Only days after winning his fifth WSOP bracelet in the $10k 2-7 Lowball Championship, John Juanda made it to the final table of event #23, $2,500 Eight Game Mix. Juanda went out in sixth place adding $42,897 to his $367,170 from the prior victory. The second final table in the 489 player event at the Rio pushed Juanda into the lead in the WSOP Player of the Year competition.

With the sixth place finish, Juanda now has 336 points and a 5.25 point lead over Amir Lehavot in the WSOP Player of the Year race.

The winner of the event, cash game regular John Monnette, has gotten close before losing heads-up to Phil Ivey.

‘It feels good. I’ve been playing in the World Series for a long time and I’ve played a lot of events,” said Monnette. “I got close once before. It was pretty depleting. This year to finally come through and win, finally win. It means a lot.”

WSOP Event #23, $2,500 Eight Game Mix final results:

1. John "jmonnett" Monnette $278,144
2. Eric Buchman $171,855
3. Michele Limongi $109,245
4. Brent Hanks $78,774
5. Desmond Portano $57,692
6. John Juanda $42,897
7. Adam Kornuth $32,373
8. John Racener $24,797
9. Adam Geyer $19,268
10. Rami "Arbianight" Boukai $19,268

Juanda Makes Second WSOP Final Table and First in WSOP POY Points