Hellmuth to Make Another Run at 14th Bracelet in Event #15
Earlier this week, Phil Hellmuth was denied his 14th bracelet when he finished runner-up to Ted Forrest in Event #7: $1,500 Seven-Card Razz. It was a heart-breaking defeat for the "Poker Brat," but he didn't stay down long as he's making yet another run at gold here in the 2014 World Series of Poker Event #15: $3,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em.
Two days ago this tournament began with 810 players, but now just 15 remain with Heinz Kamutzki leading the way with 841,000. However, if he hopes to capture the $508,640 first-place prize he'll need to overcome some stiff competition. Of course there is Hellmuth, who is currently sixth in chips with 491,000, but also Davidi Kitai (815,000), Pratyush Buddiga (760,000), Gordon Vayo (483,000), Ryan Olisar (444,000), Vladimir Geshkenbein (178,000), and Tony Ruberto (98,000).
Coincidentally, today California Chrome will be going for horse racing's Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes (the last was way back in 1978), and one of poker's few Triple Crown winners (WSOP bracelet, World Poker Tour title, and European Poker Tour title) is still in the field. We're spreaking of Kitai, who woke up with pocket kings in the last hand of Day 2 to eliminate Jake Toole in 16th place and cripple Ruberto.
Here's how things stack up at the start of Day 3:
| Table | Seat | Player | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 445 | 1 | Heinz Kamutzki | 841,000 |
| 445 | 2 | Ryan Olisar | 444,000 |
| 445 | 3 | Gordon Vayo | 439,000 |
| 445 | 4 | John Andress | 699,000 |
| 445 | 5 | --empty-- | -- |
| 445 | 6 | Alen Bilic | 105,000 |
| 444 | 1 | Vladimir Geshkenbein | 478,000 |
| 444 | 2 | --empty-- | -- |
| 444 | 3 | Mark Darner | 538,000 |
| 444 | 4 | Zachary Korik | 221,000 |
| 444 | 5 | Phil Hellmuth | 491,000 |
| 444 | 6 | Gabriel Andrade | 439,000 |
| 440 | 1 | Davidi Kitai | 815,000 |
| 440 | 2 | Pratyush Buddiga | 760,000 |
| 440 | 3 | --empty-- | -- |
| 440 | 4 | Tony Ruberto | 98,000 |
| 440 | 5 | Bill Burford | 454,000 |
| 440 | 6 | Artem Metalidi | 448,000 |
Day 3 action will see the remaining 15 players return at 1 p.m., which is about an hour from now. Of course the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand to bring you all the updates, so stay tuned.