Saturday, June 8, marked Day 12 of the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas. The day was filled with thrilling moments as two more bracelet events reached their conclusions, and several other events saw intense action. Let’s delve into the key highlights and significant moments from the day.
Brek Schutten Triumphs in the High Roller Event
Brek Schutten, an ICU nurse, took down Event #21: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em (6-Handed) for an impressive $1,405,641. Schutten outplayed some of the top professionals in the game, showcasing his exceptional skills and strategic prowess. This victory marked his first WSOP bracelet, a dream come true for any poker player.
AJ Cummings Wins the 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw
In Event #22: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw, Aaron “AJ” Cummings from Montana emerged victorious, pocketing $146,516. Cummings, another first-time bracelet winner, navigated through a tough field, demonstrating his deep understanding of the game and his ability to stay composed under pressure.
Greenstein and Deeb Shine in Gladiators of Poker
Day 1c of Event #20: $300 Gladiators of Poker No-Limit Hold’em saw 5,669 players join the action, pushing the total entries to 13,778. Giovanny Rodriguez Ocampo led the Day 1c field with 3,010,000 chips, but Dan Heimiller remained the overall chip leader with 3,875,000 chips.
Olga Iermolcheva, Barry Greenstein, and Shaun Deeb were among notable players who advanced to Day 2, bagging 830,000, 525,000, and 365,000 chips, respectively. Olga, known for her role in Game of Gold, along with the experience and skill of Greenstein and Deeb, will undoubtedly make them players to watch in the upcoming rounds.
Darius Samual Eyes Second Bracelet in the Shootout Event
Darius Samual won his Day 2 shootout table in Event #23: $1,500 Shootout No-Limit Hold’em, continuing his impressive run at this year’s WSOP. Samual, who spent half of his bankroll to enter the $25,000 Heads Up Championship earlier in the series, is now aiming for his second bracelet. He will face a tough field of 16 Day 2 survivors, including Vitor Dzivielevski, Jeremy Ausmus, Scott Ball, and Daniel Strelitz.
The survivors are guaranteed at least $15,027, with the top prize set at $305,849.
Omaha-8 Championship Down to Thirteen Players
Event #24: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship saw significant action on Day 2, with 35 more players entering late registration. This brought the total field to 259 entries, creating a prize pool of $2,408,700. Robert Tanita ended the day as the chip leader with 2,990,000 chips, followed by Joao Simao with 1,840,000 chips.
Notable players still in the hunt include Sean Troha, Brad Ruben, and Yuri Dzivielevski.
Phil Hellmuth Among Three Main Event Champions in $3k LHE
Event #23: $3,000 Limit Hold’em 6-Handed saw 248 entries, generating a prize pool of $662,160. By the end of Day 1, only 76 players remained, including three Main Event champions: Phil Hellmuth, Joe McKeehen, and Koray Aldemir. Hellmuth bagged 168,000 chips, McKeehen 121,000, and Aldemir 154,000, positioning them well for Day 2.
Brian Tate led the field with 327,000 chips, but with two more days of play, the $148,635 top prize is still up for grabs.
Anticipation for Day 13
The thirteenth day of the 2024 WSOP promises to be another exciting day. One bracelet will be awarded in Event #23: $1,500 Shootout No-Limit Hold’em, which will switch to freezeout play for the final sixteen players.
Day 1d of the Gladiators of Poker is expected to attract a massive field, possibly exceeding the 5,000 entries from Day 1c. The remaining events will also see intense competition, with big names like Phil Hellmuth, Joe McKeehen, and Koray Aldemir in Event #23: $3,000 Limit Hold’em 6-Handed, and Sean Winter, Brad Ruben, and Yuri Dzivielevski in Event #24: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship.
Two new events will kick off on Day 13:
- Event #26: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em (8-Handed) at 12 p.m.
- Event #27: $1,500 Big O at 2 p.m.
The Origins of the WSOP
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has been the gold standard of poker tournaments since it first launched in 1970. Founded by Benny Binion in Las Vegas, the initial gathering featured only a handful of players, but it quickly became the centerpiece of competitive poker. Over the decades, players like Puggy Pearson, Jamie Gold, and Martin Jacobson have made their mark on the WSOP, solidifying its reputation. The Main Event, with its $10,000 buy-in, is the pinnacle of the series, offering not only massive payouts but also the title of poker champion, coveted by professionals and amateurs alike.