Event #8: $1,700 Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground
Event #8: $1,700 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground
Buy-in
1,700 CAD
Prize Pool
2,490,000 CAD
Entries
1,660
Level
37
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
22
Players Left
1
Dustin Melanson Crushes an Action-Packed Final Table to Become WSOPC Playground Main Event Champion
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
On Day 1 of Event #8: $1,700 No Limit Holdem Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit Playground, one of the many excellent floor staff at Playground flagged down PokerNews to point out one specific player out of the 1,660-player field to keep an eye on as the tournament progressed. They explained that this player seemed always to find a way to run deep in all of their major series.
That player was Dustin Melanson.
A quick look at his Hendon Mob will show you that he seems to have an uncanny ability to crush events at this venue. He has multiple wins inside these four walls, along with all the biggest cashes of his career. With this win, he more than doubles his career live earnings and can now add World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event Champion to his already successful career.
Melanson returned for Day 3 as the overall chip leader of the last 22 players in the field. He did not hold that lead the entire day, but his ability to battle adversity as the day went on was remarkable. After multiple bad beats and a few rough spots, he battled all the way to heads-up play with a sparring partner, Sergei Gurin, who also played excellent the entire day and was a force on the final table.
Before play began they agreed to an ICM chop, minus 10% that they would play for, along with the ring. The players were almost even at the start of heads-up play, and Gurin actually held the chip lead. Melanson had every chip in play about an hour and a half later. He was crowned champion, put on the ring, and collected his massive prize of $339,770.
Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dustin Melanson | Canada | $339,770* |
| 2 | Sergei Gurin | Canada | $285,230* |
| 3 | Mohammad Feizi | Canada | $181,600 |
| 4 | George James | Canada | $140,000 |
| 5 | Nghi Van Tran | Canada | $105,000 |
| 6 | Joey Messina | Canada | $82,500 |
| 7 | Israel Pantaleon | Canada | $65,000 |
| 8 | Matthew Paplyk | Canada | $50,000 |
| 9 | Robert Wong | Canada | $35,000 |
*Denotes a heads up deal
Winners Reaction
"I felt like I was at my best, and I felt like my opponents couldn't really keep up with my aggression and the pressure I was putting on.”
Melanson was asked to share some things that added to his success as the day went on, and he was very candid about what he felt he did well.
“I think I was very consistent with switching gears at the right time. Couple good spots along the way that helped me. Sure, a nice ace from space on the river during the final table. You know, you need the run good, feel good, and I felt great.”
When there began to be a sweat that Melanson may win it all, his long-time significant other, Emily, made her way to the rail. It was apparent early on that this meant a lot. He even sprinted for a good luck kiss just before the final hand was dealt and it seemed to work as he came out champion. He spoke to the significance of her presence after being crowned champion.
“It meant the world to me. She’s been sick and out of commission the past few days, so to have her by my side for the love and support was amazing.”
After all of his success in this room, he spoke about the significance of Playground and how it has changed his professional poker career and his personal life as he met Emily in this very room.
“It means everything. I mean, these guys, and this poker room, essentially, groomed my game and the player I am today. I watched and felt myself making a lot of mistakes and seeing certain people consistently run deep, and one day, it just clicked, and I just kept my aggression up, and here we are, man. These guys are fantastic. They run tournaments better than anybody else in the world. Their staff, top to bottom, is incredible. The dealers are second to none. I mean, you can't find them anywhere like this, and yeah, it means a lot, man. This place is, uh, one of a kind, that's for sure.”
Final Table Action
The ten-handed final table started with Pietro Lo Giudice's elimination in tenth place, as his ace-queen could not improve against George James' pocket nines. The table would then see wildcard Mohammad Feizi show a stone cold bluff with seven-duece to get the action moving. Robert Wong would thenfall to Feizi in 9th after his ace-jack was pipped by the ace-queen of Feizi.
Melanson would then encounter his first jumping-off point of the day when he was all in and at risk against Matthew Paplyk’s pocket tens and hit the ace from space on the river to secure the double he needed to stay alive. The roller coaster would then go the other direction when Melanson got cooled off in a nasty spot when Joey Messina hit a three outer on the turn to double through him.
Matt Paplyk would then fall in eighth place after a classic cooler spot with aces versus kings. A few hands later, Israel Pantaleon got set over set to fall in seventh place after a gross run out. Messina then fell in sixth at the hands of Melanson who got the revenge after getting cooled off a bit before. Local legend, Nghi Van Tran, lost a flip to Melanson to fall in fifth place before James was eliminated in fourth by Gurin. Feizi fell in third at the hands of Melanson when he cracked Feizi's aces, and then it was down to heads-up play.
Melanson started heads-up play with a small chip disadvantage and got cut down a few times on his way to being all-in for his tournament life. He got the pure double to get about even with Gurin. He then grinded through a few small pots to gain the lead, and he would never lose it again. In the final hand, he was able to drill the wheel on the river to best the pair of Gurin.
What followed was overwhelming excitement, an embrace with his partner on the rail, and putting the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event Ring on for the first time as champion.
Congratulations to Melanson on the win! Stay tuned into PokerNews for all the best tournament coverage worldwide!
Sergei Gurin Eliminated in 2nd Place ($285,230)
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
The action was opened by Dustin Melanson on the button to 2,500,000 before Sergei Gurin moved all in for his tournament life from the blinds. Melason called and they were off to a full board with the cards on their backs for the whole tournament.
Sergei Gurin: 9♦8♦ 
Dustin Melanson: A♣5♦
Melanson quickly jumped up to give his significant other, Emily, a quick kiss for good luck before the board ran out. The 2♠3♦9♣ flop gave Gurin a pair and Melanson needed some help. The Q♣ turn was not it but he called for a four and wouldn't ya know it, the dealer peeled the 4♠ on the river giving him the wheel , the win, and the ring.
Gurin hits the rail in second place after an incredibly impressive run.
Your 2024 World Series of Poker Circuit Playground Main Event Champion is Melanson. Full recap coming soon.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
66,000,000 | 20,000,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 37
Blinds: 400,000/800,000
Ante: 800,000
Break Time
Level 36
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
The two players are now on a 15-minute break.
No major pots have happened since the last all in. Just lots of small pots going Melanson's way.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
46,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
|
|
16,000,000 | -11,000,000 |
Melanson Gets Short, Then Doubles
Level 36
: 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Sergei Gurin took a few medium-sized pots off of Dustin Melanson leaving him with about 14,000,000 in chips. The action started with Gurin on the button who moved in. Melanson let out a sigh and flicked it in for his tournament life.
The cards hit their backs.
Dustin Melanson: K♥10♥
Sergei Gurin: A♣6♦
The 9♠J♦6♠ flop landed giving Gurin a pair but the Q♣ turn gave Melanson the straight and some new life in the tournament as Gurin was drawing dead. The river was the Q♠ and Melanson dragged the pot. He would go on to win a few more pots and extend his lead even more.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
39,000,000 | 9,000,000 |
|
|
27,000,000 | -9,000,000 |
Heads Up Play Begins
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
The final two players will now battle it out for the money, the ring, and the glory.
Sergei Gurin currently holds a small chip lead over Dustin Melanson but overall they are fairly even. This could go either way and neither player will go down without a fight.
Lock In!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
36,000,000 | -500,000 |
|
|
30,000,000 | 500,000 |
Mohammad Feizi Eliminated in 3rd Place ($181,600)
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
All the chips made their way into the middle between short stack Mohammad Feizi and Dustin Melanson on a flop of 2♦10♦9♥. The cards hit their backs with Feizi at risk for his tournament life.
Mohammad Feizi: A♥A♣
Dustin Melanson: 9♦3♦
Melanson needed a diamond to force heads up play and the dealer helped out on the 5♦ turn. The J♦ river changed nothing and Feizi was sent to the rail with a podium finish and a great payday.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
29,500,000 | 3,900,000 |
|
Busted |
George James Eliminated in 4th Place ($140,000)
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
The action folded to Sergei Gurin on the button who moved all in covering the both of the blinds. The Mohammad Feizi folded the small blind but after a short tank George James called in the big blind.
The cards hit their backs with James all in and at risk.
George James: K♠10♠
Sergei Gurin: A♠J♠
The full board ran out 6♥9♣4♣3♠6♦ and Gurin would send James to the rail to start three handed play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
36,500,000 | 20,000,000 |
|
|
25,600,000 | -3,100,000 |
|
|
4,000,000 | -8,425,000 |
|
Busted |
Nghi Van Tran Eliminated in 5th Place ($105,000)
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
The action folded to to Dustin Melanson on the button who opened to 1,300,000 before Nghi Van Tran moved all in from the big blind. Melanson snap called and the cards hit their backs with Tran at risk.
Nghi Van Tran: 4♥4♦
Dustin Melanson: A♠10♠
The full board ran out 8♠2♥10♣10♥5♦ and the trips of Melanson would be more than enough to send Tran to the rail after an impressive run.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
28,700,000 | 5,700,000 |
|
Busted |