Shaun Deeb Leads Final 5 Players in Dealer's Choice Championship; Adam Friedman Still Eyeing Back-to-Back Wins
Day 3 of the Event #35: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship has concluded from the 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) with four-time WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb holding the chip lead over the final five players.
Returning with 11 players, action was quick to start the day as Majid Yahyaei (11th), Jeff Lisandro (10th), Philip Sternheimer (9th), and Bryce Yockey (8th) were all eliminated before the final seven players re-drew down to the final table as Adam Friedman and Matt Glantz held the chip lead ahead of Deeb.
Those three players would alternate holding the chip lead over the next few orbits before WSOP bracelet winner Phillip Hui was eliminated in seventh-place in Pot-Limit Omaha by Michael McKenna. The very next hand, two-time WSOP bracelet winner Nick Schulman saw a flop against Deeb, and holding a straight draw and overpair, he committed what remained of his stack against Deeb's two pair and straight draw. Deeb turned the straight and the rivered a backdoor flush, and Schulman was eliminated in sixth place.
Play continued for a few more orbits until break occurred and WSOP Tournament Supervisor Dennis Jones told players that they are playing seven levels. Friedman and McKenna voiced their frustration at the issue, and when players returned from break, Jones changed his decision and told players that they would be bagging. There was a heated debate between the players and Jones, but Jones reinforced that this was the final decision.
| Seat | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds | Big Bets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Moskowitz | United States | 382,000 | 19 | 5 |
| 2 | Shaun Deeb | United States | 2,601,000 | 130 | 32.5 |
| 3 | Matt Glantz | United States | 1,401,000 | 70 | 17.5 |
| 4 | Michael McKenna | United States | 1,038,000 | 52 | 13 |
| 5 | Adam Friedman | United States | 1,898,000 | 95 | 24 |
Note: The limits when play resumes on Day 4 will be 40,000-80,000, and no-limit and pot-limit blinds will be 10,000-20,000.
Deeb finished the day as chip leader with 2,601,000 and is chasing his fifth WSOP bracelet. Friedman increased his stack and finished in second place with 1,898,000 in chips and is looking to join the likes of Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, Johnny Chan, Thang Luu, and Phil Hellmuth as some of the players on the small list that have successfully defended a WSOP bracelet.
Glantz sits in third overall with 1,401,000 in chips and is hoping that his 12th final table brings about his first WSOP bracelet. McKenna sits in fourth with 1,038,000, while David Moskowitz will be hoping to spin up his 382,000 in chips as the final five players are each guaranteed $72,653 but have eyes locked firmly on the $312,417 first-place prize and the coveted WSOP bracelet.
Play resumes at 12 p.m. (PDT) with the PokerNews Live Reporting Team providing continuous live updates as the Event #35 play down to the eventual winner. Stay tuned to PokerNews.com for continued Event #35 coverage, along with all the 2019 World Series of Poker updates.