20-Minute Break
Level 16
: 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Players are now on a 20-minute break to color up the 500 chips.
2021 World Series of Poker
Event #50: $600 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack
Day: 1
Level: 17
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Where Are They Now: Poker Author, Mathematician & Bracelet Winner Jerrod Ankenman
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Back in the late 2000’s, long before solvers were a thing, a group of math-focused individuals changed the face of poker. Players like Matt Hawrilenko, Bill Chen, and Jerrod Ankenman introduced a more math-based approach to poker; in fact, Chen and Ankenman even wrote a book titled The Mathematics of Poker.
Between 2006-09, the triumvirate won five World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets between them and seemingly set the wheels in motion for the game to evolve into today’s “solver era.” Like many others before them, all three moved away from the game over the next decade, with Hawrilenko temporarily coming out of “retirement” back in the 2015 WSOP.
Similarly, Ankenman made a rare appearance at the Rio when he was spotted in Event #44: $3,000 6-Handed Limit Hold’em. The 2009 WSOP Event #42: $2,500 8-Game Mix bracelet winner has an impressive limit hold’em résumé that includes a pair of runner-up finishes in WSOP event. Back in 2006, he took second to Ian Johns in Event #23: $3,000 Limit Hold’em for $150,586 and two years later finished runner-up to Rob Hollink in Event #30: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship.
Harding Avoids the Being Eliminated on the Bubble
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Pot-LImit Omaha
The action was picked up when William Harding was all-in and at risk to be eliminated from the tournament against another opponent.
William Harding: 
Opponent: 
The board was already showing 
giving Harding the nut-flush on the river and doubling him up to avoid elimination on the bubble.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
125,000
125,000
|
125,000 |
Phan Doubles, Credits Drink
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
No-Limit Hold'em
Ryan Phan was faced with an all-in bet from Brian Saslavchik blind versus blind and called after tanking for several minutes.
Ryan Phan: 
Brian Saslavchik: 
Phan flopped an ace on the board of 
and secured the double up.
"I wanted to go to bed," Phan said. "If I hadn't had that Bloody Mary at the break, I wouldn't have made that call."
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
120,000 | |
|
|
85,000
-140,000
|
-140,000 |
We're Now Hand for Hand
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
We're now hand for hand to determine the bubble and all remaining players will be in the money.
Players Are In the Money
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
One player was eliminated during the first hand of bubble play. All remaining 236 players are now in the money.
Chopra Squeaks Into The Money
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
Kabir Chopra from India squeaks into the money with less than one big blind for the first WSOP cash of his life.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
10,000 |
Hunt Wins a Three-Way All In Pot
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
No-Limit Hold'em
The action was picked up when a player in early position went all-in for his remaining 19,400.
A player behind him calls and Thomas Hunt then goes all-in for his remaining 117,000 which the original caller called to put both players at risk.
Thomas Hunt: 
Opponent: 
Opponent:
Hunt just needed his Queens to hold up and the board ran out 
in which he was able to eliminate a player and double up through another opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
253,400
253,400
|
253,400 |
Eights Are Lucky For Voir
Level 17
: 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante
No-Limit Hold'em
A player in the hijack moved all in for 148,000 and Sokunthea Voir called from the big blind.
All-In Player: 
Sokunthea Voir: 
"Eights are lucky. That's why I played it," Voir said, and he proved prophetic as the board ran out 
giving him a set and sending his opponent to the payout line.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
600,000 |