Eric Baldwin
The nine-year wait for Bracelet #2 is over for Eric Baldwin

There are three bracelet winners to tell you about from Thursday’s 2018 World Series of Poker action: Two first-time winners, and one player who has captured his second piece of poker jewellery nine years after claiming his first.

Meanwhile, the $25K PLO High Roller is down to just 35 players. Scroll down to find out who is still in with a shot of winning the enormous $1,402,683 prize.

All of that and more in today’s recap of June 21.

ErIc Baldwin Wins Bracelet #2, $1,500 NLHE for $319,580

With just two players returning on Thursday to finish Event #37: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em, it looked very likely that Eric Baldwin would capture his second bracelet. It had been nine years since his first WSOP win, and he held a dominating chip lead over his sole opponent, Ian Steinman.

Baldwin began with 7,550,000 against Steinman’s 2,200,000, and Baldwin won a big pot right from the get go. However, Steinman was able to double up with pocket sixes against ace-king, and then looked set to double again with pocket kings against ace-jack. However, a jack on the turn followed by an ace on the river gave Baldwin the win.

An emotional Baldwin celebrated with his rail, including his mother, before dedicating the victory to his late father, who passed away three years ago. “In a lot of ways, this one is for him,” he said.

“It was a lot of hours of poker and a lot of short-handed play, that really sucks your mental energy,” Baldwin added. “But man it’s fun! I wish everyone could experience this. It’s so cool!”

Final Table Results:

  1. Eric Baldwin – $319,580
  2. Ian Steinman – $197,461
  3. Enrico Rudelitz – $140,957
  4. Aaron Massey – $101,819
  5. Robert Georato – $74,434
  6. Michael Finstein – $55,077
  7. Stephen Song – $41,257
  8. Gilsoo Kim – $31,290
  9. Mathew Moore – $24,032

Scott Bohlman Takes Down Mixed Big Bet for $122,138

Scott Bohlman
First Bracelet for Scott Bohlman

Another event which ended short-handed on Wednesday night was Event #40: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet. That meant three players returned today, and again, there was a dominating chip leader.

Scott Bohlman held 60% of the chips in play three-handed, but had stiff competition from WPT champ Daniel Weinman and two-time bracelet winner Ryan Hughes. Both of those managed to double up and one point the stacks were virtually even with Hughes even holding the chip lead.

After a break though, Bohlman returned refreshed and eliminated Weinman in third with trips against kings-up in a 5-card draw hand. He then had a 5:1 lead over Hughes, and finished the job with a set against top pair and low draw in a Big O pot.

Bohlman’s bracelet win is his 52nd WSOP cash. It seems the 52nd time was a charm, as he is now $122,138 richer.

Final Table Results:

  1. Scott Bohlman – $122,138
  2. Ryan Hughes – $75,477
  3. Daniel Weinman – $49,541
  4. Aaron Rogers – $33,344
  5. Marcel Vonk – $23,028
  6. Jeremy Harkin – $16,329

Preston Lee is SHOOTOUT Champ, Wins $236,498

Thursday’s third and final bracelet came in Event #39: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout, which Preston Lee took down for $236,498.

Preston Lee
SHOOTOUT Champ Preston Lee

The final table of ten took over 12 hours to play out, with a four-hour heads-up duel between Lee and eventual runner-up Corey Dodd taking up four of those. The chip lead switched back and forth between the two, before Lee was finally able to take it down with king-deuce holding up against six-five.

Lee said he was mostly a cash game player, but that he’d been playing more online to get back into live tournament poker. That work seems to have paid off, giving him his first bracelet.

Final Table Results:

  1. Preston Lee – $236,498
  2. Corey Dodd – $146,146
  3. Anthony Reategui – $105,907
  4. Dylan Linde – $76,829
  5. Jesse Kertland – $56,763
  6. Young Phan – $42,476
  7. Royce Matheson – $32,198
  8. Alexander Lakhov – $24,728
  9. Bas de Laat – $19,245
  10. Endrit Geci – $15,180

Just 19 Remain in $1,500 Limit Hold’em

The field in Event #41: $1,500 Limit Hold’em has been chopped down from 596 to just 19 after Day 2, with Matt Woodward leading the way with 438,000 chips. He’s most closely followed by Jeffrey Scheibner (427,000) and Robert Nehorayan (418,000).

Matt Grapenthien bagged a top ten stack (238,000), and he’s the only bracelet winner remaining in the field. Grapenthien took down the $10K Stud Championship back in 2014.

Action resumes at 12pm Friday.

Top 10 Stacks:

  1. Matthew Woodward – 438,000
  2. Jeffrey Scheibner – 427,000
  3. Robert Nehorayan – 418,000
  4. Matt Russell – 361,000
  5. Brad Albrinck – 323,000
  6. Oleg Chebotarev – 312,000
  7. Kevin Song – 290,000
  8. Brian Vollick – 286,000
  9. Matt Grapenthien – 238,000
  10. Michael Jex – 232,000

Ben Yu Leads Final 35 in $25K PLO High Roller

One of the biggest events on the WSOP schedule is down to 35 players from the 230 who entered. Event #42: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed High Roller has a massive $1,402,683 for the winner, and right now the player closest to it is chip leader Ben Yu.

Yu bagged up 3,695,000, having enjoyed a massive spin-up late in the day. Yu had just 200,000 at the dinner break, before busting two players and riding the wave to the largest end-of-day stack.

His closest competitors are Jason Koon (2,540,000), Ryan Tosoc (2,220,000), and Shaun Deeb (2,120,000). There are plenty of big names still in the field though, including multiple bracelet winners Scotty Nguyen (2,010,000), Jason Mercier (1,905,000), Robert Mizrachi (1,005,000), Luis Velador (1,045,000), Erik Seidel (725,000), Mike Leah (660,000), Craig Varnell (625,000), Christopher Frank (565,000), David Benyamine (425,000), Sam Soverel (380,000), Paul ‘paulgees91’ Volpe, and Jarred Graham (300,000).

Defending champ James Calderaro (705,000) is still in too, as is Tom Marchese (440,000). Adam ‘adamyid’ Owen is the short stack with just 85,000.

A few players who failed to cash in this one include Daniel Negreanu, Anthony Zinno, Jens Kyllonen, JC Tran, Scott Seiver, Chris Ferguson and Michael Mizrachi.

Play resumes at 2pm, with all players now guaranteed a min-cash of $37,500.

Top 10 Stacks:

  1. Ben Yu – 3,695,000
  2. Jason Koon – 2,540,000
  3. Ryan Tosoc – 2,220,000
  4. Shaun Deeb – 2,120,000
  5. Scotty Nguyen – 2,010,000
  6. Jason Mercier – 1,905,000
  7. Jonathan Depa – 1,180,000
  8. Luis Velador – 1,045,000
  9. David Prociak – 1,020,000
  10. Robert Mizrachi – 1,005,000

$2,500 NLHE Gets Going

One of the two new events to get started on Thursday was Event #43: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em. It attracted 1,071 entries, and after ten levels just 297 remain.

While Ashwin Sarin holds the overnight chip lead with 166,200, it’s David ‘dpeters17’ Peters who headlines the top 10 stacks with 140,500. Former PocketFives no.1 player Chris ‘Big Huni’ Hunichen also finished in the top 10 with 131,500.

They’ll all return for Day 2 at 12pm tomorrow.

Top 10 Stacks:

  1. Ashwin Sarin – 166,200
  2. Steve Foutty – 155,800
  3. Josh Bergman – 145,000
  4. Markus Gonsalves – 143,700
  5. David Peters – 140,500
  6. Andrew Brokos – 140,100
  7. Kainalu Mccue-Unciano – 131,800
  8. Chris Hunichen – 131,500
  9. Brett Shaffer – 130,900
  10. Mark Dube – 130,300

Big Names Advance in $10K 2-7 Triple Draw Championship

The second new event of the day was Event #44: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship, which saw 100 players take a shot.

When all was said and done after ten levels of play, it was Michael Noori who could call himself the overnight chip leader over the 41 survivors, bagging up 335,000. He’s followed by professional soccer player Max Kruse (282,000).

There are plenty of other big names through, including Christopher Kruk (247,500), Luke Schwartz (200,000), Lawrence Berg (171,000), Andrey Zhigalov (170,500), Chris Vitch (159,500), Benny Glaser (156,000), Eli Elezra(155,500), Mike Matusow (136,500), Vanessa Selbst (120,000), Cary Katz (114,000), and Jesse Martin (88,500).

Some of those less fortunate today were Daniel Negreanu, John Hennigan, Michael Mizrachi, Stephen Chidwick, John Monnette, Jean Robert-Bellande, James Obst, and David “ODB” Baker.

Registration remains open until the start of Day 2 tomorrow, which kicks off at 2pm.

Top 10 Stacks:

  1. Michael Noori – 335,000
  2. Max Kruse – 282,000
  3. Christopher Kruk – 247,500
  4. Luke Schwartz – 197,000
  5. Lawrence Berg – 171,000
  6. Brant Hale – 171,000
  7. Andrey Zhigalov – 170,500
  8. Quek Sheng – 161,500
  9. Chris Vitch – 159,500
  10. Benny Glaser – 156,000

Tomorrow’s Action (June 22)

It will be a busy day in the Rio tomorrow. Not only do we have all the aforementioned events resuming play, but four other events kick off too (albeit one online).

At 11am, Event #45: Big Blind Antes $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em (30 minute levels) gets going. That’s then followed by Event #46 $2,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better at 3pm.

A little later at 3:30pm, Event #47: $565 WSOP.com ONLINE Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed gets started, while the evening sees Event #6D: GIANT – $365 No-Limit Hold’em play out.