Hari Bercovici Hanging Tough
Of the fifty-three Israeli players who entered this year's Main Event, Hari Bercovici is the only one left. The fifty-six-year-old from Be'er Sheva, Israel got into poker by playing in home games with friends.
"I don't play much poker," Bercovici said. "Just in Vegas."
Bercovici has been a regular at the WSOP for the last few years, cashing in the Rio Daily Deepstacks side events and, in 2016, finishing 34th in the Main Event for $216,211. His WSOP career earnings are $218,137.
A key hand that propelled this year's deep run, Bercovici said, came when he tripled up with two nines against one opponent's two aces and another's two jacks. Some good luck was accompanied by crafty, unpredictable play. On Day 4, after his opponent checked a 
board, Bercovici shoved all-in dark for 450,000 into a pot of 260,000. When the river came a 
, his opponent folded and Bercovici showed a pair of threes.
Bercovici kept accumulating chips on Day 5. In one hand, on a flop of 
, action checked to Jonathon Prested who bet 225,000. Bercovici called and then Aram Zobian raised to 725,000. Prested quickly folded and Bercovici called.
Both players checked the 
turn and the 
river. Bercovici showed 
for a turned flush, which was good enough to win the pot despite the double-paired board. He chipped up to six million while Zobian, who is also still alive in the tournament, took a hit to his stack. By Day 6, Bercovici had one of the biggest stacks in the room.
Today, Bercovici has been hovering in between the chip leaders and the short stacks. "Unfortunately, the day is not going very well," he said. "But the tournament overall has been going very well, and the experience has been great." His son, Lee, who was recently released from the Israeli military, is supporting his dad on the rail.
Bercovici said that he's feeling better, and probably playing better, this year. He doesn't have any big plans for the money he wins, even if he finishes first.
"I'll continue my life either way," he says.