The 2024 World Series of Poker Paradise is rewriting the poker history books in a number of ways: record-breaking guarantees, a beautiful venue, and the highest of stakes.
Such is the case in Event #5: $25,000 Dealers Choice Championship, as this is the largest buy-in for a Dealers Choice event in poker history. The WSOP regularly runs the $10,000 Dealers Choice and other high-stakes mixed events, but nothing has been comparable to today’s event in this format.
29 players made their way to Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas for Day 1 with just 16 advancing to Day 2. Leading the way is six-time gold bracelet winner Josh Arieh who bagged 674,000 from a starting stack of just 150,000.
Sitting behing Arieh is mixed-game regular Mike Gorodinsky with 531,000 and rouning out the podium in third is high-stakes crusher Mike Watson with 493,000.
Start of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh Arieh | United States | 674,000 |
| 2 | Mike Gorodinsky | United States | 531,000 |
| 3 | Mike Watson | Canada | 493,000 |
| 4 | Nacho Barbero | Argentina | 440,000 |
| 5 | Benny Glaser | United Kingdom | 344,000 |
| 6 | Ari Engel | Canada | 294,000 |
| 7 | John Racener | United States | 286,000 |
| 8 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | 224,000 |
| 9 | Gregoire Auzoux | France | 213,000 |
| 10 | Philip Sternheimer | United Kingdom | 184,000 |
This event features just 10 of the traditional 21 games seen in the Dealers Choice format: H.O.R.S.E., No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, 2-7 Triple Draw, NL 2-7 Single Draw, and Badugi. Each player has the opportunity to select a game of their choosing to play for an orbit in this unique format.
Eight one-hour levels were played yesterday, and action will resume at Level 9 with blinds of 3,000/5,000 and limits of 10,000/20,000. Registration and re-entry (two per player) remains open through to the start of Level 11.
Though just 16 players survived Day 1 action, it is likely that more will join before the close of registration as the finest mixed game players in the world assemble in this historic event.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the action from Event #5: $25,000 Dealers Choice Championship and all other events here at WSOP Paradise.