WSOP What to Watch For: June 12, 2017
Today's What to Watch For is brought to you by the VerStandig Law Firm, LLC. Combining a keen understanding of the gaming world and an equally keen understanding of the law, Mac VerStandig and his colleagues are devoted to fighting on behalf of the poker community and its members.
The VerStandig Law Firm, LLC represents poker professionals, sports bettors and advantage players across the United States. The firm assists clients in connection with legal issues including personal LLC formation and operation, tax planning that focuses on gaming deductions and exemptions, casino disputes, and personal matters spanning from divorce to criminal dust-ups.
After a second Day 1 flight on Sunday, the Millionaire Maker begins Day 2 with big names returning including Antonio Esfandiari, Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier, and 2009 Main Event winner Joe Cada. The $1,500 8-Game Mix 6-Handed also played down to the final 10 players, and plenty of big names jumped in the $10,000 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship.
Event #20B: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em MILLIONAIRE MAKER
The second flight in this massive field, big payout event finished on Sunday and 678 are moving on to Day 2 along with the 535 who advanced on Saturday. This flight brought in 4,323 entries for a two-day total of 7,761. A field of 1,213 will advance to Monday’s restart hoping for a share of the $10,477,350 prize pool.
Brian Altman (227,800) leads the field with Billy Graybeal (209,200), Scott Skirba (207,500), Adam White (182,000), and David Peters (173,200) rounding out the top five. Some of the notables moving on to Day 2 are Esfandiari (73,900), Joe Elpayaa (91,800), Dan O’Brien (65,300), Dutch Boyd (68,500), Matt Waxman (46,600), David Pham (68,500), and John Racener (32,100). Other notables still remaining in the field from the first flight include Cada (66,700) and Grospellier (60,200), runner-up in the $111,000 High Roller for One Drop.
Altman, of Longmeadow, Mass., has more than $1.8 million in tournament winnings including several nice five- and six-figure scores including a WPT title. With over a million bucks for first, there will be plenty of competition and PokerNews will have all the live updates.
Event #21: $1,500 8-Game Mix 6-Handed
The mixed-game action narrowed the field to 10 on Sunday and Gregory Jamison leads with 714,500 chips followed by Ron Ware (511,000), Sachin Bhargava (470,000), Ryan Himes (410,000), and Frenchman and bracelet winner Fabrice Soulier (346,000). Jamison and Ware both have WSOP-C rings but are looking for that first bracelet, while Day 1 chip leader Christopher Vitch (148,000) eyes bracelet No. 2. The event produced 472 entries and the winner will take home $145,577.
The Day 3 action gets underway on Monday at 2 p.m. For all the PokerNews updates, follow along here.
Event #22: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship
After 10 levels of play, Jon Turner (367,300) emerged as chip leader in an event that attracted 92 entries (67 buy-ins plus 25 re-entries) for a prize pool of $864,800. The event allowed for one re-entry and will pay out $256,610 for first.
Following Turner in the top three are Mike Leah (361,500) and John Monnette (265,400). Other notables among the 30 remaining include: Robert Mizrachi (255,000), Shaun Deeb (230,700), Phil Galfond (223,100), Mike Watson (218,600), and Mike Gorodinsky (109,000). Three former champs in this event also advanced: Nick Schulman (186,000), Jesse Martin (105,900), and Paul Volpe (97,700).
The restart begins at 2 p.m. on Monday and PokerNews will provide all the live updates.
Event #23: THE MARATHON - $2,620 No-Limit Hold'em
If you’re a fan of No Limit Texas Hold’em and looking for a lot of play with long blind levels, then this is the tournament for you. This event features extended 100 minute levels and plays out over five days. The event is new on the schedule with a mid-tier price point that should bring out plenty of rounders. Check in with PokerNews for all the updates.
Event #24: $1,500 Limit Hold'em
Hold’em of a different variety is on the schedule for Monday in the limit variety. The lower price point should bring out plenty of players looking for a nice cash. This event attracted 665 players in 2016 with Danny Le, of Westminster, Calif., taking home the bracelet and $188,815. PokerNews will be there the whole way offering up plenty of updates. Don’t miss a hand.