Event #33: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day 4 Started
2018 World Series of Poker
Event #33: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2018 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$4,176,000
Entries
87
Level
25
Limits
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
0
Michael Mizrachi in Pole Position to Win His Third Poker Players Championship
Welcome to PokerNews' Day 4 coverage of Event #33: $50,000 Poker Players Championship.
The starting field of 87 players is down to just 12, each looking to have his name inscribed on the David "Chip" Reese Memorial Trophy and earn the distinction of being the best all-around player among their peers. Also up for grabs is the first-place prize of $1,239,126 and a coveted World Series of Poker gold bracelet.
On top of the chip counts is Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi who is looking to win the Poker Players Championship for the third time. Mizrachi won the PPC in both 2010 and 2012, earning his first and third bracelets in those events. Mizrachi came close again in 2016, but fell short in fourth place. The Poker Players Championship that year was won by another two-time winner still in the field. In addition to earning top honors in 2016, Brian Rast also won in between Mizrachi's victories in 2011. Rast is currently in peak form, too, having picked up his fourth bracelet less than one week ago.
The rest of the field is stacked, obviously, and perhaps no one left is more dangerous than 10-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey, currently fourth in chips. Ivey is back playing a full WSOP schedule for the first time since 2014, where he won that 10th bracelet in an eight-game mixed event similar to this one. Clearly, the field is tougher here, but Ivey is a favorite no matter the competition.
Here is the Day 4 seating chart:
| Room | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 1 | 1 | Chris Vitch | United States | 1,160,000 | 48 | 12 |
| Amazon | 1 | 2 | Aaron Katz | United States | 2,480,400 | 103 | 25 |
| Amazon | 1 | 3 | Phil Ivey | United States | 2,146,000 | 89 | 21 |
| Amazon | 1 | 4 | Dan Smith | United States | 1,816,000 | 76 | 18 |
| Amazon | 1 | 5 | Jean-Robert Bellande | United States | 213,000 | 9 | 2 |
| Amazon | 1 | 6 | John Hennigan | United States | 1,458,000 | 61 | 15 |
| Amazon | 2 | 1 | Mike Leah | Canada | 3,139,000 | 131 | 31 |
| Amazon | 2 | 2 | Shaun Deeb | United States | 533,000 | 22 | 5 |
| Amazon | 2 | 3 | Michael Mizrachi | United States | 4,232,000 | 176 | 42 |
| Amazon | 2 | 4 | Brian Rast | United States | 1,164,000 | 49 | 12 |
| Amazon | 2 | 5 | Benny Glaser | United Kingdom | 1,967,000 | 82 | 20 |
| Amazon | 2 | 6 | Greg Mueller | Canada | 1,439,000 | 60 | 14 |
The cards are set to be in the air at 2 p.m. (PDT) and the plan for the day is to play down to the final table of six. That plan, however, is subject to change. Keep it here at PokerNews for live updates on all of the action as the quest to crown the next Poker Players Champion continues!
Level: 19
Limit Flop / Draw: 25,000/50,000
Stud Games: 10,000 (ante), 15,000 (bring-in), 50,000 (completion)
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 12,000/24,000/6,000-ante
Play Underway
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
The cards are in the air.
Rolled Up Glaser
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Stud Hi-Lo
On the first hand of the secondary feature table, Brian Rast had the bring-in.
Benny Glaser had the 
up, and completed to 50,000.
Everyone folded, and Glaser exposed his 
/ to start the day off in kingly fashion.
Deeb and Glaser Chop
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
Stud Hi-Lo
Benny Glaser had the bring-in and Shaun Deeb completed. Michael Mizrachi called, as did Glaser.
Mizrachi bet out on fourth street and Glaser and Deeb called. On fifth, Glaser bet 100,000, Deeb raised to 200,000, and Mizrachi folded. Glaser called, and on sixth, Deeb bet 100,000, Glaser raised to 200,000, and Deeb pushed out his 213,000 total with Glaser calling.
Glaser: 
/ 
Deeb: 
/ 
Mizrachi: 
/ 
(folded on fifth)
Deeb found the 
on seventh, and Glaser the 
, and the pot was chopped up with Deeb taking the high and Glaser the low.
Ace No Good
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
2-7 Triple Draw
Dan Smith raised in middle position and Chris Vitch called from the small blind. Both players drew two and Vitch check-called. They were both down to a one draw and Vitch again check-called. He drew a final time but Smith patted.
Both checked on the end. Vitch announced an ace, but Smith opened 
and won the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,070,000 | 254,000 |
|
885,000 | -275,000 |
Ivey Takes a Three-Bet Pot
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
2-7 Triple Draw
Action folded to Aaron Katz in the small blind and he raised. Phil Ivey reraised and Katz called. Both drew one and Katz check-called, then draws repeated. Katz checked again and Ivey didn't hesitate to throw in a bet. Katz called and drew a final card, but must not have liked what he pulled as he folded immediately to Ivey's final bet.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,300,000 | 154,000 |
|
2,125,000 | -355,000 |
Bellande Doubles
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
2-7 Triple Draw
Jean-Robert Bellande found himself down to just over one big blind after losing a three-way pot in which John Hennigan made a nine-low. In the next hand, Bellande was in the small blind and he called, leaving just 3,000 behind. Hennigan raised and Bellande called off the rest of his stack.
On the first draw, Bellande took two while Hennigan took three. On the second draw, Bellande stood pat and Hennigan took two. On the final draw, Bellande stood pat again and Hennigan took one.
Hennigan showed his 
.
"You're drawing dead," Bellande said. Then he turned over his 
for a ninety-eight. "Oh wait... you're not drawing dead."
Hennigan then turned over this 
, but it wasn't enough to send Bellande to the rail and he doubled up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,585,000 | 127,000 |
|
100,000 | -113,000 |
Nine for Mueller
Level 19
: 50,000/100,000, 0 ante
2-7 Triple Draw
Michael Mizrachi raised to 100,000 from under the gun and Greg Mueller made it 150,000 to go from the button. Mike Leah called in the small blind, and Shaun Deeb four-bet to 200,000 from the big blind.
Mizrachi folded, but Mueller and Leah both called. Leah drew two, and Deeb and Mueller drew one each.
Action checked to Mueller, and he bet 50,000 and both Leah and Deeb called. Leah drew two, Deeb drew one, and Mueller stood pat.
Action checked to Mueller again, and he bet 100,000. Leah and Deeb called, and they both drew one as Mueller stood pat.
Action checked through, and Leah showed a 
. Mueller fanned his , and collected the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,800,000 | -334,000 |
|
2,200,000 | 761,000 |
|
210,000 | -323,000 |