Jesse Lonis: 3x2xAx / 5x9x8x3x
Christopher Vitch: 8x7x5x / 4x7x2xQx
Lonis had just taken his seat and completed, and Vitch called.
Vitch took the betting lead with the lower board as he led on fourth and fifth.
Lonis showed the better board on sixth and check-called.
He checked dark on seventh and called after Vitch bet. Vitch tabled his eight-seven which was no good against the eight-five of Lonis as he looks to build a stack early in the day.
Ali Eslami: XxXx/9x4xQx3x/Xx
Chino Rheem: XxXx/8xAxQx3x/Xx
Ali Eslami was still stacking up his chips and eating a sandwich as Chino Rheem completed. "Let's go, Mr. Bring-In. Just because you have all the chips doesn't mean you can play slow," Rheem said. Eslami called and Rheem bet again on fourth street.
Eslami called and Rheem bet on fifth. Eslami then raised. "Do you know that we're playing Razz?" Rheem said as he reraised.
"I'm going to burn money," Eslami added, putting in another raise.
"Do you know that you're going to win this hand? Are you cheating me right now?" Rheem said, calling down to sixth as Eslami bet again. Rheem called and both players checked on seventh.
Eslami showed Ax10x6x for 9-6-4-3-A and Rheem mucked 8x5x3x. "Do you know things I don't know? You're cheating, aren't you?" Rheem added as Eslami took the pot.
Benny Glaser completed, Phil Ivey raised and Aaron Kupin three-bet. Glaser four-bet, Ivey called and Kupin called.
Benny Glaser: XxXx/2xAx3x4x
Phil Ivey: XxXx/7x2x8x7x - folded on sixth street
Aaron Kupin: XxXx/3xQx - folded on fourth street
Glaser bet fourth street, Ivey raised, Kupin folded and Glaser called. Glaser then bet fifth and sixth street with Ivey calling on fifth before folding on sixth.
Matthew Ashton: Ax7x6x / 2x9x10x4x
James Obst: XxXx / 2x9x7x5x / Xx
Matthew Ashton completed and James Obst raised. Ashton made it three bets and Obst called. Obst then bet on fourth street and Ashton called, and the same action took place on fifth street. Ashton then took the betting lead on sixth street and Obst called.
Obst checked on seventh street and Ashton bet. Obst went in the tank and squirmed a bit in his chair before calling, only to muck as Ashton announced a seven.
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.
Benny Glaser
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.
