Get Those Game Plaques Ready! It's Time for the Dealer's Choice Championship
Welcome back to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and the 2019 World Series of Poker for Day 1 of Event #35: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship!
The WSOP has already seen six $10,000 buy-in tournaments so far, with four of those being deemed as Championship events. It's now time for one of the most complicated events of the series with the fifth installment of the Dealer's Choice Championship.
Players will be tested on their all-round skills over a variety of flop, draw, and stud games. With 20 games to choose from, players won't just need to apply their skills to actual game play, but also to choosing what game might give them the biggest edge over their competition.
In the inaugural running of this event in 2015, Quinn Do emerged victorious over the 108-player field to capture the $319,792 first prize and his second WSOP gold bracelet. The following year in 2016 saw the field size swell to 118 players, and it would be Jean Gaspard capturing his first WSOP gold bracelet after he defeated Billy O'Neil heads-up for the $306,621 first prize. Then in 2017, John Racener would break through for his first WSOP gold bracelet when he topped the 102-player field for the $273,962 first prize.
Last year, Adam Friedman collected his second WSOP gold bracelet when he defeated Stuart Rutter heads-up over the 111-player field to take home the $293,275 first-place prize on a final table that included Alexey Makarov, Chris Klodnicki, David "ODB" Baker, and Marco Johnson.
$10,000 Dealers Choice Championship Past Results
| Year | Champion | Country | Players | Prize Pool | First Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Adam Friedman | United States | 111 | $1,043,400 | $293,275 |
| 2017 | John Racener | United States | 102 | $930,600 | $273,962 |
| 2016 | Jean Gaspard | United States | 118 | $1,109,200 | $306,621 |
| 2015 | Quinn Do | United States | 108 | $1,015,200 | $319,792 |
Players will begin with 60,000 in starting chips and registration is open through to the start of play on Day 2 (approximately 2 p.m. PDT on Saturday, June 15). Players will be playing ten 60-minute levels with a 15-minute break every two levels and limits beginning at 500-1,000. Levels from Day 2 onward will be 90-minutes in duration.
The PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be on hand to provide continuous live updates of every wheel, scoop and outdraw live from Event #35: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship. Action is underway from 3 p.m. (PDT), so stay tuned right here to PokerNews.com for all your live reporting needs from this event, and every event of the 2019 World Series of Poker.