Two eliminations away from the final, Glaser is calling the shots
Benny in cruise control
First break on this final day of the Mystery Bounty, and the pace hasn’t slowed—eliminations are coming thick and fast. Only 11 players will return after the break, just two eliminations away from the nine-handed final table. A look back at those who have already seen their title hopes come to an end.
The first to fall is none other than the local favorite, Czech player Zdenek Zizka. It all gets in preflop against American Corel Theuma. The recent bracelet winner in Las Vegas is well ahead with K♠ K♣ against A♣ 8♣, but an A♠ on the turn flips the script and seals his elimination. He finishes 16th for €5,600.
And as often happens, the bustouts come in waves. His compatriot Dominik Matejka, the last Czech player in the field, quickly follows. He shoves his remaining 2,000,000 chips (12.5 BB) from UTG+1 and is swiftly called by Spain’s Jose Garcia Devesa in the hijack. It’s a flip for his tournament life: 3♠ 3♣ against K♥ Q♥. But a K♦ on the river ends his run.
A few hands later, another casualty—and once again Corel Theuma is involved. In a blind battle, Korea’s Kiyoung Kim open-shoves 885,000 chips (5 BB) from the small blind and is instantly called. Q♠ 4♠ versus K♣ 6♦: no turnaround this time, with a clean board. “Another €1,000 bounty,” jokes the American, poking fun at his luck in the draws, having collected “only” €12,000 despite opening eleven envelopes.
Moments later, the last Korean player also exits the field, in a hand involving Julien Stropoli. The Frenchman opens the button to 375,000 (2.3 BB) and faces a shove from Dongjae Roh in the small blind for 1,600,000 (10 BB). Stropoli calls with K♦ Q♠, dominated by A♥ J♣. But the board runs out 8♦ 2♦ 7♦ A♦ 3♠, giving him a flush on the turn.
“Yeah, €25,000 bounty, finally !” he exclaims with a grin. A big pot that gets him back on track after a rather difficult start to the day.
The field then shrinks to 12 players, and shortly after to 11 following the elimination of Italy’s Marco Bognanni. All-in on the flop with 5♣ 6♣ and top pair on 2♦ 6♠ 4♦, he believes he’s ahead, but runs into the 9♥ 9♦ of Russia’s Maksim Paniak. No miracle on the turn or river: he’s out, taking €6,900.
Others, however, are cruising through the day, starting with the chip leader at the restart, Benny Glaser. He seems untouchable, winning nearly every pot he enters. Two notable hands stand out, against Germany’s Benedikt Wenzel and Julien Stropoli. With large river bets, he perfectly leverages his table captain status, constantly applying pressure with his massive stack. And if no one finds a way to push back, it could be a clear path to the final table for the eight-time WSOP bracelet winner. He will return from the break still as chip leader, with a stack of 14,600,000 (48 BB).
And while the title is still a long way off, it’s hard to imagine him not reaching the final table.