In three days’ time someone will walk away with $18,346,673, the biggest prize in poker history, and with some help from the pros we’re going to handicap the field.
The smart money seems to be on Phil Ivey with the streak he’s been on this summer, but there are plenty of bona fide poker stars throwing down their $1 million buy-ins.
Old-school tournament legends like Erik Seidel and Daniel Negreanu are going toe-to-toe with top young online pros like Phil Galfond, Tom Dwan and Jens Kyllonen.
Also in the mix are wealthy amateur players, tycoons of finance and business.
Keep reading for 10 opinions on who’s going to win.
Action begins at noon Sunday and PokerListings.com will be providing full live coverage of the action.
Erik Seidel - I think you have to go with Ivey. I just can’t believe anyone would take anyone else before him. Let me put it this way, if you find anyone who likes someone besides Ivey please send them my way so we can make a bet.
Jason Mercier - I pick Ben Lamb. He’s taken the last year off and he’s really fresh. He looks like he’s been working out and eating healthy and he’s going to win.
Ben Lamb - I can’t really argue with Jason. He’s got a lot of good points there so I guess it’s either me or Jean-Robert Bellande.
Andy Bloch - I would pick Erik Seidel mainly because he’s got such a huge record in these big buy-in events, especially last year. It’s a three-day event with only 48 players so it’s going to be a tough battle. So with that kind of structure I don’t think the amateurs are going to have much of a chance. If the amateurs were smart they’d walk away and come back on Day 2.
Luke Schwartz - I think Sam Trickett has a good shot. He’s a fearless player which will be important. But Phil Ivey probably has the best shot just the way he’s been playing, having made five final tables.
But in general I think the people who aren’t too fussed about the buy-in are going to have the best shot.
Michael Binger - You just have to pick Phil Ivey now because he’s on such a tear. He’s proving that he really is the best in the world.
Andrew Lichtenberger - Tom Marchese because he’s a boss and he’s on a heater. He’s got incredibly good chances against a field that has so many amateurs.
Daniel Negreanu - Phil Ivey
Ben Grundy - I think Erik Seidel will win. He always does well in the really big buy-in tournaments.
PokerListings.com – Our number one pick is a tie between Tom Dwan and Michael Mizrachi. Dwan has been crushing the high-stakes games running at Aria this week and can afford to lose this buy-in, meaning he won’t be playing scared.
Mizrachi has momentum, having just won the $50k Players Championship and he’s a beast in No-Limit tournaments.
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