WSOP What to Watch For: June 7, 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 pros are back in action on Thursday seeking a bracelet, including a stacked final table in the $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw event featuring big names like Matt Waxman, Jared Bleznick, Frank Kassela and Bernard Lee. The $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship also attracted big names and players like Jason Mercier, Olivier Busquet, Joe Cada and Erik Seidel will look to keep their one-on-one mojo going into Day 2.
Event #13: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw
The pros were out for some lowball action in hopes of a bracelet in this variant of poker. After a Day 1 field topped out at 244, the tournament played down to the final table that includes a host of pros looking for first-place money of $89,151. Leading the field for Day 3 is Bernard Lee with 571,000 chips followed by Matt Waxman (395,500), Frank Kassela (365,500), Tim McGuigan (299,500), Stuart Rutter (268,000), and Jared Bleznick (97,500). Benny Glaser was eliminated in seventh for $9,477. A win for Lee would give him his first career bracelet.
With several big names returning for Day 3, there will be plenty of action as players close in on a title and return to action on Thursday at 2 p.m. Follow along with PokerNews by clicking here.
Event #12: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em
This event produced a nice field of 1,739 players and pays out a $391,960 top prize. With Day 2’s action in the books, Australia’s Melissa Gillett takes a massive chip lead into Day 3 with 3,443,000 chips followed by Aditya Agarwal (1,286,000) and Billy Rodgers (1,277,000). Other notables remaining include Roman Korenev, Phil Collins, and David Pham.
The day began with 275 players and with only 21 remaining, a champion will be crowned on Thursday. Gillett could notch the biggest score of her career if she can put this one away – as well as become the first non-team event female winner of the summer. Day 3 kicks off at noon. Track all the action with PokerNews’ live reporting team.
Event #14: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.
Mixed game aficionados turned out in force for this popular tournament that attracted 736 entries. After 10 levels of play, 175 players remain led by Adam Dickson (180,300) who has almost twice as many as his nearest competitor. Rounding out the top five are Richard Ashby (93,300), Helen Ellis (92,400), Pete Linton (89,800), and Karim Bevans (81,500).
Also remaining in the field for Day 2 are John Monnette (62,500), Randy Ohel (56,600), Brandon Shack-Harris (50,800), and defending champ Ian Johns (41,500). The big WSOP run continues for Daniel Negreanu, fresh off his runner-up finish in the $10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better Championship. He advances to Day 2, which cranks up at noon and the winner will walk away with $203,709.
Whether your game is Omaha, razz, or hold’em, this tournament has something for everyone. Click here to follow along with all the action. Don’t miss a hand.
Event #15: $10,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship
The WSOP’s version of March Madness (but obviously in June) got underway on Wednesday with high-stakes players squaring off in heads-up battle for three rounds of action. The event attracted 129 players looking to score a bracelet and first-place prize of $336,656 and total prize pool of $1,203,200.
Some of the major names advancing for a second day of action include Dan Smith, Charlie Carrel, Adrian Mateos, Ryan Riess, Olivier Busquet, Ryan Fee, Eric Wasserson, Dario Sammartino, Jason Mercier, Joe Cada and Erik Seidel. Last year’s champion Alan Percal did not make the cut. Mercier was happy with his performance on the day:
Won my 2nd match in 10k HU. So on to day 2 with 32 players left. 1 more win makes the $
— Jason Mercier (@JasonMercier)
Follow along and see some of the interesting Day 2 matchups set for Thursday beginning at 3 p.m. Click here for the live updates.
Event #16: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed
If you like No Limit Hold’em and short-handed play, this is the tournament for you. Last year’s winner of this event was Mike Cordell, who took home a bracelet and $346,088. It was Cordell’s first bracelet and he also owns three WSOP-Circuit rings. The field should be pretty large after attracting 1,477 entries in 2016. The action gets underway at 11 a.m. and PokerNews will have plenty of updates.
Event #17: $10,000 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship
The multi-game action is back with a heftier buy-in than the earlier version won on Wednesday by David Bach for $119,399. In 2016, Jean Gaspard took home this title for $306,621. Certainly knowing your best games is a must as outlined this week by 2015 $1,500 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed champion Larry Berg. Here is a look at the games dealt at this year’s tournament:
- Hold’em – No-Limit, Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit
- Stud games – Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Regular
- Omaha – Pot-Limit, Pot Limit Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Limit High; Limit Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Big O
- Lowball – Pot-Limit 2-7 Lowball, Triple Draw Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw, Ace to 5 Lowball Triple Draw, Badugi, Badeucy, Badacy, No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw, No-Limit 5-Card Draw High
Players may also want to brush up on the intricate structure and click here to check it out. PokerNews will have all the action, which gets underway at 3 p.m.
