Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day 1 Started
2019 World Series of Poker
Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$3,552,000
Entries
74
Level
27
Limits
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
0
The $50,000 Poker Players Championship Kicks Off at 3 p.m.
One of the most anticipated events of the 2019 World Series of Poker is here as the $50,000 Poker Players Championship begins today at 3 p.m.
Many of the biggest names in the game consider this their main event, as winning in the eight-game format against the best in the world is what many believe to be the toughest challenge the WSOP schedule presents.
With a combined 32 bracelets won by the 10 winners of this event, luck is certainly not what comes to the forefront in the PPC. The skill required to defeat the toughest tournament field of the summer by being proficient in each variant is what is consistently echoed by players and past champions.
David "Chip" Reese, the first champion of this event and for whom the Memorial Trophy is named after, was long considered by his peers to be the best all-around poker player. After his win in 2006, Reese said, "It's not just one day or two days. It's every day." The PPC requires excellent all-around poker over the course of several days, and two players who will no doubt be playing today know a little something more about this than the rest.
Defending champion Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi is an unprecedented three-time winner of this event, having won it in 2010, 2012 and in 2018. Mizrachi also finished fourth in 2016. The other player with multiple PPC titles is Brian Rast, who earned top honors in 2011 and 2016.
Here is a look at the past entries, prize pool, champions, and first-place prizes:
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 143 | $6,864,000 | Chip Reese | $1,716,000 |
| 2007 | 148 | $7,104,000 | Freddy Deeb | $2,276,832 |
| 2008 | 148 | $7,104,000 | Scotty Nguyen | $1,989,120 |
| 2009 | 95 | $4,560,000 | David Bach | $1,276,806 |
| 2010 | 116 | $5,568,000 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,559,046 |
| 2011 | 128 | $6,144,000 | Brian Rast | $1,720,328 |
| 2012 | 108 | $5,184,000 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,451,527 |
| 2013 | 132 | $6,336,000 | Matthew Ashton | $1,774,089 |
| 2014 | 102 | $4,896,000 | John Hennigan | $1,517,767 |
| 2015 | 84 | $3,696,000 | Mike Gorodinsky | $1,270,086 |
| 2016 | 91 | $4,176,000 | Brian Rast | $1,296,097 |
| 2017 | 100 | $4,800,000 | Elior Sion | $1,395,767 |
| 2018 | 87 | $4,176,000 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,239,126 |
The tournament structure is different from years past. In addition to beginning with 300,000 in chips (up from 250,000), the tournament also begins with limits of 1,500/3,000. In past years that was Level 4, so right from the start the play is going to mean much more than it has in recent years.
The schedule for Day 1 calls for six 100-minute levels to be played, which should have players bagging and tagging at about 2 a.m. Registration remains open until the end of Level 10 (about 10:20 p.m.) on Day 2 (Tuesday).
Be sure to keep it here for live updates on all of the action, as the quest to crown the 2019 Poker Players Champion begins!
Start of Play Delayed
The start of play has been pushed back a few minutes.
Level: 1
Limit Flop / Draw: 800/1,500
Stud Games: 300 (ante), 500 (bring-in), 1,500 (completion)
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 400/800/1,200 ante
Who's Here at the Start?
Level 1
: 1,500/3,000, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 |
Hui and Ashton Get Involved Early
Level 1
: 1,500/3,000, 0 ante
Stud Hi-Lo
Robert Mizrachi: 
/ 
- folded on third
Phil Hui: / 
/
Talal Shakerchi: / 
- folded on fifth
Matthew Ashton: / 
/
Robert Mizrachi brought it in, and Phil Hui completed. Talal Shakerchi and 2013 $50,000 Poker Player's Championship bracelet winner Matthew Ashton called, while Mizrachi folded.
Hui bet on fourth street, and both of his opponents called, then Hui bet again on fifth street, and only Ashton called. Hui check-called a bet on sixth street from Ashton, then both players checked seventh street.
"Aces and an eighty-seven," Hui said before showing 
. Ashton showed his 
for a seventy-five low, and the two chopped the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
309,000 | 9,000 |
|
|
302,000 | 2,000 |
|
|
298,000 | -2,000 |
|
|
291,000 | -9,000 |
Seiver Improves Just Enough
Level 1
: 1,500/3,000, 0 ante
2-7 Triple Draw
John Esposito raised under the gun and Scott Seiver three-bet it on his left. Action folded back to Esposito and he called and drew two. Seiver took one and Esposito check-raised. Seiver called and both drew a card. Esposito bet and Seiver called. Esposito patted and Seiver needed a final card.
Esposito checked dark and Seiver checked it back. Esposito showed 
. Seiver had it beat with 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
320,000 | 20,000 |
|
275,000 |
Mizrachi Over Ashton
Level 1
: 1,500/3,000, 0 ante
2-7 Triple Draw
Robert Mizrachi raised from under the gun and Matthew Ashton called from the small blind.
Both drew two, Ashton bet, Mizrachi raised and Ashton called.
Ashton drew one, Mizrachi stood pat and Ashton check-called a bet.
Ashton drew one, Mizrachi stood pat and both checked.
"Ten," announced Ashton.
Mizrachi tabled 
, Ashton mucked and Mizrachi won the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
320,000 | 11,000 |
|
|
288,000 | -14,000 |
Recent Arrivals
Level 1
: 1,500/3,000, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 | |
|
300,000 |
Martin Takes From Smith
Level 1
: 1,500/3,000, 0 ante
No-Limit Hold'em
Dan Smith raised to 2,200 from under the gun, and Jesse Martin called in the big blind.
Martin check-called a bet of 2,000 on the 
flop, and the fell on the turn. Martin checked and Smith continued for 3,000. Martin called again.
Both players checked the 
river, and Martin tabled 
for queens-up. Smith mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
320,000 | 20,000 |
|
|
288,000 | -12,000 |