On Saturday, Matt Matros won his third World Series of Poker bracelet in as many years by taking Event #16, the $1,500 Six-Handed NLHE. For outlasting his 1603 opponents, Matros earned just shy of $454k. Mark Radoja, who also won a bracelet last year, earned $281k for being the last to withstand Matros’ assault. Despite entering Day 3 in third place, three-time bracelet winner Mike Matusow could manage no higher than eighth place.
On Sunday, the action revolved around a pair of famous Phils – Hellmuth and Ivey – as they separately made it to heads-up action in their respective events. Around 2am Monday local time, WSOP history was made as Hellmuth defeated veteran player Don Zewin to win Event #18, the $2,500 Seven Card Razz, and with it, Hellmuth’s long-sought 12th WSOP bracelet. Along with setting a new WSOP record for number of bracelets, Hellmuth won over $182k and got a huge monkey off his back after coming so close for so long. Of course, sic transit gloria mundi, meaning the new mantra of ‘when will Phil win a baker’s dozen’ will probably start by noon Monday. Veteran player Zewin took $113k as consolation.
Sadly for lovers of symmetry, Ivey’s quest for his ninth bracelet fell short as Andy Frankenberger won Event #17, the $10k Pot-Limit Hold’em. A sizable rail was on hand to witness Ivey’s triumph, but Frankenberger spoiled their party by earning his second bracelet and $445k, relegating Ivey to second place and $275k.
Speaking of symmetry, with Day 2 in the books, there are 19 players still alive in Event #19, the $1,500 NLHE, from a starting field of 2302. Topping the chip stack is Gregg Wilkinson with 1.227m, and Patrick Smith well back with 867k.
Day 2 of Event #20, the $5k Limit Hold’Em, has 17 survivors of the original 166 players moving on to Day 3. Matthew Woodward is out front with 236k, but Terrence Chan is not far off the mark with 238k.
Some 2779 players started Day 1 of Event #21, the $1k NLHE, but casualties mounted like a World War I regiment going over the top, leaving just 228 to answer the bugle on Monday. Edward Locke leads with 133k, hotly trailed by Joseph Cappello with 124k.
Finally, Event #22, the $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball, attracted 228 entrants on Day 1, of which 79 made the grade, including chip leader Shawn Buchanan, with 2012 bracelet winner Vincent van der Fluit in second.
