Event #8: $1,700 Main Event | 2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground

04-23-2024 01:04 UTC-4

Sergei Gurin Eliminated in 2nd Place ($285,230)

Jeremy Geist

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♦ All in
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
Dustin Melanson	66,000,000 20,000,000	20,000,000

Sergei Gurin	Busted

Tags: Dustin Melanson Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 21:41 UTC-4

Mohammad Feizi Eliminated in 3rd Place ($181,600)

Jeremy Geist

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♣ All in
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
Dustin Melanson	29,500,000 3,900,000	3,900,000

Mohammad Feizi	Busted

Tags: Dustin Melanson Mohammad Feizi

04-22-2024 21:34 UTC-4

George James Eliminated in 4th Place ($140,000)

Jeremy Geist

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♠ All in
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
Sergei Gurin	36,500,000 20,000,000	20,000,000
Dustin Melanson	25,600,000 -3,100,000	-3,100,000

Mohammad Feizi	4,000,000 -8,425,000	-8,425,000
George James	Busted

Tags: George James George James Eliminated Mohammad Feizi Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 21:13 UTC-4

Nghi Van Tran Eliminated in 5th Place ($105,000)

Jeremy Geist

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♦ All in
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
Dustin Melanson	28,700,000 5,700,000	5,700,000

Nghi Van Tran	Busted

Tags: Dustin Melanson Nghi Van Tran

04-22-2024 20:10 UTC-4

Joey Messina Eliminated in 6th Place ($82,500)

Jeremy Geist

Level 35 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Joey Messina moved all in for his last 4,950,000 before Dustin Melanson flat called next to act and the rest of the player folded. The cards hit their backs with Messina all in and at risk.

Joey Messina: 10♠9♣ All in
Dustin Melanson: A♥Q♦

The full board ran out A♦6♥7♥4♣9♦ and Messina's run would come to an end after some very impressive play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dustin Melanson	23,000,000 5,500,000	5,500,000

Joey Messina	Busted

Tags: Dustin Melanson Joey Messina

04-22-2024 19:01 UTC-4

Israel Pantaleon Eliminated in 7th Place ($65,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 34 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Current chip leader Sergei Gurin opened in early position before the action folded to Israel Pantaleon on the button who moved all in for his tournament life. The blinds folded and Gurin snap called.

"Aces again?" Pantaleon asked, and although they weren't aces, it still wasn't great news.

Israel Pantaleon: Q♦Q♣ All in
Sergei Gurin: K♣K♠

Pantaleon was gonna need to drill the flop and that's exactly what he did on the 8♣Q♥10♠ board. The rail went wild.

Unfortunately, the poker gods had other plans and they promptly put the K♥ on the turn giving Gurin the best hand. The rail went even wilder and the A♠ river sealed the deal.

Pantaleon still earned a great payout and has a ton to be happy about.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sergei Gurin	19,500,000 7,500,000	7,500,000
Israel Pantaleon	Busted

Tags: Israel Pantaleon Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 18:47 UTC-4

Matthew Paplyk Eliminated in 8th Place ($50,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 34 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Matthew Paplyk raised to 2,000,000 from under the gun, leaving himself just 225,000 behind. It then folded to Sergei Gurin on the button who took his time before flat calling the two million and the remining players folded.

"Any chance you fold?" Paplyk joked as the 10♣9♦4♣ flop landed. He put in the last 225,000 and before Gurin even called, he flipped over the rockets and flicked in a chip. The story got even tougher when Paplyk tabled his hand.

Matthew Paplyk: K♥K♣ All in
Sergei Gurin: A♠A♥

Paplyk was on the wrong end of yet another cooler on this final table. The 4♠ turn and the J♠ river did not bring the help he needed and Paplyk hit the rail after an amazing showing on the felt.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sergei Gurin	12,000,000 4,175,000	4,175,000
Matthew Paplyk	Busted

Tags: Matthew Paplyk Matthew Paplyk Eliminated Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 16:46 UTC-4

Robert Wong Eliminated in 9th Place ($35,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Mohammad Feizi limped under the gun before the action folded to Robert Wong on the button who moved all in for his last 2,500,000. The blinds got out of the way and the action was back on Feizi who thought for a moment before flicking in a call and they were off to the races with Wong at risk.

Robert Wong: A♥J♥ All in
Mohammad Feizi: A♦Q♣

The full board ran out 10♦10♣2♦Q♠10♠ and Feizi held to eliminate Wong after an excellent showing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohammad Feizi	14,500,000 7,500,000	7,500,000
Robert Wong	Busted

Tags: Mohammad Feizi Robert Wong

04-22-2024 15:08 UTC-4

Pietro Lo Giudice Eliminated in 10th Place ($25,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Pietro Lo Giudice moved all in off a short stack and was called by George James to put his tournament life at risk.

The cards hit their backs.

Pietro Lo Giudice: A♥Q♦ All in
George James: 9♦9♣

The full board ran out 10♥7♠4♠4♥4♣ and the nines held for James to send Lo Giudice to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
George James	10,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Pietro Lo Giudice	Busted

Tags: George James Pietro Lo Giudice

04-22-2024 14:58 UTC-4

Ran Yi Eliminated in 11th Place ($25,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

The action was opened in late position by Israel Pantaleon before it folded to Ran Yi in the big blind who moved all in for his tournament life. Pantaleon called and the cards hit their backs.

Ran Yi: J♦10♠ All in
Israel Pantaleon: A♥Q♠

The full board ran out 5♥8♦8♣9♥6♦ and Pantaleon sent Yi to the rail just before the final table redraw.