The PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas have been abuzz this week with the second running of the PokerGO Tour Mixed Games schedule. Earlier this week, a trio of champions were crowned in several different formats and disciplines. As they enter the final few tournaments on the schedule, David ‘Chino’ Rheem is atop the standings in the race for the overall champion of PGT Mixed Games II.
Prociak, Urbanovich, Schulman Capture Trophies
On Monday night, it was the final table of a “mini” version of what will be the Championship Event of the PGT Mixed Games II. The $5000 Ten-Game Mini-Championship saw a newcomer to the PokerGO Studios arena, David Prociak, outlast a 72-entry field to emerge as the champion. Prociak defeated a final table that included Jeremy Ausmus, Seth Perlman, Bradley Ruben, and eventual runner-up Philip Sternheimer, to pick up the $93,600 first-place prize from the $360,000 prize pool.
Tuesday saw Event #4, the $10,000 Eight-Game tournament, take its place on the PokerGO Studios stage. In that tournament, it was a visitor from Europe, Poland’s Dzmitry Urbanovich, who surged to the top of the standings. In heads-up play, he bested Poker Hall of Famer Daniel Negreanu to take home the $179,200 top prize from the 56 entries in the tournament.
Last night, it was Nick Schulman’s time to shine on the PokerGO Studios stage. In the extremely difficult $10,000 Triple Stud Mix tournament (Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, and Razz), Schulman outdueled six men who survived the 40-entry field to earn cash and PGT points for their efforts. Ryan Miller, Damjan Radanov, Rheem, Adam Friedman, and eventual runner-up John Racener couldn’t stop Schulman from his appointed rounds as he picked up $144,000 for his efforts.
Rheem in Command for Overall Title with Four Tournaments Left
With more than half of the PGT Mixed Games II schedule in the books, it has been Rheem who has been able to demonstrate that he isn’t just a Texas Hold’em player. Through the first five tournaments, Rheem has cashed three times including a win in Event #2. That performance has allowed ‘Chino’ to jump out to a sizeable lead with his 287 points in the race for the Overall Championship reward of $25,000.
Two other champions on the PGT Mixed Games II schedule fall in behind Rheem and are in contention. Event #1 champion David Funkhouser has picked up 187 points for his win, but he has been unable to add any points to that. Urbanovich’s breakthrough in Event #4 is also the only cash he has earned, thus he has only 179 points. These two men, as well as the others lower on the totem pole in the battle for the overall title, will have to rack up some more points if they are to pass Rheem.
1. David ‘Chino’ Rheem, 287 points
2. David Funkhouser, 187
3. Dzmitry Urbanovich, 179
4. Nick Schulman, 167
5. Paul Volpe, 137
6. Daniel Negreanu, 118
7. Andres Korn, 114
8. Eli Elezra, 108
9. Anthony Zinno, 103
10. Adam Friedman, 98
These are the four tournaments left on the schedule, with Craig Chait and Dylan Weisman set to square off in heads-up play for the Event #6 title:
Today: Finale, Event #6 – $10,000 Dealer’s Choice
Beginning today: Event #7 – $10,000 Triple Draw Mix
Friday: Event #8 – $25,000 Ten-Game Championship Event
Saturday: Event #9 – $5000 Deuce-to-Seven Single Draw
It promises to be a change of pace for poker fans as few community cards will be seen! It all takes place on the streaming feed from PokerGO as the second-ever champion of the PGT Mixed Games is determined.
(Photo courtesy of PokerGO.com)
