2017 World Series of Poker

Event #30: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
Day: 1
123
Event Info

2017 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a♥j♦9♥8♠
Prize
$383,208
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$1,410,000
Entries
150
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
150,000 / 300,000
Ante
30,000

Defending Champion Jason Mercier Tops Day 1

[user270022]
[user270022]
Level 10 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante
Defending Champion Jason Mercier leads the pack
Defending Champion Jason Mercier leads the pack

The best horses in the game took to the track today for their shot at the coveted $10k H.O.R.S.E Championship gold bracelet. A total of 150 hopefuls joined the field throughout play today and after ten hour-long levels on Day 1 of Event #30: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E Championship only 57 remain.

The top horse as the clock ran out on Day 1 was the defending champion, Jason Mercier. Mercier bagged an impressive 384,500 to claim the top spot. Mercier was a late addition to the field but it clearly didn't hinder the five-time WSOP gold bracelet winner.

Joining Mercier on top of the counts were Mack Lee (347,500), David Bach (278,500), Tom McCormick (224,500), and Mark Gregorich (222,500)

As expected in the Championship events, the field was star-studded. A bunch of the game’s best made it through to Day 2 including Esther Taylor (201,500), Brandon Shack-Harris (171,500), Anthony Zinno (146,000), Felipe Ramos (136,000), Maria Ho (90,000), Mike Sexton (74,000), Daniel Negreanu (61,500), and Phil Hellmuth (33,500).

When registration closed at the beginning of Level 9, the prize pool capped off at $1,410,000. The top 23 spots will leave with a prize. A min-cash will be worth $15,000 and the largest share sitting up top is a first-place prize of $383,208.

Some notables no longer in contention include Jon Turner, Jeff Lisandro, Jared Bleznick, David Benyamine, Mike Leah, Matt Grapenthien, Mike Matusow, Mike Gorodinsky, Jesse Martin, John Monnette, and Jennifer Harman.

Play will resume at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon with another ten hour-long levels on the schedule. Follow along live as PokerNews will be on the floor providing updates and full coverage until a champion is crowned.

RoomTableSeatPlayerCountryChip Count
Brasilia7221Eric WassersonUnited States140,000
Brasilia7222Mack LeeUnited States347,500
Brasilia7223Jonathan DraneUnited States42,500
Brasilia7224Philip SternheimerUnited States70,000
Brasilia7225Gary BensonAustralia55,500
Brasilia7226Mike SextonUnited States74,000
Brasilia7227Howard LedererUnited States149,500
Brasilia7228David BachUnited States278,500
      
Brasilia7231Andrew BrownUnited States128,500
Brasilia7232Andrey ZhigalovRussia66,000
Brasilia7233Chris George (NY)United States118,000
Brasilia7234David "ODB" BakerUnited States132,000
Brasilia7235Andrew BarberUnited States74,000
Brasilia7236Adam FriedmanUnited States82,500
Brasilia7237Don ZewinUnited States172,000
Brasilia7238Thao ThiemUnited States82,500
      
Brasilia7241Jean MonturyFrance151,500
Brasilia7242Jerry WongUnited States159,500
Brasilia7243Randy OhelUnited States173,000
Brasilia7244Eric RodawigUnited States204,000
Brasilia7245Owais AhmedUnited States126,000
Brasilia7246Andrew KelsallUnited States62,000
Brasilia7247Yuebin GuoUnited States133,000
Brasilia7248Phillip WallaceUnited States149,500
      
Brasilia7251Daniel NegreanuCanada61,500
Brasilia7252Pat PezzinCanada133,500
Brasilia7253Ben YuUnited States126,000
Brasilia7254Tom McCormickUnited States224,500
Brasilia7256Jason MercierUnited States384,500
Brasilia7257Albert DaherLebanon188,000
Brasilia7258Benny GlaserUnited Kingdom121,500
      
Brasilia7261Felipe RamosBrazil136,000
Brasilia7262Scott MauerUnited States12,500
Brasilia7264Richard ChaseUnited States102,000
Brasilia7265Stephen ChidwickUnited Kingdom48,000
Brasilia7267Anthony ZinnoUnited States146,000
Brasilia7268Michael MizrachiUnited States47,000
      
Brasilia7271Phil HellmuthUnited States33,500
Brasilia7272John RacenerUnited States26,000
Brasilia7273Andre AkkariBrazil77,800
Brasilia7274Esther Taylor-BradyUnited States201,500
Brasilia7275Brian RastUnited States150,500
Brasilia7276Mark GregorichUnited States222,500
Brasilia7277Greg MuellerCanada64,500
Brasilia7278Aditya PrasetyoUnited States178,000
      
Brasilia7281Paul VolpeUnited States126,500
Brasilia7282Scott BohlmanUnited States100,000
Brasilia7284Thomas HammersUnited States200,000
Brasilia7285Greg MascioUnited States118,500
Brasilia7286Richard SklarUnited States100,500
Brasilia7287Brandon Shack-HarrisUnited States171,500
      
Brasilia7292Ted WoolridgeUnited States210,000
Brasilia7293Maria HoUnited States90,000
Brasilia7295Aron DermerUnited States197,000
Brasilia7296Craig ChaitUnited States172,500
Brasilia7297Ryan TurnerUnited States119,500
Brasilia7298Laurence KantorUnited States94,500

Tags: Anthony ZinnoDaniel NegreanuDavid BachDavid BenyamineEsther TaylorFelipe RamosJared BleznickJason MercierJeffrey LisandroJen HarmanJesse MartinJohn MonnetteJon TurnerMaria HoMark GregorichMatt GrapenthienMike GorodinskyMike LeahMike MatusowMike SextonPhil HellmuthTom McCormick

McCormick Scoops Monster, Bronshtein Eliminated

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p
Level 10 : 4,000/8,000, 1,000 ante
Yuval Bronshtein
Yuval Bronshtein

Stud

Catching the action on fifth street with a huge pot already sitting in the middle, Philip Sternheimer bet 8,000 and Andrew Brown called.

Yuval Bronshtein raised to 16,000 and Tom McCormick called before Sternheimer made it 24,000. Brown folded, Bronshtein called all-in for his last 16,700 total, and McCormick called also.

On sixth street, McCormick bet 8,000 and Sternheimer called.

Sternheimer: {X-}{X-} / {Q-Spades}{A-Clubs}{K-Clubs}{10-Spades} / {X-}
Brown: {X-}{X-} / {5-Hearts}{4-Hearts}{8-Spades} (folded on fifth)
Bronshtein: {X-}{X-} / {K-Spades}{A-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{2-Clubs} / {X-}
McCormick: {X-}{X-} / {K-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}{10-Diamonds} / {X-}

Both Sternheimer and McCormick checked and McCormick tabled his {7-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} for a flush.

Sternheimer revealed his {Q-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds} / {2-Spades} for rolled-up queens and a busted straight draw as McCormick scooped the entire pot once Bronshtein tabled his {A-Diamonds}{J-Spades}{9-Spades} and mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Tom McCormick us
Tom McCormick 		210,000 124,000
Andrew Brown us
Andrew Brown 		120,000 3,000
Philip Sternheimer gb
Philip Sternheimer 		63,000 -41,000
Yuval Bronshtein il
Yuval Bronshtein
WSOP 2X Winner
Busted

Tags: Andrew BrownPhilip SternheimerTom McCormickYuval Bronshtein

Rheem Eliminated by Taylor

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p
Level 7 : 2,000/4,000, 500 ante
Chino Rheem
Chino Rheem

Stud Hi-Lo

Catching the action on seventh street with considerable money already in the pot, it appeared as though Chino Rheem was all in on third street.

The action was on Friedman after Taylor had bet, and after considerable time thinking, Rheem called the clock.

Rheem: {X-}{X-} / {3-Hearts}{J-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{6-Clubs} / {X-}
Friedman: {X-}{X-} / {A-Hearts}{J-Spades}{5-Hearts}{K-Clubs} / {X-}
Taylor: {X-}{X-} / {7-Spades}{8-Spades}{5-Spades}{6-Spades} / {X-}

After Friedman eventually called Taylor's bet, she showed {A-Spades}{7-Diamonds}{4-Clubs} for a flush and a seven-low, as Friedman tabled his losing {Q-Hearts}{J-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}.

Rheem tabled his {8-Hearts}{5-Clubs}{4-Diamonds} and was forced to hit the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Adam Friedman us
Adam Friedman
WSOP 5X Winner
143,000 -31,000
Esther Taylor us
Esther Taylor 		115,000 12,000
Chino Rheem us
Chino Rheem 		Busted

Tags: Adam FriedmanChino RheemEsther Taylor

Hang Halted by Negreanu's Flush and Low

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p
Level 5 : 1,200/2,400, 300 ante
Tommy Hang
Tommy Hang

Stud Hi-Lo

On fourth street, Gary Benson bet, and Tommy Hang called, as a third player folded. Daniel Negreanu also called, and on fifth street, Hang took the betting lead for 2,400.

Negreanu called, as did Benson, before Hang was all in for his last 2,300 on sixth street. Negreanu raised to 4,700, and Benson called.

Benson: {X-}{X-} / {8-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}{10-Spades}{2-Hearts} / {X-}
Hang: {X-}{X-} / {7-Hearts}{K-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts} / {X-}
Negreanu: {X-}{X-} / {5-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{2-Spades}{3-Clubs} / {X-}

On seventh, Benson checked, and Negreanu bet 2,400, with Benson calling.

Negreanu tabled his {A-Clubs}{7-Clubs}{8-Hearts} for the nut flush and a low, as Hang flashed his {6-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds} and mucked.

Benson showed {6-Clubs}{2-Clubs} in the hole for trips and flush blockers, as Negreanu scooped the entire pot to move to 84,000, while Hang was eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Daniel Negreanu ca
Daniel Negreanu
WSOP 6X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
GGPoker
84,000 47,000
Gary Benson au
Gary Benson
WSOP 1X Winner
25,000 -11,000
Tommy Hang us
Tommy Hang 		Busted

Tags: Daniel NegreanuGary BensonTommy Hang

2015 H.O.R.S.E. Championship Snapshot

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p
Level 4 : 1,000/2,000, 200 ante
Andrew Barber
Andrew Barber

Back in 2015, the $10,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. Championship was won by Andrew Barber for his first career WSOP bracelet.

Barber bested a field of 204 entrants to collect the $517,766 first prize after defeating Viacheslav Zhukov heads-up on a final table that featured Don Zewin, Jared Bleznick, Joe Hachem, Frank Kassela, and Scotty Nguyen.

Of those final table combatants, all but Kassela, Nguyen, and Arash Ghaneian are in the field currently, while six other in-the-money finishers are also battling it out here in level four.

Since his win, Barber has gone on to collect four additional WSOP cashes split evenly across 2016 and 2017, with his most notable result being a 241st-place finish in last year's WSOP Main Event.

2015 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. Championship Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1stAndrew BarberUnited States$517,766
2ndViacheslav ZhukovRussia$319,989
3rdDon ZewinUnited States$210,629
4thJared BleznickUnited States$153,638
5thJoe HachemAustralia$114,308
6thFrank KasselaUnited States$86,541
7thScotty NguyenUnited States$66,579
8thArash GhaneianUnited States$51,986

Friedman Rivers a Six-Low

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p
Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Adam Friedman
Adam Friedman

Razz

Adam Friedman completed, and both Chino Rheem and Robert Campbell called. Campbell bet fourth street, and only Friedman called before both players checked fifth street.

On sixth, Friedman bet, and Campbell called, and before the dealer could deal seventh street, Friedman bet again.

Friedman: {X-}{X-} / {2-}{4-}{Q-}{3-} / {X-}
Rheem: {X-}{X-} / {3-}{10-} (folded on fourth)
Campbell: {X-}{X-} / {3-}{A-}{Q-}{8-} / {X-}

Campbell folded, and Friedman squeezed his last card to reveal a {6-} to go along with his {A-}{8-} in the hole for a six-low.

Player Chips Progress
Adam Friedman us
Adam Friedman
WSOP 5X Winner
72,000 15,000
Robert Campbell au
Robert Campbell
WSOP 2X Winner
55,000 5,000
Chino Rheem us
Chino Rheem 		47,000 6,000

Tags: Adam FriedmanChino RheemDavid Rheem

The Champ Is Here

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p
Level 2 : 600/1,200, 100 ante
Jason Mercier
Jason Mercier

The reigning champion and five-time WSOP bracelet winner, Jason Mercier, has just arrived to defend his title.

Although Mercier is having a quiet start to his 2017 WSOP compared to the way he kicked it off in 2016 with three back-to-back final tables, it still won't deter the recently married father-to-be in continuing the grind for another bracelet.

So far at this WSOP, Mercier has captured three WSOP cashes in Event #14: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. (107th), Event #18: $565 Pot-Limit Omaha (31st), and Event #23: $2,620 The Marathon (143rd).

Exactly a year ago today, Mercier bested a field of 171 to emerge victorious and collect the $422,874 first prize after defeating James Obst heads-up on a stacked final table featuring some of the world's best. Here is how the final table results finished:

2016 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. Championship Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1stJason MercierUnited States$422,874
2ndJames ObstAustralia$261,354
3rdNick SchulmanUnited States$183,779
4thAdam FriedmanUnited States$131,519
5thMichael SemenovRussia$95,817
6thJesse MartinUnited States$71,089
7thYuval BronshteinUnited States$53,729
8thBryn KenneyUnited States$41,383
Player Chips Progress
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
Defending Champion
WSOP 6X Winner
50,000 50,000

Tags: Jason Mercier

New Cards

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p
Level 1 : 500/1,000, 100 ante
New Cards in Play
New Cards in Play

Over the first few weeks of the World Series of Poker, there has been both positive and negative talk about the cards in play.

The negative issues have mostly stemmed from marked cards mainly during the tournaments with draw games.

Consequently, the WSOP has taken a step forward and implemented stronger and more rigid playing cards for this H.O.R.S.E. Championship, and most likely, the other high buy-in tournaments, such as the upcoming $50,000 Poker Players Championship.

Giddy Up! Time for the H.O.R.S.E. Championship!

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p

Welcome back to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, and the 2017 World Series of Poker (WSOP) for Day 1 of Event #30: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship!

Easily one of the more prestigious events to win on the WSOP schedule, the H.O.R.S.E. Championship is an event most seasoned tournament veterans pinpoint on their calendar as one to play. Just a look at past results prove this as Jason Mercier collected the title last year for the $422,874 first prize over a final table that included James Obst, Nick Schulman, Adam Friedman, Jesse Martin, Yuval Bronshtein and Bryn Kenney. Past winners are also highly respected players, among them Andrew Barber, Chris Wallace and David "Bakes" Baker.

Although numbers have been down in all the non-hold'em tournaments at this year's WSOP compared to last, the H.O.R.S.E. Championship will be hoping to kick things back up into the positive direction as players continue to trickle into town as we make a run at the action-packed back-half of the WSOP schedule.

Play is set to kick off at 3:00 p.m. (PDT) with the PokerNews Live Reporting Team providing continuous live updates of every scoop, buried pair, and made wheel live from the 2017 World Series of Poker and Event #30! So stay tuned right here for all the action!

Download My Stack Now!

tRaMSt0p
tRaMSt0p

PokerNews has activated the My Stack App for this event, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting blog using your iPhone or Android phone.

You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.

Click here to download the My Stack app for iPhone, or click here to download the My Stack app for Android.