Two eliminated in Players Championship; six remain and Mizrachi extends his lead

That was fast.

Two players hit the rail Thursday in the $50,000 buy-in Players Championship at the Rio, not long after the World Series of Poker event began its final table action.

Michael Mizrachi knocked Bill Chen and Bruno Fitoussi out of the event on the same hand of no limit hold’em. Mizrachi is the chip leader and gave himself some separation from second place Andy Bloch in the hand, collecting another 1.452 million in chips. He now has more than 5 million in chips.

Chen of Pennsylvania was eliminated in seventh place and earned $205,856. Fitoussi of France was eliminated in eighth place and earned $169,879.

Six players remain in the event, which pays the winner $1.45 million.

This year’s Players Championship drew 108 competitors. The event requires participants to play a rotation of eight poker variations — Limit Hold’em; Omaha Hi-Low Split 8 or better; Seven Card Razz; Seven Card Stud; Steve Card Stud Hi-Low Split 8 or Better; No Limit Hold’em; Pot Limit Omaha; and 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball

In addition to the prize money, the winner collects a gold bracelet and earns his name on the Chip Reese Trophy.