Faces in the Crowd: The Dealer, the Colossus Grinder and the MSPT Champ

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Jun 26, 2019 5 min read Last updated Dec 19, 2019

The 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) kicked off one of its biggest events on Wednesday with Event #61: $400 COLOSSUS. PokerNews caught up with a few players from the field to find out their stories for this edition of Faces in the Crown, sponsored by 888poker. From a former dealer to a recent Mid-States Poker (MSPT) champ, players from all walks of life are chasing WSOP gold.

Daniel Jones: The Former Dealer

For many years, Daniel Jones worked as a poker dealer in Texas. Like many others, when he wasn��t slinging cards he was playing.

"The time was right, I happened to be in the right position in the rest of my life to make a push."

��I was mostly a poker dealer actually, about half time, played on the side,�� Jones told PokerNews. ��That��s where I made the majority of my money. I got fortunate to get my first decent-sized win, and I was looking for a chance to be able to play more full time, but I couldn��t do that living in Texas, especially not tournament poker.��

The win Jones referred to was a career-best $97,731 for finishing runner-up out of 3,052 entries in the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Event #2: $365 NLH Re-Entry. Four days later he took second again, this time for $15,981 in Event #7: $580 NLH, and as if that wasn��t good enough, he closed it out by placing 10th in the stop��s $1,675 Main Event for $26,454.

It was a performance that not only earned him a seat in the season-ending Global Casino Championship �C he won the Casino Champion title �C but also the financial freedom to chase his dream.

��The time was right, I happened to be in the right position in the rest of my life to make a push, so I came out here,�� he said of relocating to Las Vegas. ��It��s been a hell of a lot of fun.��

Jones has been grinding the smaller buy-in events about town this summer, and thus far he notched two small cashes at the WSOP.

��It��s been a little bit up and down,�� he said. ��I actually intended to only play small events but thanks to generosity from friends and other opportunities I��ve gotten the chance to play a lot more bracelet events than expected. It��s been a little up and down. I��ve got a few cashes but nothing big yet.��

Jones is hoping his luck turns around in the COLOSUSS, a tournament he wasn��t even planning to play.

��I came in to play cash today but changed my mind when I saw the field. I thought maybe I��d play the Daily Deepstack but it got pushed back so I thought it was only a little bit more, it��s a big bracelet event, so let��s jump in and give it a shot.��

Eyal Bensimhon: From 888poker to the WSOP

Eyal Bensimhon has been a fan of poker for as long as he can remember. His love for the game even saw him work for online poker giant 888poker for many year. While he did so, he took the occasional shot and in October of last year it paid off in a big way when he won the 2017 WSOP International Circuit Rotterdam Main Event for $112,709.

Along with some other scores to help pad the bankroll, Bensimhon took the leap by leaving his job and becoming a full-time poker pro.

��I travel a lot but I live in Vienna because of the tax situation,�� he said. ��I��m playing poker and producing poker events with King��s Casino. I��ve been in Vegas for a week. This time I did it shorter because last year was a bit too long, not as much pressure.��

��When people are laughing they��re more open, it��s easier to read them."

Bensimhon, who plans to play the WSOP Main Event, also finished second in the WSOP International Circuit �1,650 Main Event at King��s Casino last October for a career-high �116,964 ($134,483). It was further proof that he has the skills to succeed at the tables, where he��s often spotted donning wacky hats.

��It brings fun to the tables,�� he said of his trademark headwear. ��When people are laughing they��re more open, it��s easier to read them, plus its branding. Hopefully, someone will take a sponsorship.��

While Bensimhon hasn��t gotten any cashes at the 2019 WSOP yet, he hopes that��ll change in the COLOSSUS.

��It��s going pretty well. I have a soft table. I think the Colossus of this year, because of the dates all of the regs are playing at the Venetian, so today is really valuable. Plus, it��s not like last year with 20,000 in chips, it��s a lot more. I really like this structure.��

Linglin Zeng: MSPT Champion

Less than a week ago, Linglin Zeng struck it big in Vegas, but not at the WSOP.

It happened over at The Venetian when she came out on top of a 2,472-entry field to win the MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event for $393,605 after a three-way deal. She did so after a dominating performance during the late stages of the tournament and became just the second woman to win a MSPT Main Event title.

"I got exhausted and made some mistakes, but overall, I think I was playing my A-Game.��

��It feels good. I need the money,�� Zeng said when spotted registering for the COLOSSUS. ��I do feel I was running good. It��s not about suck outs, but all of my hands held. That��s lucky too. I was playing well also, but when it got three-handed I got exhausted and made some mistakes, but overall, I think I was playing my A-Game.��

Zeng is looking for her fourth WSOP cash of the summer, and to make another deep run like she did when she finished 14th in Event #16: $1,500 NLH 6-Handed for $21,364.

Interestingly, Zeng didn��t plan on playing much this summer after a downswing in 2018. Obviously, the big score has altered her plans and she hopes to keep the ball rolling. She even plans to fire the $10,000 WSOP Main Event, but first, it��s all about the COLOSSUS.

��I feel ok. I��m still exhausted from that tournament somehow. I��m recovering,�� Zeng admitted. ��I just have to try and play my best, that��s all I can do.��

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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