Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship Day 2 | 2019 World Series of Poker

06-26-2019 02:56 UTC-7

Ivey Leads 38 Players into Day 3 of $50,000 Poker Players Championship

Jan_Kores

Level 12 : 10,000/20,000, 0 ante

While the turnout of 74 players is the smallest in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship history, the record-low attendance has been well compensated by the appearance of two iconic players: Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan.

After a tumultuous day at the felt, Ivey managed to catapult himself into pole position late in the day, leading the last 38 players at the end of Day 2.

With 1,254,000 in his bag and 10 bracelets under his belt, Ivey is a hot candidate to earn his fourth PPC cash. This year's champion will take home $1,099,311 but it's still early to discuss the top prizes.

Only 12 players will walk away with a profit and it's likely that Day 3 will bring the tournament close to the bubble but not into the money.

Having spent more time playing poker in Asia than on American soil in the last few years, Ivey and Dwan have been welcome attractions to the PPC field. While Ivey had already made his return to WSOP last year, Dwan hasn't cashed here for eight years.

Dwan showed up right at the late registration buzzer but, unfortunately for him, his appearance was short-lived as he fell in tonight's final level.

Two former Chip Reese Memorial Trophy winners remain in contention with John "World" Hennigan right on Ivey's heels. 2014 champion Hennigan, who won his sixth WSOP bracelet earlier this summer, was among the top stacks through the better part of the day and he finished with 1,209,000.

The other former PPC winner who has made it through the first two days is 2013 champ Matthew Ashton, who sits in seventh place with 911,000.

On the other hand, three-time winner and defending champion Michael Mizrachi won't add his fourth win this year. Mizrachi fell to Prahlad Friedman in a hand of pot-limit omaha, leaving his brother Robert the lone representative of the well-decorated family (Robert Mizrachi bagged 417,000).

The remaining field boasts, unsurprisingly, a ton of stellar players with Chris Vitch (1,103,000), David Oppenheim (1,062,000), and Josh Arieh (939,000) rounding out the top five.

Day 3 of what is often dubbed the toughest poker tournament on the planet kicks off on Wednesday, June 26, at 2 p.m. local time, with action resuming with 12,000/24,000 limits. PokerNews will be on the ground to provide live updates throughout the Poker Players Championship and the 50th annual World Series of Poker.

Tags: Chip Reese Chris Vitch David Oppenheim Josh Arieh Matthew Ashton Michael Mizrachi Phil Ivey Prahlad Friedman Tom Dwan

06-26-2019 00:11 UTC-7

Alaei Eliminated by Monnette

Mickey Doft

Level 11 : 8,000/16,000, 0 ante

2-7 Triple Draw

Tomer Daniel raised from the cutoff, John Monnette three-bet from the button, Daniel Alaei four-bet from the small blind, Daniel folded and Monnette called.

Both drew two, Alaei bet his remaining 6,000 and Monnette called.

Alaei drew one, Monnette drew two, Alaei drew one again and Monnette drew two.

Alaei:
Monnette:

Alaei turned up a to make a ten-eight, while Monnette turned over a followed by a to make a ten-seven to eliminate Alaei.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Monnette	170,000	55,000
Daniel Alaei	Busted

Tags: Daniel Alaei John Monnette Tomer Daniel

06-25-2019 23:36 UTC-7

Prize Pool and Payout Information

Mickey Doft

Level 11 : 8,000/16,000, 0 ante

The prize pool for The Poker Players Championship has been announced with the 74 players generating a prize pool $3,552,000, which will pay the top 12 places.

Place	Prize	Place	Prize
1st	$1,099,311	7th	$124,410
2nd	$679,426	8th	$124,410
3rd	$466,407	9th	$93,764
4th	$325,989	10th	$93,764
5th	$232,058	11th	$72,078
6th	$168,305	12th	$72,078

06-25-2019 22:50 UTC-7

Wattel Eliminated by Baker

Mickey Doft

Level 11 : 8,000/16,000, 0 ante

Stud Hi-Lo

David "ODB" Baker: /
Mike Wattel: /

Mike Wattel was the bring in, David "ODB" Baker completed and Wattel called.

Wattel bet on fourth, Baker called and the rest of Wattel's short stack was in on fifth.

David "ODB" Baker: /
Mike Wattel: /

Here were the rest of their runouts:

David "ODB" Baker: / /
Mike Wattel: / /

Baker made a pair of aces on seventh, Wattel couldn't improve his threes and he was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
David "ODB" Baker	160,000	10,000
Mike Wattel	Busted

Tags: David "ODB" Baker Mike Wattel

06-25-2019 21:29 UTC-7

Mizrachi Eliminated by Friedman

Mickey Doft

Level 10 : 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

Pot-Limit Omaha

As recapped to us by Phil Hui, Michael Mizrachi raised to 6,500 from the cutoff, Jason Mercier called from the button and Prahlad Friedman potted to 27,500 from the big blind. Both Mizrachi and Mercier called.

The flop was , Friedman led for 50,000, Mizrachi called all in for 29,000 and Mercier called.

The turn was the and both players checked.

The river was the and both checked again.

Friedman tabled , besting Mercier's holdings and Mizrachi's to win the pot and eliminate the defending champion.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lyle Berman	840,000	423,000
Prahlad Friedman	585,000	80,000
Michael Mizrachi	Busted

Tags: Jason Mercier Michael Mizrachi Phil Hui Prahlad Friedman Yong Wang

06-25-2019 21:28 UTC-7

Galfond Finds a Fortunate Chop and a Double the Following Hand

Mickey Doft

Level 10 : 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

No-Limit Hold'em

In a battle of the blinds, Phil Galfond was all in for about 72,000 from the small blind with against Timofey Kuznetsov in the big blind with .

The flop fell , giving Kuznetsov a set while Galfond picked up an open-ended straight draw. The turn was the , giving Galfond a straight, although Kuznetsov had outs to a flush and full house. The river was the , giving both players a king-high straight to chop the pot.

The following hand, Galfond raised to 6,000 from the button and was called by Kuznetsov in the small blind and Matthew Wood in the big blind.

The flop came down and Kuznetsov checked to Wood who bet 12,500. Only Galfond called to see the turn where Wood bet effectively 56,000.

Galfond called all in with for an ace-high flush and had the hand locked up against Wood's .

Player	Chips	Progress
Timofey Kuznetsov	535,000	5,000
Matthew Wood	410,000	-60,000
Phil Galfond	159,500	84,500

Tags: Matthew Wood Phil Galfond Timofey Kuznetsov

06-25-2019 20:49 UTC-7

Defending Champ Doubles with Aces

Jan_Kores

Level 10 : 6,000/12,000, 0 ante

No-Limit Hold'em

Jason Mercier raised to 7,500 in the hijack and Michael Mizrachi three-bet to 18,500 from the big blind. Mercier called.

They went to the flop and Mizrachi fired 35,000. Mercier moved all in with a covering stack and Mizrachi called, saying he had aces.

Mercier:
Mizrachi:

Mercier had a ton of outs to bust the three-time PPC champion but the rest of the board ran out and and Mizrachi secured a double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jason Mercier	650,000	-123,500
Michael Mizrachi	253,000	125,000

Tags: Jason Mercier Michael Mizrachi

06-25-2019 18:23 UTC-7

Schulman Falls to Dehkharghani

Jan_Kores

Level 9 : 5,000/10,000, 0 ante

Stud

Nick Schulman was the bring in with the and he put in his last 1,400. Ray Dehkgharghani completed, Phil Galfond raised and Dehkharghani called.

Dehkharghani called again on fourth and Galfond fired again when he paired a three on fifth street. Dehkharghani, however, raised and Galfond let his hand go, allowing for a showdown between Ray D and Schulman.

Galfond: / - fold on fifth
Dehkharghani: /
Schulman: /

Schulman had a gutshot but Dehkharghani blocked two of his outs. Dehkharghani peeled a and to brick the remaining streets but Schulman failed to find the needed cards.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ray Dehkharghani	320,000	25,000
Phil Galfond	155,000	10,000
Nick Schulman	Busted

Tags: Nick Schulman Phil Galfond

06-25-2019 16:55 UTC-7

ODB Cripples Yitzhaki; Dusts Him

HillKerby

Level 8 : 4,000/8,000, 0 ante

Limit Hold'em

Roman Yitzhaki raised from under the gun and was three-bet by David "ODB" Baker out of the small blind. Yitzhaki called and the flop came . Baker made a continuation-bet and Yitzhaki called. Baker fired again on the turn and Yitzhaki called again. The river came and both players checked.

Baker tabled and his ace was good to take down the pot, leaving Yitzhaki with 13,600 behind.

On the very next hand, Prahlad Friedman raised from the cutoff. Baker was on the button and three-bet. Yitzhaki went all in for just over the third bet and Friedman and Baker called, taking action postflop for a side pot.

The flop came and Friedman check-called a continuation-bet from Baker. The turn was and Friedman check-called another barrel from Baker. The river came and Friedman checked to baker once more, who emptied the clip. Friedman folded.

"King-jack," Baker announced as he tabled . Yitzhaki sent his cards into the muck pile as he got up and wished the table good luck for the rest of the touranment.

Player	Chips	Progress
David "ODB" Baker	560,000	69,000
Prahlad Friedman	554,000	44,000
Roman Yitzhaki	Busted

Tags: David "ODB" Baker Prahlad Friedman Roman Yitzhaki

06-25-2019 14:20 UTC-7

Elezra Hits Jackpot in Capped Pot

Jan_Kores

Level 7 : 3,000/6,000, 0 ante

2-7 Triple Draw

Three players made it to the first draw in a pot which was capped by Jared Bleznick who patted after Phil Hui peeled one and Eli Elezra two cards. Bleznick bet in position and both of his opponents stuck around for the second draw.

Hui took one again and Elezra improved to one-card draw. Bleznick bet again and Hui called, but Elezra opted to raise this time. Bleznick fired back with a three-bet, puzzling Hui who eventually decided to escape the fight. Elezra, however, four-bet and Bleznick called.

They patted the final draw and Bleznick called one more bet from Elezra, who quickly opened his hand, showing . Bleznick's cards went into the muck.