Colorful fireworks illuminated the dessert skies over Las Vegas. Americans celebrated the country's birthday. The Fourth of July celebrations spilled over into the Rio Casino, where several events were playing down to the bling. The $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship continued with 44 players in the hunt for the bracelet and the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy. At the end of Day 3, only 15 remained... and all 15 locked up a min-cash. Two-time champ The Grinder bubbled off the money in 16th place. Isaac Haxton bagged up the most chips with nearly 3.3M, with 2013 PPC Champ Matthew Ashton right behind with 3.3M. Also still left in the hunt... Shaun Deeb, Paul Volpe, Daniel Negreanu, Aaron Katz, Ian Johns, Scott Seiver, James Obst, Talal Shakerchi, Mike Matusow, and Ralph Perry.
On the Fourth of July, there were zero bracelets awarded. Super rare! The Crazy Eights final table went longer than anticipated. They are still heads-up and will declare a winner on Wednesday.
All of the heavy lifting occurred in Event #62. Day 3 of the five-day 50K Poker Players Championship played down to 15 runners. Ike Haxton holds the lead and all 15 players guaranteed themselves a min-cash. Both Mizrachi brothers failed to advance with The Grinder busting late on Day 3. The only remaining PPC Champ still alive is Matthew Ashton, who shipped the PPC back in 2013 for a $1.7M score.
Event #62 $50,000 Poker Players Championship - Day 3 Results

Six-handed PPC! The third day of action began with only 44 players left in the hunt for the Chip Reese Trophy... oh and nearly $1.4M in cash. Only the top 15 places paid out, so Day 3 was do or die time.
David 'Gunslinger' Bach already won two bracelets this summer. His first-ever bracelet occurred in this event back in 2009, when it was 50K HORSE. He bagged up a decent amount on Day 2 and headed into Day 3 with one thought... bag up more chips at the end of the night.
Daniel Negreanu intended to win bracelets this summer, but fell short of the mark. Kid Poker was on the ropes at the end of Day 2, but somehow weaseled his way back into contention. Danny Boy got blessed with another day...and his intentions are still the same: win the bling.
The Grinder also bagged up a decent amount of chips at the end of Day 2. He finished third overall. The Grinder was seeking a third PPC crown. Could he do it thrice?
Aaron Katz was the overall leader with 1.6M heading into Day 3 with Talal Shakerchi and The Grinder not far behind. The Grinder's brother, Robert, survived the cut in Day 2. Instead of the usual family BBQ, both Mizrachis engaged in America's other favorite pastime: poker. Alas, at the end of Day 3 neither brother was still alive. The Grinder bubbled out of the money when he exited late on Day 3 with a 16th place finish.
Notables who busted on Day 3 included... Mike Mizrachi, Mike Wattel, Tony Zinno, Gary Benson, Josh Arieh, Brett Richey, Mark Gregorich, David Bach, David Steicke, Phil Galfond, Jason Mercier, Phil Hui, Andrey Zaichenko, Cary Katz, Danny Alaei, ODB, Alexander Kostritsyn, Robert Mizrachi, Eugene Katchalov, Marco Johnson, Justin Bonomo, Felipe Ramos, Stephen Chidwick, Bryn Kenney, Mike Sexton, and David Oppenheim.
Ike Haxton is the big stack with 15 to go. The 2013 PPC Champ Matt Ashton is right behind in second place. Notables still alive included Daniel Negreanu, James Obst, Shaun Deeb, Paul Volpe, and Aaron Katz.
2017 WSOP - $50,000 Poker Players Championship (6-Handed)
Entrants: 100
Prize Pool: $4,800,000
Payouts: 15
End of Day 3 Chip Counts:
Isaac Haxton 3,268,000
Matthew Ashton 3,220,000
Shaun Deeb 2,442,000
Paul Volpe 2,315,000
Daniel Negreanu 2,223,000
Elior Sion 2,033,000
Ivo Donev 1,900,000
Aaron Katz 1,484,000
Scott Seiver 1,428,000
Ian Johns 1,044,000
Johannes Becker 897,000
James Obst 856,000
Talal Shakerchi828,000
Mike Matusow 565,000
Ralph Perry 508,000