2017 World Series of Poker

Event #62: $50,000 Poker Players Championship (6-Handed)
Day: 1
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Event Info

2017 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q♦j♠7♣5♥
Prize
$1,395,767
Event Info
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$4,800,000
Entries
100
Level Info
Level
28
Limits
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
0
All Highlights
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Event #62: $50,000 Poker Players Championship (6-Handed)

Day 1 Completed

Ashton Tops Day 1 of the $50,000 Poker Players Championship

[user250068]
[user250068]
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante
Matthew Ashton
Matthew Ashton

British professional poker player Matthew Ashton is leading the 2017 $50,000 Poker Players Championship at the end of Day 1 which saw 93 players take to the felt, already beating last year's audience by two runners. 87 of those 93 players survived, and late registration remains open until the start of Day 2.

Ashton bagged up 705,500 tonight, vaulting to the lead after eliminating Ben Sulsky in the last level of the day in pot-limit Omaha. Ashton raised all in on a queen-high flop, putting the high stakes legend at risk. Sulsky called off with a top set but failed to avoid Ashton's wrap outs. Ashton made a straight on the turn, and the board didn't pair on the river, leaving Sulsky empty-handed.

Ashton has already tasted success in the Poker Players Championship, winning the title and a whopping $1,774,089 back in 2013.

Another contender for the chip lead was Aaron Katz, who took over the pole position with the last few hands before the end of the day, but he eventually finished with 682,700, good for second place. Four-time WSOP bracelet winner Robert Mizrachi rounds out the top three with 485,500.

One of the main heroes of the opening day was Mark Gregorich, who scored the first knockout of the tournament. Gregorich tangled with Daniel Cates in a no-limit hold'em hand that saw Cates five-bet shoving for over 200 big blinds preflop. Gregorich snap-called with pocket aces, leaving Cates' ace-king of diamonds drawing very thin. Cates spiked two diamonds on the flop to keep his hopes alive, but the turn and river bricked, eliminating Cates.

The four other those who failed to make it through to Day 2, were David Benyamine, Dan Shak, Iraj Parvizi, and Jared Bleznick.

The Poker Players Championship always boasts some of the world's most talented fields and this year is no exception. Reigning champion Brian Rast will come back with 335,300 while the only other two-time PPC winner Michael Mizrachi has 267,000.

Jens Lakemeier was busy with winning the $2,500 Big Bet Mix event in the afternoon, and he entered in the second half of the day. He managed to build up but eventually bagged just over the starting stack to continue with 257,000.

Many other notable players will be back in action at 2 p.m. PDT. PokerNews reporters will once again be on the ground to provide you with live updates from one of the most prestigious tournaments in the poker world.

RoomTableSeatPlayerCountryChip Count
Brasilia7131Mike WattelUnited States302,800
Brasilia7132Anthony ZinnoUnited States224,000
Brasilia7134Isaac HaxtonUnited States401,500
Brasilia7136Bryce YockeyUnited States224,500
      
Brasilia7141Robert GoldfarbUnited States205,200
Brasilia7142David "ODB" BakerUnited States167,800
Brasilia7143Johannes BeckerGermany333,100
Brasilia7144Jens LakemeierGermany275,000
Brasilia7145Brock ParkerUnited States135,300
Brasilia7146Daniel AlaeiUnited States446,100
      
Brasilia7151Warwick MirzikinianAustralia213,800
Brasilia7152Felipe RamosBrazil160,300
Brasilia7153Phil HellmuthUnited States307,500
Brasilia7154Gus HansenDanmark96,300
Brasilia7155Andrey ZaichenkoRussia232,300
Brasilia7156Michael MizrachiUnited States267,000
      
Brasilia7161Bruno FitoussiFrance210,400
Brasilia7162Ryan MillerUnited States223,600
Brasilia7163Esther Taylor-BradyUnited States18,400
Brasilia7164Aaron KatzUnited States682,700
Brasilia7165Johnny ChanUnited States408,500
Brasilia7166Paul VolpeUnited States345,600
      
Brasilia7171Albert DaherLebanon15,600
Brasilia7172Adam OwenUnited Kingdom407,300
Brasilia7173Marco JohnsonUnited States422,900
Brasilia7175Jake AbdallaUnited States205,400
Brasilia7176Alex LuneauFrance187,000
      
Brasilia7181Josh AriehUnited States273,600
Brasilia7182Keith GipsonUnited States178,400
Brasilia7184James ObstAustralia417,000
Brasilia7185Tomer DanielUnited States233,800
Brasilia7186Brandon Shack-HarrisUnited States179,000
      
Brasilia7191Elior SionUnited Kingdom314,500
Brasilia7192Fabrice SoulierFrance280,000
Brasilia7194Matt GlantzUnited States121,300
Brasilia7195Phillip HuiUnited States296,200
Brasilia7196Brett RicheyUnited States455,300
      
Brasilia7201Dan SmithUnited States352,200
Brasilia7202Matthew AshtonUnited Kingdom705,500
Brasilia7203Nick SchulmanUnited States196,000
Brasilia7204Leon TsoukernikCzech Republic323,000
Brasilia7205Joseph CoudenUnited States166,200
      
Brasilia7211Dzmitry UrbanovichPoland353,000
Brasilia7212Brian RastUnited States235,300
Brasilia7214Wil WilkinsonUnited States126,500
Brasilia7215Robert MizrachiUnited States485,500
Brasilia7216Eugene KatchalovUkraine277,300
      
Brasilia7221Harry MadoffUnited States478,600
Brasilia7222Justin BonomoUnited States367,000
Brasilia7224Mike LeahCanada227,100
Brasilia7225Daniel NegreanuCanada360,100
Brasilia7226Ivo DonevAustria274,000
      
Brasilia7232John RacenerUnited States333,000
Brasilia7233Stephen ChidwickUnited Kingdom142,700
Brasilia7234Mike GlickUnited States233,100
Brasilia7235Todd BrunsonUnited States215,300
Brasilia7236Roy ThungUnited States257,000
      
Brasilia7241Brian TateUnited States199,000
Brasilia7242Benny GlaserUnited Kingdom239,800
Brasilia7243Mattias De SmidtBelgium196,100
Brasilia7244Scott SeiverUnited States319,200
Brasilia7246Chris GeorgeUnited States50,100
      
Brasilia7251Timofey KuznetsovRussia378,500
Brasilia7252Jason MercierUnited States325,700
Brasilia7253Mike SextonUnited States225,400
Brasilia7255Ray DehkharghaniUnited States219,700
Brasilia7256Mike MatusowUnited States185,700
      
Brasilia7261Shaun DeebUnited States237,500
Brasilia7262Tommy ChenUnited States148,500
Brasilia7263Minh LyUnited States207,400
Brasilia7265Jesse MartinUnited States189,900
Brasilia7266Randy OhelUnited States186,300
      
Brasilia7271Eric WassersonUnited States325,000
Brasilia7272Jon TurnerUnited States398,400
Brasilia7274Daniel ZackUnited States91,800
Brasilia7275Ian JohnsUnited States264,600
Brasilia7276Gary BensonAustralia168,800
      
Brasilia7281Mike GorodinskyUnited States154,400
Brasilia7282Jeff LisandroAustralia96,200
Brasilia7283Abe MosseriUnited States198,000
Brasilia7284Mark GregorichUnited States465,700
Brasilia7286Talal ShakerchiUnited Kingdom116,600
      
Brasilia7291Michael RossUnited States373,800
Brasilia7292David OppenheimUnited States345,000
Brasilia7293John MonnetteUnited States264,600
Brasilia7294David BachUnited States333,800
Brasilia7295Bertrand GrospellierFrance367,900

Tags: Aaron KatzBen SulskyBrian RastDan CatesDan ShakDavid BenyamineIraj ParviziJens LakemeierMark GregorichMatthew AshtonMichael MizrachiRobert Mizrachi

End-of-Day Chip Counts (full)

Mickey Doft
Mickey Doft
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante

Here is the Day 2 table and seat draw.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matthew Ashton gb
Matthew Ashton 		705,500
-100
 -100
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Aaron Katz us
Aaron Katz 		682,700
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi 		485,500
105,500
 105,500
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Harry Madoff us
Harry Madoff
478,600
28,600
 28,600
Profile photo of Mark Gregorich us
Mark Gregorich 		465,200
-14,800
 -14,800
Profile photo of Brett Richey us
Brett Richey 		455,300
45,300
 45,300
Profile photo of Daniel Alaei us
Daniel Alaei 		446,100
-13,900
 -13,900
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Marco Johnson us
Marco Johnson 		422,900
WSOP 2X Winner
Profile photo of James Obst au
James Obst 		417,600
147,600
 147,600
WSOP 2X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Johnny Chan us
Johnny Chan 		408,500
-61,500
 -61,500
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 10X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
Profile photo of Adam Owen gb
Adam Owen 		407,300
157,300
 157,300
Profile photo of Isaac Haxton us
Isaac Haxton 		401,500
-3,500
 -3,500
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Jon Turner us
Jon Turner 		398,400
-1,600
 -1,600
Profile photo of Timofey Kuznetsov ru
Timofey Kuznetsov 		378,500
-30,500
 -30,500
Profile photo of Michael Ross us
Michael Ross 		373,800
53,800
 53,800
Profile photo of Bertrand Grospellier fr
Bertrand Grospellier 		367,900
97,900
 97,900
WSOP 2X Winner
GGPoker
Profile photo of Justin Bonomo us
Justin Bonomo 		362,000
12,000
 12,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Daniel Negreanu ca
Daniel Negreanu 		360,100
55,100
 55,100
WSOP 7X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
GGPoker
Profile photo of Dzmitry Urbanovich pl
Dzmitry Urbanovich 		353,000
8,000
 8,000
Profile photo of Dan Smith us
Dan Smith 		352,200
-7,800
 -7,800
WSOP 1X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Paul Volpe us
Paul Volpe 		345,600
-49,400
 -49,400
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of David Oppenheim us
David Oppenheim 		345,000
75,000
 75,000
Poker Hall of Famer
Profile photo of Brian Rast us
Brian Rast 		335,300
75,300
 75,300
Defending Champion
WSOP 6X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
Profile photo of David Bach us
David Bach 		333,800
-90,000
 -90,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Johannes Becker de
Johannes Becker 		333,100
33,100
 33,100
WSOP 1X Winner

Read full

Obst Makes A Big Call, Cripples Daher

Yori Epskamp
Yori Epskamp
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante
James Obst
James Obst

No-Limit Hold'em

Albert Daher raised to 3,000 from the cutoff, James Obst three-bet to 12,000 from the small blind, and Daher called. Obst checked on the {Q-Spades}{J-Hearts}{2-Hearts} flop, Daher bet 11,500, and Obst called.

On the {7-Spades} turn, Obst check-called a 27,000 bet from Daher. The river completed the board with the {Q-Hearts} and Obst checked a third time. Daher moved all in for slightly more than Obst's remaining stack of 77,700.

The razz champion spent minutes in the tank before making the call for his tournament life.

Daher: {8-Clubs}{6-Clubs}
Obst: {A-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}

Daher's big bluff was unable to fold out Obst's second pair and left him behind with 16,500 in chips.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of James Obst au
James Obst 		270,000
105,000
 105,000
WSOP 2X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Albert Daher lb
Albert Daher 		16,500
-238,500
 -238,500

Tags: Albert DaherJames Obst

Ben Sulsky Eliminated by Matthew Ashton

Mickey Doft
Mickey Doft
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante
Ben Sulsky - Eliminated
Ben Sulsky - Eliminated

Pot-Limit Omaha

Matthew Ashton (who filled us in on the betting action) raised the pot from the button, Ben Sulsky three-bet from the small blind, and Ashton called.

The flop came down {Q-Spades}{7-Spades}{5-Clubs} and Sulsky bet about half pot. Ashton raised the pot and Sulsky called all in for about 130,000.

Ashton: {8-Spades}{8-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{4-Clubs}
Sulsky: {A-Diamonds}{K-Clubs}{Q-Hearts}{Q-Diamonds}

Sulsky was in the lead with top set against Ashton's wrap, but the {4-Diamonds} turn fell to give Ashton an eight-high straight. Sulsky found no help from the {A-Hearts} river and was eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Matthew Ashton gb
Matthew Ashton 		645,000
193,000
 193,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Ben Sulsky us
Ben Sulsky 		Busted
Run It Once

Tags: Ben SulskyMatthew Ashton

Original David Baker Folds the River

Jan_Kores
Jan_Kores
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante

Omaha Hi-Lo

Brian Rast was on the button, facing off with small blind David "ODB" Baker.

They were on the {K-Clubs}{Q-Diamonds}{Q-Spades}{10-Hearts} turn that had already discarded any possibility of a low, making this pot likely to end up scooped by one of the players. Baker check-called.

The {2-Clubs} on the river seemed to be a brick, and Baker checked again to see Rast fire one more time. Baker leaned back in his chair, visibly unhappy to make either a fold or a call. He counted his remaining chips and decided to let it go.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Rast us
Brian Rast 		260,000
-55,000
 -55,000
Defending Champion
WSOP 6X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
Profile photo of David "ODB" Baker us
David "ODB" Baker 		142,000
7,000
 7,000
WSOP 3X Winner

Tags: Brian RastDavid "ODB" Baker

Flush for Negreanu

Yori Epskamp
Yori Epskamp
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante
Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu

Seven Card Stud

Negreanu: {X-}{X-} / {A-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{K-Diamonds}{7-Hearts} / {X-}
Donev: {X-}{X-} / {Q-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}{10-Spades}{7-Diamonds} / {X-}

Mike Matusow was the bring-in with the {2-Spades}. Ivo Donev completed, Daniel Negreanu called, and Matusow folded. Both players checked on fourth street.

Negreanu took the lead on fifth street, betting all subsequent streets as well. Donev made all the calls, but when Negreanu fanned out {9-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{2-Hearts} for a flush, the chess pro had to muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Negreanu ca
Daniel Negreanu 		305,000
90,000
 90,000
WSOP 7X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
GGPoker
Profile photo of Ivo Donev at
Ivo Donev 		280,000
-25,000
 -25,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Daniel NegreanuIvo Donev

Smith's Flush Bests Wattel

Mickey Doft
Mickey Doft
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante
Dan Smith
Dan Smith

Seven Card Stud

Smith: {X-}{X-} / {2-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts} / {X-}{X-}
Wattel: {X-}{X-} / {9-Clubs}{K-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{3-Clubs} / {X-}{X-}

Dan Smith was the bring-in, Mike Wattel completed, Smith raised, and Wattel called. Wattel check-called bets from Smith on fourth and fifth street before he led out on sixth street. Smith raised, Wattel called, and then Wattel check-called another bet on seventh street.

Smith showed {Q-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{2-Hearts} for a queen high-flush, Wattel mucked, and Smith collected the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Dan Smith us
Dan Smith 		360,000
25,000
 25,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Mike Wattel us
Mike Wattel 		317,000
-33,000
 -33,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Dan SmithMike Wattel

Taylor Doubles Through Glaser

Jan_Kores
Jan_Kores
Level 6 : 2,500/5,000, 0 ante

Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo

Benny Glaser was the bring-in with the {3-Diamonds} and Esther Taylor completed with the {4-Hearts}. Paul Volpe, sitting between Taylor and Glaser, called, and so did Glaser.

Fourth street was checked by all players but Taylor led on fifth after spiking an ace. Volpe mucked but Glaser called. Taylor then ended up all in on sixth for her remaining 4,000, and Glaser called, albeit indicating he didn't have anything strong.

Paul Volpe: {X-}{X-} / {3-Spades}{K-Hearts}{J-Spades} - fold
Esther Taylor: {7-Spades}{8-Diamonds} / {4-Hearts}{J-Hearts}{A-Clubs}{5-Diamonds} / {K-Spades}
Benny Glaser: {6-Spades}{4-Spades} / {3-Diamonds}{10-Hearts}{2-Spades}{Q-Diamonds} / {9-Spades}

Taylor completed her low on sixth street, and she took the high half of the pot as well after the river card bricked all of Glaser's outs for both high and low.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Esther Taylor us
Esther Taylor 		30,000
10,000
 10,000

Tags: Benny GlaserEsther Taylor

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