100,0001,500,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:55 AM Local Time
Leng Folds on Seventh

Seven Card Stud

Dan Cates:   /    / 
Ryan Leng:   /    / 

Dan Cates completed and Ryan Leng called.

Leng called a bet from Cates on fourth and Cates checked-called a bet from Leng on fifth.

Both players checked on sixth and Cates led out for a bet on seventh. Leng folded after some thought and Cates took down the pot.

Dan Cates15,300,0001,900,000
Ryan Leng3,600,000-1,900,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:51 AM Local Time
Leng Doubles Though Cates

Ryan Leng

No-Limit Hold'em

Ryan Leng limed on the button and Dan Cates raised enough to put Leng all in for his last 2.6 million. Leng snap-called and hands were revealed.

Ryan Leng:   
Dan Cates:   

The board ran out       and Leng doubled up with his aces.

Dan Cates13,400,000-3,100,000
Ryan Leng5,500,0003,100,000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:48 AM Local Time
Leng Tank-Folds to a Large River Bet

No-Limit Hold'em

Dan Cates limped the button and Ryan Leng checked his option to the     flop. On the   turn, Leng bet 400,000 and Cates folded within one second.

Leng limped the next button and Cates raised to 600,000 for Leng to call. The     flop was checked by Cates and Leng bet 550,000, earning a call from Cates. That brought them to the   turn that was checked through instantly. After the   river, Cates took 46 seconds and then bet 2 million.

Leng tanked for two minutes and one second before releasing his cards into the muck.

Dan Cates16,500,000900,000
Ryan Leng2,400,000-900,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:43 AM Local Time
Cates Increases His Lead

No-Limit Hold'em

Ryan Leng raised to 400,000 on the button and Dan Cates called.

The flop came     and Cates check-called a 350,00 bet from Leng..

Both players checked on the   turn and   river.

Cates tabled    and Leng mucked — conceding the pot to Cates.

Dan Cates15,600,000800,000
Ryan Leng3,300,000-800,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:41 AM Local Time
Leng Getting Short

No-Limit Hold'em

Dan Cates raised to 400,000 on the button and Ryan Leng called.

The flop came     and both players checked.

Leng checked again on the   turn and Cates bet 600,000. Leng called.

The   completed the board and Leng checked. Cates bet 1.6 million and Leng quickly folded.

Dan Cates14,800,0001,700,000
Ryan Leng4,100,000-1,700,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:33 AM Local Time
Leng Folds to Cates

Stud Hi-Lo

Ryan Leng:   /    - folded on fifth street
Dan Cates:   /   

Dan Cates had the bring-in and Ryan Leng completed. Cates called.

Leng called a bet from Cates on fourth, but Leng folded facing another bet from Cates on fifth.

Dan Cates13,100,000900,000
Ryan Leng5,800,000-900,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:30 AM Local Time
Leng Lets Go on Sixth Street

Stud Hi-Lo

Dan Cates:    /     
Ryan Leng:    /      fold on sixth

In a limped pot, Ryan Leng bet fourth street and then check-called fifth street with a pair of tens showing. He checked sixth, Dan Cates bet and Leng folded.

Dan Cates12,200,0001,200,000
Ryan Leng6,700,000-1,200,000
Gorilla Gaming
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:25 AM Local Time
Leng Wins With a Pair

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Ryan Leng raised to 400,000 on the button and Ryan Leng called in the big blind.

Leng drew one and Cates drew three.

Both players checked.

Leng showed      , which was good as Cates mucked — awarding the pot to Leng.

Dan Cates11,000,000-1,300,000
Ryan Leng7,900,0001,300,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:24 AM Local Time
Cates Increases The Gap

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Dan Cates raised to 400,000 and Ryan Leng called from the big blind.

Leng drew two and Cates drew one.

Leng led for 500,000 and Cates called.

Leng motioned that Cates was good and Cates showed      . Leng mucked and Cates took down the pot.

Dan Cates12,300,0001,800,000
Ryan Leng6,600,000-1,800,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:20 AM Local Time
Leng Almost Closes the Gap

Limit Hold'em

Ryan Leng got value from another top pair and then limped the button, Dan Cates raised and Leng called. Cates bet the     flop to receive a call and then checked the   turn, as Leng checked back. On the   river, Cates check-called and Leng tabled    for trips jacks to win another pot and almost close the gap.

Dan Cates10,500,000-3,400,000
Ryan Leng8,400,0003,400,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:17 AM Local Time
Leng Doubles Through Cates

Ryan Leng

Limit Hold'em

Ryan Leng limped from the button and Cates checked his option from the big.

The flop came     and Cates check-raised a bet from Leng. Leng re-rasied and Cates called.

The   came on the turn and Leng bet Cates called.

Cates bet on the   river and Leng called all in.

Leng showed    for top pair and Cates mucked — awarding Leng the double up.

Dan Cates13,900,000-2,100,000
Ryan Leng5,000,0002,100,000
Saturday, November 6, 2021 2:14 AM Local Time
Heads Up

Dan Cates and Ryan Leng are now heads-up for the gold bracelet and right to have their name engraved in the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.

Dan Cates16,000,0000
Ryan Leng2,900,000-400,000
Gorilla Gaming