Joe Cassidy took almost exactly two hours to dispose of his opponent Scotty Nguyen and take what was supposed to be Phil Ivey’s ninth World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in Event #24. Late last night Ivey’s bid came to an end and the crowds stayed away for the heads up between Cassidy and Nguyen in this Omaha Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better battle. Cassidy had a huge lead from the outset and never relinquished it once and takes home $294,777 as well as the bracelet. What would have made it more exciting? If Ivey had ran in and stole the bracelet before spray-painting IVEYSOP on the front. How very WWE that would have been.
Another to enter the WSOP bracelet club is Brian Meinders after he won Event #25: $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout. The New Jersey bested the 10 person final table and with it the prize fund of $116,118 and told Bluff Magazine: “I didn’t realize how much I wanted one til the last time I came up short and I’m happy to have it this time around.”
Austin Scott is another first time bracelet winner after he beat all before him to take the Event #26: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha title. The win meant he put last year’s disappointment behind him by coming back to win an event that he cashed in ($40,748) last time around. This year’s prize was a cool $361,797 and it came after a short heads-up with Brett Richey that he never looked like losing.
Players in Event #27 return for the final day with the remaining 18 led by Ylon Schwartz. The $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event will find a winner later today and allow the victor to wander around the Rio with a prosthetic horse head for the remainder of the WSOP.
Event #28: $2,500 NLHE/Four Handed didn’t even reach the bubble on its first day with six players on day two knowing they’ll be leaving without a penny. Steven Weiss is out in front with 171,000 and closely pursued by Brian Rast on 168,000 chips. Of the 88 remaining Mike Gagliano, John Andress, Humberto Brenes, Andrey Zaichenko, Mike Watts and George Lind III are the six lowest placed players looking for some luck.
