Event #22: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em
Day 3 Completed
Event #22: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em
Day 3 Completed
Jorden Fox captured his maiden bracelet and conquered a 3,253-player strong field in Event #22: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em. The soon-to-be father received $420,693 for his accomplishment, overcoming a final table that included the likes of bracelet winner Jeffrey Smith and music supervisor Scott Vener.
A loud yell echoed through the Amazon Room as soon as the final cards were dealt in his favor. Fox celebrated with both fists pumped sky-high and quickly got swamped by his family. One of the onlookers was Fox's eight-month pregnant partner, who was able to experience her man's crowning achievement through the phone screen held by Fox's dad.
“It’s the most amazing thing," a bewildered Fox said to the assorted media shortly afterward. "I’m about to have a baby next month and I’m only here to play three tournaments. This is the third one and I just won it. It’s unbelievable."
The family man was flanked by a jubilant rail consisting of his dad, brother, and cousin, who are all here to play in the WSOP.
“We all come out here every summer together and make it our family thing. My dad [Yosef Fox] took 100th in the Main Event in 2015, I took 27th last year. Every time we get here we all get together and coach and rally each other. I don’t know how I’d do without the rail."
One thing is for sure: with the shiny piece of hardware around his wrist, it’s the young Fox who holds the bragging rights within the family now.
“They’re gonna hear about it. All year,” he laughed.
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jorden Fox | United States | $420,693 |
2 | Jayachandra Gangaiah | United States | $259,834 |
3 | Jeffrey Smith | United States | $191,789 |
4 | Simon Legat | France | $142,648 |
5 | Marco Garcia | United States | $106,917 |
6 | Ryan Teves | United States | $80,760 |
7 | Scott Vener | United States | $61,480 |
8 | Andrew Glauberg | United States | $47,173 |
9 | Christopher Andler | Sweden | $36,484 |
Fox is no stranger to running deep at the WSOP. Last year, he found himself on the brink to poker immortality making it all the way to the final hand of Day 6 of the Main Event before bowing out in 27th place ($282,630). This time, he was able to close it out and has a WSOP gold bracelet to account for it.
“I thought that was the best run ever,” Fox said about his 27th place finish in the Main. The 32-year old from Long Beach, California took some time off after a career-altering run to reflect on the experience and learn from it. In fact, this is Fox's first cash since the 2018 WSOP Main Event, and he eclipsed last year's accomplishment with an even bigger six-figure score. The slow-paced nature of the Main Event and octane-fueled blind increases in the event couldn't be more different in nature.
“It’s totally the opposite of the Main Event where you can sit and be really patient,” Fox compared the turbo-ish nature of the Double Stack No-Limit Hold'em to the Big One. “For this one, you gotta be running good pretty much the whole time and weathering the bad beats. But the structure with more chips starting out, and the faster blinds, all seemed to work out for me this time."
Runner-up to Fox was Jay Gangaiah, who received $259,834 for finishing in second place. Short stacked, Gangaiah laddered himself quite nicely after Fox clashed multiple times with 2014 bracelet winner Jeffrey Smith. Pivotal towards Fox's eventual victory was a monster cooler during three-handed play where Fox held ace-queen against aces.
“I played a lot with Jeff and he was really good. Probably the best player in the rest of the field. We got into a raising war there and he woke up with aces. I flopped a queen and knew I had a little bit of life there. And then the queen on the turn was just the magic. I knew after that queen, I had to win the tournament. That was the second time I got lucky in the tournament. Other than that, it was just a great run."
Shortly after the miraculous escape, Fox eliminated his adversary after both found big hands again and got involved in another raising war. It was Fox’s ace-king suited catching an ace to break Smith’s pocket queens, eliminate him in third place, and end his shot at a second bracelet. While fortune was on Fox's side, the champion had nothing but kind words to say about Smith afterward.
“It was bittersweet to see Jeff go out in third. I thought he was a really strong player. He made a move on me yesterday and I gave him a lot of respect for it,” Fox complimented.
With his strongest opponent gone, Fox commenced the heads-up with Gangaiah sporting a nearly 10:1 lead. However, Gangaiah found some life after doubling up twice, bolstering his and his rail's spirit. Ultimately, the comeback would be shortlived, as Fox was able to turn it around in thirty minutes. After wearing Gangaiah down to below fifteen bigs, he won the third all-in with ace-four versus deuces for the crowning moment of his poker career.
With the unexpected windfall of more than $400K, the soon-to-be father suddenly has a lot of cash to splurge around.
“I’m gonna buy a lot of baby diapers,” he chuckled. “Probably a present for my wife, [other than that] keep living nice and playing poker. I’ve been playing for twelve years, and to win a bracelet at 32 is an absolute dream come true."
The crowning moment of his career? "Absolutely, without a doubt. It’s the best achievement in poker.”
Hand #102: Jorden Fox moved all in from the small blind. Jayachandra Gangaiah looked at his cards and paused for a few moments, thinking it over before making the call after about five seconds. His remaining hopes of winning the bracelet were on the line.
Gangaiah
Fox
An ace hit the flop to damage Gangaiah's chances as it came the . The turn was the and the river ended up being his last card of the tournament as it came the to end his great run in 2nd place.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jorden Fox |
130,120,000
20,000,000
|
20,000,000 |
|
||
Jayachandra Gangaiah | Busted |
Hand #91: Jayachandra Gangaiah limped in and Jorden Fox checked. The got checked by both players. On the turn, Fox bet 2,500,000 and Gangaiah called. Fox bet another 2,500,000 on the river and Gangaiah called again, but couldn't defeat the .
Hand #92: Fox made it 3,500,000 to go and Gangaiah folded.
Hand #93: A walk for Fox.
Hand #94: A walk for Gangaiah.
Hand #95: A walk for Fox.
Hand #96: A walk for Gangaiah.
Hand #97: A walk for Fox.
Hand #98: Fox limped and Gangaiah checked. The flop got checked by both. The turn brought a check from Gangaiah. Fox bet 3,000,000, Gangaiah check-raised all in for 11,300,000, and Fox folded.
Hand #99: Gangaiah shoved and Fox folded.
Hand #100: A walk for Gangaiah.
Hand #101: Gangaiah limped and Fox checked. Both players checked the flop. Gangaiah shoved the turn and Fox snap-folded.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jorden Fox |
110,120,000
13,120,000
|
13,120,000 |
|
||
Jayachandra Gangaiah |
20,000,000
-13,120,000
|
-13,120,000 |
Hand #81: Jayachandra Gangaiah folded the small blind
Hand #82: Jorden Fox folded from the small blind
Hand #83: Gangaiah folded the small blind
Hand #84: Fox shoved all in from the small blind and was snap called by Gangaiah. Fox held the up against the of Gangaiah. The board ran out safely for Gangaiah as it came to give him a much needed double up
Hand #85: Gangaiah folded the small blind
Hand #86: Fox moved all in which folded out Gangaiah
Hand #87: Gangaiah folded the small blind
Hand #88: Fox shoved all in from the small blind and Gangaiah called quickly. Fox was looking to win the bracelet with the against the of Gangaiah. The board stayed true for the eights as it ran out the to give Gangaiah even more breathing space and put a slight amount of pressure on Fox.
Hand #89: Gangaiah gave up the small blind
Hand #90: Fox raised to 3,800,000 from the small blind. Gangaiah put in the call. The flop came the . It was checked to the turn which came the . Fox bet 4,000,000 and Gangaiah folded.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jorden Fox |
97,000,000
-21,120,000
|
-21,120,000 |
|
||
Jayachandra Gangaiah |
33,120,000
21,120,000
|
21,120,000 |
Level: 41
Blinds: 800,000/1,600,000
Ante: 1,600,000
Hand #80: Jorden Fox raised to 3,000,000 on the button, Jeffrey Smith three-bet from the small blind, Fox quickly four-bet shoved all in and Smith called all in equally as fast for 33,000,000.
Jeffrey Smith:
Jorden Fox:
Two amazing hands collided and once again, Fox prevailed over Smith as the board ran out . Smith's run ended in third place, worth $191,789.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Jorden Fox |
118,120,000
53,520,000
|
53,520,000 |
|
||
Jayachandra Gangaiah |
12,000,000
-32,520,000
|
-32,520,000 |
Jeffrey Smith | Busted |
Hand #73: Jeffrey Smith shoved all in on the button for 21,600,000 and Jayachandra Gangaiah called from the big blind.
Jeffrey Smith:
Jayachandra Gangaiah:
The dealer spread out to improve Smith to a straight on the river to double back into it.
Hand #74: Jorden Fox made it 3,000,000 on the button and Smith defended the big blind. On the flop, Smith checked, Fox bet 4,200,000, Smith check-raised to 8,500,000, and Fox called.
The turn brought the and Smith checked. Fox cut out a bet of 10,000,000 and slid it forward. Smith gave him an intense staredown before laying it down.
Hand #75: Fox got a walk.
Hand #76: Smith made it 2,700,000 on the button and a family pot was played. It got checked down all the way on . Fox showed , Smith and they chopped it.
Hand #77: Smith got a walk.
Hand #78: Gangaiah shoved the button and received no callers.
Hand #79: Fox shoved in the small blind and won the hand.
Hand #69: Jeffrey Smith moved all in from the small blind to fold out the big blind
Hand #70: Smith raised to 2,500,000 from the button. Jayachandra Gangaiah called from the big blind. The flop came the . Smith bet 2,500,000. Gangaiah called. The turn was the . Smith fired another bet of 4,000,000 which folded out his opponent.
Hand #71: Gangaiah limped from the small blind and Smith checked. The board ran out with both players checking it down and it was chopped up as both players held two undercards to the board.
Hand #72: Gangaiah raised to 2,500,000 from the button which was called by Jorden Fox in the big blind. The flop was the both players checked. The turn was the Fox bet 3,000,000 which was called by Gangaiah. The river was the . Fox bet 5,000,000 and this time it was enough to get Gangaiah to fold his hand.