Daniel Negreanu Among Seven Champions Returning for Day 2 of Poker Players Championship
For many top pros and mixed game specialists, the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship is the most prestigious title on the World Series of Poker schedule. The event, featuring a nine-game mix, $50,000 buy-in and a field full of the best players in the world, is considered by many to be the ultimate test of poker skill.
Last year, after winning this event and ending an 11-year bracelet drought, Daniel Negreanu described the event as the one he wanted to win the most. Today, Negreanu finds himself off to a great start towards a title defense, going into Day 2 just outside the top ten with 662,000.
Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Eslami | United States | 903,000 | 301 | 75 |
| 2 | Jeremy Ausmus | United States | 886,500 | 296 | 74 |
| 3 | Michael Mizrachi | United States | 849,500 | 283 | 71 |
| 4 | Chris Hunichen | United States | 828,000 | 276 | 69 |
| 5 | Christopher Vitch | United States | 809,000 | 270 | 67 |
| 6 | Mike Gorodinsky | United States | 781,000 | 260 | 65 |
| 7 | Justin Liberto | United States | 739,500 | 247 | 62 |
| 8 | Maxx Coleman | United States | 721,500 | 241 | 60 |
| 9 | Erick Lindgren | United States | 710,500 | 237 | 59 |
| 10 | Jon Kyte | Norway | 699,500 | 233 | 58 |
Negreanu will have his work cut out for him as plenty of big names remain in the field, including six other former champions. Three-time PPC winner Michael Mizrachi was leading most of Day 1, ending the day with 849,5000, good for a top-three stack. Also among the returning champions are Mike Gorodinsky (781,000), John Hennigan (438,000), Phil Hui (470,000) Freddy Deeb (405,000) and Matthew Ashton (179,000).
Several more elite players remain in contention. Ali Eslami leads the field with 903,000, just ahead of six-time bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus with 886,500. Of all the pros in the field, no player has as much momentum coming in as Benny Glaser, who just last week won his third WSOP bracelet of the summer and eighth overall. Glaser comes into Day 2 with a healthy stack of 392,500 and will look to become the first player to win four bracelets in a single summer with a victory in this event.
The action resumes at 1 p.m. local time, starting at Level 7, with the 1,500/3,000 blinds in no-limit and pot-limit games, and limits of 6,000/12,000 in the limit games. Play is scheduled for six 100-minute levels, with a 60-minute dinner break at the end of Level 9. Late registration ends at the conclusion of the dinner break around 7:30 p.m.
The first day attracted 88 entries and with three levels of late registration available today, it is all but inevitable that last year's attendance of 89 will be bested.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the exciting action as the best players in the world battle in one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year.