Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:34 AM Local Time
Mercier Leads After Day 2; One Former Champion Remains
With 802,600 chips, Jason Mercier leads the 55 survivors after Day 2 of the 2014 $50,000 Poker Players' Championship. The two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner was the only player to bag over 800,000 chips, and eliminated Brian Rast in a big pot-limit Omaha hand during the final level of the evening. Mercier, who has over $10.6 million in career live tournament earnings, has only recorded two six-figure scores since May of 2013, and will be looking to return to his winning ways in this marquee bracelet event.
Joining Mercier atop the counts are Jonathan Duhamel (783,000), Shaun Deeb (724,400), David Steicke (711,100), Matt Glantz (522,800). Glantz is in search of his third career final table in this event – he finished fourth in 2008 for $568,320, and fifth in 2011 for $376,750.
Also among the Day 2 survivors are Scott Seiver, John Hennigan, Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, and 2014 bracelet winners Brandon Shack-Harris, Calvin Anderson, Robert Mizrachi, and Brock Parker.
David Bach (17,400) is the only defending champion standing after 10 levels of play over two days, and has a lot of work to do on Day 3 and beyond if he wants to take a repeat trip to the winner's circle. Matthew Ashton (2013) exited after a pot-limit Omaha hand against John Monnette, Michael Mizrachi (2012, 2010) was done in by John Juanda in a hand of razz, Frank Kassela busted Scotty Nguyen (2008) in a hand of stud, and, as mentioned above, Mercier busted Rast (2011).
Freddy Deeb (2007) didn't participate in this year's event.
Registration closed at 4 p.m. PT on Monday, and a total of 102 players ponied up 50 dimes to play, generating a total prize pool of $4,896,000. It is the smallest $50,000 mixed game championship since 2009 (95 entries), and the $1,517,767 first-place prize is the third smallest of all time. The top 14 players will earn a minimum of $99,388, and each member of the seven-handed official final table will pocket a minimum of $165,435.
Among the players who busted on Day 2 and will not reach the money were 2014 WSOP bracelet winners Dan Heimiller, Paul Volpe, Dan Kelly, and Player of the Year leader George Danzer. Daniel Negreanu, Jeff Lisandro, and Gus Hansen all exited as well.
Hansen played a near half million-chip pot with 2010 WSOP Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel in Level 9. The Great Dane had a flush draw against the French-Canadian's over pair, and Duhamel held.
The 2014 $50,000 Poker Players' Championship will resume on Tuesday at 2 p.m. PT. Be sure to return to PokerNews for live coverage straight from the tournament floor for this and every bracelet event at the 2014 World Series of Poker.
We caught up with Shaun Deeb, who's third in chips, at the end of the day.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:28 AM Local Time
End-of-Day 2 Chip Counts
| Jason Mercier | 802,600 | 52,600  |
| Jonathan Duhamel | 783,000 | 323,000 |
| Shaun Deeb | 724,400 | 4,400 |
| David Steicke | 711,100 | 0  |
| Gary Benson | 534,700 | 98,700 |
| Scott Seiver | 529,700 | 29,700 |
| Matt Glantz | 522,800 | -7,200 |
| David Oppenheim | 425,000 | 25,000 |
| Roland Israelashvili | 404,700 | 124,700 |
| Eli Elezra | 397,300 | 56,300 |
| Frank Kassela | 390,200 | -9,800 |
| Chris Klodnicki | 380,700 | 90,700 |
| Dylan Linde | 363,600 | 18,600 |
| David "ODB" Baker | 356,200 | 58,200 |
| Elior Sion | 351,900 | 51,900 |
| John Hennigan | 344,800 | -25,200 |
| Abe Mosseri | 329,400 | 0 |
| Mike Leah | 325,200 | 125,200 |
| David Benyamine | 306,900 | 46,900 |
| Robert Mizrachi | 298,400 | -76,600 |
| Brian Hastings | 296,900 | 36,900 |
| Vladimir Schemelev | 286,100 | -73,900 |
| John Juanda | 269,600 | 9,600 |
| Allen Kessler | 260,700 | 77,700 |
| John Monnette | 239,400 | -50,600 |
| Brock Parker | 234,600 | 84,600 |
| Melissa Burr | 231,200 | 67,200 |
| Keith Lehr | 220,000 | 35,000 |
| Richard Ashby | 218,000 | -7,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 215,900 | 129,900 |
| Calvin Anderson | 215,100 | -9,900 |
| Eric Wasserson | 213,800 | 43,800 |
| Bertrand Grospellier | 212,100 | -57,900 |
| Jesse Martin | 210,100 | 20,100 |
| Daniel Alaei | 206,000 | -3,000 |
| Brian Tate | 200,800 | -55,200 |
| Brandon Shack-Harris | 191,400 | -98,600 |
| Lyle Berman | 190,400 | 25,400 |
| Alex BIlokur | 189,200 | 32,200 |
| James Obst | 181,100 | -18,900 |
| Bryce Yockey | 177,000 | 18,000 |
| Ben Yu | 176,000 | -88,000 |
| Ola Amundsgard | 165,000 | 135,000 |
| Phil Ivey | 158,000 | -34,000 |
| Chun Lei Zhou | 152,300 | -15,700 |
| Alexandre Luneau | 151,000 | -109,000 |
| Todd Brunson | 138,600 | -61,400 |
| Doyle Brunson | 111,000 | 44,000 |
| Josh Arieh | 92,900 | -82,100 |
| Scott Clements | 90,800 | -109,200 |
| Andy Bloch | 75,800 | -4,200 |
| Marco Johnson | 69,400 | -22,600 |
| Steve Billirakis | 50,700 | -22,300 |
| Talal Shakerchi | 38,600 | -30,400 |
| David Bach | 17,400 | -92,600 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:16 AM Local Time
Limit Hold'em
"You want to hear a fun hand?" Richard Ashby just said to your reporter on the scene.
"I just had sevens in Limit Hold'em in a hand against Lyle Berman. The flop was and on the turn a hit so I made a bigger full house. The river however was another , so I couldn't even call a bet," Ashby said with a wry smile on his face.
Ashby ended up folding and Berman showed for quads with the best possible kicker.
| Richard Ashby | 225,000 | 20,000 |
| Lyle Berman | 165,000 | -3,000 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:14 AM Local Time
Hachem Eliminated in One of the Last Hands of the Night
No-Limit Hold'em
Action folded to 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event champ Joe Hachem in the small blind and he limped. Brian Hastings then checked his option from the big and the flop came out . Hachem led out for 5,000, Hastings called, and the dealer burned and turned the .
Hachem bet 15,000, Hastings thought for a bit before raising all in, and Hachem called off for 48,000 or so.
"Did you turn two pair?" Hachem asked. Indeed Hastings had.
Hastings:
Hachem:
Hachem had outs, but the river was not one of them. "Only ten minutes to go," a disappointed Hachem said referencing the time left on the clock. Unfortunately the Aussie won't be returning for Day 3.
| Joe Hachem | 0 | -63,000 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:12 AM Local Time
The Big Fish and the Fat Fish
"Samrostan! The VIP," John Juanda yelled at his friend Chun Lei Zhou who was being moved to his table.
"Floorman, help this man," Juanda joked as Zhou dropped bottle of water on the floor on his way to the table.
Scott Seiver joined in the banter, and as he saw that Lyle Berman and Richard Ashby were moved to his table as well he yelled, "Stop the clocks!"
The day is almost done and there will be a redraw heading into tomorrow, so Seiver can't enjoy this fun table for much longer. This however doesn't hold him back from stirring things up a little more before the end of the night.
"Look, big fish!" Seiver pointed at Vladimir Schemelev as he looked at Zhou.
Schemelev started laughing and cracked up even more when Zhou responded, "Me too, but he's fat and I'm a bigger fish."
The banter and jokes at this table were likely to continue throughout the night, but unfortunately for everyone there are just a few hands left before the day is done.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:06 AM Local Time
Volpe Hits The Rail
Pot-Limit Omaha
We just caught the end of Paul Volpe's bust out hand, as this year's bracelet winner lost his stack in a hand of Pot-Limit Omaha against Scott Seiver. The board showed when Seiver had out in front of him and that was strong enough to muck Volpe's hand.
| Scott Seiver | 500,000 | 90,000 |
| Paul Volpe | 0 | -115,000 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:03 AM Local Time
Deeb Chips Up
Limit Hold'em
Action folded to Brian Tate in the cutoff seat, and he raised. Shaun Deeb reraised on the button, and action folded through the blinds and back to Tate. He called, and the flop came down . Tate checked, Deeb bet, and Tate called.
On the turn, and paired the board. Tate checked, Deeb bet, and Tate folded.
| Shaun Deeb | 720,000 | 50,000 |
| Brian Tate | 256,000 | -49,000 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:01 AM Local Time
Steicke Shows Ivey
Stud 8
Phil Ivey: / — fold
David Steicke: /
Picking up the action on fifth street, Steicke bet and Ivey called to see sixth. On sixth, Steicke paired his ace and checked to Ivey, who paired his ten. Ivey bet, and then Steicke check-raised. Ivey thought for a bit, then folded, and Steicke won the pot.
"Flush draw," said Steicke, showing the from the hole. He also showed the for trip aces before he scooped in the pot.
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:57 PM Local Time
No Mor
Pot-Limit Omaha
Ofir Mor is no more. He pushed in facing a John Juanda 6,000-chip open and after the rest of the table tucked and covered, Juanda made the call.
It was for Mor versus Juanda's but Juanda made a nine-high straight on the board to send him broke.
| Ofir Mor | 0 | -82,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:55 PM Local Time
Another Former Champ Sent to the Rail
Pot-Limit Omaha
Back in 2011, Brian Rast won this very event for his second bracelet that summer. Rast was one of several former champs returning to action today, but like Matthew Ashton, Scotty Nguyen and two-time champ Michael Mizrachi, he finds himself watching from the rail.
In what would be his final hand, Jason Mercier opened for 4,800 and Rast three-bet to 15,000. Mercier responded with a pot-sized four bet to 48,600, Rast called, and the flop came down . Mercier, who had the big stack, simply bet pot and Rast called off for his last 82,000.
Mercier:
Rast:
Rast had a pair of sixes with a straight draw, while Mercier held aces. The turn gave Rast an added flush draw, but the red eight on the river failed to help him. Mercier's aces held and he sent Rast to the rail, which leaves 2009 $50,000 Poker Players' Champion David Bach as the last former winner remaining in the field.
| Jason Mercier | 750,000 | 150,000 |
| Brian Rast | 0 | -180,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:51 PM Local Time
Chip Counts From Table 360
| Shaun Deeb | 670,000 | 140,000 |
| Brian Tate | 305,000 | 127,000 |
| Elior Sion | 300,000 | -35,000 |
| Bertrand Grospellier | 270,000 | 84,000 |
| Melissa Burr | 164,000 | -136,000 |
| Marco Johnson | 92,000 | -75,000 |
| Steve Billirakis | 73,000 | -32,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:49 PM Local Time
Ivey Rivers a Pair of Aces
Limit Hold'em
From early position, Phil Ivey raised. Keith Lehr called out of the big blind, and the flop produced the . After Lehr checked, Ivey bet, and then Lehr check-raised. Ivey called.
The turn was the , and bother players checked to see the land on the river. Both players checked again.
After Lehr showed a pair of tens with the , Ivey tabled the for a rivered pair of aces and he won the pot.
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:44 PM Local Time
That Kind of Party
Pot-Limit Omaha
Jason Mercier limped the small blind telling Brian Rast in the big that the most he can make it is 7,000.
"I know," said Rast. "I'm going to make it sixty-nine."
"I didn't know it was going to be that kind of party," joked Mercier, making the call as the rest of the table chuckled. The flop fell and after Mercier checked, Rast made it 9,000.
Mercier potted and Rast quickly gave up his hand.
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:41 PM Local Time
Ivey Raises the Pot
Pot-Limit Omaha
David Steicke raised to 5,600 from under the gun, and four players called; Bryce Yockey (early position), Scott Clements (cutoff), Keith Lehr (button), and Phil Ivey (big blind).
The flop fell , the action checked to Yockey, and he bet 9,600. Clements and Lehr folded, Ivey bet the pot (60,000), and Steicke folded. Yockey considered the bet for bit, and then he folded as well.
| David Steicke | 615,000 | 25,000 |
| Scott Clements | 200,000 | 18,000 |
| Phil Ivey | 192,000 | 40,000 |
| Keith Lehr | 185,000 | -50,000 |
| Bryce Yockey | 159,000 | -11,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:39 PM Local Time
Chip Counts From Table 354
| Scott Seiver | 410,000 | 5,000 |
| Vladimir Schemelev | 360,000 | 110,000 |
| John Juanda | 260,000 | 150,000 |
| Paul Volpe | 115,000 | -115,000 |
| Stephen Chidwick | 86,000 | -94,000 |
| Ofir Mor | 82,000 | 12,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:37 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts from Table 349
| Dylan Linde | 345,000 | 57,000 |
| David "ODB" Baker | 298,000 | 51,000 |
| Roland Israelashvili | 280,000 | -80,000 |
| Richard Ashby | 205,000 | -30,000 |
| Lyle Berman | 168,000 | -29,000 |
| Andy Bloch | 80,000 | -96,000 |
| Ola Amundsgard | 30,000 | -187,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:31 PM Local Time
Zaichenko Pairs Up To Go Out
Razz
We caught the end of a hand with Andrey Zaichenko all against Brock Parker and sweating seventh street. He rose from his chair, slammed the card on the table and walked away having paired up.
| Andrey Zaichenko | 0 | -60,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:31 PM Local Time
Chip Counts From Table 348
| David Steicke | 590,000 | 40,000 |
| Gary Benson | 436,000 | 13,500 |
| John Monnette | 290,000 | 15,000 |
| Keith Lehr | 235,000 | -95,000 |
| Scott Clements | 182,000 | -58,000 |
| Bryce Yockey | 170,000 | 1,000 |
| Phil Ivey | 152,000 | -53,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:28 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts from Table 355
| Eli Elezra | 341,000 | 140,400 |
| Calvin Anderson | 225,000 | -43,000 |
| Daniel Alaei | 209,000 | -43,000 |
| Allen Kessler | 183,000 | -47,000 |
| Chun Lei Zhou | 168,000 | 89,000 |
| Alex BIlokur | 157,000 | 97,000 |
| Talal Shakerchi | 69,000 | -41,000 |
Monday, June 23, 2014 11:24 PM Local Time
Anderson Rakes in a Big One
Stud
Allen Kessler made us aware of a big hand in which Calvin Anderson and Daniel Alaei were tangled up. Kessler explained how three bets went in on third street followed by a bet by Anderson of every street.
Alaei: / /
Anderson: / /
On seventh street Alaei folded after about a minute and Anderson raked in this pot.
| Calvin Anderson | 268,000 | -2,000 |
| Daniel Alaei | 252,000 | 12,000 |