273 entries were made, only 9 players are remaining after three long days of playing. The first ever WSOP International Circuit in The Netherlands, hosted by the popular Holland Casino Rotterdam, has attracted both local players and those from afar to contest for the first ever WSOP Circuit rings handed out on Dutch soil.
The biggest prize of them all awaits tonight, as €94,349 is up for grabs for the one player who outlasts them all. Although five out of nine finalists represent the home nation, it is Switzerland's Ben Bensimhon who will start as the chipleader with 1,692,000. Bensimhon's biggest cash to date is €19,560, and a fifth place or better today will deliver him a new career-high. Bensimhon is followed by Jakob Miegel from Germany (964,000) and Dutchman Dwayne Sluis (881,000).
Two players who are accustomed to playing for these amounts are Bart Lybaert (804,000) and Govert Metaal (457,000). Lybaert is fresh off a massive cash in Barcelona, where he banked €368,473 for a 3rd place in the €1,100 PokerStars National Championship. Metaal cashed both the Main Event and €10,000 High Roller in Barcelona and is closing in on $2,5 million in lifetime winnings. Metaal needs a victory here to pass that milestone today. Rounding out the final table are Micha Hoedemaker (868,000), Teun Mulder (747,000), Lawrence Bayley (254,000), and Paul Gresel (197,000)
The final table will start on Saturday at 2 p.m. local time, with 1 minute and 24 seconds left in the 8,000/16,000 ante 2,000 level. After that, blinds will be 10,000/20,000 with an ante of 3,000 and levels will be 60 minutes. Seating for the final table hasn't been announced at this time; the seat draw for the final table will be held before the start of the day. Don't miss any of the excitement and follow PokerNews to see who will bear the coveted WSOP Circuit ring at the end of the night.
Bart Lybaert opened to 35,000 in early position. Ben Bensimhon, who started the day as the chipleader, three-bet to 90,000 from the hijack. Lybaert called and both players saw the flop.
Lybaert checked to Bensimhon, who bet 80,000. Lybaert quickly came along with the call. On the turn, Lybaert check-called a bet of 160,000 from his Swiss adversary. The river got instantly checked by both players.
Lybaert showed for kings and jacks and Bensimhon mucked. With the pot, Lybaert dragged the chip lead from Bensimhon.
In one of the first hands after the break, Ben Bensimhon raised to 60,000 in middle position. Action folded to Bart Lybaert in the big blind, who three-bet to 187,000. Bensimhon made the call in position.
The flop was all spades: . Lybaert bet 235,000 and Bensimhon called. Both players checked the on the turn. On the river, Lybaert checked, Bensimhon bet 300,000, and Lybaert instantly called.
Bensimhon showed for a full house, Lybaert flashed for the nut flush and mucked.
Ben Bensimhon came in with a raise to 48,000 on the button. Govert Metaal reshoved 324,000 from the big blind and Bensimhon called directly.
Govert Metaal:
Ben Bensimhon:
Metaal was flipping for his tournament life and remained ahead after the flop. The on the turn opened up a higher flush draw for Bensimhon, which came in on the river.
Metaal became the first player to leave the final table. The Dutch poker icon from The Hague collected €8,657 for his ninth place finish.
Ben Bensimhon opened the action from early position. Behind him, Paul Gresel moved in for 598,000 and everyone folded back to Bensimhon. The Swiss wasted no time in putting in the calling chips.
Paul Gresel:
Ben Bensimhon:
It was a setup for the Dutchman and one he couldn't escape from as the board ran out . Gresel said his goodbyes and headed for the payout desk to collect €10,850 for finishing 8th.
Dwayne Sluis shoved all in for 221,000 in early position. Teun Mulder called and all other players folded.
Dwayne Sluis:
Teun Mulder:
The flop came down , which opened up some split pot outs for Sluis. However, the on the turn and on the river kept Mulder's better kicker in play, and Sluis was eliminated.
After a deep run in the 2016 WSOP Main Event, Sluis made another deep run in a WSOP event and cashed €13,806 for his 7th place finish.
After a raise from Ben Bensimhon in the cutoff, Lawrence Bayley shoved 263,000 total on the button. It was seven big blinds total, and Bensimhon wasn't folding.
Lawrence Bayley:
Ben Bensimhon:
The board was safe for Bayley until the river: . Bensimhon spiked a queen to send the Day 1b chipleader to the rail in 6th place. Bayley received €17,840 for his accomplishment.
Ben Bensimhon is on an unstoppable rampage and knocked out Micha Hoedemaker as well. It was Hoedemaker who shoved 314,000 from the small blind and Bensimhon who called in the big blind.
Micha Hoedemaker:
Ben Bensimhon:
Hoedemaker had one of his outs slashed on the flop and found neither remaining ace on the turn and river. The man from Bussum saw a deep run come to an end in 5th place for €23,410.
The unstoppable Bensimhon raised to 100,000 from under the gun. Teun Mulder shoved 771,000 on the button and Bensimhon snapped him off.
Ben Bensimhon:
Teun Mulder:
"The Pink Bunny" was in another fantastic spot to add another scalp to his trophy cabinet. The dealer fanned out and Mulder's run ended in 4th place. The young Dutchman appears to have made his first-ever live cash for €31,214.
Bart Lybaert open-shoved over 500,000 on the button and Jakob Miegel, who had him slightly covered, moved over the top all in from the small blind.
Bart Lybaert:
Jakob Miegel:
It's the first time Miegel has been active at this final table; with Ben Bensimhon to his left, the German had folded nearly everything up until this point. Miegel picked up a good time to wake up, as his pocket tens held on a board to get to the heads-up.
Lybaert added another big cash to his $1M+ lifetime winnings and finished in 3rd place.
flop.
turn, Lybaert check-called a bet of 160,000 from his Swiss adversary. The 
river got instantly checked by both players.
for kings and jacks and Bensimhon mucked. With the pot, Lybaert dragged the chip lead from Bensimhon.
. Lybaert bet 235,000 and Bensimhon called. Both players checked the 
on the turn. On the 
for a full house, Lybaert flashed 
for the nut flush and mucked.
flop. The 
on the turn opened up a higher flush draw for Bensimhon, which came in on the 
. Bensimhon spiked a queen to send the Day 1b chipleader to the rail in 6th place. Bayley received €17,840 for his accomplishment.
river. The man from Bussum saw a deep run come to an end in 5th place for €23,410.
and Mulder's run ended in 4th place. The young Dutchman appears to have made his first-ever live cash for €31,214.
