At some point Thursday evening Las Vegas time one of the most prestigious mixed-game events at the World Series of Poker will be decided after a tough final table battle waged by six finalists, each intent on winning the biggest chunk of the $4.03 million prize pool.
In event 44, the Poker Players Championship, there are just six survivors of an original field of 98 top players who ponied up $50,000 each for the privilege of playing in the event and winning some big money.
Leading the final table with 3,227,000 chips – about a quarter of the chips in play – is David ODB Baker, but he faces a formidable array of talent in the form of Mike Gorodinsky (2,589,000), Jean-Robert Bellande (2,188,000), Chris Klodnicki (2,130,000), Ben Sulsky (1,462,000), and Dan Kelly (1,003,000).
Watch out especially for Ben “Sauce 123” Sulsky, a talented and ruthless 28-year-old online player who is a regular on the nosebleed high stakes tables at Pokerstars and Full Tilt, where millions can be made… and lost… in a single session.
Chris Klodnicki, who has earned millions in a sparkling poker career, will be intent on winning a WSOP bracelet, an accolade that has so far eluded him despite his impressive professional achievements against the top players on the planet in tournaments. The same can be said for Jean-Robert Bellande, skillful but also short a bracelet and generous in his praise for the other final table contestants.
Low-stack on the table Dan Kelly, an online and live tournament pro, already has two bracelets and will be looking for a third if his chips last the course. With 34 WSOP cashes to his credit – nine of them on final tables – he’s definitely not one to underestimate.