The 5th week of 2015 WSOP brought some of the big games of the series as in Event #44: $50,000 The Poker Players Championship as well as some good figures for Indians to cheer. Among the notable international pros, Daniel Negreanu won $113,062 in the Event #41: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship reaching the magical figures of $30 million in net tournament winnings. Phil Helmuth fell short of what could have been his 15th WSOP bracelet in the Event #47: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em finishing 16th.
Among the Indian players out there in the Sin City, Raghav Bansal brought the biggest cash so far this year ($39,508) for Team India making a final table finish (9th) in the Event #47: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em. The Indian origin player, Nipun Java made an excellent run in the Event #46: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed but couldn’t clinch the bracelet finishing 2nd for $270,509. In the same event, another Indian-origin player, Numit Agrawal finished 4th taking home $112,717 making it a momentous day for Indian fans.
Event #48: $1,500 Seven Card Stud
The latest event to find its champion on Thursday saw 237 entries. Eli Elezra of USA topped the field taking home $112,591 with his 3rd WSOP bracelet. Benjamin Lazer was deprived of his maiden bracelet when Elezra hit a straight on the 7th street. Lazer bagged $69,532 for the runner-up finish.
“This one was really special to me,” Elezra said. “It’s the game many of us grew up on and it’s played by the most experienced players. When I won the Deuce-to-Seven (in 2013) that was very nice, but I really take extra pride in this one because so many well-known players have won it before me.”
Event #47: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em
The field of 1,244 players is now down to the Top 5 who will battle out for the bracelet on today. Timur Margolin of Israel is leading the chip count with 5,850,000 chips followed by Matt O’Donnell in the 2nd place with 4,360,000 chips. The Indian player, Raghav Bansal reached the final table of this event but, unfortunately his run came to an end in 9th place. Raghav bagged a cash prize of $39,508 which also is the biggest cash for Team India this year.
Event #46: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed
Nipun Java and Numit Agrawal, both of Indian origin had a fantastic run in this event, but they couldn’t clinch the bracelet. Nipun couldn’t capitalize his heads-up chip lead and fell against Vasili Firsau who became the 2nd WSOP bracelet winner from Belarus. Vasili took home $437,575 in the top prize while Nipun bagged $270,509. The final hand:
Vasili Firsau:
Nipun Java:
Table:
Numit made his 2nd WSOP final table finish (4th), after a 5th place finish in Event #61: Pot-Limit Omaha of 2013 WSOP. Numit took home $112,717 in prize money from his event.
Event #45: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em
The event which started on Monday drew 1,655 runners including a big Indian team to vie for the coveted bracelet. Upeshka De Silva captured his 1st bracelet taking home $424,577. No Indian player could make it to the money list. The 27-year old had 9 WSOP cashes prior to this event including 2 this year. Upeshka beat Dara O’Kearney of Ireland in heads-up with two pairs on the table and Ace in hand.
Dara O’Kearney:
Upeshka De Silva:
Table:
Event #44: The Poker Players Championship
It took 6 days to crown Mike Gorodinsky as the champion of this $50,000 buy-in event. Mike took home a hefty sum of $1,270,086 in the top prize beating Jean-Robert Bellande in the heads-up. Team PokerStars pro Jason Mercier added $139,265 to his live tournament earnings finishing 7th in this event. This was the 2nd WSOP bracelet for Mike after winning it in the Event #5: Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low 8-or Better in 2013.
Event #43: $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em
The inaugural edition of Super Seniors bracelet event was taken down by the Jon Andlover. He rivered trips of 3 beating Rod Pardey in the heads-up to clinch the bracelet and $262,220 in the top prize.
Jon Andlover:
Rod Pardey:
Table:
Eyeing the popularity of Seniors event every year, the WSOP officials decided to launch this Super Seniors event wherein player of age 65 years or above can play. The tournament organizers must be happy with the figure of 1,533 entries in the first edition.
Event #42: $1,500 Extended Play No-Limit Hold’em
One more newly introduced event found its champion at Rio when Adrian Apmann of Germany flopped higher two pairs against Yehoram Houri. Adrian won his maiden WSOP bracelet bagging $478,102 in the top prize. The tournament which provided extra playing time and more hands dealt out per level drew 1,914 entries including many international pros as in Antonio Esfandiari and Jonathan Little.