2021 World Series of Poker

One of the highlights of the 2021 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas has kicked off as Day 1 of Event #60: $50,000 Poker Players Championship has concluded. The pinnacle mixed game of the year attracted a field of 43 entries so far and 39 players bagged up chips.

Leading the way after six levels of 140 minutes each is Bryce Yockey, who turned his starting stack of 300,000 into 653,000. During the last edition of the Poker Players Championship in 2019, Yockey finished in 4th place and will aim to finish a few spots higher this time around. Another two players claimed more than half a million in chips including Dario Sammartino (520,500) and Chris Vitch (504,500).

Eli Elezra and Randy Ohel both bagged up healthy stacks and four repeat bracelet winners during the current festival also finished in the top 10 as well.

Top 10 Counts Day 1 Event #60: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

Shaun Deeb just claimed his fifth career bracelet in Event #53: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, jumped right into Event #57: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship to finish in 13th place before entering the mixed game contest and bagging up 448,500. Yuval Bronshtein (two WSOP bracelets), two-time PPC champion Brian Rast (five WSOP bracelets) as well as Ryan Leng (three WSOP bracelets) also increased their WSOP gold bracelet tally during the ongoing series as well and follow close behind Deeb on the leaderboard.

Only four players were eliminated during Day 1 of the pinnacle mixed game contest of the year. The 2013 Poker Players Championship winner Matthew Ashton was the first casualty of the day after he lost a big portion of his stack early on and his run ended when John Monnette made a king-high straight flush in a Seven Card Stud hand. Michael Noori followed after a clash with Chad Campbell and Jake Schwartz also lost his entire stack in a round of Pot-Limit Omaha.

Last but not least, Albert Daher's hopes of making it through to the next day vanished in the last level of the night.

The first day of this challenge of endurance and versatility started with a bang when Scott Seiver ended up all-in against Bradley Berman in the first hand of No-Limit Hold'em. No call by Berman followed and Seiver topped the leaderboard for the first half of the day thereafter. Both made it through to Day 2 with 366,000 and 49,000 in chips respectively.

Among those to make their first appearance during the 2021 WSOP were Timofey "Trueteller" Kuznetsov, Aaron Katz and Roman Yitzhaki. All of them have, however, participated regularly in mixed game events at the WSOP throughout the years. Both Robert and Michael Mizrachi also entered the fray and the latter is chasing an unprecedented fourth title in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship.

Day 2 continues at 2pm local time and the late registration for the event remains open until the end of level 10 and following break on Day 2, which will be at approximately 10.20 pm local time on Monday, November 1, 2021. Some of the biggest names in the world of poker are still expected to take advantage of the extended late registration period and the PokerNews team will be on the floor from start to finish in order to provide as many key hands as possible.

The remaining players are now bagging and tagging for Day 2.

Stay tuned for a recap of the day's events.

Limit Hold'em

In a previous hand, Nacho Barbero had complained about a ruling that was given differently for the same situation and he ultimately lost the pot to Shaun Deeb. It was then Yuri Dzivieleveski who defended against Deeb and bet the turn, Deeb raised and Dzivielevski called.

The came on the river and Dzivieleveski check-folded to Deeb's bet. "I had either the ace or nine of spades," Barbero said. "You had ace-nine? Me too," Deeb grinned and then collected the pot in what turned out to be the final hand of the night.

Stud Hi-Lo

Robert Campbell: / /
Anthony Zinno: / /
Benny Glaser: / /

Robert Campbell bet fourth and was raised by Anthony Zinno, which Benny Glaser and Campbell called. They checked fifth street and Zinno checked sixth, Glaser bet and received two calls.

On seventh, the action concluded with a check from Zinno, a bet from Glaser, a call from Campbell and a fold from Zinno. Glaser won the low pot with while Campbell took the high portion with for a set of sixes.

Pot-Limit Omaha

Nacho Barbero raised to 5,000 from the cutoff and was called by Jake Schwartz in the big blind.

Schwartz check-called a 7,000 bet from Barbero on the flop.

The turn brought the and Schwartz checked again to Barbero, who bet the pot for 26,500. Schwartz then re-potted for 106,000, which left himself just 15,000 behind. Barbero called.

The completed the board and Schwartz checked to Barbero, who bet enough to put Schwartz all in.

"I'm gonna need a little bit, sorry," a pained Schwartz said.

Schwartz eventually announced a fold and Barbero scooped the pot.

Schwartz busted on the next hand to Shaun Deeb after getting all-in preflop and ending up second-best.

The clock has been stopped with 10 minutes left in the level and the remaining 39 players will play another four hands.

Pot-Limit Omaha

Bryce Yockey raised to 5,500 and Michael Mizrachi then three-bet to 15,000, which Chad Campbell cold-called. Yockey made it three ways to the flop. It checked to Mizrachi and he bet 27,000 to force out his two opponents.

"I folded ace-king," Paul Volpe mentioned in table chat. Mizrachi peeked at his cards and then exposed the before raking in the pot.