The $50,000 Poker Players Championship Kicks Off at 3 p.m.
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One of the most anticipated events of the 2019 World Series of Poker is here as the $50,000 Poker Players Championship begins today at 3 p.m.
Many of the biggest names in the game consider this their main event, as winning in the eight-game format against the best in the world is what many believe to be the toughest challenge the WSOP schedule presents.
With a combined 32 bracelets won by the 10 winners of this event, luck is certainly not what comes to the forefront in the PPC. The skill required to defeat the toughest tournament field of the summer by being proficient in each variant is what is consistently echoed by players and past champions.
David "Chip" Reese, the first champion of this event and for whom the Memorial Trophy is named after, was long considered by his peers to be the best all-around poker player. After his win in 2006, Reese said, "It's not just one day or two days. It's every day." The PPC requires excellent all-around poker over the course of several days, and two players who will no doubt be playing today know a little something more about this than the rest.
Defending champion Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi is an unprecedented three-time winner of this event, having won it in 2010, 2012 and in 2018. Mizrachi also finished fourth in 2016. The other player with multiple PPC titles is Brian Rast, who earned top honors in 2011 and 2016.
Here is a look at the past entries, prize pool, champions, and first-place prizes:
| Year | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 143 | $6,864,000 | Chip Reese | $1,716,000 |
| 2007 | 148 | $7,104,000 | Freddy Deeb | $2,276,832 |
| 2008 | 148 | $7,104,000 | Scotty Nguyen | $1,989,120 |
| 2009 | 95 | $4,560,000 | David Bach | $1,276,806 |
| 2010 | 116 | $5,568,000 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,559,046 |
| 2011 | 128 | $6,144,000 | Brian Rast | $1,720,328 |
| 2012 | 108 | $5,184,000 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,451,527 |
| 2013 | 132 | $6,336,000 | Matthew Ashton | $1,774,089 |
| 2014 | 102 | $4,896,000 | John Hennigan | $1,517,767 |
| 2015 | 84 | $3,696,000 | Mike Gorodinsky | $1,270,086 |
| 2016 | 91 | $4,176,000 | Brian Rast | $1,296,097 |
| 2017 | 100 | $4,800,000 | Elior Sion | $1,395,767 |
| 2018 | 87 | $4,176,000 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,239,126 |
The tournament structure is different from years past. In addition to beginning with 300,000 in chips (up from 250,000), the tournament also begins with limits of 1,500/3,000. In past years that was Level 4, so right from the start the play is going to mean much more than it has in recent years.
The schedule for Day 1 calls for six 100-minute levels to be played, which should have players bagging and tagging at about 2 a.m. Registration remains open until the end of Level 10 (about 10:20 p.m.) on Day 2 (Tuesday).
Be sure to keep it here for live updates on all of the action, as the quest to crown the 2019 Poker Players Champion begins!
and Benyamine check-called 3,000 from Galfond.
and both players checked.
, Benyamine bet 9,500 and Galfond called.
for a set of sixes, Galfond mucked and Benyamine won the pot.
, Ohel continued for 20,000 and Zack called.
and both players checked.
, Ohel bet 40,000 and Zack thought for a little while before he folded.
, Julien Martini checked from the small blind and Michael Glick bet 18,500 from the big blind. Martini called.
, Martini led for 18,000 and Glick called.
for top two pair, but Glick tabled 
for a queen-high straight to win the pot.
, Arieh bet and both Gorodinsky and Vitch called.
, Arieh bet and both Gorodinsky and Vitch called.
turn and then just 2,000 on the 
for trips.
/
but Esposito had it beat with 
for sevens full. After the hand, Esposito said he had check-raised earlier in the hand and bet the remaining streets, only for Cates to pop him on the river.
flop, calling 4,500 from Brian Rast under the gun. Benyamine check-called 15,600 on the 
turn and checked the 
for a boat. Benyamine's tablemates couldn't resist ribbing a little in the aftermath.
flop. Arieh led for 27,000 and Gorodinsky called. On the 
with hearts, good for a massive combo draw, while Gorodinsky had slightly the best of it for the moment with 