Schwartz and Chidwick make $50k Players Championship final table
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Could we see a first ever British winner in the $50k Players Championship? Well there's a chance as Stephen Chidwick and Luke Schwartz have both made the final table of eight. Chidwick returns in fourth place in the chip counts on 2,026,000 with Schwartz one place behind in fifth with 1,494,000.
Michael Mizrachi is the man to beat though. Last year's winner is well placed for back-to-back victories and will return to the final table as the leader with 3,648,000 chips. Another player with previous in the Players Championship is also riding high. Andy Bloch, who was runner up to Chip Reese in the inaugural event, lies in second place on 3,598,000. Chris Klodnicki lies in third on 3,276,000 with Bill 'The Mathematics of Poker' Chen on 1,293,000, Roland Israelashvili 694,000 and a short stacked Bruno Fitoussi on 188,000 rounding out the final table.
After last night's heroics, all eyes in the Rio today were on Viktor Blom who was looking for his first WSOP bracelet (and final table for that matter). The Swedish youngster made his biggest WSOP cash to date, $105,235, but busted in 14th place at the hands of Luke Schwartz in the round of Stud 8. Isildur1's aces up weren't good enough to beat the Londoner's seven high straight.
Blom wasn't the only high profile casualty of the day. The Swede at least had the consolation of taking home a six-figure score. That can't be said of Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth and John Monnette who all busted without cashing on the penultimate day.
The final table action resumes at 9pm tonight UK time.
The chip counts and table positions are as follows:
1 Bill Chen 1,293,000
2 Luke Schwartz 1,494,000
3 Andy Bloch 3,598,000
4 Stephen Chidwick 2,026,000
5 Michael Mizrachi 3,648,000
6 Chris Klodnicki 3,276,000
7 Bruno Fitoussi 188,000
8 Roland Israelashvili 694,000