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

04-22-2024 14:07 UTC-4

Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst Eliminated in 14th Place ($19,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

The action folded all the way to the small blind where Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst moved all in. It was then on Ran Yi in the big blind who put in the chips to put Blouin-Verroeulst at risk.

Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst: Q♦9♣ All in
Ran Yi: A♥3♠

The full board ran out 10♦6♥8♦5♠8♠ and Blouin-Verroeulst hit the rail after an impressive run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ran Yi	3,800,000 200,000	200,000
Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst	Busted

Tags: Ran Yi Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst

04-22-2024 14:01 UTC-4

Massive Chip Lead Flip

Jeremy Geist

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Sergei Gurin opened to 325,000 from middle position before the action folded to chip leader Dustin Melanson on the button who three-bet to 850,000. It then folded back to Sergei Gurin who put in a four-bet to 1,800,000. It was then on Melanson who took a moment and then moved all in. Gurin called.

Sergei Gurin: A♥K♥ All in
Dustin Melanson: A♠K♦

It was looking like a chop until the dealer peeled the J♥K♠2♥ flop and Gurin was free rolling. The Q♣ turn was a blank but the brutal 10♥ river gave Gurin the flush and the double for the chip lead. Melanson took a hit but still sits in the top five.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sergei Gurin	11,500,000 6,500,000	6,500,000
Dustin Melanson	7,500,000 -5,500,000	-5,500,000

Tags: Dustin Melanson Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 13:50 UTC-4

Devesh Thapar Eliminated in 15th Place ($19,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 30 : 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Devesh Thapar and current chip leader Dustin Melanson got all the chips in the middle before the flop and were off to a full board with Thapar all in and at risk.

Devesh Thapar: J♦J♣ All in
Dustin Melanson: 9♠9♣

There was a nine right in the window on the 9♦K♦3♠10♠6♠ flop. Melanson continues to run well and sent Thapar to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dustin Melanson	13,000,000 4,400,000	4,400,000

Devesh Thapar	Busted

Tags: Devesh Thapar Dustin Melanson

04-22-2024 13:43 UTC-4

Wangchao Yuan Eliminated in 16th Place ($13,500)

Jeremy Geist

Level 30 : 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Wangchao Yuan moved all in and was called by Robert Wong. The cards hit their backs with Yuan all in and at risk.

Wangchao Yuan: A♥K♣ All in
Robert Wong: K♥Q♥

The full board ran out 9♥7♠4♦K♦Q♣ and with two pair on the river, Wong sent Yuan to the rail before the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Wong	7,000,000 1,800,000	1,800,000
Wangchao Yuan	Busted

Tags: Robert Wong Wangchao Yuan

04-22-2024 13:36 UTC-4

Tony Wong Eliminated in 17th Place ($13,500)

Jeremy Geist

Level 30 : 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

After significant action, Tony Wong got the last of his stack in the middle and was called by Joey Messina. The cards hit their backs with Wong all in and at risk.

Tony Wong: A♦6♦ All in
Joey Messina: A♣K♥

The full board ran out K♣10♣6♥A♠8♥ and although they both hit two pair, it was Messina who has Wong pipped for the win.

Wong hit the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Messina	2,300,000 700,000	700,000
Tony Wong	Busted

Tags: Joey Messina Tony Wong

04-22-2024 13:18 UTC-4

Christopher Baoukian Eliminated in 18th Place ($13,500)

Jeremy Geist

Level 29 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante

All the chips went in the middle between Christopher Baoukian and George James to put Baoukian at risk for his tournament life.

The cards hit their backs.

Christopher Baoukian: A♦2♦ All in
George James: K♦K♠

The full board ran out Q♠8♠8♦8♥10♦ and James sent Baoukin to the rail after an impressive run.

Player	Chips	Progress
George James	5,800,000 1,200,000	1,200,000
Christopher Baoukian	Busted

Tags: Christopher Baoukian George James

04-22-2024 11:59 UTC-4

Eli Cohen Eliminated in 19th Place ($10,300)

Jeremy Geist

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

After significant action all the chips went into the middle between Eli Cohen and current chip leader Dustin Melanson. The cards hit their backs with Cohen all in and at risk.

Eli Cohen: A♣Q♥ All in
Dustin Melanson: A♥K♥

The full board ran out 9♣2♥8♥10♦8♦ and Melanson continued to run hot to send Cohen to the rail. Cohen made multiple pay jumps to secure a nice score and has a ton to be proud of.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dustin Melanson	10,000,000 1,745,000	1,745,000

Eli Cohen	Busted

Tags: Dustin Melanson Eli Cohen

04-22-2024 11:47 UTC-4

Derek Jonathan Van Lieshout Eliminated in 20th Place ($10,300)

Jeremy Geist

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

There was an under the gun open by Devesh Thapar before the action folded to Derek Jonathan Van Lieshout who moved all in. It made it back to Thapar who called and they were off to a full board. Unfortunately, the pocket eights of Van Lieshout could not improve against the kings of Thapar.

Derek Jonathan Van Lieshout hit the rail after an impressive run.

Player	Chips	Progress
Devesh Thapar	3,000,000 550,000	550,000
Derek Jonathan Van Lieshout	Busted

Tags: Van Lieshout Devesh Thapar

04-22-2024 11:39 UTC-4

Jimmy Setna Eliminated in 21st Place ($10,300)

Jeremy Geist

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Robert Wong opened in early position to 225,000 before Jimmy Setna raised to about 1,400,000 leaving, himself just 60,000 behind. It folded back to Wong who just called after a bit of confusion about Setna having some chips back.

The 7♦J♥2♥ flop landed and after Wong put in the last of the chips Setna waited to see if there was an elimination on the outer table. Which there was.

Setna could put in the last of his chips knowing that if got eliminated he would be making the $1,100 pay jump. Setna stuck it in and the cards hit their backs.

Jimmy Setna: A♠K♠ All in
Robert Wong: A♦J♠

Setna was behind and the 4♦ turn and 10♥ river did not bring the help he needed. He hit the rail but can sleep well knowing he made a sharp move to earn the pay jump.

Player	Chips	Progress
Robert Wong	6,000,000 2,655,000	2,655,000
Jimmy Setna	Busted

Tags: Jimmy Setna Robert Wong

04-22-2024 11:29 UTC-4

Maurizio Lo Russo Eliminated in 22nd Place ($9,200)

Jeremy Geist

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

The action was picked up on a board of J♠A♣J♦5♣10♣ where Maurizio Lo Russo led from the small blind for about 725,000. It was then on George James on the button who took a moment and then moved all in while covering.

Lo Russo went deep into the tank and thought through his options for close to three minutes. He eventually slammed in a call but he got the bad news.

James was holding quad jacks to beat the nut-straight of Lo Russo. He made his exit but has a ton to be proud of. Sometimes they just have it.