Stephen Chidwick Makes Back-to-Back USPO Final Tables
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It took 13 hours of play on Day 1, but the official final table of the US Poker Open $25,000 Mixed Game Championship is set. Though the table is packed with elite talent, a familiar face will return to contest for a second USPO title as Stephen Chidwick has made back-to-back $25,000 final tables. Phil Hellmuth is the shortest stack while Isaac Haxton starts out as chip leader.
Not only did Chidwick make his second straight final table but he is also the current leader of the US Poker Open money race after winning USPO #03 - $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $374,000 earlier in the day. He's poised to take a commanding lead with a deep run at the final table of this mixed game event.
Benjamin Pollak will be earning his second cash of the Open; he finished in eighth in the $10,000 PLO event for $25,600 earlier this series. Dan Shak is also cashing for the second time, he came in seventh place for $32,000 in the $10,000 PLO event. The rest is cashing for the first time this festival.
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Pollak | France | 656,000 |
| 2 | Chris Vitch | United States | 1,399,000 |
| 3 | Isaac Haxton | United States | 2,317,000 |
| 4 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | 1,080,000 |
| 6 | Phil Hellmuth | United States | 372,000 |
| 7 | Dan Shak | United States | 926,000 |
You can follow along with the live updates of the US Poker Open on PokerNews. Better yet, sign up for PokerGO and watch all the final tables live!
The day got off to a great start as 30 players were seated when the action kicked off at 2 PM local time at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The likes of Nick Schulman, Brian Rast, John Monnette, Bryn Kenney, Justin Bonomo, Anthony Zinno, and Poker Central founder Cary Katz all tested their luck but ultimately fell before the business end was reached.
In the final hand of the night, Daniel Negreanu was eliminated by Isaac Haxton.
The eight-game mixed event attracted a total of 45 entries and after 14 45-minute levels, the field has been narrowed down to just eight, one
off the money. In the end, Ralph Perry was the last player to depart empty-handed. Perry got it in good against Phil Hellmuth showing down a pocket pair of tens to Hellmuth's ace-eight. in limit hold'em An ace on the flop quickly turned the tides and Perry was eliminated on the money bubble.
Down to 7 players and all guaranteed a min-cash of $56,250, just one more player needed to hit the rail before bagging and tagging would commence. In the final hand of the night, Daniel Negreanu was eliminated by Isaac Haxton. The two tangled in a Pot-Limit Omaha hand where the money went on the turn with Haxton having two pair and Negreanu holding an over pair of pocket kings. Haxton's hand would hold and the all-time winningest poker player was sent home in seventh place.
The finalists are set to return for action at noon local time on Tuesday with Isaac Haxton in the lead. Fans can watch the action live with hole-cards on PokerGO beginning at 1 PM. Play will continue until the Mixed Game Champion is crowned and here's what's up for grabs at the final table:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $382,500 | ||
| 2 | $247,500 | ||
| 3 | $168,750 | ||
| 4 | $112,500 | ||
| 5 | $90,000 | ||
| 6 | $67,500 | ||
| 7 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | $56,250 |
Current 2018 US Poker Open Standings
| Position | Player | Country | Total earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | $428,400 |
| 2 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | $221,250 |
| 3 | Justin Bonomo | United States | $190,400 |
| 4 | Mike Gorodinsky | United States | $179,200 |
| 5 | Boutros Nadim | Lebanon | $136,000 |
Some of the game's best are clashing at this final table of the $25,000 Mixed Game Championship at the US Poker Open, starting at 4pm ET on PokerGO. Live updates will be provided by PokerNews in case you can't watch it all, but if you have the time, sign up for PokerGO and see the first big televised mixed game final table of the year!