WSOP What To Watch For: Phil Hellmuth Gets Another Shot at Bracelet #14
The Amazon Room has been bustling with enthusiastic poker fans so far at the 2014 World Series of Poker with big names like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jason Mercier and Vanessa Selbst already reaching final tables. There could be more of the same on Saturday as Hellmuth closes in on his second final table of the series in Event #15: $3,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em.
Hellmuth is one of 15 players returning for the final day of that event, and all eyes will be on the "Poker Brat" while he attempts to make another run at his 14th WSOP bracelet. Meanwhile Event #16: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball will also play down to a winner, and four other bracelet events will be scattered around the Rio.
Event #15: $3,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
On Monday, Phil Hellmuth had his heart crushed when he lost to Ted Forrest heads-up in Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz, costing him a chance to show off his 14th WSOP bracelet.
While most runner-up finishers at the WSOP don't stick around to watch the champion revel in the moment, Hellmuth took it all in. He sulked in the corner of the ESPN stage while Forrest partook in countless interviews and winner photos.
That's why Hellmuth is arguably the best tournament player of all time. He punishes himself for not closing the deal. He wants to live through the pain in order to push himself to not lose again.
Hellmuth is back in the spotlight again on Saturday as he is among the 15 players who advanced to Day 3 of Event #15: $3,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em. He'll be in the middle of the pack when the event recommences, but a stacked field of accomplished pros stand in his way of reaching his second final table of this series.
Among those still in contention include Davidi Kitai (815,000), Pratyush Buddiga (760,000), Gordon Vayo (483,000), Ryan Olisar (444,000), Vladimir Geshkenbein (178,000), and Tony Ruberto (98,000).
Hellmuth may not even recognize how good the remaining field actually is, but it won't matter. When the pressure is on he gets into a zone like nobody else in the game, which is why he boasts the most impressive resume the WSOP has ever seen.
If you're a poker fan, you won't want to miss the conclusion of this event on Saturday.
Event #16: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball
Captain Tom Franklin has a familiar face at the World Series of Poker since the early 1990s, racking up 39 cashes and over $1,000,000 in career earnings. One of those cashes includes a bracelet he won in 1999. Fifteen years later, he's in great position to win Bracelet #2.
Franklin reached his first WSOP final table in eight years late Friday night, bagging up the biggest stack in the $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball event. Among his competitors for a bracelet include Vladimir Shchemelev, Todd Bui, Kevin Iacofano, Aaron Steury, David Gee, and the shortest stack Ismael Bojang who is on life support with less than one big bet.
Play will resume at 2 p.m. in the Amazon Room. Be sure to follow our complete final table coverage at PokerNews.com.
Also taking place on Saturday will be Day 2 of Event #17: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship and Event #18: $10,000 Seven-Card Razz Championship. Meanwhile, Event #19: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em and Event #20: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout will get underway.
Here's a look at the full schedule of Events on Day 12:
- 11:00 a.m. — Event #17: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship (Day 2 of 3)
- 12:00 p.m. — Event #19: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Day 1 of 3)
- 1:00 p.m. — Event #15: $3,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em (Day 3 of 3)
- 2:00 p.m. — Event #16: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (Day 3 of 3)
- 2:00 p.m. — Event #18: $10,000 Seven-Card Razz Championship (Day 2 of 3)
- 4:00 p.m. — Event #20: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Day 1 of 3)
Stay tuned to the PokerNews Live Reporting blog for extensive coverage the World Series of Poker, including Hellmuth's quest for his 14th WSOP bracelet!
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