Rast et Elezra au rendez-vous des variantes
Day one of Event #54: $2,500 Nine-Game Mix 6-Handed has concluded after 10 levels of play with some notable names among the chip leaders in one of the newest World Series events. A total of 319 entrants produced a prize pool of $709,775, with 48 spots paid and a first-place prize of $168,608.
Kao "Flexx" Saechao has the overnight lead with 240,000 chips, thanks in part to a big hand against Randy Ohel and Adam Friedman shortly before the final break of the night. However, several WSOP bracelet winners are not far behind.
Fresh off his victory in Event #51: $3,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em, Brian Rast sits second in chips chasing a sixth career bracelet. After taking his seat towards the end of late registration, Rast ran up his stack and finished with 212,100 chips.
Another multiple bracelet winner in the hunt is Eli Elezra, who was blinding down late in the final level after leaving to get some rest. Elezra takes 196,100 chips into Day two of this event, while also carrying 45 big blinds into Day two of Event #52: $1,000 Seniors Championship.
Other names to watch after the opening 10 levels are Kevin Gerhart (158,300), Scott Bohlman (157,500), Adam Owen (154,300), David Williams (153,100), Maria Ho (135,900), Josh Arieh (129,700) and Daniel Negreanu (62,000).
There are also notable names with work to do on Friday, as Michael Noori, David “ODB” Baker, John Monnette and John Racener are among the short stacks. Others that failed to make it through the day include Phil Hellmuth, Frank Kassela, Christopher Vitch, Brandon Shack-Harris and Mike Watson, who was making his first appearance of the 2021 World Series.
Day two will begin at 2:00 p.m. local time, with 10 more levels to be played. Play will resume on level 11 with 15-minute breaks scheduled after every two levels and a dinner break after level 16.
Stay tuned to our PokerNews live blog as Day 2 unfolds.