Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day 2 Completed
2023 World Series of Poker
Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2023 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$4,727,250
Entries
99
Level
25
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0
Entries
81
Players Left
32
Obst Leads Final 32, Defending Champ Cates Terminated in Poker Players Championship
Level 12
Following six more levels of high-stakes and high-quality mixed game poker, James Obst will take the chip lead into Day 3 of the World Series of Poker $50,000 Poker Players Championship.
Obst, who took time away from poker to pursue a career in tennis but has made a triumphant return to the WSOP, will bring 2,972,000 chips into Day 3, leading the final 32 players who bagged at night’s end.
Just behind Obst is Daniel Alaei, who entered at the start of Day 2 and amassed 2,064,000 chips, while Phil Ivey bagged the third largest stack of 1,655,000, and Day 1 chip leader Josh Arieh sits not far behind them in sixth with 1,365,000 chips.
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Obst | Australia | 2,972,000 |
| 2 | Daniel Alaei | United States | 2,064,000 |
| 3 | Phil Ivey | United States | 1,655,000 |
| 4 | Talal Shakerchi | United Kingdom | 1,598,000 |
| 5 | Johannes Becker | Germany | 1,387,000 |
| 6 | Josh Arieh | United States | 1,365,000 |
| 7 | Brian Rast | United States | 1,306,000 |
| 8 | Lyle Berman | United States | 1,268,000 |
| 9 | Dzmitry Urbanovich | Poland | 1,196,000 |
| 10 | Nacho Barbero | Argentina | 1,158,000 |
A total of 73 players started the day with 26 more entering through three levels and the dinner break, before registration closed at about 7:40 p.m. local time. The 99 total players created a final prize pool of $4,727,250 that will see 15 get paid at least $84,255, with the winner receiving $1,324,747, a WSOP gold bracelet, and the grandest prize in all of mixed games, the Chip Reese Memorial trophy.
One player who won’t be back Tuesday is defending champion Dan Cates, who battled back from taking a severe hit from Obst at the end of Level 10, but eventually fell for good midway through the final level of the day versus Alaei, who made a wheel against him in Limit 2-7 Triple Draw.
Among others that busted throughout the day were former WSOP Player of the Year recipients Daniel Zack and Shaun Deeb. Hall of Famer Chris Moneymaker’s first foray into the PPC ended on Day 2, as did fellow Hall of Famer Jen Harman.
A litany of multi-time bracelet winners also fell including Brian Yoon, Anthony Zinno, David "ODB" Baker, and Julien Martini.
Headlining some of the other players who will return for Day 3 is Phil Hellmuth, who had a rollercoaster day after entering at the start of Level 9.
Early in his day, he was on the wrong end of what he called the “greatest call anyone’s made against him all summer” by Ben Yu, but after a few swings along the way, the 16-time bracelet winner ended the night in the middle of the pack with 933,000 chips.
Plenty more big names will be joining Hellmuth in the quest to build up their stack on Day 3 including former PPC champions Matthew Ashton (1,068,000) and Elior Sion (934,000), along with 2021 WSOP Main Event Champion Koray Aldemir who battled back from a very short stack to bag 645,000.
The final 32 players will return to the Horseshoe Event Center at 1 p.m. local time on June 20 to play six more levels, which will likely take them into the money.
Stay with PokerNews for our continued coverage from the tournament floor as the Poker Players Championship rolls on toward crowning a champion here at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Seat Draw For Day 3
Level 12
| Casino | Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe | 674 | 1 | Phil Ivey | United States | 1,655,000 |
| Horseshoe | 674 | 2 | James Obst | Australia | 2,972,000 |
| Horseshoe | 674 | 3 | Kristopher Tong | United States | 525,000 |
| Horseshoe | 674 | 4 | Nacho Barbero | Argentina | 1,158,000 |
| Horseshoe | 674 | 5 | John Monnette | United States | 1,001,000 |
| Horseshoe | 674 | 6 | Scott Seiver | United States | 232,000 |
| Horseshoe | 674 | 7 | Dan Smith | United States | 427,000 |
| Horseshoe | 675 | 1 | Freddy Deeb | United States | 559,000 |
| Horseshoe | 675 | 2 | Brian Rast | United States | 1,306,000 |
| Horseshoe | 675 | 3 | Jeremy Ausmus | United States | 219,000 |
| Horseshoe | 675 | 4 | Johannes Becker | Germany | 1,387,000 |
| Horseshoe | 675 | 5 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | 61,000 |
| Horseshoe | 675 | 6 | Hal Rotholz | United States | 556,000 |
| Horseshoe | 675 | 7 | Paul Volpe | United States | 556,000 |
| Horseshoe | 676 | 1 | Lyle Berman | United States | 1,268,000 |
| Horseshoe | 676 | 2 | Josh Arieh | United States | 1,365,000 |
| Horseshoe | 676 | 3 | Dzmitry Urbanovich | Poland | 1,196,000 |
| Horseshoe | 676 | 4 | Maxx Coleman | United States | 1,043,000 |
| Horseshoe | 676 | 5 | Ben Yu | United States | 629,000 |
| Horseshoe | 676 | 6 | John Racener | United States | 1,000,000 |
| Horseshoe | 677 | 1 | Cary Katz | United States | 198,000 |
| Horseshoe | 677 | 2 | Eric Wasserson | United States | 402,000 |
| Horseshoe | 677 | 3 | Elior Sion | United Kingdom | 934,000 |
| Horseshoe | 677 | 4 | Matthew Ashton | United Kingdom | 1,068,000 |
| Horseshoe | 677 | 5 | Talal Shakerchi | United Kingdom | 1,598,000 |
| Horseshoe | 677 | 6 | Benny Glaser | United Kingdom | 299,000 |
| Horseshoe | 678 | 1 | Daniel Alaei | United States | 2,044,000 |
| Horseshoe | 678 | 2 | Marco Johnson | United States | 801,000 |
| Horseshoe | 678 | 3 | Chris Klodnicki | United States | 517,000 |
| Horseshoe | 678 | 4 | Koray Aldemir | Austria | 645,000 |
| Horseshoe | 678 | 5 | Ray Dehkharghani | United States | 1,136,000 |
| Horseshoe | 678 | 6 | Phil Hellmuth | United States | 933,000 |
End-of-Day 2 Chip Counts (full)
Level 12
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,972,000
222,000
|
222,000 |
|
||
|
2,064,000
-356,000
|
-356,000 |
|
||
|
1,655,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
||
|
1,598,000
-317,000
|
-317,000 |
|
||
|
1,387,000
247,000
|
247,000 |
|
|
||
|
1,365,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
||
|
1,306,000
-134,000
|
-134,000 |
|
|
||
|
1,268,000
68,000
|
68,000 |
|
||
|
1,196,000
-4,000
|
-4,000 |
|
1,158,000
208,000
|
208,000 |
|
|
||
|
1,136,000
-214,000
|
-214,000 |
|
|
||
|
1,068,000
-22,000
|
-22,000 |
|
||
|
1,043,000
-177,000
|
-177,000 |
|
|
||
|
1,001,000
151,000
|
151,000 |
|
|
||
|
1,000,000 | |
|
|
||
|
934,000
704,000
|
704,000 |
|
||
|
933,000
53,000
|
53,000 |
|
||
|
801,000
51,000
|
51,000 |
|
|
||
|
645,000
-380,000
|
-380,000 |
|
|
||
|
629,000
-91,000
|
-91,000 |
|
||
|
559,000
-61,000
|
-61,000 |
|
|
||
|
556,000
116,000
|
116,000 |
|
|
||
|
556,000
-169,000
|
-169,000 |
|
525,000
-170,000
|
-170,000 |
|
517,000
-183,000
|
-183,000 |
|
|
||
Play is Complete For the Day
Level 12
With 32 remaining, play has ended for the night with James Obst holding the chip lead with 2,972,000 chips.
Stay tuned for complete end of day chip counts and a full recap of the day's events.
Racener Forces Fold From Glaser
Level 12
Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
On the first draw, Benny Glaser in the small blind took one while John Racener on the button took one. Glaser bet and Racener then raised for Glaser to call. The Brit took one new card on the second draw while Racener patted and Glaser check-called a bet thereafter.
Fast forward to the final draw, Glaser discarded one versus pat again and checked. Racener bet and Glaser counted his remaining stack before folding.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,000,000
195,000
|
195,000 |
|
|
||
|
299,000
-71,000
|
-71,000 |
|
|
||
Four More Hands on Day 2
Level 12
Pot-Limit Omaha
Heads-up to the K♣3♠3♥9♥ turn, Brian Rast bet 85,000 in the cutoff and earned a reluctant call from Josh Arieh on the button. Rast then bet the 6♠ river for 215,000 and Arieh went deep into the tank.
Nearly three minutes passed before Arieh elected to fold.
The clock was stopped soon after and the final four hands were drawn for the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,440,000
240,000
|
240,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,215,000
-85,000
|
-85,000 |
|
|
||
Obst Hangs in There Till Showdown
Level 12
No-Limit Hold'em
Action folded to James Obst in middle position who opened to 25,000. Freddy Deeb then three-bet from the button to 90,000. Everyone else folded and Obst called.
Obst checked the 10♥10♦2♠ to Deeb who bet another 90,000. Obst called. The turn brought the A♦ and action checked through, and the 10♣ river got checked around as well.
Obst quickly tabled 8♦8♥ and Deeb mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,750,000
600,000
|
600,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
620,000
-205,000
|
-205,000 |
|
|
||
Volpe Beats Rotholz in Showdown
Level 12
Stud Hi-Lo
Paul Volpe: XxXx / A♣J♥9♦A♦ / Xx
Scott Seiver: XxXx / 8♥7♥7♣3♠ folded on sixth street
Hal Rotholz: XxXx / 6♦6♠5♣4♠ / Xx
Hal Rotholz had an open pair on fourth street while Scott Seiver bet and Rotholz called, as did Paul Volpe. On fifth street, Seiver made a superior open pair and bet, earning two calls. Volpe then paired his ace on sixth street and bet, Seiver mucked with plenty of frustration while Rotholz stuck around for one more street.
They checked seventh and Volpe first showed his K♦J♦ followed by the 2♥.
"That's exactly what I put you on," Phil Hellmuth chimed in.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
880,000
290,000
|
290,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
805,000
12,000
|
12,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
725,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
445,000
-535,000
|
-535,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
440,000
190,000
|
190,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
370,000
27,000
|
27,000 |
|
|
||
|
305,000
-120,000
|
-120,000 |
|
|
||
Diebold Eliminated by Klodnicki
Level 12
Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo
Ben Diebold: 7♥6♣/7♣Q♣6♥9♠/5♠
Chris Klodnicki: Q♠5♦/4♠2♣Q♦5♥/9♥
A short-stacked Ben Diebold brought it in and then called after a completion from Chris Klodnicki. the players checked fourth street, and then Diebold check-called for his tournament life on fifth, holding two pair versus Klodnicki's queens.
Klodnicki's would make a better two pair on sixth street, and Diebold was unable to fill up on seventh, ending his night about twenty minutes before those that will advance to Day 3 do.
Just before Diebold's elimination, Roy Thung also busted from that table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
700,000
-230,000
|
-230,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||