David “ODB” Baker Leads Final 7 in the USPO $10K 8-Game Mix
The USPO Event #6: $10,000 8-Game is one of the more unique events to follow during the 2021 U.S. Poker Open at the PokerGO Studio at the ARIA Resort & Casino as it features a rotation of eight games between no-limit hold’em, limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha, limit Omaha hi-lo, razz, stud, stud hi-lo, and limit 2-7 triple draw.
The event proved to be popular as the 68 entries creating a $680,000 prize pool represents the largest mixed-game event in U.S. Poker Open history.
David "ODB" Baker, who won one of his two WSOP gold bracelets in the 2012 WSOP 8-Game, finds himself in a familiar spot as he leads the final seven players with a stack of 2,170,000 in chips with four-time WSOP bracelet winner Eli Elezra closest on his tail with 1,950,000 in chips.
Steve Zolotow (1,605,000) was the only other player to advance with a seven-figure stack. This is impressively the third final table for Zolotow this festival and could find himself hopping from seventh to first on the 2021 U.S. Poker Open Championship Standings if he could manage to win the event, which boasts a huge $183,600 top prize.
Meanwhile, Sweden's Erik Sagstrom (905,000), Nick Guagenti (895,000), GGPoker Ambassador and six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu (810,000), and Richard Sklar (160,000) will all look to spin up their short stacks at the final table.
Event #6 Final Table Seat Draw
| Seat | Name | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erik Sagstrom | Sweden | 905,000 |
| 2 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | 810,000 |
| 3 | David “ODB” Baker | United States | 2,170,000 |
| 4 | Steve Zolotow | United States | 1,605,000 |
| 5 | Eli Elezra | United States | 1,950,000 |
| 6 | Nick Guagenti | United States | 895,000 |
| 7 | Richard Sklar | United States | 160,000 |
Action of the Day
Event #6 attracted 68 entries to generate a $680,000 prize pool with 10 players getting paid at least a min-cash of $20,400.
Mike Thorpe bubbled the event in 11th place during a round of seven-card stud after his queens in the hole were no good against Zolotow's trip jacks.
Alan Richardson was the first player out in the money in 10th place for $20,400 in a spectacular hand for Baker. According to the Poker Central Blog, Baker three-bet jammed with rockets and improved even further to quad aces after Richardson called off with queen-ten suited.
Shortly after, Zolotow ousted Mike Wattel in ninth place for $27,200 in a hand of limit hold'em. Zolotow flopped trips with sixes while Wattel had top pair with ace-queen. The chips were in then and there and Wattel's run in the 8-Game event ended after he was unable to get a runner-runner miracle on the turn and river.
Mike Gorodinsky was the final casualty of the day in eighth place for $27,200 in a three-way pot against Baker with tens and Elezra with ace-jack. An ace spiked the board and the final seven players bagged their chips for Wednesday's final table.
Where to Watch the Final Table?
The final seven players will return to the PokerGo Studios on June 9 with the action expected to begin at 3 p.m. EDT. PokerGO will live stream what promises to be some of the most exciting poker action of the year beginning at 4 p.m. EDT.
Remember, an annual subscription to PokerGO costs $99.99, but you can save $20 off by using promo code “USPO21” at checkout. Sign up by going here.
Final Table Payouts
All returning players are guaranteed at least a $34,000 payout with the eventual winner slated to take home a huge $183,600 top prize.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $183,600 |
| 2 | $136,000 |
| 3 | $88,400 |
| 4 | $68,000 |
| 5 | $54,400 |
| 6 | $40,800 |
| 7 | $34,000 |
*Images courtesy of Poker Central
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,170,000
2,170,000
|
2,170,000 |
|
||
|
1,950,000
1,950,000
|
1,950,000 |
|
||
|
1,605,000
1,605,000
|
1,605,000 |
|
||
|
905,000
905,000
|
905,000 |
|
895,000
895,000
|
895,000 |
|
|
||
|
810,000
810,000
|
810,000 |
|
||
|
160,000
160,000
|
160,000 |