Level: 5
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 0
2021 WSOP.com Online Bracelet Events
Event #11: $400 NLH Ultra Deepstack
Day: 1
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
The World Series of Poker $50,000 Poker Players Championship (PPC), which was created in 2006, is considered the tournament where the best of the best take on one another and duke it out in a variety of poker games, a reflection of all-around poker skill. Imagine playing the likes of Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and Daniel Negreanu five days in a row in a short-handed mixed format.
Needless to say, the hefty price tag coupled with a small, elite field created a legacy for the PPC where champions are considered among the greatest overall poker players. A quick glance at its 14-year history shows nothing but greatness among champions, from John Hennigan to Mike Gorodinsky, and with the late David "Chip" Reese as perhaps the event's most fitting inaugural winner back in 2006.
Winning once is the poker professional's dream. Winning two? You're in a league of your own. But winning the toughest event with poker's best three times? Only one man achieved that improbable feat on this day back in 2018, after winning his first two titles in 2010 and 2012: Michael Mizrachi.
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
Players are now on their first five-minute break of the day.
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
| Date | Tournament | Players | Re-entries | Total Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Jul | Event #1: $500 NLH BIG 500 Kick-Off | 837 | 440 | 1277 | $574,650 | Jose "deposit" Nooa | $105,161 |
| 2-Jul | Event #2: $600 NLH Monster Stack | 727 | 311 | 1038 | $560,520 | Manig "Ohio77" Loeser | $104,313 |
| 3-Jul | Event #3: $500 NLH Turbo Deepstack | 641 | 309 | 950 | $427,500 | Donnell "Spreezy52" Dais | $90,801 |
| 4-Jul | Event #4: $500 NLH Super Turbo | 608 | 242 | 850 | $382,500 | Jeffery "Steelvikes7" Hoop | $73,861 |
| 5-July | Event #5: $1,000 NLH 8-Max | 459 | - | 459 | 648,700 | Jeremiah “freestylerr” Williams | $139,600 |
| 6-July | Event #6: $2,000 NLH Deepstack | 312 | 104 | 416 | $769,60 | Tyler "ShipTheShip" Denson | $175,700 |
| 7-July | Event #7: $777 NLH Lucky 7's | 576 | 312 | 888 | $621,600 | Michael "stiltwalk" Mercaldo | $123,574 |
| 8-July | Event #8: $888 Crazy Eights Hold'em | 514 | 268 | 782 | $625,600 | Carlos "CarlosWelch" Welch | $124,369 |
| 9-July | Event #9: $400 NLH 6-Max | 788 | 429 | 1,217 | $438,120 | Philip "wingsuiter" Beck | $81,534.13 |
| 10-July | Event #10: $333 NLH | 986 | 531 | 1,517 | $455,100 | Michael "njnj17" Leib | $81,645 |
Level: 4
Blinds: 75/150
Ante: 0
Level 3
: 50/100, 0 ante
Blzer22 raised to 350 from early position, three players called.
The flop came the 
. "Blzer22" bet 1,450 and two of their three opponents called and they fired again when The turn came the 
, this time for 2,900 and the opponents again called.
The river was the 
. "Blzer22' bet 7,250 and was called by only Douglas "OpenOpen" May.
"Blzer22" showed the [jhs] to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
83,416
83,416
|
83,416 |
|
|
38,973
38,973
|
38,973 |
Level 3
: 50/100, 0 ante
Last December, Gershon “jets613” Distenfeld, who is in today's field, was one of the finalists at the 2020 WSOP Demostic Main Event final table. He was a fan favorite because the 45-year-old pledged to donate 100% of winnings (minus any taxes) to charities of his family's choice, and he wound up finishing in eighth place for $125,885.
A professional in the finance space, Distenfeld said he simply plays poker for the challenge and competition.
“The charities I have chosen thus far encompass many of my and my wife Aviva’s personal areas of interest which include organizations with proven track records in helping those less fortunate and more vulnerable improve their lives," he said at the time.
Here's a partial list of the charities Distenfeld benefitted with his finish:
- Minds Matter – Helping driven, low-income students succeed in college, create their future and change the world.
- NCSY Relief Missions – Harnessing teen volunteers to address disaster relief and food insecurity. I named this program after my parents of blessed memory.
- Yachad - Dedicated to enhancing the life opportunities of Jewish individuals with developmental disabilities or other learning challenges.
- Project S.A.R.A.H. (Stop Abusive Relationships At Home) - working to overcome cultural, legal and religious barriers confronting victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Distenfeld, 45, was born in Queens, New York but now resides in Bergenfield, New Jersey with his wife of nearly 21 years, Aviva. Together they have three daughters Shoshana (19), Talia (15), Esti (13), and one son, Aryeh (4). He graduated from Yeshiva University with a BS in Finance in 1997.
A recreational player, Distenfeld works for AllianceBernstein as co-head of Fixed Income and Director of Credit. His position has led to him being a frequent guest on Bloomberg TV and CNBC. In fact, the day after making the final table he was able to share the news to a mainstream audience by making an announcement on Bloomberg Surveillance Simulcast (at the 1:14:20 mark).
“I mainly started watching on TV in the Moneymaker era,” said Distenfeld, a passionate fan of the New York Jets and New York Rangers. “Eventually started reading/studying a lot and finally began to play in casinos. I gravitated towards tournaments over cash games. I have been going to the WSOP for a week in June for most of the past several years where I’ve played in some of the events, but this is my first Main Event.”
For Distenfeld, part of poker’s allure was the fact that he could use many of his professional skills in the game.
“I’ve studied behavioral finance a lot which has impacted how I approach the financial markets,” he explained. “I have brought that same discipline to the poker tables. Often, it isn’t how smart you are that determines your success. It’s capitalizing on the biases of others that makes you a consistent winner.”
Click here for more on Gershon Distenfeld
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
93,214
93,214
|
93,214 |
Level: 3
Blinds: 50/100
Ante: 0
Level 2
: 30/60, 0 ante
The Summer Online Championships is underway on WSOP.com! Don’t miss a minute of the Championship action through July 27. You’ll have a shot at over $2 Million in GTDs and a chance to win the WSOP Championship Belt awarded to the Main Event Champion on July 25. With at least three tournaments a day, low buy ins, and huge guarantees, this is your shot to win big this month.
Level 2
: 30/60, 0 ante
Four players entered a raised pot to the flop that came the 
. Wayne "omgvariance" Harmon bet 190 and all three opponents called.
The turn came the 
. It checked to "areyouready" in position who bet 1,140. All three opponents called.
The river came the 
. It checked to "areyouready who made a big bet of 9,640, Harmon called and the remaining two players folded.
"areyouready" had the 
for the winner and collected the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
63,870 | |
|
|
38,950 |