- Highlights of the weekend action at the WSOP.
Event #14: Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better
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Chicago-based Nicholas Kost came from behind to defeat Canadian Kal Riachura and claim his first WSOP bracelet in the Limit Omaha 8 event on Friday.
The $1,500 Limit O8 defending champ, Calen McNeil, along with 2004 WSOP Main Event winner Greg Raymer highlighted the group that survived the 1032 person field to make the final table.
In addition to the bracelet, Kost walked away with $283,275 in prize money.
Event #15: No-Limit Hold’em Six Handed
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Belgium player Davidi Kitai dominated much of the final table in the $3,000 Six-Handed NLHE Event to win his third WSOP bracelet and $508,640.
Katai entered the final table with a commanding chip lead and quickly assumed the role of table captain. Phil Hellmuth’s latest bid for his fourteenth WSOP bracelet ended as he was eliminated in eighth place.
Heads up play began with Kitai holding a substantial chip lead over runner-up Gordon Vayo, but when play ended on day three, Vayo had fought back to take a slight lead. However, when play resumed the next day, Kitai was able to defeat Vayo in just under 70 hands.
Event #16: Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball
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Entering the Final Table with only 5 big bets, Sacramento native Todd Bui was able to maneuver his way into a heads up match with WSOP bracelet winner “Captain” Tom Franklin before eventually claiming his own WSOP gold bracelet.
Bui, primarily known as a cash game specialist, cut his teeth in poker alongside his “best friend in poker,” JC Tran.
The victory marks Bui’s first tournament win “of any kind.”
Event #17: Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship
Las Vegas poker pro Dan Heimiller bested a record field of 4,425 players to take down his second WSOP bracelet in this year’s Senior Event.
The final table included third place finisher in the 2008 WSOP Main Event, Dennis Phillips who finished fifth. Phillips also final tabled the Senior’s Event in 2012 when he finished second to Allyn Jaffrey Shulman.
For his efforts, Heimiller earned $627,462 marking the highest tournament score of his career.
Event #18: Seven Card Razz
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Team PokerStars Pro George Danzer earned his first WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 Razz Event.
The German native defeated the winner of the $1,000 PLO Event#3 Brandon Shack-Harris. Harris currently sits second in the Bluff WSOP Player of the Year Race just 10 points behind Justin Bonomo.
Daniel Negreanu made a deep run in the event that drew 112 players for the highest buy in Razz event in WSOP history.
Other big names at the Final Table included bracelet winner Brian Hastings and winner of the 2009 $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E. Event, David Bach.
Event #19: $1500 No-Limit Hold’em will return on Monday to play down to a winner with Hiren Patel of Carol Stream IL leading the final 12 players.
A champion will also be crowned on Monday in Event #20: $3000 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout. The shootout format ensures that the players will all be close in chips. Phil Galfond currently in second chip position will look to achieve WSOP gold for the second time.
Erik Seidel, Dominik Nitsche and JC Tran are among the chip leaders as Event #21: $1000 No-Limit Hold’em is scheduled to resume with 168 of 2043 entrants remaining.
Also scheduled to resume on Monday is the $10,000 buy-in Event #22: H.O.R.S.E. which boasts a star-studded lineup of returning players. With Jeff Madsen currently sitting number one in chips, other players in the top 10 include Phil Hellmuth, Greg Mueller, Michael Mizrachi and Erick Lindgren.
