News / Matthew Pitt / 18 June 2009 / Leave a comment

Betfair pro Sorel Mizzi is on course for his third WSOP cash of the 2009 series in the star-studded $5,000 Pot-limit Omaha Event.

Billed as the warm-up to Saturday's $10,000 World Championship Pot-limit Omaha (Event 40), Event 35's entrants are like a who's who of poker but that has not stopped the young Canadian finishing Day 1 amongst the chip leaders.

By the time registration had come to an end, there were 363 entrants meaning 36 lucky players would reach the money, each guaranteed $11,345 but all with an eye on the bracelet and the $409,484 awarded to the winner.

Some of the notable players included 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event winner John Juanda, 2008 WSOP Player of the year, Erick Lindgren, Jason Mercier and Vanessa Selbst, the latter busting out early when her opponent rivered a flush to beat her small straight.

Phil Ivey made a late appearance but wasted no time in attempting to chip up and win his third bracelet of the series, quickly amassing over 50,000 chips but he will not be coming back for Day 2 after suffering a sick beat that highlights how crazy the game of Omaha really is.

Ivey was involved in a raising war against Andrew Chen on a board reading 7d6d4d6s and they were both eventually all in when the three of diamonds fell on the river. Ivey mucked two card and showed 6h6c for quad sixes but Chen held 8d5d for a flopped straight flush!

Play for the day ended ten minutes earlier than expected with just 64 of the 363 entrants remaining. Current chip leader is WSOP and WSOPE bracelet winner Jesper Hougaard with 208,500 chips, whilst Sorel 'Imper1um' Mizzi currently occupies fourth spot. Other Europeans still in with a shout include lovable rogue, Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliot, John Kabbaj, the suave Marcel Luske and the humorous Irishman, Padraig Parkinson.

A special mention also needs to be given to Triple Crown winner Roland De Wolfe who currently finds himself thrid in chips in Event 34 where they are down to the final 21 reminaing players from the 2,095 that started. Also still in the $1,500 No-limit Hold'em event is Praz Bansi who is guaranteed his second cash of the 2009 WSOP and will have one eye on the half a million dollar prize for coming first.

***UPDATE***

Play has now ended on Day 2 and only 11 players remain with Sorel Mizzi leading the way with 969,000 chips. Play resumes at 1300hrs Las Vegas time (22:00 UK time) where they will play down until the champion is crowned. Good luck Sorel!

***UPDATE***

See how Sorel fared at the final table

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