WSOP Day 20: Mizrachi Leads Final 12 in $50K PPC, Ivey Still in Hunt
As a fourth day of play gets underway today in Event #33: $50,000 Poker Players Championship, Michael Mizrachi leads the final 12 players with Phil Ivey also among the chip leaders and looking for his 11th bracelet.
In Event #32: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em, eight players will return to play to a champion, while Event #36: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em returns for Day 2 after drawing a big field of 2,191 entries. Event #34: $1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold'em also moves on to Day 2 after two starting flights and 5,700 entries with Mike Tayakama leading 1,280 players returning.
Event #32: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em
Gary Friedlander brings the chip lead back to begin Day 4 with 8,080,000, finding himself in a nice spot to win the top prize of $662,983. Friedlander has more than $500,000 in WSOP earnings, but is looking for his first bracelet.
Others returning to comprise the final eight include Bill Stabler (6,085,000), Matthew Davis (6,010,000), Bill Bennett (2,735,000), Frank Berry (2,090,000), Rachel Delatorre (1,645,000), Joseph Schulman (1,510,000), and Scott Hamilton-Hill (1,455,000).
The final table is set to resume at 11 a.m. and PokerNews has you covered with all the live updates. Click here to follow along.
Event #33: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
This prestigious event brings back 12 players from the original field of 87. For the second consecutive day, two-time PPC champion Michael Mizrachi holds the chip lead (4,232,000). He'll be looking for his fourth bracelet and $1,239,126 top prize.
He'll have a tough field to navigate through to get there. Also with big stacks are Mike Leah (3,134,000), Aaron Katz (2,480,000), Phil Ivey (2,146,000), and Benny Glaser (1,967,000).
The others remaining in the field include Dan Smith, John Hennigan, Greg Mueller, Brian Rast, Chris Vitch, Shaun Deeb, and Jean-Robert Bellande.
Glaser was especially pleased to be moving on Day 4.
In the money and through to Day 4 of the $50k! I'm currently in 5th of 12 left.
— Benny Glaser (@BennyG444)
This five-day event picks back up at 2 p.m. Visit PokerNews for all your live updates. Poker Central will be streaming this event today as well via Twitch. Here's your link to follow along.
Event #34: $1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold'em
After two days of play in the "DOUBLE STACK," 1,280 players return for Day 2 in this new event that attracted a total field of 5,700 entries after two starting flights. That massive field created a prize pool of $5,130,000 for a nice $644,224 top prize.
Leading the field back into the Rio will be Mike Tayakama of the Philippines with 177,400 in chips. He's followed by Eimantas Adomavicius (168,500) and World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Vinny Pahuja (167,100).
Others moving on to Day 2 include bracelet winners Loni Harwood (23,000), Chris Moorman (67,200), Niall Farrell (58,000), Bertrand Grospellier (20,700), and Chris Ferguson (12,200), as well as Giuseppe Pantaleo (131,600), Anatoly Filatov (9,500), Harry Lodge (6,500), Manig Loeser (28,700), and Ari Engel (38,800).
After two Day 1 flights, the second day begins on Monday at 12 noon and PokerNews will continue to bring live updates from start to finish. Click here to follow along.
Event #35: $1,500 Mixed Omaha
After two days of play in this event that combines PLO Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, and Big O (5-Card PLO/8), James Alexander leads the field with 466,500 chips. The day began with 225 players, and just 31 return for Day 3. Alexander is playing for his first WSOP bracelet and a $211,781 rop prize.
Just behind Alexander are Gabriel Ramos (452,000) and Robert Mizrachi (439,000). Other notables remaining in the field include Ryan Hughes (276,000), Jon Turner (218,000), Carol Fuchs (215,000), Mark Gregorich (176,500), and Bart Hanson (35,000).
The tournament resumes at 2 p.m. and PokerNews will bring you all the mixed Omaha live updates. Click here to follow.
Event #36: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em
With James Moore's elimination on Day 1, his attempt at a three-peat in this event came to an end. Moore had a huge run the last few years, however, winning the event in 2016 and 2017. Leading the field after Day 1 is Clifford Matthews with 137,900 chips. The native of Euless, Texas is hoping for his first bracelet.
Matthews is followed by Henri Bisson (130,000), Steven Wenrich (122,300), Charles Zis (109,300), and Jeff Heiberg (103,600).
The super seniors will be back in the Rio on Monday with 347 players left in the hunt. A total of 2,191 entries created a prize pool just short of $2 million and the winner will take home $311,451.
Play resumes at 11 a.m. and PokerNews will follow it all. Click here for the live updates.
Event #37: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
Ready for some good old-fashioned, low buy-in no-limit hold'em? Bring your A-game as the hold'em fans will be out in force for Event #37.
This three-day event features 7,500 starting chips and 60-minute levels. Late registration is available for eight levels.
Germany's Christopher Frank took home his first bracelet and a $384,833 first prize in 2017 in this event. The event brought in 1,698 entries and a $2,292,300 prize pool. Play gets underway at 11 a.m. and PokerNews will have all your updates.
Event #38: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship
Finally, the seven-card stud championship returns to the Rio on Monday and should attract plenty of rounders looking for a score in this classic version of poker.
Mike Wattel won last year's event for $245,451, and he is already on fire this year with four cashes so far. That includes finishing fourth in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw for $24,920 and then earning a second-place finish in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship for $160,489.
Players will begin with 50,000 chips and will play 60-minute levels. Day 1 begins at 3 p.m. and late registration will be available until the start of Day 2. Click over to PokerNews for all the stud fun.
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas. His work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions. He is also the host of the True Gambling Stories podcast, available on iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, PokerNews.com, HoldemRadio.com, and TrueGamblingStories.com.
