WSOP: Vojtech Ruzicka Surges to Main Event Day 6 Chip Lead
Czech poker pro Vojtech Ruzicka ended an abbreviated Day 6 of the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event with the chip lead after eliminating two players on two separate hands in the last few minutes of play.
Ruzicka ended the day with 26,415,000 which puts him ahead of Michael Ruane and former PocketFives #1 ranked player Cliff ‘JohnnyBax’ Josephy. Ruane started the day with 5,605,000 and built it up to 24,565,000. Josephy managed to finish the day with 23,860,000 though he can’t seem to recall too many big spots.
“I really didn’t do much today. I mean I really did not do much today. I don’t even remember the all in pots that I won,” said Josephy. “I didn’t play any big pots, I didn’t get any controversy. I hit flops, if I defended my big blind I hit the flop.“
Heading into the last day of the summer with a top four stack, the 50 year old Josephy is enjoying the moment and claims he’s able to stay loose and have fun.
“Do you see the smile on my face?” said Josephy, the last player in the field who already has a WSOP bracelet. “I don’t feel any pressure. I never feel pressure playing. I always love playing. I don’t know how it affects other people, I don’t know if they blow up. I’m not going to blow up. I’m not going to tilt. If I lose a hand, I lose a hand.”
While Josephy is the only WSOP bracelet winner still in the field, he’s not the only one with experience. Antoine Saout, who made the 2009 November Nine, has a shot at joining Mark Newhouse as the only players to make multiple trips to the November Nine. He sees a lot of differences between this year and his first run.
“Very different because now I’m a professional. I played a lot during the seven years. I know how to do it during the tournament. I was deep since Day 2,” said Saout. “This is my worst ending with like 26 or 27 (big) blinds for tomorrow. I played great this tournament. I’ve had a good run. I’m confident I can do it.”
He’s the fourth smallest stack heading into Day 7, but again recalls his 2009 experience as a reason to be patient.
“Even with the short stack you can spin it up and be deep. When I made the final table I was one of the shorter (stacks),” said Saout. “I doubled up once, twice, after I was the chip leader. I almost won it. If I win the first hand (Monday) maybe I can be deep again.”
There is one other former #1-ranked PocketFiver still in the hunt for a November Nine berth. Griffin Benger bounced around the Day 6 chip counts and ended with 6,530,000 – the 20th biggest stack. Other notables still in include James Obst, Valentin Vornicu and Tom Marchese.
There were 53 players eliminated on Monday including Paul Volpe (29th), Dan Colman (31st), Max Silver (33rd), Chris Klodnicki (45th), Tony Gregg (50th), Dietrich Fast (55th) and Tom Middleton (56th).
The final 27 players return at Noon PT on Monday and will play down until only the 2016 November Nine remain.
Main Event Top 10 Chip Counts
- Vojtech Ruzicka – 26,415,000
- Michael Ruane – 24,565,000
- Cliff Josephy – 23,860,000
- James Obst – 19,560,000
- Mike Shin – 19,345,000
- Valentin Vornicu – 17,450,000
- Fernando Pons – 17,270,000
- Thomas Miller – 17,185,000
- Kenny Hallaert – 15,465,000
- Tom Marchese – 15,420,000
Event 69: Michael Tureniec Wins The Little One for One Drop
Sweden’s Michael Tureniec beat out former PocketFives #1-ranked Calvin Anderson to win the $1,111 Little One for One Drop and take home his first WSOP bracelet – the last one available this summer.
Tureniec earned $525,520 for the win, the third largest score of his career.
“It’s overwhelming to win. It’s the biggest thing you can accomplish in poker,” Tureniec said of the WSOP bracelet.
Anderson walked away with $324,597. Another player who made his name online before turning to live poker, Ryan D’Angelo, finished third.
The event attracted 4,360 players meaning $483,960 was raised for the One Drop charity.
Final Table Payouts
- Michael Tureniec – $525,520
- Calvin Anderson – $324,597
- Ryan D’Angelo – $239,232
- Sam Ho – $177,695
- Thai Tolly – $133,028
- Lucas Blanco – $100,380
- Samer Al-Shurieki – $76,351
- Shai Zurr – $58,543
- Guillaume Diaz – $45,254
