The first mixed games tournament was played in Event 17: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. This tournament features 5 games: Hold’em, Omaha Hi-lo 8/b, Razz, 7 Card Stud, and 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo 8/b, all of which are played with a fixed limit.
963 players came out to play, a stunning number for a mixed games event. Very rarely does a non-hold’em event of the same buyin bring more entrants than hold’em one, but it did this year, with this event bringing significantly more than Event 17: $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em.
Considering the number of entrants in this event, the pros did not comprise a high percentage of those in the money. However, they were still out in force, with their skill taking over in a mixed game format. David Chiu, Cyndy Violette, and Eli Elezra were among those who cashed, at least doubling their entry.
While these players did not make the final table, two players who are having a phenomenal World Series did. Victor Ramdin and David ‘Bakes’ Baker both have 3 cashes this WSOP, with Baker getting back-to-back final tables this event. While they are both doing very well so far, neither were able to turn that into a win this event, bowing out in 9th and 7th respectively.
Michael Chow, Aaron Steury, and Adam Friedman entered the final 9 as the three chip leaders, with significant distance between them and the rest of the field. They cruised until just those three remained. Friedman busted in third to Chow. However, Steury still had a massive 4-1 chip lead. This proved too much for Chow, who took home $178k for his 2nd place finish.
For his win, Steury, a Ft. Wayne, Indiana native, pocketed $289,283 for his victory. He also walked out of the Rio with a shiny bracelet on his wrist, signifying him as a World Series of Poker Champion.