WSOP What to Watch For: June 14, 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.
Numerous big names were in contention on Tuesday and many of them will be returning to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino on Wednesday looking for a deep run.
In the $10,000 Razz Championship, both Frank Kassela and Anthony Zinno return for Day 2, while Barry Greenstein remains in contention in the $1,500 Limit Hold'em event. Meanwhile Maurice Hawkins is chip leader in the Marathon where Adrian Mateos likewise has a big stack. Also, Michael Mizrachi is one of the chip leaders in $1,000 Pot Limit Hold'em.
Event #20: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em MILLIONAIRE MAKER
Day 3 of the MILLIONAIRE MAKER saw the field narrowed to 14 players still vying for the huge first-place prize of $1,221,407. The current chip leader is Ralph Perry with 7,765,000. Perry has one bracelet from the 2006 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Event and finished third in the 2002 Main Event.
Rounding out the top five are Daniel Chan (7,585,000), Bryce Yockey (6,315,000), Yuriy Boyko (5,200,000) and Alexander Farahi (5,295,000). Wednesday's Day 4 brings about the conclusion to this four-day event. Play resumes at 11 a.m., and PokerNews will have all the updates.
Event #23: THE MARATHON - $2,620 No-Limit Hold'em
With extended levels, this five-day long race has only completed 12 levels so far after two days of play. From 1,759 total entries, 268 players return today for Day 3, and the action should heat up as they'll be making the money after just four more eliminations. A min-cash will be $3,934, while the winner will take home a massive $690,469.
Leading the way is Maurice Hawkins with a big stack of 920,000 followed by Alexander Lynskey (618,000) and Adrian Mateos (599,500). While Hawkins has collected a record 10 WSOP Circuit rings, he is looking for his first WSOP bracelet. Mateos is fresh off his win in the Event #15: $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship and seeks his fourth bracelet.
Play resumes Wednesday at 12 noon and PokerNews will have live updates from start to finish. Click here for all the coverage.
Event #24: $1,500 Limit Hold'em
After two days of limit poker they have now played down to 15 players in this LHE event. Leading the field to start today will be Nancy Nguyen (574,000) followed by Mark Bassaly (574,000) and Ray Henson (373,000).
Hailing from Denton, Texas, Nguyen is a WSOP and WSOP-C regular with more than $411,000 in tournament winnings. Henson is seeking his first bracelet, but has four WSOP-C rings and has $2.2 million in tournament winnings. Poker Hall of Famer Barry Greenstein is also still in contention, sitting in eighth position with 316,000 chips and like everyone else a shot at the first-place prize of $177,985.
A champion should be crowned today, and PokerNews will have all the live updates. Don't miss a hand.
Event #25: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha
PLO was dealt again in the Rio on Tuesday with plenty of rounders taking advantage of this event's lower buy-in for a chance at a big payday. Event #25 attracted 1,058 entries and first-place will take home $179,126 and the bracelet.
After Day 1 the chip leader was Casey Carroll (210,800) followed by Jia Mai (168,000) and Michael Mizrachi (153,800). Mizrachi has $15.7 million in tournament winnings and is looking for his fourth bracelet. Other notables alive for Day 2 include Fraser MacIntyre (111,100), Alex Foxen (102,000), Jason Wheeler (92,000), Tony Cousineau (24,000) and Dan Heimiller (16,800).
PokerNews will have all the PLO fun covered on Wednesday. Follow the live updates by clicking here.
Event #26: $10,000 Razz Championship
The big buy-in razz event got underway Tuesday as several notables gathered to try to make the best worst hand possible. Day 1 attracted 97 players looking for the first-place prize of $265,138, from which only 44 players remain.
After the first day, Frank Kassela (364,500) leads the way followed by Don Zewin (303,000), Anthony Zinno (254,000) and Andrey Zhigalov (241,000). Kassela is looking for his second bracelet of the series and fourth overall.
Play continues on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and PokerNews will have all the live updates.
Event #27: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed
There will be more short-handed NLHE played at the WSOP today with this mid-range buy-in event. Last year's version of this event attracted a field of 1,029 with Calvin Lee earning the title and taking home $531,577. Plenty of players will be out in force to bring their six-handed skills to the table. Play starts at 11 a.m., and PokerNews will be there with all your live updates.
Event #28: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw
On the same day the $10,000 Razz continues, there will be more lowball played today — namely, the 2-7 triple draw variety. This low-priced event should bring a nice turnout. Andrey Zaichenko is the reigning champion after taking the $117,947 first prize in an event that attracted 358 runners a year ago. The cards are in the air at 3 p.m. and PokerNews will be there to tell you all about it.
