The PokerListings Daily 3-Bet is a fresh-pressed Americano, some flippy-floppys and a bobbing, spectacular view of the afternoon poker news coastline.
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Today in the 3-Bet we find a true hero emerging in the $10k Heads-Up, Gus commits to a High Roller and Patrik Antonius on calmer shores.
1) Everybody Loves John Smith
The $10,000 Heads-up No-Limit Holdem Championship at the World Series of Poker is one of the toughest and most talented fields anywhere.
Still kinda rooting for Charlie, tho.
The list of names that didn't even make it past the first round - Daniel Negreanu, Jason Koon, Justin Bonomo, Stephen Chidwick - can attest to that.
Not even one of the consensus best heads-up players in the world - Olivier Busquet - could make it to the final four this year.
And while three of the names that did - Adrian Mateos, Charlie Carrel and Ryan Riess - you'll likely recognize, the one you don't - John Smith - might actually be the fan favorite to win it all.
Not one of the plentiful young guns that make their livings travelling the high-stakes poker circuit the 70-year-old Smith stands out for more than just his silver hair and plaid shirt.
A Vietnam vet and Los Angeles-area card player Smith has a certain knack for crushing this one particular tournament. Last year, in fact, he finished 2nd. In 2014, he finished 11th.
He's won 11 of his last 12 matches and will face Riess in the semi-finals today for a shot at the elusive bracelet. With all respect to Riess, it's pretty clear who much of the Brasilia Room will be rooting for today.
Far and away, my favorite part about $10K Heads Up @WSOP is watching John Smith just show up and own year after year https://t.co/mYagMloTSc— Jessica Welman (@jesswelman) June 9, 2017
Watch the semi-final and finals on PokerGO and follow the live updates on WSOP.com starting at 3pm.
2) Gus Among 84 Confirmed for WSOPE One Drop
He couldn't tear himself away from the cash games at Bellagio to play the $111,111 One Drop High Roller last week but we will get a chance to see Gus Hansen play a high-stakes tournament at least once later this year.
Here's hoping the mustache returns, too.
Hansen was among a number of new names released as confirmed participants in the 2017 WSOPE One Drop High Roller, a similarly priced €111,111 HR scheduled for Nov. 3 in Rozvadov.
With 84 names confirmed and a cap of 111 players it's pretty safe to say it'll be a sellout and one of the richest events of the year.
Also in the most recent round of confirmations were Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov, the blazing hot Bertrand 'ElkY Grospellier, 2016 Super High Roller Bowl champ Rainer Kempe and Lauren Roberts.
3) Antonius Kicking Back on Adriatic
One of those 84 elite players confirmed to be playing that €111,111 One Drop HR at the WSOPE?
No poker, just yachting.
Sir Patrik Antonius (he's not really a Sir, per se. But he should be).
After a comeback at the recent PSC Monaco and 888Live Barcelona we had some hope Patrik would jet to Vegas for the $300k SHRB or the $111k One Drop, but no such luck.
He did say the cash games might entice him at some point this summer - and there's always the Main Event - so we'll hold out hope we'll see him yet. In the meantime, though?
Just some chilling off the coast of Montenegro, coffee in hand #PAnicelife.
Good Morning #Montenegro #Coffee pic.twitter.com/EpT6RlL4Fr— Patrik Antonius (@Patrik_Antonius) June 9, 2017
