World Series of Poker (WSOP) in the News — Weekly Round-up for June 08, 2018

Aria Poker Dealer Wins The First World Series Of Poker 2018 Bracelet

Jordan Hufty wins $61,909 main prize in Event 1 – the Casino Employees competition

Aria poker dealer and floorman Jordan Hufty is $61,909 and a WSOP winner’s bracelet wealthier this week after winning the first event in this year’s World Series of Poker in Las Vegas – the $565 buy-in Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em competition.

566 entries were recorded for the event, in which Hufty – a mainly online player on his own time – defeated Jodie Sanders after a gruelling four hours long heads up fight at the end of a day in which the duo constantly vied with one another for the chip lead..

Sanders’ second placing reward was $38,246, whilst Katie Kop finished third for $26,250.

In the second event – a $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Super Bounty Turbo – Elio Fox claimed his second WSOP winner’s bracelet and $393,693 in first place prize money after besting 243 entrants and Adam Adler in the heads up.

The final table included top players like Alex Foxen, former WSOP main event champ Joe Cada and Paul Volpe, whilst ace Bryn Kenney finished tenth.

Fox started heads up action with a 7 to 1 chip lead, and although Adler enjoyed a major double-up at one point he was unable to overcome his chip deficit and had to be content with the runner up prize of $243,323.

Joe Cada Claims His Third Bracelet At World Series Of Poker

Former main event champ wins first shootout event at 2018 WSOP

Former 2009 World Series of Poker main event champion Joe Cada clinched his third WSOP winner’s bracelet over the weekend when he won the $3,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout and claimed the $ 226,218 main prize.

The 363-player field generated a total prize pool of $ 980,100, enabling the top 50 players to cash. Among those who registered were respected names like Eli Elezra (13th), Matt Stout (14th), Chris Moorman (17th), Ismael Bojang (18th), Phil Hellmuth (21st), Bryce Yockey (23rd), JJ Lieu (28th), Kenny Haellert (31st), Taylor Paur (36th), Brandon Meyers (38th), Andrew Kelsall (44th), and Lee Markholt (50th)

Cada triumphed over a tough final table that included another former Main Event winner, 2015’s champ Joe McKeehan, who was eliminated by Cada at third for $101,766. The win gave Cada’s chip stack a massive boost, enabling him to enter the heads up stage with 80 percent of the chips on the table.

Despite entering heads-up play with such a large lead over Ohio professional Sam Phillips, Cada had to survive a spirited Phillips claw back which at one point changed the chip lead. However, the former main event champ then doubled through for nearly all the chips in play, which enabled him ultimately to secure the win, leaving Phillips with the runner-up prize of $139,804.

In a temporary distraction during the heads up, Cada had to seek medical attention for an injured finger he trapped in his swivel chair.

Other final table cashes included:

  • Jack Maskill, $74,782
  • Harry Lodge, $55,480
  • Ihar Soika, $41,559
  • Anthony Reategui, $31,435
  • Taylor Wilson, $24,013
  • Joshua Turner, $18,526

French Victory In Event 4 At World Series Of Poker

Maiden winner’s bracelet for Martini

French grinder Julien Martini (26) won his first World Series of Poker bracelet Sunday afternoon, earning $239,771 after finishing in first place in Event 4, the $1,500 buy-in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better.

Although this is his maiden bracelet, Martini has five WSOP cashes on his cv and is a skilled and disciplined player whose biggest cash previously was $72,000.

The event attracted 911 entrants, among them many notable names, creating a prize pool worth $1,229,850 that enabled 137 players to cash. Although originally planned to end Saturday, an extra day was required to complete the competition due to the large field.

In the heads up Martini faced Kate Hoang, starting out with a small lead which Hoang quickly challenged; it was the start of a four-hour battle which saw the lead change several times until Martini secured several high value pots that enabled him finally to dismiss Hoang in second place for $148,150.

Other final table cashes included:

3rd: Mack Lee – $104,016
4th: William Kopp – $74,058
5th: Brandon Ageloff – $53,482
6th: Chad Eveslage – $39,182
7th: Rafael Concepcion – $29,128
8th: Denny Axel – $21,977
9th: Tammer Ilcaffas – $16,832

Petrangelo Wins World Series Of Poker $100,000 Buy-In High Roller

US poker pro adds a second winner’s bracelet to his collection..and $2,910,227 in first prize money

US poker pro Nick Petrangelo (31) went on a heater in the $100,000 buy-in World Series of Poker High Roller event at the Rio Monday, taking the chip lead on the second and third days of play and personally eliminating all six final table players in under three hours.

His reward was a second WSOP winner’s bracelet and the main prize of $2,910,227 in the NLHE event, which attracted a star-studded field of 105 hopefuls, 16 of whom would eventually cash.

Having bested the rest of the final table Petrangelo took a more than 3 to 1 chip lead into the heads up against Elio Fox, but it was far from plain sailing against his fellow US pro.

Fox managed to take several pots and at one stage wrested the lead from Petrangelo, who then sealed Fox’s fate by doubling up and then leveraging his lead to dismiss a worthy opponent.

Fox’s reward was a runner up prize of $1,798,568.

Other final table pay-outs included:

3rd: Aymon Hata – $1,247,230
4th: Andreas Eiler – $886,793
5th: Bryn Kenney – $646,927
6th: Stephen Chidwick – $484,551

New Jersey Online Players Can Compete From Home In Special World Series Of Poker Events

Pooling arrangement with Nevada and Delaware opens up new opportunities

Online players in Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey can compete in World Series of Poker online events without leaving their homes this year, thanks to the now established player pooling arrangements between the three states.

In its 49th edition, the World Series of Poker boasts four online bracelet events, scheduled for June 3, 22, 29, 30 with satellites running daily.

Early reports indicate that in general the first of these events on June 3 went smoothly despite the technical complexities involved.

German Online Ace The Winner In World Series Of Poker Event 8

Johannes Bekker bests field of 321 to claim $180,455 main prize

German online poker pro Johannes Becker (27), fresh from the disappointment of no cash in a $100,000 high roller event, has triumphed in the World Series of Poker event 8 – a $2,500 buy-in Mixed Triple Draw Lowball competition which attracted the likes of Mike Leah, Bryce Yockey, Chris Ferguson, Frank Kassela, Brian Hastings, Nam Le, Billy Baxter, John Monnette, Dan Shak, Mike Wattel, Shaun Deeb and Randy Ohel.

A total of 321 entries created a total prize pool of $722,250 that enabled 49 players to make the money. The competition comprised rotating rounds of three lowball triple-draw variants – ace-to-five, deuce-to-seven, and Badugi.

Bekker left his run quite late, starting the last day of action with one of the lowest chip stacks, but he made up for it going into the final table to end up in the finale heads up against accomplished poker pro Scott Seiver (33).

But it was Bekker’s day, and his skill and aggression along with good cards enabled him to eliminate Seiver for the runner-up’s $111,516.

Bekker’s $180,455 pay day was a long way removed from his best yet scores of $862,649 after he finished second to Elior Sion last year in the $50,000 buy-in Poker Player’s Championship; his Euro 500,000 win in the Euro 25,000 buy-in High Roller, or this year’s Euro 320,000 win in the High Roller in the Czech Republic, but it certainly helps pay the bills and travel costs.

The other final table cashes were:

3. Jesse Hampton – $71,547
4. Chris Vitch – $47,166
5. George Trigeorgis – $31,973
6. Luis Velador – $22,334

Volpe Wins First Championship Event At World Series Of Poker

Third bracelet and $417,921 in prize money for US poker pro

US poker pro Paul Volpe has won the first of this year’ World Series of Poker championship events, taking down the $10,000 buy-in Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better competition to win his third bracelet and a first prize of $417,921, bringing his live tourney career earnings to over $3 million.

The event drew a field of 169 entries, generating a prize pool of $1,588,600 and enabling 26 players to cash.

In the heads up Volpe faced fellow US professional player Eli Elezra, starting out with the chip lead and building rapidly on the back of a series of high value pots. It was too much for Elezra to overcome, and he departed as runner up with $258,297.

Other final table cashes included:

  • Adam Coats $181,374
  • Kyle Miaso $129,648
  • Viacheslav Zhukov $94,730
  • Dustin Dirksen $69,971
  • Robert Mizrachi $52,866
  • Daniel Zack$40,715
  • Per Hildebrand $31,977