What to Watch For: June 20, 2017
Today's What to Watch For is brought to you by the VerStandig Law Firm, LLC. Combining a keen understanding of the gaming world and an equally keen understanding of the law, Mac VerStandig and his colleagues are devoted to fighting on behalf of the poker community and its members.
The VerStandig Law Firm, LLC represents poker professionals, sports bettors and advantage players across the United States. The firm assists clients in connection with legal issues including personal LLC formation and operation, tax planning that focuses on gaming deductions and exemptions, casino disputes, and personal matters spanning from divorce to criminal dust-ups.
Among the 2017 World Series of Poker highlights from Monday, Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu both finished last night among the chip leaders in the $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship. Meanwhile in the Super Seniors event, 2016 champion James Moore returns for today's Day 3, and 2016 November Niner Kenny Hallaert leads the remaining 18 players in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed.
Event #35: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em
The super seniors were back at it on Monday for Day 2 with Kerry Goldberg finishing the day leading the remaining 22 players with 1,224,000. Rounding out the top three are Earl Hirakawa (728,000) and Darrell Ticehurst (716,000).
Goldberg has $56,000 in tournament earnings and is looking for his first career gold bracelet. James Moore �� who won this same event last year for $230,626 �� is in fifth position (559,000).
Join PokerNews for all the Day 3 live updates when play resumes today at 11 a.m.
Event #36: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed
Plenty of big names survived Day 1 of this event with 2016 November Niner Kenny Hallaert (1,767,000) leading the remaining 18 moving on to Day 2. Hallaert already has three WSOP cashes this summer for almost $60,000. He finished sixth in the 2016 Main Event for $1,464,258 and is still looking for his first bracelet.
Following him in the counts are Chris Hunichen (1,622,000), Nadar Kakhmazov (1,262,000), end-of-Day-1 chip leader Faraz Jaka (1,213,000), Rob Kuhn (1,041,000) and Dan Abouaf (1,041,000).
Other notables remaining include Sam Soverel (845,000), Garrett Greer (626,000), James Obst (585,000), Jonathan Jaffe (442,000) and Mike Leah (246,000).
The tournament may play down to a winner on Tuesday unless there are still players after 10 levels. Check back to PokerNews on Tuesday starting at 2 p.m. as play continues. Click here for the live updates.
Event #37: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em
This event featured 2,020 entries for a prize pool of $1,818,000, and 238 players move on to Day 2. First prize pays out $292,880, and all players advancing to Day 2 are guaranteed a payout of $1,678.
Chad Eveslage leads the field currently with 197,300. Eveslage has 25 WSOP cashes and more than $321,784 in earnings, and has already cashed three times this summer. Rounding out the top three are Louis Salter (192,000) and two-time bracelet winner Mark Seif (131,200). This marks Seif's first WSOP cash since 2012, adding to his $871,598 in career series cashes.
Other notables still alive include defending champion Chase Bianchi (75,900), Jordan Young (47,300), Kristy Arnett (37,600), Martin Jacobson (33,800), Barry Greenstein (32,900) and Mike Leah (17,300).
PokerNews will be there when play resumes on Tuesday at 12 noon, so be sure to follow along.
Click here for all the big hands, chip counts, photos and more when play resumes.
Event #38: $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship
There was a bit of d��j�� vu as the first day of this big buy-in championship wrapped up last night. Fresh off a title in the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship only a few hours earlier, Ben Yu bagged up the most chips (360,000) in this event at the end of the night as he looks to go for back-to-back titles.
Meanwhile finishing Day 1 second in the counts was Ian Johns (272,000). Johns is looking for a repeat performance by defending his title in this event last year, where he topped a field of 110 players for $290,635.
The event attracted 120 players and 41 advanced to Day 2. The winner will take home $311,817 and 18 places will be paid for at least a minimum cash of $15,385. Rounding out the top three in chips is Daniel Negreanu (260,500), who has already finished second, third and sixth in events this summer and is seeking his seventh bracelet.
Here is Negreanu's view of this year's field:
I never would have guessed this, but the $10k limit holdem may be the softest $10k of the summer. Calling @tchanpoker...
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker)
Numerous bracelet winners and other big names remain as well, including Kevin Song (246,500), Michael Ross (240,000), Phil Hellmuth (225,500), Brock Parker (176,500), Jeff Lisandro (160,000), Justin Bonomo (148,000), Shaun Deeb (144,500), Dan Shak (124,000) and Robert Mizrachi (115,500).
Join PokerNews for all the live updates when play resumes at 2 p.m. Click here to follow along.
Event #39: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo BOUNTY
If poker at a faster pace is your thing, this one's for you. In addition to a fast "turbo" structure, add in the the bounty element and this should make for a fun one. This tournament features 20-minute levels and a $300 bounty for each knockout, meaning a card-playing Mike Tyson has a chance at some big bounty bucks.
This is a new event on the schedule and gets underway at 11 a.m. Check back to PokerNews for all the fast-paced fun.
Event #40: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better
This classic game returns to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino at the lower buy-in and should bring out plenty of players looking for a respite from hold'em. David Prociak of Orlando, Florida took down the 2016 event, winning $156,546 and the bracelet. The event attracted 521 players for a prize pool of $703,350.
Play gets underway at 3 p.m. and as with every event from the 2017 WSOP PokerNews will have all the live updates for you.
