Event #56: $50,000 Poker Players Championship Day 1 | 2022 World Series of Poker

Event #56: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

Day 1 Completed

06-27-2022 02:44 UTC-7

$50,000 Poker Players Championship Nears 100 Entrants; Schwartz, Kenney and Deeb Among Day 1 Leaders

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Trying to guess how many entries the $50,000 Poker Players Championship will get is always a lottery. But amid the whisperings of which high-stakes cash game players would join the field in pursuit of WSOP glory, talk was that the number of entries could surpass 100 for the first time since 2014.

It didn't quite get that far, with 90 entries on Day 1, but all signs point to a healthy field with late registration open for another five levels on Day 2 Monday.

All the big names you would expect to see in a tournament of this magnitude were in attendance, including eight former champions, six Poker Hall of Famers, and five WSOP Players of the Year.

After six levels on Day 1 it is Luke Schwartz (893,000) who bags the overnight chip lead after winning a last-minute hand against Julien Martini to overtake the Frenchman. Bryn Kenney, Shaun Deeb and Bryce Yockey are the only other players above 700,000.

$50,000 Poker Players Championship End of Day 1 Chip Counts

Position	Player	Country	Chip Count
1	Luke Schwartz	United Kingdom	893,000
2	Bryn Kenney	United States	802,000
3	Shaun Deeb	United States	718,500
4	Bryce Yockey	United States	715,000
5	Aaron Katz	United States	695,500
6	David Benyamine	France	651,000
7	Dan Cates	United States	617,000
8	Ben Yu	United States	601,000
9	Andrew Kelsall	United States	583,000
10	Benny Glaser	United Kingdom	547,000

Day 1 Recap

The action was typical for Day 1 of this prestigious tournament, with slow and deep-stacked mixed game play across all nine games in the format.

What was atypical was the arrival of defending champion Dan Cates. Why? Because he was dressed like Randy "Macho Man" Savage. And talking like him as well.

The costume didn't seem to hinder "Jungleman" as he bagged a healthy stack ahead of Day 2.

Despite the 100-minute levels, there were some casualties on Day 1. Jens Lakemeier was the first elimination after a hand of Pot-Limit Omaha against Shaun Deeb. He was joined on the rail by Eli Elezra, Felipe Ramos, David Prociak and Ben Diebold.

Fireworks were in short supply, but several players did manage to chip up considerably from the 300,000 starting stack. Julien Martini registered midway through the day and soon made his way up the chip counts. Naoya Kihara and Bryn Kenney were equally active as they looked to add second bracelets to their collection.

The tournament continues at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 27 with six more 100-minute levels scheduled. Late registration closes prior to the start of Level 11 at approximately 10:20 p.m. Stay tuned to PokerNews for full updates from the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.

Tags: Ben Diebold Bryn Kenney Dan Cates David Prociak Eli Elezra Felipe Ramos Jens Lakemeier Julien Martini Naoya Kihara Shaun Deeb

06-27-2022 02:36 UTC-7

Seat Draw For Day 2

Matthew Pitt

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Please note, late registration remains open for the first five levels of Day 2.

Casino	Table	Seat	Player	Country	Chips
Paris	129	1	Jared Bleznick	United States	203,500
Paris	129	2	Erik Seidel	United States	155,000
Paris	129	3	Matthew Schreiber	United States	84,500
Paris	129	4	Elior Sion	United Kingdom	397,000
Paris	129	5	Paul Volpe	United States	221,500
Paris	129	6	Daniel Weinman	United States	405,500

Paris	130	1	Phil Ivey	United States	362,000
Paris	130	2	Luke Schwartz	United Kingdom	893,000
Paris	130	3	Anthony Zinno	United States	454,000
Paris	130	4	David "ODB" Baker	United States	192,500
Paris	130	5	Daniel Negreanu	Toronto, ON, CA	429,000
Paris	130	6	Adam Friedman	United States	391,000

Paris	131	1	Dan Shak	United States	443,000
Paris	131	2	Talal Shakerchi	United Kingdom	406,500
Paris	131	3	Ismael Bojang	Austria	74,000
Paris	131	5	Mike Noori	United States	90,500
Paris	131	6	Matthew Ashton	United Kingdom	333,000

Paris	132	2	David Moskowitz	United States	181,000
Paris	132	3	Dan Cates	United States	617,000
Paris	132	4	Naoya Kihara	Japan	344,500
Paris	132	5	Mike Gorodinsky	United States	75,500
Paris	132	6	Alex Rocha	United States	411,000

Paris	133	1	Mike Wattel	United States	109,000
Paris	133	2	Phil Hui	United States	501,000
Paris	133	5	Andrew Kelsall	United States	583,000
Paris	133	6	Julien Martini	France	440,000

Paris	134	1	Nicholas Julia	United States	236,500
Paris	134	2	Michael Moncek	United States	366,500
Paris	134	4	Roy Thung	United States	210,000
Paris	134	5	Peter Gelencser	Hungary	305,500
Paris	134	6	Chad Eveslage	United States	304,500

Paris	135	1	Andrew Brown	United States	91,000
Paris	135	2	Aaron Katz	United States	695,500
Paris	135	3	Scott Seiver	United States	113,500
Paris	135	4	Brian Hastings	United States	468,000
Paris	135	5	Ben Lamb	United States	353,000

Paris	136	1	John Racener	United States	414,000
Paris	136	2	Philip Sternheimer	United States	208,500
Paris	136	4	Jesse McGinty	United States	465,500
Paris	136	5	Chris Brewer	United States	344,000
Paris	136	6	Nick Schulman	United States	125,000

Paris	137	2	Brandon Shack-Harris	United States	86,000
Paris	137	3	Dave Rogers	United States	179,000
Paris	137	4	Ali Eslami	United States	492,000
Paris	137	5	Dario Sammartino	Italy	345,500
Paris	137	6	Benny Glaser	United Kingdom	547,000

Paris	138	1	Chino Rheem	United States	405,500
Paris	138	2	Scott Bohlman	United States	477,000
Paris	138	3	Koray Aldemir	Austria	546,000
Paris	138	5	Jean-Robert Bellande	United States	377,000
Paris	138	6	Bryce Yockey	United States	715,000

Paris	139	2	Shaun Deeb	United States	718,500
Paris	139	3	Albert Daher	Lebanon	196,000
Paris	139	4	Randy Ohel	United States	437,500
Paris	139	5	Michael Mizrachi	United States	435,500
Paris	139	6	Jeremy Ausmus	United States	262,500

Paris	140	1	David Williams	United States	285,500
Paris	140	2	Maxx Coleman	United States	242,000
Paris	140	3	Johannes Becker	Germany	216,500
Paris	140	4	Yuval Bronshtein	Israel	279,500
Paris	140	5	Ian O'hara	United States	421,500

Paris	141	1	Eric Wasserson	United States	88,500
Paris	141	3	Matthew Gonzales	United States	191,000
Paris	141	4	Christopher Chung	United States	70,000
Paris	141	5	David Benyamine	France	651,000
Paris	141	6	Dan Smith	United States	280,000

Paris	142	1	David Bach	United States	292,000
Paris	142	2	Rob Hollink	Netherlands	308,500
Paris	142	3	Brian Rast	United States	160,500
Paris	142	4	Chris Fraser	United Kingdom	108,500
Paris	142	6	Bryn Kenney	United States	802,000

Paris	143	3	Lyle Berman	United States	459,000
Paris	143	4	Ray Dehkharghani	United States	182,000
Paris	143	5	Marco Johnson	United States	339,500
Paris	143	6	Ben Yu	United States	601,000

Paris	144	1	Matt Glantz	United States	71,000
Paris	144	2	Jen Harman	United States	104,000
Paris	144	3	Yuri Dzivielevski	Brazil	540,000
Paris	144	5	Freddy Deeb	United States	512,500
Paris	144	6	Joao Vieira	Portugal	246,000

06-27-2022 02:35 UTC-7

End of Day Chip Counts (full)

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Luke Schwartz	893,000 553,000	553,000

Bryn Kenney	802,000 82,000	82,000

Shaun Deeb	718,500 -66,500	-66,500

Bryce Yockey	715,000 40,000	40,000

Aaron Katz	695,500 365,500	365,500

David Benyamine	651,000 276,000	276,000

Dan Cates	617,000 267,000	267,000

Ben Yu	601,000 56,000	56,000

Andrew Kelsall	583,000 143,000	143,000

Benny Glaser	547,000 137,000	137,000

Koray Aldemir	546,000 96,000	96,000

Yuri Dzivielevski	540,000 -110,000	-110,000

Freddy Deeb	512,500 172,500	172,500

Phil Hui	501,000 151,000	151,000

Ali Eslami	492,000 63,500	63,500

Scott Bohlman	477,000 -3,000	-3,000

Brian Hastings	468,000 -47,000	-47,000

Jesse McGinty	465,500 190,500	190,500
Lyle Berman	459,000 49,000	49,000

Anthony Zinno	454,000 74,000	74,000

Dan Shak	443,000 153,000	153,000
Julien Martini	440,000 -510,000	-510,000

Randy Ohel	437,500 77,500	77,500

Michael Mizrachi	435,500 80,500	80,500

Daniel Negreanu	429,000 99,000	99,000

Read full

06-27-2022 02:29 UTC-7

Arieh Eliminated; Schwartz into the Lead

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Pot-Limit Omaha

According to our French colleagues, Julien Martini lost the chip lead in one of the last hands of the night against Luke Schwartz.

Martini raised to 7,000 and Schwartz called. Josh Arieh was in the big blind and announced pot and was all in. Martini re-potted and Schwartz also raised pot. At this point the bet was 195,000. Martini called.

The flop came . Martini announced pot and Schwartz snap-called all in.

Julien Martini:
Luke Schwartz:

The turn and river bricked with Schwartz' aces holding and Arieh also sent to the rail (hand unknown).

Tags: Josh Arieh Julien Martini Luke Schwartz

06-27-2022 02:19 UTC-7

Yu Tank-Calls Against Glantz

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

No-Limit Hold'em

On a board Ben Yu had checked to Matt Glantz who had bet 40,000. Yu tanked and eventually had the clock called on him.

He eventually called and Glantz showed offsuit. Yu held and wont he pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ben Yu	545,000 83,000	83,000

Matt Glantz	80,000 -140,000	-140,000

Tags: Matt Glantz Ben Yu

06-27-2022 02:17 UTC-7

Couden Busts to Sion; Esposito Also Gone

Will Shillibier

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Pot-Limit Omaha

Joey Couden was getting to his feet having lost his last chips in Pot-Limit Omaha against Elior Sion. Couden held against the of Sion.

Meanwhile at a neighbouring table, the seat formerly occupied by John Esposito was also empty.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Zack	530,000 450,000	450,000

Elior Sion	450,000 295,000	295,000

Aaron Katz	330,000 -290,000	-290,000

Talal Shakerchi	310,000 -20,000	-20,000
David "ODB" Baker	230,000 -110,000	-110,000

Joey Couden	Busted

John Esposito	Busted

Tags: Elior Sion Joey Couden

06-27-2022 02:13 UTC-7

Harman Beats Volpe in Showdown

Christian Zetzsche

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo

Jen Harman: /
Paul Volpe: / /

As of fifth street, Jen Harman was spotted betting versus Paul Volpe. The same action repeated on the final two streets and Volpe reluctantly called. Harman revealed a flush and that won the entire pot as Volpe had no qualifying low.

Player	Chips	Progress
Phil Hui	350,000 -90,000	-90,000

Rob Hollink	289,000 29,000	29,000

Dan Smith	280,000 -39,000	-39,000

Paul Volpe	248,000 -87,000	-87,000

Maxx Coleman	225,000 15,000	15,000

Jen Harman	145,000 -35,000	-35,000

Tags: Jen Harman Paul Volpe

06-27-2022 02:05 UTC-7

Vieira Forces a Fold From Berman

Christian Zetzsche

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

In a battle cutoff versus button, the flop came and Lyle Berman check-called a bet by Joao Vieira. The very same action repeated on the on the turn. Last but not least, the fell on the river and Berman checked once more. Vieira emptied the clip with a third bet and that forced out Berman.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lyle Berman	410,000 30,000	30,000

Joao Vieira	255,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Joao Vieira Lyle Berman

06-27-2022 02:00 UTC-7

Assorted Late Night Counts

Christian Zetzsche

Level 6 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Former PPC champion David Bach opted to enter very late on Day 1 and increased the overall field size to 91 entries. At least five players have been eliminated and the tournament is drawing to an end very soon for tonight.

Player	Chips	Progress
Julien Martini	950,000 200,000	200,000

Shaun Deeb	785,000 -10,000	-10,000

Bryn Kenney	720,000 120,000	120,000

Bryce Yockey	675,000 118,000	118,000

Aaron Katz	620,000 55,000	55,000

Brian Hastings	515,000 100,000	100,000

Scott Bohlman	480,000 40,000	40,000

Jean-Robert Bellande	410,000 -50,000	-50,000

Benny Glaser	410,000 -10,000	-10,000

Adam Friedman	375,000 213,000	213,000

Dan Cates	350,000 -70,000	-70,000

John Racener	350,000 40,000	40,000

Jeremy Ausmus	325,000 85,000	85,000

David Bach	300,000

Nicholas Julia	270,000 15,000	15,000

Albert Daher	230,000 155,000	155,000
Christopher Chung	115,000 -115,000	-115,000
Mike Noori	90,000 -140,000	-140,000

Scott Seiver	90,000 -275,000	-275,000

Josh Arieh	50,000 -30,000	-30,000

Tags: David Bach