Back from the recent break, Michael Mizrachi has tangled once again with Mark Radoja, and this time it was "The Grinder" who came out on top.
We caught the action on the flop, with the board reading and the action on Mizrachi after Radoja checked.
Mizrachi splashed a bet of 575 into the pot, and Radoja called to see the arrive on the turn. He then check-called another bet, this time for 1,800, and the completed the board on the river.
After checking for a third time, Radoja was faced with a bet of 3,300 by Mizrachi, and he went into the tank for a minute or so while studying his opponent.
Something must have convinced Radoja that Mizrachi was on a bluff, because he eventually made the crying call, and mucked when "The Grinder" turned over just . With the win, Mizrachi reclaimed some of his chips from Radoja, and reestablished his footing midway through the first day of play.
With the final field tallied in at 516 players, the total generated prize pool was $2,425,200. The top 54 spots will be paid out, with 54th place earning $9,240 for the cash. The top spot will be worth $606,317 and the World Series of Poker gold bracelet.
We noticed the seat formerly occupied by Erik Seidel had been filled by John Juanda, meaning the eight-time WSOP bracelet winner has moved on to the next tournament on his schedule.
We just saw Belgian-born poker pro Davidi Kitai run an audacious bluff that happened to backfire.
Before the flop, a player in early position opened for 500, and Kitai called from the small blind. When the flop came , The player continued for a bet of 850 after the action was checked to him, and Kitai came along to see the fall on the turn.
Both players tapped the table on the turn, and when the completed the board on the river, Kitai led out for a bet of roughly 2,400. His opponent snap-called however, and Kitai was forced to turn over his for pure air. His opponent took the pot with , and Kitai dropped a decent pot despite his bold attempt to steal the pot without even a pair to his name.
After an under-the-gun raise to 500, Bryn Kenney three-bet on the button to 1,225. Ashton Griffin four-bet from the big blind to 3,100, and pay folded back over to Kenney. He reraised to 5,100, then Griffin announced that he was all in. Griffin had Kenney covered, and Kenney made the call to put himself at risk for 19,425.
Kenney tabled the and was dominating the that Griffin held. Kenney's kings held on the runout, and he doubled to 40,000 in chips.
Joe Hachem accomplished every poker player's ultimate dream under this very roof. While the final two days of his 2005 Main Event championship were held at Binion's Horseshoe Casino, he played his way there through nearly a week of grueling competition right here at the Rio.
Back again to play against on the WSOP's most skilled fields, Hachem is glad to be home.
We saw a crowd develop around the affable Aussie's table, and we found Hachem all in for his last 18,250 holding .
His unfortunate opponent had been coolered with his , and when the final board ran out , the sugar was passed to Hachem yet again.