WSOP | Tournaments | Event Updates (2024)

Thursday, June 27, 2024 10:14 PM Local Time (about 2 hours and 35 minutes ago)

Daniel Negreanu Finally Gets the One He Wanted the Most in Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship

To quote Rocky Balboa, "It ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

For nearly 15 years, no one has been hit more at the World Series of Poker than Daniel Negreanu. The Canadian burst into stardom right at the start of the poker boom, as his engaging table demeanor and ability to seemingly know what his opponents were holding all the time made him the face of the game for many fans. And there was plenty of winning: four bracelets and a WSOP Player of the Year Award while he could still be called "Kid Poker."

But then the winning dried up. It had been more than a decade since Negreanu won a bracelet. The last time he won a bracelet on American soil, George W. Bush was still in the White House and The Incredible Hulk was the No. 1 movie at the box office. There were plenty of close misses, with five runner-up finishes since 2014 including the $1 million Big One For One Drop.

Negreanu, though, like his favorite movie character, kept getting back up and he was rewarded today with the one event he wanted to win more than any other. Negreanu finally captured lucky bracelet No. 7 in Event #58: $50,000 Poker Players Championship, outlasting 89 of the best players in the world to win $1,178,703 and the prestigious title.

$50,000 Poker Players Championship Final Table Results

Ultimate Test of Skill and Endurance

"A lot of relief really. I have a lot of anxiety about coming heads-up because I've had so many seconds. And it was just nice for things to feel like they went my way at this final table," Negreanu said after defeating Bryce Yockey heads-up.

Since this event was first introduced to the WSOP calendar in 2006, poker pros have regarded it as the ultimate test of skill and endurance. Negreanu played the first event and has come back every year since. It's become his favorite event, and the fact that his bracelet drought came to an end here, with Negreanu back atop the poker world, was all the more meaningful.

"There is one event in the world I want to play more than any and I wanted to win more than any, and it's this one. This is the one," Negreanu said. "Obviously, the Main Event is special in a different way. But this one is all the best players in the world, pro-heavy field, playing 100-minute levels, days and days of grind, 12 hours a day. So to come out on top, you can't fluke that."

Despite the long drought as a new generation of pros caught up to him in the bracelet tally, Negreanu's popularity never waned. Thousands of people tune in daily to watch his WSOP vlogs on YouTube. A large crowd gathered around the rail today and chanted "Daniel, Daniel" when he won. He's constantly harangued by fans in the hallways of Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas for photos and autographs. He usually does it happily, fully embracing his role as a poker ambassador.

"I always sort of just fell into it. It's something I've always felt I could do, I was a natural for," Negreanu said. "Being on camera doesn't bother me one bit and I thought it would be fun to give people the chance to sort of sweat along with me. So that's why I do what I do. It's just fun."

Of all the people on the rail today, there was one that meant the most to Negreanu: his wife Amanda. Negreanu hadn't won a bracelet since they got married, so the two of them on the main feature stage, posing for pictures with the new jewelry, was a special moment for them.

"It's very cool. This is the first time she's been down here since we moved here. Because she was going to come when I win, and I haven't been winning. So it was nice to have her here for the moment, for sure," he said.

Day 5 Action

Five players returned today inside the Horseshoe Event Center to play down to a champion. Chris Brewer held the chip lead with 10,425,000, while Negreanu was in second place on 7,675,000 after his miracle straight flush yesterday.

Negreanu quickly took over the chip lead when he picked off a bluff from Brewer in Razz. David Benyamine, who came into the day with just 850,000, quickly got all his chips in the middle in another Razz pot against Yockey. Benyamine made a 9-8-5-3-2, but Yockey caught a 9-8-4-3-2 to bust Benyamine in fifth place.

Yockey then eliminated Dylan Smith in fourth place shortly after with a seven in Razz as he took the lead into three-handed play. Brewer dropped to 4,000,000 after calling Yockey's bet of 1,250,000 after the draw in No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw with J-9, but Yockey had 8-7 to win the pot and extend his lead.

Negreanu pulled even with Yockey when he made a straight in Seven Card Stud to beat Yockey's two pair. Negreanu then won a massive pot when Yockey attempted a bluff in Limit Hold'em with a missed straight draw and Negreanu called him down with a pair of queens to climb up to 12,000,000.

Brewer's tournament came to an end in a three-way No-Limit Hold'em pot. After Negreanu limped the button, Yockey raised to 550,000 in the small blind and Brewer called in the big blind. Negreanu also came along to a ten-high flop. Yockey bet 600,000 and Brewer raised to 2,300,000, leaving just 325,000 behind. Negreanu tank-folded queen-ten, while Yockey put Brewer all in and Brewer snap-called with two aces. Yockey had a pair of tens and a flush draw, and he hit the flush on the turn to leave Brewer drawing dead and heading for the exit in third place.

Yockey led 15,750,000 to 10,950,000 at the start of heads-up. Five years ago, Yockey's run at the final table of this event came to an end against a miraculous wheel. Today, he's the one who caught the wheel as Negreanu got rid of a 10 to surrender a big pot as Yockey extended his lead.

Negreanu flopped a flush in No-Limit Hold'em to retake the lead, while Yockey made aces up in Stud Hi-Lo as the chip lead flipped again. Negreanu fell down to as low as 6,000,000 until he got his last chips in the middle on a seven-high flop in Pot-Limit Omaha. Yockey had a pair of aces, while Negreanu had deuces and a straight draw. Negreanu missed the turn, but he spiked another deuce on the river to make trips and double up as the massive rail erupted in celebration.

Yockey then attempted a bluff on the river in another Omaha pot as Negreanu called him down with a queen-high flush to open a huge lead. Yockey doubled up once, but he then called all in for 6,100,000 on a ten-high flop with straight and flush draws against Negreanu's trip sevens. A queen on the turn gave Negreanu a full house and left Yockey drawing dead.

The bracelet Negreanu has so dearly coveted for nearly 20 years was finally his, and with it a massive celebration began inside the Event Center. Negreanu posed for pictures with fans who chanted his name and, of course, captured video for his vlog. After years of chronicling all his near-misses and tragic outcomes, Negreanu can finally show himself on top. Tomorrow's video will likely be the most viewed one of all.

That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the 2024 WSOP

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:49 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 1 minute ago)

Bryce Yockey Eliminated in 2nd Place ($768,467)

Pot-Limit Omaha

Daniel Negreanu raised to 750,000 on the button and Bryce Yockey defended in the big blind.

Yockey checked on the flop of and Negreanu continued for 600,000. Yockey check-raised to 3,550,000 and Negreanu three-bet to put Yockey all in for a total of 6,100,000. Yockey called.

Bryce Yockey:
Daniel Negreanu:

Negreanu was far in front with trips and the turn gave him a full house and rendering Yockey's flush draw useless. The river brought in the useless flush as Negreanu cheered and ran to the rail to fist-bump some fans and kiss his wife Amanda.

Daniel Negreanu	28,700,000	6,950,000
Bryce Yockey	0	-4,950,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:47 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 3 minutes ago)

Yockey Hits a Set to Double

Omaha Hi-Lo

Daniel Negreanu raised on the button and Bryce Yockey called.

The flop came and Yockey led out with a bet. Negreanu then raised and Yockey called for his last 950,000.

Bryce Yockey:
Daniel Negreanu:

"He's in really good shape, but he's lost crazier pots in this 50K," Negreanu called out to the rail after finding out his two pair was up against Yockey's top set.

"Backdoor low draw, backdoor flush draw, dibbity, dabbity, yabbity, yibbity," Negreanu said as the came on the turn.

"We have outs. Where's Lady Gaga? Lady Gaga coming," Negreanu said as he picked up outs heading to the river, but he missed the and Yockey doubled up.

Daniel Negreanu	22,800,000	-1,450,000
Bryce Yockey	3,900,000	1,450,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:46 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 4 minutes ago)

Yockey Running on Fumes

Omaha Hi-Lo

Daniel Negreanu raised on the button and Bryce Yockey called.

Negreanu bet on the flop and Yockey called. Negreanu also bet the turn and Yockey called once more.

Yockey checked the river and Negreanu leaned over the table to take a closer look at Yockey's remaining stack before he checked behind. Yockey had for aces and tens, but Negreanu showed for a set of nines to take the pot.

Daniel Negreanu	24,250,000	2,500,000
Bryce Yockey	2,450,000	-2,500,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:45 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 4 minutes ago)

Negreanu Vaults Into Big Lead With Two Pair

Seven Card Stud

Daniel Negreanu: //
Bryce Yockey: //

Daniel Negreanu completed, Bryce Yockey raised, and Negreanu reraised. Yockey called.

Negreanu bet on fourth and fifth streets as Yockey called down to sixth. Yockey then bet on sixth and Negreanu called.

Yockey checked on seventh, Negreanu bet, and Yockey tanked for a moment before calling with for eights and threes. Negreanu showed for tens and fives as he took down the big pot to widen his chip lead.

Daniel Negreanu	21,750,000	5,100,000
Bryce Yockey	4,950,000	-5,100,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:38 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 12 minutes ago)

Franco Spitale Wins Millionaire Maker

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:33 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 16 minutes ago)

Negreanu Gets Paid by a Pair

2-7 Triple Draw

Bryce Yockey raised on the button and Daniel Negreanu called.

Both players took three and checked the first draw. Negreanu then took two and Yockey three. Negreanu bet and Yockey called.

Negreanu stood pat and Yockey took two. Negreanu bet again and Yockey called with a pair of deuces, but Negreanu had to win the pot.

Daniel Negreanu	16,650,000	3,000,000
Bryce Yockey	10,050,000	-3,000,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:30 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 20 minutes ago)

Life Outside Poker: Kevin Martin Was "Heartbroken" After Game of Gold Loss

Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the ninth episode, Connor speaks with poker streamer and reality TV star Kevin Martin, who opened up about his experience on the hit GGPoker show Game of Gold and gave some insight into his upcoming appearance on The Amazing Race Canada, which Martin told PokerNews will be the "final chapter" of his reality TV career.

Martin also talked about get cast for Big Brother Canada when he was 22, winning Big Brother Season 5, the traits that make for a good reality TV contestant, the early days of poker streaming, prop bets with Dan "Jungleman" Cates and the evolution of poker content creation.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Kevin Martin by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Learn More About Life Outside Poker!

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:22 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 28 minutes ago)

Negreanu Can't Snow Yockey

2-7 Triple Draw

Daniel Negreanu raised on the button and Bryce Yockey defended in the big blind. Yockey drew two and Negreanu also drew two.

Yockey bet after the first draw and Negreanu raised. Yockey called and drew one as Negreanu stood pat.

Yockey checked after the first draw and Negreanu bet. Yockey called and stood pat as Negreanu stood pat.

Yockey checked again and Negreanu bet. Negreanu showed a bluff with and Yockey showed to win the pot.

Daniel Negreanu	13,650,000	-7,050,000
Bryce Yockey	13,050,000	7,050,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:06 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 43 minutes ago)

Negreanu Calls With Ace-High

Limit Hold'em

Daniel Negreanu raised on the button and Bryce Yockey called.

Negreanu bet on the flop and Yockey called. Both players checked the turn.

The river was the and Yockey led out with a bet. Negreanu called with and Yockey mucked for a missed flush draw.

Daniel Negreanu	20,700,000	2,500,000
Bryce Yockey	6,000,000	-2,500,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:02 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 47 minutes ago)

Yockey Shoves the Flop

Pot-Limit Omaha

Daniel Negreanu raised to 750,000 on the button, Bryce Yockey three-bet to 2,250,000, and Negreanu called.

The flop came and Yockey moved all in for 3,750,000. Negreanu stood up from his seat as he considered the decision but eventually folded as Yockey took the pot with .

Daniel Negreanu	18,200,000	-2,250,000
Bryce Yockey	8,500,000	2,250,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 9:00 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 50 minutes ago)

Yockey Bluffs Into Second Nuts

Pot-Limit Omaha

Bryce Yockey called on the button with and Daniel Negreanu checked his option in the big blind with .

Negreanu bet 250,000 on the flop of and Yockey called. Negreanu then checked on the turn and Yockey bet 1,250,000. Negreanu called.

Negreanu checked once more on the river and Yockey bet 3,750,000. Negreanu called with the second nuts and took it down.

Daniel Negreanu	20,450,000	5,500,000
Bryce Yockey	6,250,000	-5,500,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:56 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 53 minutes ago)

Negreanu Spikes the River to Double

Pot-Limit Omaha

Daniel Negreanu raised to 750,000 on the button and Bryce Yockey announced pot to 2,225,000. Negreanu called and they saw the flop come .

Yockey then potted again, making it 4,750,000. Negreanu moved all in for 5,125,000 and Yockey snap-called.

Daniel Negreanu:
Bryce Yockey:

Yockey was ahead with his aces, while Negreanu had a pair and straight draw. The turn left Yockey one card away from the title, but Negreanu hit the on the river to make trips as he triumphantly raised his arms in the air and let out a fist pump before raking in the double up.

Daniel Negreanu	14,950,000	7,600,000
Bryce Yockey	11,750,000	-7,600,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:50 PM Local Time (about 3 hours and 59 minutes ago)

Level 28 started

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:42 PM Local Time (about 4 hours and 7 minutes ago)

Break Time

Players are taking a 15-minute break before resuming the heads-up match.

Bryce Yockey	19,350,000	1,100,000
Daniel Negreanu	7,350,000	-1,100,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:37 PM Local Time (about 4 hours and 12 minutes ago)

Negreanu Gets Value With Full House

Omaha Hi-Lo

Daniel Negreanu opened on the button with and Bryce Yockey defended his big blind with .

Yockey checked on the flop of and Negreanu checked back. Yockey checked again on the turn and Negreanu also checked.

Yockey checked once more on the river and Negreanu bet. Yockey went deep in the tank before calling and being shown the full house.

Bryce Yockey	18,250,000	-2,400,000
Daniel Negreanu	8,450,000	2,400,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:33 PM Local Time (about 4 hours and 16 minutes ago)

Yockey Bets Out Negreanu

Seven Card Stud

Bryce Yockey: //
Daniel Negreanu: //

Daniel Negreanu bet on fourth street and Bryce Yockey called.

Negreanu bet again on fifth and sixth as Yockey called down to seventh. Yockey then opened the betting on seventh and Negreanu folded.

Bryce Yockey	20,650,000	4,200,000
Daniel Negreanu	6,050,000	-4,200,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:28 PM Local Time (about 4 hours and 21 minutes ago)

Negreanu Four-Bet Shoves

No-Limit Hold'em

Daniel Negreanu picked up and raised to 500,000 on the button. Bryce Yockey then three-bet to 1,700,000 in the big blind.

Negreanu moved all in for 8,250,000 and Yockey thought about the decision for a moment before folding .

Bryce Yockey	16,450,000	-1,900,000
Daniel Negreanu	10,250,000	300,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:24 PM Local Time (about 4 hours and 25 minutes ago)

Yockey Makes a Wheel

2-7 Triple Draw

Daniel Negreanu raised on the button and Bryce Yockey three-bet in the big blind. Negreanu called. Yockey drew two and Negreanu also drew two.

Yockey bet after the first draw and Negreanu called. Yockey drew one and Negreanu also drew one. Yockey bet again after the second draw with and Negreanu folded .

Bryce Yockey	18,350,000	2,000,000
Daniel Negreanu	9,950,000	-400,000

Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:22 PM Local Time (about 4 hours and 27 minutes ago)

Aces Up Widens the Lead For Yockey

Stud Hi-Lo

Bryce Yockey: //
Daniel Negreanu: //

Daniel Negreanu completed and Bryce Yockey called.

Negreanu bet on fourth street and Yockey called. Yockey then bet on every street down to seventh as Negreanu called.

Yockey bet again on seventh and Negreanu called with . Yockey had for aces and fours as he took the pot to widen his chip lead.

Bryce Yockey	16,350,000	3,300,000
Daniel Negreanu	10,350,000	-3,300,000