2014 WinStar River Poker Series

Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2014 WinStar River Poker Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a9
Prize
$1,000,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,400
Prize Pool
$3,175,200
Entries
1,323
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
30,000

Hands #35-39: Jacks Good For Eyster

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 15,000 ante

Hand #35: Chris Drake made it 220,000 to go and found a call from Travis Rice in the big blind. The flop came down {9-Clubs}{6-Clubs}{k-Clubs} and both players checked to the {Q-Hearts} on the turn. Rice fired 200,000 and Drake let his hand go.

Hand #36: Kong Li open-shipped for approximately 1.07 million. He received no callers.

Hand #37: Khoa Nguyen made it 255,000 to go and found calls from Kevin Eyster in the cutoff and Jason Helder in the big blind. The flop fell {9-Clubs}{9-Clubs}{10-Hearts} and Helder checked. Nguyen continued for 275,000, Eyster called, and Helder got out of the way.

The {6-Clubs} turned and Nguyen slowed with a check. Eyster rapped the table in reply, allowing the {6-Diamonds} to put two pair on the board on the river. Nguyen flung out 100,000 and Eyster quickly came over the top for 675,000. Nguyen went into the tank for about 90 seconds before announcing a call.

Eyster showed {J-Spades}{j-Diamonds}, prompting a muck from Nguyen.

Hand #38: Eyster made it 200,000 to go from the cutoff and Li called from the big blind. Li then check-folded to a continuation bet on {10-Clubs}{3-Clubs}{2-Clubs}.

Hand #39: Jonathan Gaviao made it 200,000 from the cutoff and Nguyen called from the button. The blinds folded and the flop came down {6-Clubs}{J-Spades}{8-Hearts}. Both players checked, allowing the {J-Hearts} to pair the board on the turn. Nguyen checked for a second time, Gaviao bet 200,000, and Nguyen let it go.

Player Chips Progress
Khoa Nguyen us
Khoa Nguyen
7,700,000 -1,800,000
Kevin Eyster us
Kevin Eyster
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 2X Winner
6,950,000 1,950,000
Jonathan Gaviao us
Jonathan Gaviao
2,300,000 -100,000

Tags: Chris DrakeKhoa NguyenTravis RiceJason HelderJonathan GaviaoKevin Eyster

Hand #34: Rodeen Talebi Eliminated in 8th Place ($56,724)

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 15,000 ante
Rodeen Talebi
Rodeen Talebi

Hand #31: Kevin Eyster opened for 200,000. Jason Helder called from the button as did Khoa Nguyen from the big blind. The flop came {Q-Spades}{10-Hearts}{6-Clubs} and Nguyen checked. Eyster bet 260,000 and Helder called. The turn was the {7-Diamonds} and Eyster checked leading to a 600,000 bet from Helder. Eyster folded to give Helder the pot.

Hand #32: Travis Rice opened to 220,000 and won the blinds and antes.

Hand #33; It was folded to Chris Drake in the small blind who moved all in for 1,560,000. Rodeen Talebi tanked for about a minute before deciding to make the call with {A-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}. It was a good call as Drake had {J-Spades}{3-Spades} but the board would run out {10-Clubs}{8-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{5-Clubs} to give Drake a pair of threes and the pot. Talebi was left with 75,000 in chips while Drake moved to 3.25 million.

Hand #34: Kong Li limped in from middle position, Rodeen Talebi called all in for less, and Kevin Eyster checked his option out of the big blind. Li and Eyster would check the flop and turn and Eyster would put out a minimum bet of 100,000 on the river with the board showing {Q-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}{K-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}. Eyster showed {Q-Clubs}{9-Clubs} for a pair of queens and Talebi tabled {5-Spades}{2-Hearts} for a pair of deuces. Talebi was eliminated in eight place for $56,724.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Drake
Chris Drake
3,250,000 1,470,000
Rodeen Talebi us
Rodeen Talebi
Busted

Tags: Kevin EysterRodeen Talebi

Hands #27-30: Nguyen Over Helder

Level 30 : 50,000/100,000, 15,000 ante

Hand #27: Jonathan Gaviao raised to 200,000 from under the gun. It folded to Kevin Eyster in the big blind and he three-bet to 600,000. Gaviao let it go and Eyster took the pot.

Hand #28: Rodeen Talebi raised to 200,000 from the cutoff and found a call from Gaviao in the big blind. The flop came down {5-Spades}{Q-Hearts}{2-Diamonds} and both players checked. The {7-Clubs} turned and there were two more checks, allowing the {3-Clubs} to finish off the board. Two more checks occurred and Talebi tabled a winning {k-Spades}{J-Spades} for king-high.

Hand #29: Khoa Nguyen made it 300,000 and action folded around to Jason Helder in the big blind. He tossed out a call, allowing the two to see a flop of {8-Clubs}{A-Spades}{A-Hearts}. Helder checked, Nguyen continued for 300,000, and Helder called.

Fourth street was the {4-Diamonds} and Helder check-called 400,000. The {9-Hearts} rolled off on the river and Helder checked for a third time. Nguyen cut out one million in chip and then let it sit behind the betting line. He began talking to Helder a bit, but his words were inaudible from our position around the table. After about a minute, he slid the one million forward. Helder let it go and Nguyen took the pot.

Hand #31: Gaviao limped his button, Helder completed his small blind, and Kong Li checked the big bling. The flop came {6-Clubs}{A-Hearts}{k-Clubs} and there were two checks to Gaviao. He fired 200,000 and both of his opponents folded.

Player Chips Progress
Khoa Nguyen us
Khoa Nguyen
9,500,000 1,100,000
Jason Helder us
Jason Helder
8,900,000 -200,000

Tags: Khoa NguyenJason HelderKong LiJonathan Gaviao

Level: 30

Blinds: 50,000/100,000

Ante: 15,000

Hands #22-26: Eyster Shoves

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #22: Travis Rice opened to 185,000 and was called by Jonathan Gaviao. Jason Helder reraised to 685,000 and would take the pot down when the other two folded.

Hand #23: Kevin Eyster opened to 160,000 and was called by Travis Rice, Jason Helder, and Khoa Nguyen. The flop came {6-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{3-Clubs} and it was checked around. The turn was the {7-Clubs} and it was checked to Helder on the button who bet 375,000. Nguyen and Eyster folded and Rice made the call. The river was the {K-Hearts} and both players checked. "Two pair," said Rice. "Me too," responded Helder. Rice turned over {5-Clubs}{5-Spades} which was no good as Helder had {7-Hearts}{5-Hearts} for a bigger two pair.

Hand #24: Eyster opened to 160,000 and Rice called. The rest of the table folded. The two would check it down all the way on the {J-Spades}{7-Clubs}{2-Clubs}{Q-Clubs}{2-Hearts} board and Rice's {6-Hearts}{6-Spades} would take the pot over Eyster's {A-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}.

Hand #25: Helder opened to 160,000 and would take down the blinds and antes when everyone folded.

Hand #26: Kong Li opened to 175,000 and Kevin Eyster reraised to 440,000 from the big blind. Li tanked for several minutes before putting out a reraise to 1,005,000. Eyster didn't take as long as he quickly announced that he was all in. Li thought for a bit and let his hand go.

Player Chips Progress
Jason Helder us
Jason Helder
9,100,000 600,000
Khoa Nguyen us
Khoa Nguyen
8,400,000 3,210,000
Kevin Eyster us
Kevin Eyster
WSOP 1X Winner
WPT 2X Winner
5,000,000 -740,000
Jonathan Gaviao us
Jonathan Gaviao
2,400,000 -395,000
Travis Rice
Travis Rice
2,300,000 -2,180,000
Chris Drake
Chris Drake
1,780,000 -220,000
Kong Li
Kong Li
1,400,000 -2,170,000
Rodeen Talebi us
Rodeen Talebi
1,260,000 -490,000

Tags: Jason HelderJonathan GaviaoKevin EysterTravis Rice

Hand #21: Rhett Trusler Eliminated in 9th Place ($42,891)

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
Rhett Trusler - 9th Place
Rhett Trusler - 9th Place

Rhett Trusler raised to 225,000 from the hijack and found a call from Jonathan Gaviao in the small blind. Jason Helder three-bet to 740,000 from the big blind and Trusler four-bet shipped for 1.325 million. Gaviao folded and Helder called.

Trusler: {J-Hearts}{J-Clubs}
Helder: {A-Hearts}{K-Hearts}

Helder jumped out in front on the {Q-Hearts}{A-Spades}{A-Diamonds} flop and never relinquished the lead through the {7-Clubs} on the turn or the {7-Hearts} on the river. Trusler became the first victim of the official final table and collected $42,891 in prize money.

Player Chips Progress
Jason Helder us
Jason Helder
8,500,000 4,190,000
Rhett Trusler
Rhett Trusler
Busted

Tags: Jason HelderJonathan GaviaoRhett Trusler

Hands #16-20: Preflop Poker

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #16: Travis Rice raised to 200,000 from middle position only to find a call from Jason Helder in the hijack. The rest of the table folded and the flop came down {4-Spades}{2-Diamonds}{3-Clubs}. Rice continued for 240,000, Helder came over the top for 500,000, and Rice folded.

Hand #17: Jonathan Gaviao raised to 160,000 and took down the blinds and antes.

Hand #18: Kong Li made it 175,000 before the flop and was awarded the blinds and antes.

Hand #19: Helder opened to 160,000 and took the blinds and antes.

Hand #20: Helder opened to 160,000 from under the gun and Gaviao called from the big blind. The two saw {Q-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} hit the felt and Gaviao check-called a continuation of 175,000. The {3-Hearts} hit the turn and Gaviao checked a second time. Helder fired a bet of an unknown amount and Gaviao quickly let it go.

Tags: Jonathan GaviaoJason HelderTravis RiceKong Li

Hands #11-15: Talebi Doubles

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #11: Kong Li opened to 160,000 from early position and Chris Drake reraised to 450,000. Rodeen Talebi moved all in for 695,000 and Li folded. Drake made the easy call with {K-Hearts}{K-Clubs} and had Talebi's {Q-Clubs}{Q-Hearts} dominated. The flop was {10-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}{5-Spades} to keep Drake in the lead but the turn was the {Q-Spades} to give Talebi a set of queens. The river was the {A-Hearts} and Talebi scored the double up to 1.75 million while Drake fell to 2.0 million in chips.

Hand #12:Khoa Nguyen opened to 190,000, Kevin Eyster called from the cutoff and Jason Helder called out of the big blind. The flop came {7-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{2-Clubs} and Helder checked. Nguyen bet 325,000 and was called by Eyster. Helder check-raised to 805,000 which was enough to get the other two to fold.

Hand #13: Travis Rice opened to 175,000 from the cutoff and Helder made it 450,000 to go from the small blind. Rice called. The flop came {A-Spades}{8-Hearts}{6-Clubs} and a 300,000 bet from Helder would be enough to get Rice to fold.

Hand #14: Rice opened again to 175,000 and Nguyen called from the big blind. The flop came {10-Clubs}{7-Clubs}{4-Diamonds} and both checked. The turn was the {3-Clubs} and Nguyen made a smallish bet of 200,000 that was called by Rice. The river was the {7-Spades} and both players checked. Nguyen showed {6-Diamonds}{4-Spades} for sevens and fours and Rice mucked his hand.

Hand #15: Drake received a walk in his big blind.

Player Chips Progress
Chris Drake
Chris Drake
2,000,000 -505,000
Rodeen Talebi us
Rodeen Talebi
1,750,000 1,025,000

Hands: #6-10: Nguyen Continues

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #6: Kevin Eyster raised to 160,000 from middle position and took down the blinds and antes.

Hand #7: Kong Li opened to 160,000 from the cutoff and took down the blinds and antes.

Hand #8: Travis Rice opened to 200,000 from early position and it folded around to Chris Drake on the button. He thought for over a minute before cutting out a four-bet to 450,000. Action folded back to Rice who folded as well.

Hand #9: Travis Rice made it 175.000 to go from under the gun and found a call from Eyster in the big blind. The flop came down {4-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}. Eyster continued, Rice checked, and Eyster let his cards go.

Hand #10: Khoa Nguyen opened with a preflop raise and found calls from Eyster and Rice in the small and big blinds. The flop fell {9-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{J-Hearts} and there were two checks to Nguyen. After roughly 45 seconds, he reached for chips and fired 325,000. Two quick folds allowed Nguyen to take the pot.

Tags: Khoa NguyenTravis RiceKevin Eyster

Hands #1-5: Nguyen Remains Active

Level 29 : 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante

Hand #1: Khoa Nguyen opened to 275,000 from middle position and Rhett Trusler called from the button. The flop came {Q-Spades}{3-Spades}{2-Clubs} and Nguyen led out to 325,000 and took the pot down when Trusler folded.

Hand #2: Travis Rice completed the small blind and Jonathan Gaviao checked his option. Rice would bet the minimum on the {K-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{6-Hearts} flop and Gaviao would quickly fold.

Hand #3: Kevin Eyster opened from the cutoff for 160,000 and Gaviao reraised to 440,000 from the small blind. Eyster called. The flop came {A-Spades}{6-Hearts}{3-Clubs} and Gaviao led out for 350,000 leading to an Eyster fold.

Hand #4: Nguyen opened from early position to 160,000 and was called by Eyster in the hijack and Kong Li in the big blind. The flop came {10-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds} and Li checked. Nguyen bet 220,000, Eyster folded, and Li made the call. The two would check the {Q-Hearts} turn but not before Nguyen would query Li as to if he had a jack or not. The river was the {8-Hearts} and Li led out for 320,000. Nguyen would tank for about a minute before making the call and his {A-Hearts}{10-Spades} would take the pot as Li held {A-Diamonds}{K-Clubs}.

Hand #5: Kevin Eyster would take the blinds and antes with a raise to 160,000 from middle position.