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2018 49th Annual World Series of Poker The Official WSOP Live Updates

Friday, June 15, 2018 to Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Event #33: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

download official reportdownload official winner photo
  • Buy-in: $50,000
  • Prizepool: $4,176,000
  • Entries: 87
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Wednesday, June 20, 2018 12:03 AM Local Time
Michael Mizrachi Wins Event #33: $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($1,239,126)

Michael Mizrachi

When the 2018 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ended, about 40 people spilled onto the World Series of Poker stage and began chanting.

"Grind-er! Grind-er! Grind-er!"

The legend of Michael Mizrachi grows again.

Mizrachi won the PPC for an unprecedented third time, taking down $1,239,126 in prize money for the sixth seven-figure score in what seems certain to go down as a career for the ages. He also won the ultra-prestigious event in 2010 and 2012.

It's the fourth bracelet overall for Grinder, who also won a WSOP Europe event in 2011.

"It's quite an accomplishment," he admitted. "To win the first one was amazing. The second one was great. The third one is unheard of."

Official Final Table Results

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (USD)
1Michael MizrachiUnited States$1,239,126
2John HenniganUnited States$765,837
3Dan SmithUnited States$521,782
4Mike LeahCanada$364,197
5Benny GlaserUnited Kingdom$260,578
6Aaron KatzUnited States$191,234

Considering Mizrachi's incredible history of deep runs in the PPC — twice having his name etched on the David "Chip" Reese Memorial Trophy plus a fourth-place finish in 2016 and an agonizing bubble bustout in 2017 — and the fact he bagged chip lead on each of the last three days, it may look like he was destined for victory.

In fact, Mizrachi said, he had a poor Day 1 and showed up late to Day 2, fumbling his coffee as he rushed to take his seat.

"It was a seven-minute delay," he said. "We had to move tables. After that, everything turned around. It was a good move by me."

Indeed, Grinder turned things around and proceeded to utterly dominate. He scarcely conceded the lead after gaining it on Day 2 despite operating in the typically elite field the PPC brings out. The final 11 players featured eight multiple-time bracelet winners, including icon Phil Ivey, two-time PPC winner Brian Rast and 2014 PPC champ "Johnny World" Hennigan.

Knowing they have to face a lineup that can chew up any seasoned pro and spit out his or her bones, many people would study up on their preferred poker resources, be they books, simulations or charts. Others would ratchet up the mental preparation. At the very least, most would look to come in well-rested with a good night's sleep.

Aspiring PPC champs looking to emulate Mizrachi's success should take note: that isn't his formula. He said he was out late plenty during the tournament, getting just a few hours of sleep before hitting the gym in the morning. He donned a necklace of lava beads given to him by his girlfriend's brother as a good-luck charm, sat down and crushed.

Final Table Players
The 2018 PPC final table.

He came into the final table with a big chip lead against Hennigan, Dan Smith, Benny Glaser, Aaron Katz and Mike Leah. All talented and hugely motivated — particularly the bracelet-less Smith, who would go on to his sixth top-three finish — but all seemed like so much fodder to be minced by Grinder. He was simply running too hot, making nut hands left, right and center.

"I never had big swings this whole tournament," Mizrachi admitted. "All the cards went my way. I hit a bunch of hands. Everything went my way. I just won every pot."

Two key hands from the final table stood out. Smith pushed hard three-handed and moved into the lead against Hennigan and Mizrachi. However, Mizrachi reasserted himself in a massive 2-7 Triple Draw hand wherein he drew three and instantly made a wheel. He got four bets in against Smith, with Hennigan putting in two for good measure. Smith drew and then made the third nuts, so they got three more bets in before Smith just called a single bet on the end when they both patted.

Then, the biggest hand of the tournament went down in a three-bet Omaha Hi-Lo pot that saw Mizrachi flop Broadway and slowplay before raising the turn to get two bets from both of his opponents. Smith paid off a river bet and Mizrachi suddenly had a hammerlock on things with two-thirds of the chips in play.

After Smith lost his remaining chips, the two former PPC champs took a break and then met back up to determine whether "Johnny World" would join the ranks of two-time winners or Grinder would be the first to No. 3.

John Hennigan
Johnny World came up just shy of his second PPC title.

The match didn't last long as 2-7 Triple Draw proved to be Mizrachi's boon once again. He won two big hands there and then finished Hennigan in old standby No-Limit Hold'em, the game where Mizrachi first made his name. They played a three-bet pot and Hennigan stacked off with an open-ender postflop but ran into Mizrachi's second pair and a flush draw. A ten of hearts on the turn locked it up for Grinder, as it completed his draw.

The crowd exploded onto the stage and began chanting for Mizrachi before cramming themselves into photos together.

"When you have a great group of friends, family and fans, it's an amazing feeling," Mizrachi said of the crowd. "It boosts my confidence. I think it helped me out. I felt like I had to do this for them."

Michael Mizrachi
Mizrachi had quite the rail cheering him on.

Mizrachi matched brother Rob at the top of the family rankings with four bracelets and joked that he's going to ramp up his playing schedule just to move into first by himself.

Dinner table bragging rights aside, Grinder has forced observers and players alike to consider his place in poker lore. Three PPC titles, a fourth bracelet, two WPT titles and nearly $17 million in cashes paints a picture of one of the most accomplished players in tournament history.

With this title, Mizrachi said felt he had done enough to cement a place in the Poker Hall of Fame. And as far as his ability at the table goes, while he acknowledged he still has doubters, he feels even they have to give him credit at this point.

"I think I've done enough to where people will give me the respect I deserve," he said.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 10:08 PM Local Time
WSOP All Time Poker Players Championship Results by Player

The Poker Players Championship is one of the most prestigious events around the world, and some of the best players have made their mark in this event.

Michael Mizrachi is now the only three-time winner ahead of two-time winner Brian Rast. Consequently, they both sit first and second on the all time list for Poker Players Championship earnings. On the back of a win two years ago, and a second place this year, John Hennigan sits third, while Freddy Deeb sits fourth on the back of winning the Poker Players Championship with the biggest first prize.

The only two players in the top ten that haven't won a Poker Players Championship is Andy Bloch and John Hanson. Bloch took second back in 2005 to David "Chip" Reese while also adding a further three cashes and one final table. Hanson sits ninth overall on the back of two final tables and two cashes.

WSOP All Time Poker Players Championship Results by Player

RankPlayerCountryWinsFinal TablesCashesEarnings
1stMichael MizrachiUnited States344$4,630,641
2ndBrian RastUnited States223$3,160,474
3rdJohn HenniganUnited States134$3,091,166
4thFreddy DeebLebanon112$2,360,462
5thMatthew AshtonUnited Kingdom113$2,025,385
6thScotty NguyenUnited States111$1,989,120
7thAndy BlochUnited States--24$1,813,988
8thDavid "Chip" ReeseUnited States111$1,784,640
9thJohn HansonUnited States--22$1,641,679
10thMike GorodinskyUnited States113$1,519,715
11thElior SionUnited Kingdom112$1,512,338
12thBruno FitoussiFrance--22$1,448,599
13thDavid BachUnited States112$1,436,646
14thMichel DeMicheleUnited States--11$1,243,200
15thChris KlodnickiUnited States--22$1,148,249
16thVladimir SchemelevRussia--12$1,131,904
17thDon NguyenUnited States--11$1,096,254
18thPhil HellmuthUnited States--11$1,063,034
19thMatt GlantzUnited States--23$1,044,458
20thMinh LyUnited States--22$975,593
21stBrandon Shack-HarrisUnited States--11$937,975
22ndBarry GreensteinUnited States--24$928,919
23rdPhil IveyUnited States--13$889,047
24thJean-Robert BellandeUnited States--12$873,455
25thJohannes BeckerGermany--11$862,649
26thJustin BonomoUnited States--11$801,048
27thErick LindgrenUnited States--11$781,440
28thDavid SingerUnited States--22$749,280
29thDavid OppenheimUnited States--12$745,545
30thHuck SeedUnited States--23$708,651
31stDavid "ODB" BakerUnited States--12$657,123
32ndAbe MosseriUnited States--13$642,726
33rdIsaac HaxtonUnited States--11$595,812
34thJesse MartinUnited States--11$594,570
35thAmnon FilippiUnited States--11$586,080
36thLyle BermanUnited States--12$573,957
37thJim BechtelUnited States--11$549,120
38thEric WassersonUnited States--11$545,772
39thDaniel NegreanuCanada--13$535,634
40thErik SagstromSweden--11$522,393
41stDan SmithUnited States--11$521,782
42ndRobert MizrachiUnited States--13$516,650
43rdDavid BenyamineFrance--11$497,122
44thDaniel AlaeiUnited States--13$492,771
45thScott SeiverUnited States--13$484,567
46thOwais AhmedUnited States--11$482,058
47thT.J. CloutierUnited States--11$480,480
48thDewey TomkoUnited States--12$474,624
49thMike WattelUnited States--13$467,046
50thKenny TranUnited States--11$444,000
51stJohn JuandaIndonesia--11$436,865
52ndIvo DonevAustria--11$419,337
53rdLuke SchwartzUnited Kingdom--11$406,736
54thDoyle BrunsonUnited States--12$398,880
55thRalph PerryUnited States----3$392,200
56thGeorge DanzerGermany--11$388,523
57thVitaly LunkinRussia--11$368,812
58thMike LeahCanada--11$364,197
59thBen SulskyUnited States--11$353,928
60thRoland IsraelashviliUnited States--11$ 317,882
61stPaul VolpeUnited States--12$312,813
62ndJonathan DuhamelCanada--12$307,018
63rdGeorge LindUnited States--11$300,441
64thRay DehkharghaniUnited States--12$299,617
65thAaron KatzUnited Kingdom--12$288,562
66thChun Lei ZhouMacau--11$286,122
67thTommy HangUnited States----2$279,292
68thShaun DeebUnited States----2$275,733
69thWill WilkinsonUnited States--11$272,558
70thDavid "Bakes" BakerUnited States--11$272,275
71stBenny GlaserUnited Kingdom--11$260,578
72ndStephen ChidwickUnited Kingdom--11$253,497
73rdJeff LisandroAustralia----2$248,635
74thPatrick BuenoFrance--11$230,880
75thVille WahlbeckFinland--11$219,655
76thFrank KasselaUnited States--11$212,829
77thPatrik AntoniusFinland----1$205,920
78thRobert Williamson IIIUnited States----1$205,920
79thGavin SmithCanada----1$205,920
80thBill ChenUnited States--11$205,856
81stBrett RicheyUnited States----2$204,579
82ndBen LambUnited States--11$201,338
83rdJoe CassidyUnited States----2$193,227
84thJames ObstAustralia----2$192,767
85thThor HansenNorway--11$188,256
86thMike MatusowUnited States----2$186,128
87thDan KellyUnited States--11$184,222
88thChau GiangUnited States--11$184,087
89thMikael ThuritzSweden--11$182,463
90thRaymond DavisUnited States----1$177,600
91stMichael GlickUnited States----1$173,796
92ndJason LesterUnited States----1$168,529
93rdMelissa BurrUnited States--11$165,435
94thErik SeidelUnited States--11$162,381
95thNick SchulmanUnited States----1$152,730
96thAlexander KostritsynRussia----1$152,730
97thBryn KenneyUnited States----1$147,882
98thGreg MuellerCanada----1$144,049
99thYan ChenUnited States----1$143,400
100thJoseph MichaelUnited States----1$142,080
101stJason MercierUnited States----1$139,265
102ndShawn BuchananCanada----1$139,265
103rdDavid LeviUnited States----1$137,280
104thCong DoUnited States----1$137,280
105thAllen KesslerUnited States--11$134,101
106thGabe KaplanUnited States----1$131,424
107thKevin SongUnited States----1$128,620
108thIan JohnsUnited States----1$125,142
109thJosh AriehUnited States----1$124,723
110thMike BingerUnited States----1$124,723
111thGus HansenDenmark----1$123,895
112thMark GregorichUnited States----1$117,216
113thStephen WolffUnited States----1$117,216
114thRep PorterUnited States----1$116,571
115thTodd BrunsonUnited States----1$115,447
116thAllen BariUnited States----1$113,030
117thTroy BurkholderUnited States----1$111,893
118thJustin SmithUnited States----1$110,073
119thSebastian RuthenbergGermany----1$108,503
120thViktor BlomSweden----1$105,235
121stTim PhanUnited States----1$103,008
122ndGreg RaymerUnited States----1$103,008
123rdDavid ChiuUnited States----1$99,590
124thIlya BulychevRussia----1$98,330
125thChris ReslockUnited States----1$88,800
126thChris VitchUnited States----1$88,627
127thJohn RacenerUnited States----1$87,010
128thTony GLithuania----1$83,630
129thTalal ShakerchiUnited Kingdom----1$77,320
130thSteve BillirakisUnited States----1$72,914
131stJohn KabbajUnited Kingdom----1$72,914
132ndYehuda BuchalterUnited States----1$72,500
133rdRandy OhelUnited States----1$72,500
134thGary BensonAustralia----1$55,947
Totals  16 13 96 198 $71,136,001
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 10:04 PM Local Time
WSOP All Time Poker Players Championship Results by Country

Since the inaugural version of the Poker Players Championship through until this very day, there have been 13 versions of the Poker Player Championship. In total, 16 different countries have been represented with an in-the-money finish.

The United States leads the way with 95 individual players, while the remainder of the countries all have less then 10 representatives. Here is how the statistics break down:

RankCountryPlayersWinsFinal TablesCashesPPC Earnings
1stUnited States951072148$53,814,188
2ndUnited Kingdom82511$4,706,096
3rdCanada6--39$1,696,083
4thRussia4025$1,751,776
T-5thFrance3044$2,176,601
T-5thGermany3023$1,359,675
T-5thSweden3023$810,091
T-5thAustralia3----5$497,349
9thFinland2012$425,575
T-10thLebanon1112$2,360,462
T-10thIndonesia1--11$436,865
T-10thAustria1--11$419,337
T-10thMacau1--11$286,122
T-10thNorway1--11$188,256
T-10thDenmark1----1$123,895
T-10thLithuania1----1$83,630
Totals  134 13 96 198 $71,136,001
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:48 PM Local Time
John Hennigan Eliminated in 2nd Place ($765,837)

Michael Mizrachi and John Hennigan

No-Limit Hold'em

Michael Mizrachi raised to 225,000 from the button, John Hennigan three-bet to 750,000 from the big blind and Mizrachi called.

The flop came down     and Hennigan continued for 700,000. Mizrachi raised to 2,000,000, Hennigan reraised all in for about 5,300,000 and Mizrachi called instantly with    for a pair of nines with a flush draw. Hennigan held    for an open-ended straight draw.

As the Mizrachi hollered, with the crowd calling for a heart, the   turn fell to give Mizrachi a winning flush, rendering the   river (and Hennigan's straight) moot.

John Hennigan finished in second place for $765,937.

Michael Mizrachi21,750,0005,800,000
John Hennigan0-5,800,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:38 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Running Away

Michael Mizrachi

2-7 Triple Draw

John Hennigan limped in and Michael Mizrachi raised from the big blind. Hennigan called.

On the first draw, Mizrachi took two while Hennigan took three. Mizrachi then bet. Hennigan raised. Mizrachi made it three bets and Hennigan called.

Mizrachi took one card on the second draw while Hennigan stood pat. Mizrachi then checked and called a bet from Hennigan.

On the final draw, Mizrachi stood pat and Hennigan decided to break and take one. Both players checked it down and Mizrachi showed up his       and it was good for him to take down the pot as Hennigan mucked.

Michael Mizrachi15,950,0002,200,000
John Hennigan5,800,000-2,200,000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:33 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Goes from Drawing Three to Winning Again

2-7 Triple Draw

John Hennigan raised on the button and Michael Mizrachi called. Mizrachi took three and Hennigan one. Mizrachi checked dark, Hennigan bet and Mizrachi called. They both drew one and Mizrachi check-raised. Hennigan released.

Michael Mizrachi13,750,0002,000,000
John Hennigan8,000,000-2,000,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:26 PM Local Time
Trips For Hennigan

John Hennigan

Limit Hold'em

Michael Mizrachi raised from the button and John Hennigan called from the big blind.

The flop came down    , Hennigan checked, Mizrachi bet and Hennigan check-raised. Mizrachi called, the   turn fell, Hennigan bet and Mizrachi called. The   river completed the board, Hennigan bet and Mizrachi called.

Hennigan tabled    for trip aces, Mizrachi mucked and Hennigan won the pot.

Michael Mizrachi11,750,000-800,000
John Hennigan10,000,000800,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:23 PM Local Time
Hennigan's Check-Raise Does Not Work Out

Heads Up

Limit Hold'em

On the button, Michael Mizrachi raised and John Hennigan called.

The flop was     and Hennigan checked then called a bet from Mizrachi.

The turn was the   and Hennigan checked again. Mizrachi put out a bet and Hennigan decided to check-raise. Mizrachi thought for a bit then called.

On the   river, Hennigan checked over to Mizrachi. Mizrachi bet and Hennigan quickly folded.

Michael Mizrachi12,550,0001,450,000
John Hennigan9,200,000-1,450,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:21 PM Local Time
Hennigan Takes the First One

Limit Hold'em

John Hennigan raised on the button and fired every street as       hit the board. Michael Mizrachi called down quickly until the river, at which point he tanked a bit and mucked.

Michael Mizrachi11,100,000-1,045,000
John Hennigan10,650,0001,045,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:17 PM Local Time
Cards in the Air

Heads-up play is underway!

Gorilla Gaming
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:07 PM Local Time
Heads-Up Chip Counts

Michael Mizrachi and John Hennigan

Michael Mizrachi and John Hennigan are on a short break before heads-up play begins.

Michael Mizrachi12,145,000145,000
John Hennigan9,605,0000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:04 PM Local Time
Dan Smith Eliminated in 3rd Place ($521,782)

Dan Smith

Limit Hold'em

John Hennigan raised from the small blind and Dan Smith called from the big blind.

The flop came down    , Hennigan bet, Smith raised all in for 365,000 and Hennigan called with   , leading Smith's    for an open-ended straight draw.

The   turn kept Hennigan ahead and Smith found no help from the   river, ending his tournament in third place.

John Hennigan9,605,000605,000
Dan Smith0-755,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:01 PM Local Time
Smith Picks Another Spot

Pot-Limit Omaha

Dan Smith opened with a raise to 350,000 on the button. Michael Mizrachi called from the small blind before John Hennigan announced "pot" from the big blind, making it 1,400,000. Smith immediately stood up from his seat.

"If two players bust in the same hand, does it go by chips?" Smith asked the floor for clarification. The floor confirmed. Smith thought for a bit longer then released his hand. Mizrachi immediately let go as well.

"Damn," Smith said. "I was hoping he would bust your ass."

Hennigan smiled and raked in the pot.

Michael Mizrachi12,000,000-200,000
John Hennigan9,000,000700,000
Dan Smith755,000-445,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 9:00 PM Local Time
Maria Konnikova: Running Bad Won't Hurt Spirits

PokerStars Team Pro Maria Konnikova won't let a few (or many) bad beats damper her outlook on this year's World Series of Poker.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 8:53 PM Local Time
Broadway For Mizrachi

Pot-Limit Omaha

Michael Mizrachi raised to 225,000 from the button and Dan Smith called from the big blind.

They checked to the river of a       board where Mizrachi bet the pot of 500,000. Smith mulled it over for a little before he called.

Mizrachi tabled      for Broadway, Smith flashed      for two pair and Mizrachi won the pot.

Michael Mizrachi12,200,000700,000
Dan Smith1,200,000-700,000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 8:49 PM Local Time
Smith Recovers a Bit From Mizrachi

Pot-Limit Omaha

Dan Smith limped in from the small blind and Michael Mizrachi raised to 300,000 from the big blind. Smith called and the two went heads-up to ta flop.

The flop was     and both players checked. They checked again on the   turn.

The river was the   and Smith led for 375,000. Mizrachi tossed in a call. Smith showed down his      and with his straight, Smith would take down the pot.

Michael Mizrachi11,500,000-700,000
Dan Smith1,900,000500,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 8:46 PM Local Time
Hennigan Pots and Wins

Pot-Limit Omaha

The three players saw a     flop for the minimum and action checked to Michael Mizrachi, who bet 155,000 on the button. John Hennigan raised to 375,000 and only Mizrachi continued. The turn brought a   and Hennigan checked. Mizrachi fired 855,000. Hennigan announced a pot-sized raise to 3,450,000 and that was enough to convince Mizrachi to lay down.

Michael Mizrachi12,200,000-1,700,000
John Hennigan8,300,0001,700,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 8:44 PM Local Time
Hennigan Dents Smith

Razz

John Hennigan:    /      /  
Dan Smith:    /      /  

John Hennigan was the bring in, Dan Smith completed and Hennigan defended. Smith bet on fourth street, Hennigan called, Smith bet on fifth street and Hennigan called. On sixth street Smith check-called a bet from Hennigan before leading out on seventh street.

Hennigan called and Smith flipped over     for a queen-nine low. Hennigan tabled     for a ten-seven to win the pot.

John Hennigan6,600,0002,100,000
Dan Smith1,400,000-2,000,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 8:35 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Taking Control

Omaha Hi-Lo

From the small blind Dan Smith raised and Michael Mizrachi made it three bets from the big blind. Smith called and the two went heads up to a flop.

On the     flop, Smith checked. Mizrachi put out a bet and Smith let go of his hand.

Michael Mizrachi13,900,000600,000
Dan Smith3,400,000-600,000
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 8:34 PM Local Time
Mizrachi Surges into Big Lead

Michael Mizrachi

Omaha Hi-Lo

Michael Mizrachi raised on the button and John Hennigan made it three bets. Dan Smith called, as did Mizrachi. They saw a     flop and Hennigan bet. Both players called.

The turn brought a   and Hennigan fired again. Smith called and Mizrachi raised. Everyone stayed in to see the   river. They checked to "Grinder" and he bet.

Hennigan double-checked his cards and mucked, but Smith tossed in a call and mucked to Mizrachi's      for the nut straight.

Michael Mizrachi13,300,0003,800,000
John Hennigan4,500,000-1,800,000
Dan Smith4,000,000-2,100,000
Gorilla Gaming
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