2017 World Series of Poker

Michael Mizrachi built his poker legend largely on the back of two victories in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. That record was tied last year when Brian Rast claimed his second title, but could "The Grinder" one up Rast again and claim an unprecedented third Chip Reese Trophy?

It's still far too early to speculate too heavily on such a possibility, but Mizrachi has at least gotten the ball rolling in that direction after a strong second day here at the 2017 PPC. Mizrachi finished the day with 1,087,000, leaving him in third place out of 44 remaining players.

The only players finishing above Mizrachi were Aaron Katz (1,642,000) and Talal Shakerchi (1,480,500).

The Grinder experienced an early slide, losing more than half of the chips he came in with. He sat with a below-average stack for much of the day, but the last couple of levels were good to him, as he utilized his unpredictable no-limit style to chip up in some of the big-bet rounds.

In addition to those big stacks already listed, some players living to see Day 3 included another former champ, Matthew Ashton, as well as Shaun Deeb, Jason Mercier, Mike Matusow, Phil Galfond, Daniel Negreanu and Mike Sexton.

Negreanu put together a wild charge during the final two levels of the night after being down to about 40,000. Much to the delight of a crowd of railbirds cheering him on, the Canadian superstar doubled up and then tripled up in pot-limit Omaha.

That still only left him with 170,000, about 10 big bets, but he turned that into 500,000 in under an hour after doubling up with a set in no-limit hold'em against Harry Madoff's overpair. Negreanu finished with 678,000.

Madoff was among those failing to see bagging time. Others eliminated on Day 2 included Dzmitry Urbanovich, Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, Mike Gorodinsky, Rast and Gus Hansen.

The remaining players return at 2 p.m. Tuesday for Day 3 with limits of 12,000/24,000 on limit games and blinds of 3,000/6,000 in big-bet games. Tune in to PokerNews for further coverage at that time.

Eric Wasserson busted just before the end of the day.

The clock has been paused and four more hands will be played on each table before the bagging.

No-Limit Hold'em

Mixed-games wizard James Obst just proved he has some sharp elbows in no-limit hold'em, as well.

Obst was in the big blind, watching Aaron Katz open to 12,000 from the cutoff. Bryn Kenney three-bet to 31,500 and small blind Eugene Katchalov got out of the way, leaving the action to Obst.

Obst reached out to his stack and fired out a cold four-bet of 78,000. Katz released his hand quickly and Kenney followed suit.

Razz

Justin Bonomo picked up two and then three to a wheel on the first two cards and bet fourth, fifth and sixth against Isaac Haxton, who had a much rougher board that included two paint cards.

Bonomo: /
Haxton: /

Haxton, however, went nowhere, taking his time to think before making the last couple of calls. On seventh, Bonomo checked and called a bet from Haxton. Haxton tabled for an eight-six, and Bonomo couldn't beat it.

At another table, Ryan Miller lost his remaining chips.

Stud Hi-Lo

Mercier: / /
Sexton: / /

On fourth street, Jason Mercier bet with ace-five showing, and Mike Sexton called. Mercier checked fifth street to Sexton, who bet. Mercier called and also check-called on sixth street.

Mercier bet out on seventh street and Sexton called. Much to everyone's surprise, Mercier flipped up for a Broadway straight. Sexton showed for trip eights, which was second best, and had to surrender the pot to Mercier.

"Starts with ace-five, comes up with Broadway," chuckled Mike Matusow.

2-7 Triple Draw

Eugene Katchalov, Aaron Katz, and Johannes Becker were involved in a big pot, paying three bets apiece after the second draw.

Becker stood pat while Katz and Katchalov both discarded one.

Becker led out and Katz raised. Katchalov folded and Becker quickly threw in the calling chip.

Unfortunately for him, Katz showed for a wheel, getting there on the last draw. Becker flipped what looked to be a seventy-six.

Katz, who was second in chips after Day 1, is now holding the biggest stack with less than 30 minutes left to play on Day 2.

Razz

Madoff: / /
Perry: / /
Haxton: / /

Harry Madoff was all in for his last remaining chips and got looked up by Ralph Perry and Isaac Haxton. On seventh street, Perry checked and Haxton spent a while before checking behind.

Perry revealed for an eight-seven, Haxton also had , which gave him a ten-seven. Madoff couldn't muster up more than and was eliminated.