WSOP: Online legends Moorman and Deeb rock the felt; Double bracelet for Bach; status on Ivey and Brunson

It continues to be an exciting WSOP 2017 with all types of stories grabbing the headlines. For our latest update, we start off with two online legends Chris Moorman and Shaun Deeb. Days ago, Moorman finally captured his first WSOP victory which of course came with that coveted gold bracelet. He has been ecstatic, to say the least. As for Deeb, he came very close to securing his third WSOP career victory.

While many players like Deeb continue to chase down the golden award, David Bach made it look easy. He became the first double bracelet winner, and did so with the likes of Daniel Negreanu and Jason Mercier looking on.

One player who will definitely not be hunting for a bracelet this year is poker legend Doyle Brunson. Contrary to his tweets last month, the Texas Dolly will once again sit this one out. In addition to the WSOP festivities, he will also be missing out in the lucrative high stakes action at Bobby’s Room in Bellagio where it is rumored that Phil Ivey has been spotted.

And now, here are all those latest stories.

Online pro Shaun Deebjust misses the mark for his third bracelet

Hours ago, online pro Shaun Deeb went head-to-head against Ben Yu for the title at Event #34: US$10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship and after just a few hands, it was all over. Yu ran away with the gold denying Deeb his quest for a third career bracelet.

Taking a quick glance back at Deeb’s WSOP achievements, in 2016, he cashed six times at the series. The year prior, he also cashed six times including two others at the WSOP Europe. His latest result brings Deeb up to five cashes at the ongoing series. He ran deep at two other 2-7 Lowball events, and cashed at an 8-mix and Omaha event.

For an online master, his live stats continue to impress especially at the WSOP. Interestingly, ever since Deeb won his first WSOP bracelet back in 2015, he’s only had one other victorious moment in the live tournament circuit, that was a year later at the WSOP 2016. With a lot more events still lined up, we may yet see Deeb nab his third in a row before the series ends.

Final table payouts

UK’s Chris Moorman finally wins his first bracelet

After spending years seeing the shiny gold strap come inches from his wrist but only be awarded to another, 888 pro Chris Moorman has finally done it. At Event #27: UD$3,000 No Limit Hold’em – 6 Handed, the Englishman online pro overcame a massive field of 959 entries to seize his first bracelet and collect nearly US$500K in winnings. Moorman tweeted, “I’ve read every message after my win and want to thank everyone so much for the overwhelming love and support. Still can’t believe it’s real.”

The short-handed event seems to be one of Moorman’s specialties in the live arena. In 2011, he got very close to the gold, falling one spot shy at the US$10,000 Six Handed Championship. At that same series, he also finished 11th at the Six Handed Pot Limit Omaha event. Hours ago, the official bracelet awarding commenced and immediately after, he was back at the felt for Day 2 of Event #36: US$5,000 No Limit Hold’em – 6 Handed.

Final table payouts

10K HORSE: Negreanu and Mercier in final table – David Bach first double bracelet winner

HORSE-powered David Bach is in full throttle! The American pro became the first player to win two bracelets at the ongoing series. Ten days ago, Bach dominated the headlines having championed the US$1,500 Dealer’s Choice – 6 handed event. Little did anyone know, this was just practice for what was yet to come.

In a field stacked with the crème de la crème where every player – like Bach – has mastered poker in its many variations, the US$10,000 HORSE Championship event witnessed him deny his fellow pros all the glory and lift up his second gold bracelet. Impressively, these two victories were the only events where Bach has cashed in.

Among those who staged a deep run but were turned away at the final table were Jason Mercier in 5th place and Daniel Negreanu in 6th place. Bach now has a total of three WSOP bracelets having won his first one in 2009 at the US$50,000 World Championship HORSE event.

Final table payouts

Phil Ivey rumored in town playing at Bobby’s Room; Doyle Brunson won’t attend

While it is always a thrill to hear of poker legends appearing at the WSOP, seeing them actually seated at the table is another thing, unless of course you are at the famous Bobby’s Room in Bellagio where high stakes games are keeping some of those pros holed up for days on end. It was recently rumored that Phil Ivey made landfall in Las Vegas and has been playing some of the high powered games in Bobby’s Room. True or not, what we do know for sure is that Gus Hansen hasn’t been seen yet at the WSOP felt despite initially expressing his excitement. The Great Dane has opted to play the lucrative games at Bobby’s Room instead.

As for “Texas Dolly” Doyle Brunson, his highly anticipated return to the WSOP scene will have to wait a little longer. Despite announcing he may attend this year’s festivities, he recently tweeted to Tim Henry that the odds of him playing even just one event was 100,000,000,000 to 1. That’s pretty straight up. And it doesn’t look like he will be attending any of the cash games either.

100,000,000,000 to 1 https://t.co/Y6DtHiWjWy

— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) June 12, 2017

Brunson is definitely one of the most famous and highly respected poker players in the world. He will surely be missed again having been absent from the scene for a few years. Brunson has ten WSOP titles under his belt. Many hope to see him return and capture another.

More: WSOP: James Obst wins first bracelet; Alexander Lynskey runner-up; James Chen and Xixiang Luo go deep

Article by Triccia David