$1,500 Main Event | 2024 Champions Club Winter Poker Open

02-20-2024 02:16 UTC-5

Zhang Makes the Call

Kirk Brown

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Tommy Zhang opened to 1,600,000 with 10♠7♠ and Spencer Champlin called with 10♣8♦ to see a flop of 7♦A♠9♣.

Zhang bet 1,000,000 with his pair of sevens and Champlin check- called with his open-ended straight draw.

On the turn Q♣, the action went check-check and they continued to the river 4♣.

Champlin then decided to take a stab at it by betting 3,500,000, but Zhang made the call with his one pair and the big pot was pushed his way to take a big lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tommy Zhang	40,200,000 8,700,000	8,700,000
Spencer Champlin	21,700,000 -7,800,000	-7,800,000

Tags: Spencer Champlin Tommy Zhang

02-20-2024 02:04 UTC-5

Zhang's Turn to Lead

Kirk Brown

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Spencer Champlin opened to 1,600,000 with Q♦4♦ but was then three-bet to 4,000,000 by Tommy Zhang who held A♦J♠. Champlin called the raise and the duo went to the flop of 7♦8♠4♥, which saw a bet of 2,000,000 from Zhang and a fold from Champlin.

This pot once again brought the two players back to even and the battle wages on.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tommy Zhang	31,500,000 3,200,000	3,200,000
Spencer Champlin	29,500,000 -4,000,000	-4,000,000

Tags: Spencer Champlin Tommy Zhang

02-20-2024 01:35 UTC-5

Champlin Surges Back

Kirk Brown

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

After taking down several hands in a row, Spencer Champlin has clawed his way back and has retaken the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Spencer Champlin	33,500,000 12,500,000	12,500,000
Tommy Zhang	28,300,000 -12,200,000	-12,200,000

Tags: Spencer Champlin

Level: 36

Blinds: 400,000/800,000

Ante: 800,000

02-20-2024 01:21 UTC-5

Zhang Widens the Gap

Kirk Brown

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Spencer Champlin raised to 1,300,000 with J♠9♦ and was called by Tommy Zhang with K♥4♦.

The flop came out K♠9♣5♦ and Champlin led out for 1,100,000 with his middle pair of nines and Zhang called with his top pair of kings.

The turn is the 4♠ to further improve Zhang's hand and he checks once more, but this time Champlin decides to check back and they go to the river 3♠.

Zhang then led out for 2,400,000 and received a call from Champlin to take down a pot of over 10,000,000 and now has a 2:1 chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tommy Zhang	40,500,000 9,000,000	9,000,000
Spencer Champlin	21,000,000 -9,400,000	-9,400,000

Tags: Spencer Champlin Tommy Zhang

02-20-2024 01:02 UTC-5

Favorable Flop for Champlin

Kirk Brown

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Tommy Zhang opened to 1,300,000 with Q♦9♦ and Champlin called with J♣10♣ to see a favorable flop of J♦5♣7♣.

Zhang continued for 700,000 and Champlin just check-called with his top pair and flush draw.

On the turn 4♠, Champlin checked again but this time Zhang checked back to see the 8♥ fall on the river.

Champlin then placed out a small bet of 600,000 but it Zhang had nothing to call with and quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tommy Zhang	31,500,000 -500,000	-500,000
Spencer Champlin	30,400,000 600,000	600,000

Tags: Spencer Champlin Tommy Zhang

02-20-2024 00:59 UTC-5

Heads-Up Play Begins

Kirk Brown

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

With the elimination of Andrew Esposito, Spencer Champlin and Thomas Zhang prepare for their heads-up battle with nearly-even stacks.

Tags: Andrew Esposito Spencer Champlin

02-20-2024 00:47 UTC-5

Andrew Esposito Eliminated in 3rd Place ($131,540)

Kirk Brown

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Spencer Champlin opened to 1,200,000 with A♣Q♣ and then Andrew Esposito moved all in for 12,400,000 with K♥Q♦. Champlin quickly made the call with the superior hand to put him at risk and the cards were on their backs.

The flop of 4♠10♥10♠ was of no help to Esposito, and the turn 5♥ left him drawing only to a king to stay alive. Unfortunately, the river 10♣ did not do it and Champlin collected the pot while Esposito was eliminated in third place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tommy Zhang	32,000,000
Spencer Champlin	29,800,000 13,200,000	13,200,000
Andrew Esposito	Busted

Tags: Andrew Esposito Spencer Champlin

02-20-2024 00:41 UTC-5

Zhang Doubles into the Chip Lead

Kirk Brown

Level 35 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Chipleader Spencer Champlin open-shoved with 5♠5♥ and after some tanking, Tommy Zhang made the call with 9♦9♣ while Andrew Esposito got out of the way.

In a great position with a superior pair, Zhang just needed to hold for a big double.

The runout of K♦6♣Q♦3♦K♣ was pure for him and he was shipped the pot for a massive double, catapulting himinto the chip lead.