Daniel Negreanu Reaches Final Table in PGT Mixed Games Series Event #1

The opening event of the 2024 Mixed Games Series has reached the final table as Daniel Negreanu made the last six, all hoping to lift the first trophy of the popular poker series. There are ten tournaments across formats other than No Limit Hold’em in the 2024 MGS, such as H.O.R.S.E., Dealer’s Choice, Pot Limit Omaha and the 10-Game Championship, which costs $25,000 to buy into. Event #1 cost $5,100 to play and was in H.O.R.S.E., with six exciting players making the first final table of the series.

Weisman Hopes Burst on the Bubble

There were two PGT Mixed Games Series in 2023, with Dan Zack winning the inaugural series and Chino Rheem taking down the second series title. This time around, one of the biggest winners from the second series, Dylan Weisman, was the unfortunate player to burst the bubble, cashing for nothing in 14^th place when multiple WSOP bracelet winner and Poker Hall of Famer Eli Elezra took him out.

Weisman lost in Stud to Elezra, a heart flush draw not coming in as Elezra’s made spade flush carried home, reducing the field to 13 players who were all in the money. With the bubble burst, Aaron Kulpin left in 13^th and Marco Johnston followed him in 12^th place, each man earning $10,875 for their efforts over Day 1. Eli Elezra was the next to bust, cashing for $13,050 in 11^th when Jim Collopy took him out in Hold’em.

Allan Le (10^th) and the 2023 WSOP Poker Players Championship winner and Hall of Fame inductee Brian Rast (9^th) both cashed for the same amount as Elezra when they busted next, with Rast taken out by Daniel Negreanu. Playing Stud-Hi-Lo, Rast failed to hit two outs at the end as Negreanu’s hand of // saw him make aces and nines, reducing the field to eight in the process.

Monnette Not on the Money

With eight players left, Jim Collopy’s event went from hero to zero as he lost out in Omaha Hi-Lo to John Monnette.  Monnette hit an on the river to get aces full of fours, good enough to beat Collopy’s ace-high straight on the turn. Collopy’s eighth-place finish was worth $17,400.

At that stage, the final seven players arrived at the last table of the tournament, although one more victim would need to leave in order to bring about the official six-handed final table. Chip leader was one of four Americans in the mix, Dennis Maschke, with British mixed game specialist Benny Glaser and Russian professional Maksim Pisarenko both in his immediate wake.

John Monnette dropped a little and saw a hand of Stud as his opportunity to double back into contention. Unfortunately for him, he ran into one of the very best in mixed games, British crusher Benny Glaser. His tens and fours, caught on seventh street, was good enough to beat Monnette when the latter missed clubs or straight draws to his hand too.

Mashke on Top, Kid Poker Close

With just six players remaining, the top prize of $117,450 could go to any one of the half-dozen hopefuls. Coming sixth would be worth just $21,750 compared to that six-figure win, so the chips are vital at this stage. Dennis Maschke (2.5 million) ended the night on top, with Daniel Negreanu (2.4 million) his closest challenger. A big bet behind was Benny Glaser, who will begin the final table with 2,375,000 chips.

With Maksim Pisarenko (2.1m), Andrew Kelsall (2,075,000) and Mike Gorodinsky (1.7m) all still in contention, the final table is going to be an exciting one, with just 800,000 chiops between the chip leader and the short stack. Anyone could genuinely win and you can watch all the action live on PokerGO.

Don’t forget that you can back any number of players taking on others at the PGT Mixed Games Series on our official PGT Mixed Games Series PokerStake staking page. From Allen ‘Chainsaw’ Kessler to Jeremy Ausmus and Max Pescatori, buying some of the best players in the world is as easy as the click of a button.