The Poker Players Championship has always been one of the most highly anticipated events on the WSOP schedule, mainly due to the wide variety of formats it includes. This year’s edition of the $50,000 buy-in tournament saw UK’s Elior Sion best an elite field of 100 entries to win his first gold bracelet, $1,395,767 in prize money, and a spot on the special Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.
Day 5, the major event’s final one, began with six survivors. They were led by six-time gold bracelet winner and all-time money list leader Daniel Negreanu. The player was clearly in pursuit of another gold piece and many considered him the favorite for the title. In fact, the Canadian poker pro himself was very optimistically disposed at the start of Day 5.
When asked about whom he considered the most dangerous opponent at the event’s final table, Negreanu pointed to Sion. The poker pro, who is known for his excellent skills to read his opponents, turned out to be quite right. Sion proved to be a dangerous player, so dangerous that he eventually remained the last man standing.
Negreanu’s big hopes were quickly shattered over the course of play. Cards just did not go his way and he survived a sixth-place elimination to eventually end up in fifth place. Paul Volpe, another WSOP regular, was the unfortunate one to leave in sixth place. Ivo Donev and Isaac Haxton were eliminated in fourth and third place, respectively, to set the final table between Sion and Johannes Becker.
Two-handed match started with the eventual winner being at huge chip deficit. Sion began putting pressure on his opponent from the very moment cards were thrown in the air for the final battle. The pressure increased with every hand passing, until the player took the lead.
At some point it looked as if Sion may be very close to winning the tournament. But very shortly after, Becker doubled into a 2-1 lead. It took hours of chips going back and forth before a champion was determined. Last night’s heads-up battle illustrated once again just how dynamic the Poker Players Championship could be.
A Stud Hi-Lo hand, after which Sion took the lead once again, turned the event’s course one final time. From that point on, the UK player consumed his opponent’s stack steadily until the final hand occurred. The two players played an Omaha Hi-Lo hand to determine the winner.
The [7s][5s][5d] flop saw Sion check and Becker bet. Sion check-raised and his opponent called. On the [9s] turn, Sion bet and Becker moved all-in after giving his decision several moments of thought. Sion called with [Qd][Js][7c][5h] against Becker’s [Qs][6s][6h][2s]. The [5c] gave Sion winning quads. Becker had nothing else left but to make his way to the payout desk and claim $862,649 for his runner-up finish.
