Legends Race for the $1,500 Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Title
From a starting field of 595, only 16 players will return to the Brasilia Room Thursday at 2 p.m. to face off for the Event #40: $1,500 Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better title. Vying for a bracelet and the $173,228 first-place prize are several of the best "end bosses" who have already earned fame at the World Series of Poker.
The line-up on Table 2 features 14 WSOP triumphs combined among four players at the table. They're led by the captain Ted Forrest with 416,000 chips and six bracelets to his name. Forrest has won two stud and two razz events at the World Series, but he's yet to earn one in stud hi-lo. The 52-year-old has been around for nearly three decades, earning his first live cashes in the early 1990s.
Forrest will, however, have to outlast exceptionally gifted players who will meet him at the last two tables. One of them is "The Italian Pirate" Max Pescatori, a four-time bracelet winner himself, whose packed résumé boasts 70 cashes from the WSOP. Pescatori, who will continue with 324,000 in chips, conquered the $10,000 Stud Hi-Lo Championship event back in 2015.
Another legend at that table is famous theoretician David Sklansky, a pioneer of poker writing. Sklansky has authored or co-authored 13 books on gambling or poker. He certainly knows how to apply his math skills in practice, too, as has three bracelets to his name. While he'll return to the second shortest stack (117,000), Sklansky still has hopes for bracelet number four.
Forrest, Pescatori and Sklansky will also tangle with Justin Bonomo, an accomplished high roller with over $16.7 million in live tournament cashes. Bonomo already has one WSOP title under his belt. Bonomo will start the final day with 210,000.
Don Zewin, Tim Finne and Walter Treccarichi are also well-known poker heroes, while Dimitrios Magdalinos showed some hot wheels on Day 2, too.
While Table 2 comprises of some of the iconic players across generations, Table 1 can't be left without attention either. Two biggest stacks, decorated WSOP champion Steve Jelinek (485,000) and Hal Rotholz (445,000), will battle Barbara Lewis (407,000), the last woman standing who is currently fifth in chips.
Follow PokerNews live updates to see who emerges from this talented group as champion as the tournament is set to conclude Thursday evening.