Five more bracelets were awarded this weekend and some big names were in that bunch. Phil Ivey went after his 9th bracelet in the Pot Limit Hold ‘Em event, whilst Phil Hellmuth looked to add to his total of 11 and Mike Matusow went for gold in the No Limit Six Handed event. So who won and who was left on the rail? All this and more in this edition of our WSOP updates.
Event 16: $1,500 No Limit Hold ‘Em Six Handed
This event saw a pretty large field with over 1,600 entrants all competing for over $2.1 million in cash. The lights were focused on one player at the final table, that player would be Mike Matusow. Matusow reached the final table 3rd in chips and had a solid chance at winning his 4th bracelet. He would have a relatively easy table with only 2 other bracelet winners going for first. Shortly into the match Matusow would run into some trouble when his 
lost to Ramey Shaios’ 
. This was the biggest pot of the final table so far and severely crippled Mike’s stack. The pot was over $1 million and saw over $500,000 shipped to Shaio leaving Mike with only 295,000 chips. Twenty minutes later Matusow would bust in 8th place when he got it in pre-flop with 
and ran into 
.
The winner would end up being Matt Matros. This makes 3 bracelets for the savvy veteran who also makes videos for the popular training site, Cardrunners. A total of 162 places paid out in the event. Among the big names were Kenna James, Chino Reem and Isildur1 AKA Viktor Blom making his first ever WSOP cash coming in at 152st.
Event 17: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold ‘Em
In the most anticipated final table of the year, Phil Ivey grabbed all the attention and looked to capture bracelet #9. Only 179 players entered this event which was expected since it is a larger buy in, for a less popular form of poker. Most of the entrants were the best of the best and the tournament featured a tough final table with 4 bracelet winners and an internet pro coming off one of the best runs in the Poker Stars SCOOP Series, Shaun Deeb.
With only 13 left Ivey was looking desperate as he stood last in chips and the chip leader had a 2-1 advantage on his closest competitor. Ivey would chip up through some nice pots and get himself back into real contention. By the time the final table was set, Ivey would have the chip lead and looked in good shape to take down the event. He would go on to face Andy Frankenberger heads up but couldn’t close the deal. Frankenberger won his second bracelet and $445,899.
Among those who made the money were some pretty big names. Shaun Deeb would finish 6th for $84,668 adding to his already great run of summer/spring events. Hoyt Corkins was the first casualty of the final table finishing 9th. Antonio Esfandiari finished 12th, David Benyamine would also cash placing 16th and Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier would round out the top 18 spots more than doubling his buy in.
Event #18: $2,500 Seven Card Razz
In one of my favorite events of the year, the Razz event drew a decent turnout with 309 players. Again the spotlight was on the final table and all eyes were on one player, Phil Hellmuth. The poker brat (Hellmuth) was looking for his record 12th bracelet. All his previous wins at the WSOP come in Hold ‘Em. Phil has been trying desperately to prove he is not just a one trick pony and this would be his chance. He would enter the final table second in chips, but had to beat out some tough competition. Barry Greenstein was at his second final of the series, but was one of the shorter stacks and had some work to do. Also standing in Phil’s way were 2 time bracelet winners, Scott Fischman and Brandon Cantu and the man who finished 3rd to Hellmuth in the 1989 WSOP Main Event, Don Zewin. Much to Hellmuth’s delight, Zewin would yet again play second fiddle to Phil and the self proclaimed poker brat would finally win a non Hold ‘Em bracelet.
Barry Greenstein would hold out well and place 6th. Other notable cashes were Ted Forrest – 30th and the man who once got into a fist fight with Hellmuth, Sam Grizzle.
Event #19: $1,500 No Limit Hold ‘Em
Another big hold ‘em field with over 2,300 entrants making for a massive $3.1 million prize pool. This would be the setting for a first time bracelet winner in Clifford Goldking. This is actually the first ever cash in the WSOP for the 24 year old Maryland resident. They always say the first is the best and I’m sure the $559,514 he won might make it that much sweeter.
He would face a virtually unknown final table that would only feature Card Player founder and owner Barry Shulman, who would place 8th. No other noteable names finished in the money other than one of the best sit n go players in the world, Colin Moshman. Colin is an instructor for the Cardrunners training site and has published perhaps the best book on sit n gos to date.
Event #20: $5,000 Limit Hold ‘Em
In what seems to be a slow decline of Limit Hold ‘Ems popularity, this event only had 166 entrants. First place was still worth playing for and someone had to win the more than $200,000 prize. That winner would be Pennsylvania native, Benjamin Scholl. He has only one other cash in the WSOP which came in limit hold ‘em as well back in 2011. With so few entrants only 18 spots paid out. Barry Schulman’s son and President of Card Player magazine would make this final table and finish 3rd for almost $100,000. Not a bad showing for the father- son pair.
Events going on now
Currently 6 events are running and 2 will award bracelets by the end of the day. Event 21, $1,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em and the $2,500 2-7 Triple Draw are down to the final table. Josh Arieh was among the finalists of the 2-7 event, but couldn’t last long and was the first casualty of the final. Barry Greenstein continues to have a solid 2012 WSOP and just missed the final table coming in at 14th. Other events which started on Monday and Tuesday are the $3,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em, $5,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better, the $1,500 Limit Hold ‘Em Shootout and the $3,000 Pot Limit Omaha.
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