Dongwuk Moon Wins Event #9: $1200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout After ICM Deal ($23,048)
Dongwuk Moon emerged victorious in Event #9: $1200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout after accumulating a significant chip lead at the final table before an ICM deal was made with four players remaining. Moon, who max late-registered just before level 13, said today's win is his first-ever poker tournament title.
"I'm very happy," Moon said. "It feels like a dream."
Moon, a self-proclaimed amateur poker player from Philadelphia, said he was happy to do an ICM chop and guarantee himself the trophy.
Event #9: $1,200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dongwuk Moon | United States | $23,048* |
| 2 | Shahabaldin Shirazi | United States | $15,448* |
| 3 | Samuel Joslyn | United States | $15,091* |
| 4 | Jeremy Fineman | United States | $14,195* |
| 5 | Nick Chow | United States | $3,775 |
| 6 | Vincent Giuliano | United States | $2,904 |
| 7 | Michael Lerner | United States | $2,323 |
| 8 | Besnik Biberaj | United States | $1,742 |
| *Denotes ICM chop |
Action of The Day
Event #9: $1200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout got off to a slow start, with only 14 players to start during level 1. That number grew steadily throughout the day before ultimately reaching 79 by the time late registration ended — generating an $86,900 prize pool. Some notables who entered but fell short of the money include, Jacob Mitich, Yaser Al-Keliddar, Manuel Herrera, Justin Arnwine, and Sang Kim, who lost in a brutal cooler just shy of the money bubble.
Vinny Pahuja would end up being the bubble boy after running ace-king into tens and kings at the same time and failing to improve.
With eight players remaining, Moon began his ascension by doubling through Shahabaldin Shirazi after being one card from elimination. From that point, Moon knocked out Besnik Biberaj and took the majority of Michael Lerner's chips.
Moon continued his dominance after turning a flush against Vincent Giuliano's top two pair and adding Giuliano's stack to his own. With escalating blinds forcing the action, Nick Chow was eliminated after getting all-in preflop with queen-ten and failing to improve against the ace-jack of Jeremy Fineman. Shortly after Chow was eliminated, the remaining four players decided to end the long day with an ICM chop — handing Moon the lion's share of the prize pool and his first Potomac Winter Poker Open victory.
That wraps up our coverage of Event #9: $1200 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout. Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we continue to provide coverage of the 2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open, including Event #11A: $2,700 Main Event beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 3.