Friday, June 14, 2013 3:56 PM Local Time
Seat 3: Freddie Ellis (85,000 in chips)
The oldest player at the table, Freddie Ellis is admired by many as he is a legendary seven card stud cash game player here in Las Vegas. He is so admired, that even Phil Ivey came up to him to shake his hand.
Back in 2009, Ellis captured the 2009 $10,000 World Championship of Seven Card Stud for $373,751 besting a final table that included Eric Drache, Ville Wahlbeck, Hasan Habib and Greg Mueller.
If Ellis is able to capture the title here, he will be the first player to claim multiple Seven Card Stud Championships.
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:55 PM Local Time
Seat 4: Adam Friedman (60,000 in chips)
Although having a roller coaster of a final day, Adam Friedman survived to the final table to sit with 60,000 in chips.
Friedman – who already has one cash this year – has amassed over $1.2 million in lifetime earnings that features eight WSOP cashes and a bracelet in last year's $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo for $269,037 where he beat out Todd Brunson heads-up.
With an extensive poker resume that features results across all the mixed games, Friedman's short stack can't be overlooked as he has the skills and experience to make a run at collecting his second gold bracelet and second piece of the Stud Triple Crown.
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:54 PM Local Time
Seat 5: Gary Benson (365,000 in chips)
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Gary Benson has been a long time visitor to the USA to play the WSOP. One of the stalwarts of Australian poker, Benson has the most experience playing Seven Card Stud and has been notching results since 1995 both here and abroad and was inducted into the Australian Poker Hall of Fame in 2010.
Most notably, Benson claimed gold in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event back in 1996 for $148,200 – which amazingly is a few thousand more than today's first prize. With 11 WSOP cashes, multiple Aussie Millions titles and over $1 million in lifetime earnings, if Benson captures his second Stud bracelet today he will become the player with the second longest gap between bracelets – 17 years – behind the late and great Chip Reece.
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:53 PM Local Time
Seat 6: Matthew Ashton (240,000 in chips)
One of the Internationals on the final table, Matthew Ashton hails from the Liverpool, England, and although he may not be the most well-known player on the final table, his results speak for themselves.
With six WSOP cashes to his name, two of Ashton's have come this year. More amazing is that they are both final tables where he took 3rd in Event 5: $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo and then 2nd in Event 13: $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo.
Only 1 of his 13 lifetime cashes have come in a non-mixed game discipline, so although he may be the baby-face of the final table, Ashton's skills equal that of most of his counterparts. And if Ashton can finish 3rd or better he can move into outright second in the race for Player of the Year behind Daniel Negreanu.
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:52 PM Local Time
Seat 7: Frank Kassela (180,000 in chips)
Frank Kassela became a household name in 2010 when he had a breakout WSOP with six cashes that resulted in three final tables and bracelets in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-lo Championship ($447,446) and $2,500 Seven Card Razz ($214,085) which eventually lead to him being crowned Player of the Year.
Although previously being known as a cash game grinder, Kassela has been amassing results for the best part of ten years around the country and currently sees him sit with 17 WSOP cashes and over $2.3 million in earnings coming into today's final table.
With his vast experience playing mixed games – and two bracelets to show for it – Kassela and his 180,000 chip stack will see him as easily one of the biggest threats for the other nine players seated alongside him.
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:51 PM Local Time
Seat 8: Scott Seiver (260,000 in chips)
With two cashes already at this WSOP, Scott Seiver will be hoping that his third can result in his second bracelet after he won the $5,000 No Limit Holdem for $755,891 back in 2008.
Although Seiver has 25 WSOP cashes to his name, his biggest results have come outside of the WSOP when he won the WPT Championship in 2011 for $1.6 million and the PCA Super High Roller this year for over $2 million.
Known for playing in the high stakes mixed cash games around Las Vegas, Seiver will still want to cement his name as being a great all-round player, and heading into the final table with 260,000 in chips gives Seiver a great chance of capturing his second gold bracelet if he can outlast his talented counterparts.
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:50 PM Local Time
Helmut Koch Eliminated in 9th Place ($11,008)
David Chiu completed and Helmut Koch called all-in for his last 15,000. Both Adam Friedman and Frank Kassela made the call before all three players checked the action down.
Chiu: / /
Koch: / /
Friedman: / /
Kassela: / /
Koch tabled his , but it would be Friedman's for two pair to capture the pot and send Koch to the rail in 9th place.
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:46 PM Local Time
Koch Down to One Big Bet
David Chiu two-bet over a Scott Seiver complete with the , and directly following him Helmut Koch three-bet. Seiver folded but Chiu called before Koch bet fourth and Chiu called before both players checked fifth. Sixth street saw Chiu bet out with Koch calling before Chiu bet seventh and Koch folded leaving himself just 19,000 after he flashed the .
Chiu: / /
Koch: / /
David Chiu | 230,000 | 55,000 |
Helmut Koch | 19,000 | -76,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:41 PM Local Time
Friedman Chugging Along
David Chiu completed before Adam Friedman moved all in for 10,000. Matthew Ashton and Scott Seiver both called, as did Chiu before Ashton bet out on fourth to thin the field to be heads up against Friedman.
Chiu: / (folded on fourth)
Friedman: / /
Ashton: / /
Seiver: / (folded on fourth)
Friedman tabled his to be behind Ashton's , but when Friedman spiked two pair on fifth he took the lead. Both players caught a queen on sixth before Friedman found the on seventh to stay ahead of Ashton and his .
Adam Friedman | 60,000 | 46,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:38 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Takes One Off Freddie
Adam Friedman had the bring-in - with just 14,000 behind - and Matthew Ashton completed. Scott Seiver called, as did David Chiu before Michael Mizrachi raised. Freddie Ellis called before Friedman went into the tank with his for over three minutes before opting to fold.
Fourth street was checked round before Mizrachi bet fifth with only Chiu and Ellis calling before Ellis bet seventh. Chiu folded - what he would say was the better hand at showdown - before Mizrachi called.
Ashton: / (folded on fifth)
Seiver: / (folded on fifth)
Chiu: / /
Mizrachi: / /
Ellis: / /
Ellis tabled his , but it would be Mizrachi's that would see him collect the pot.
Scott Seiver | 239,000 | -21,000 |
Matthew Ashton | 230,000 | -30,000 |
David Chiu | 175,000 | -45,000 |
Freddie Ellis | 124,000 | -57,000 |
Adam Friedman | 14,000 | -24,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:19 PM Local Time
Kassela Takes One from Ellis
Frank Kassela completed to 8,000 only to have Freddie Ellis two-bet to 16,000. Kassela called, and then called a bet on fourth before he raised fifth leaving himself just 13,000 behind. Ellis mucked and Kassela won the pot to move to roughly 90,000.
Ellis: /
Kassela: /
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:09 PM Local Time
Benson Scoops Monster
Helmut Koch completed before Michael Mizrachi made it two bets. Freddie Ellis called before Gary Benson made it three bets to go with Frank Kassela, Mizrachi and Ellis calling as Koch folded.
Benson bet out on fourth and the three players called before Ellis bet fifth and both Mizrachi and Kassela folded as Benson called. Sixth street saw Ellis fire again with Benson calling before he bet seventh and Ellis called.
Mizrachi: / (folded on fifth)
Ellis: / /
Benson: / /
Kassela: / (folded on fifth)
Ellis tabled his / for two-pair, but it would be Benson's / for kings-up that would see him scoop the mammoth pot to move into the chip lead.
Michael Mizrachi | 360,000 | 160,000 |
Gary Benson | 332,000 | -2,500 |
Freddie Ellis | 181,000 | 57,000 |
Frank Kassela | 79,500 | -252,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 3:01 PM Local Time
Friedman Finds Life
Adam Friedman completed and Michael Mizrachi raised. Friedman called all in for 13,000 as both player's boards ran out as follows.
Friedman: / /
Mizrachi: / /
With that pot, Friedman now moves to be just shy of 40,000 in chips.
Adam Friedman | 38,000 | 21,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 2:54 PM Local Time
Friedman Slips
The swingy day of Adam Friedman continues. Friedman called a completion from Freddie Ellis and then called bets on every street.
Ellis: / /
Friedman: / /
After having his 12,000-chip bet called on seventh, Ellis tabled his / and Friedman mucked his hand to slip to 17,000 while Ellis moved to 124,000 in chips.
Freddie Ellis | 124,000 | 69,000 |
Adam Friedman | 17,000 | -18,500 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 2:46 PM Local Time
Friedman Doubles
Michael Mizrachi completed only to have Adam Friedman once again raise. Mizrachi called and bet fourth before Friedman bet and called all-in for his last 17,000 as each player's board read as followed:
Mizrachi: /
Friedman: /
Mizrachi caught a pair on sixth with the while Friedman found the . On seventh, Mizrachi caught the to take the lead with two-pair, but it would be Friedman's to see him make a bigger two pair that would keep him in the tournament with roughly 70,000 in chips.
Friday, June 14, 2013 2:43 PM Local Time
Broadway for Mizrachi
Michael Mizrachi completed before Adam Friedman raised. Gary Benson made the call, as did Mizrachi before Friedman bet on fourth and fold just the lone call from Mizrachi. Mizrachi took the lead on fifth and sixth with Friedman check-calling each time.
Mizrachi: / /
Friedman: / /
Benson: / (folded on fourth)
On seventh Mizrachi bet out 12,000 and Friedman called showing his for aces-up, but it would be Mizrachi's for Broadway that would see him capture the pot.
Adam Friedman | 35,500 | 20,500 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 2:32 PM Local Time
Unofficial Final Table
The nine players have moved to the feature table to play down to the official final table of eight. Here is how they line-up.
Seat | Player | Chip Count |
1 | David Chiu | 325,000 |
2 | Helmut Koch | 119,000 |
3 | Michael Mizrachi | 288,000 |
4 | Freddie Ellis | 80,500 |
5 | Adam Friedman | 85,500 |
6 | Gary Benson | 147,000 |
7 | Matthew Ashton | 281,500 |
8 | Frank Kassela | 257,000 |
9 | Scott Seiver | 244,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 2:29 PM Local Time
Jesse Martin Eliminated in 10th Place ($11,008)
Jesse Martin completed and David Chiu raised. Martin raised all-in for 22,000 and Chiu made the call as both player's board ran out as follows to seventh.
Martin: / /
Chiu: / /
With Martin trailing, he wasn't able to improve to a full house as he found the to bust in 10th place.
Jesse Martin | 0 | -35,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2013 2:17 PM Local Time
Call The Police
Benson had the bring-in with the and the action folded round giving him a walk.
"Call the police!" stated Gary Benson.
From memory, that is the first walk the PokerNews live reporting team has seen all tournament.
Friday, June 14, 2013 2:15 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Scoops, Friedman Crippled
Catching the action fifth street we found Adam Friedman betting out 12,000 with Gary Benson making the call before Michael Mizrachi raised. Both players called before Friedman bet out on sixth and both Benson and Mizrachi called.
On seventh the action was checked to Mizrachi who bet out 12,000 with both Friedman and Benson calling as each player's boards read as follows.
Friedman: / /
Benson: / /
Mizrachi: / /
Mizrachi tabled his for a flush while Benson and Friedman folded; with the later flashing his . With that pot Friedman is now crippled with just over a big bet as Mizrachi surges up the leaderboard.
Michael Mizrachi | 200,000 | 72,000 |
Gary Benson | 131,500 | -82,000 |
Adam Friedman | 15,000 | -59,500 |