2018 WinStar River Poker Series

Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2018 WinStar River Poker Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
73
Prize
$249,310
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$2,000,000
Entries
807
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000

Farrar's Aces Win a Huge Pot

Level 11 : 800/1,600, 300 ante

There was a big commotion over on Table 40 as players stood up from their seats and some were even taking their phones out. Four players were all in preflop with Mark Farrar holding the superior hand and 35,300 chips. Farrar turned over {a-Hearts}{a-Clubs}, the largest stack on the table held {k-Hearts}{k-Spades}, Joe Elpayaa showed {q-Hearts}{q-Spades} and the short stack flipped over {j-Hearts}{j-Spades}.

All four players held a heart in their hand but it was Farrar that held the only one that mattered. The board ran out {10-Hearts}{4-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{8-Hearts}{q-Diamonds} giving all four players a flush, but Farrar's ace of hearts earned him a monster pot. Elpayaa was eliminated by the pocket kings and the short stack also headed for the exit.

Player Chips Progress
Mark Farrar us
Mark Farrar
122,000
Joe Elpayaa us
Joe Elpayaa
Busted
Day 1B Chip Leader

Tags: Joe ElpayaaMark Farrar

Sowell Drags Biggest Pot Yet, Rockets into Lead

Level 11 : 800/1,600, 300 ante
Jeff Sowell
Jeff Sowell

We came upon a three-way all in on a flop of {10-Spades}{j-Spades}{8-Hearts}, with Jeff Sowell in the small blind holding {q-Spades}{8-Spades} for a pair and a combo draw against a player in early position with {k-Hearts}{k-Diamonds} and a player in middle position with {a-Spades}{4-Spades}. There was already about 120,000 in the middle before everyone got stacks in.

The turn was the {q-Hearts} and the river the {q-Diamonds}, giving Sowell queens full. He had just under 115,000, covering the player with the nut flush draw, who had about 100,000. The player with kings sent over the full amount and Sowell moved to about 450,000.

Player Chips Progress
Jeff Sowell us
Jeff Sowell
450,000
324,700
324,700

Tags: Jeff Sowell

Level: 11

Blinds: 800/1,600

Ante: 300

Mirliss Gets Value from Minkin

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Adam Mirliss opened from middle position and Kelly Minkin defended her big blind. The flop came {a-Spades}{j-Hearts}{3-Hearts} and Minkin check-called a bet of 4,200 from Mirliss.

The {4-Hearts} on the turn slowed down the action as both players tapped the table and the {a-Hearts} completed the board. Minkin checked for the third time and Mirliss tossed in a bet of 11,200. Minkin paid him off and Mirliss turned over {a-Diamonds}{k-Hearts} to rake in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Adam Mirliss us
Adam Mirliss
158,500
Kelly Minkin us
Kelly Minkin
68,400
-3,600
-3,600

Tags: Adam MirlissKelly Minkin

Wang Holds Against Spinella

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

On a flop of {10-Hearts}{8-Hearts}{3-Spades}, the action was checked to Michael Wang on the button who bet 5,500 into a pot of around 8,000. The big blind folded and Anthony Spinella check-raised to 14,000 from middle position. The action was back on Wang who stuck in the remaining of his 21,000 chips and Spinella called.

Michael Wang: {a-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}
Anthony Spinella: {a-Hearts}{6-Hearts}

Wang flopped top pair and would need to avoid a heart in order to stay alive. The turn was the {j-Clubs} and the river brought the {k-Clubs}. Wang held on to secure a double up through Spinella.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Wang
Mike Wang
50,500
28,500
28,500
Anthony Spinella us
Anthony Spinella
35,100
-11,900
-11,900
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Anthony SpinellaMichael Wang

Carter Climbs the Leaderboard

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

With around 7,000 in the middle and the flop reading {q-Clubs}{4-Spades}{3-Diamonds}, Tim Carter led out for 3,500 from middle position. The cutoff called and the two players went heads-up to the {6-Spades} on the turn.

Carter made a sizeable bet of 15,000 on the turn and his opponent still called to see the {6-Diamonds} pair the board on the river. Carter tossed in another bet of 20,000 and his opponent finally relinquished his cards. Carter dragged in the pot to climb over 150,000 chips and sit among the leaders.

Player Chips Progress
Tim Carter us
Tim Carter
157,100

Tags: Tim Carter

Bennett Sends One to the Rail

Level 10 : 600/1,200, 200 ante

Two players limped in before Jon Bennett made it 3,200 from the button. The big blind called and it went four ways to {3-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{j-Spades}. The big blind checked, a middle-position player shoved for 6,300, and Bennett was the lone caller.

Jon Bennett: {9-Diamonds}{9-Spades}
Opponent: {a-Diamonds}{10-Clubs}

The turn and river bricked out and Bennett collected the sizable pot, while the players remaining at the table wondered aloud why the all-in player didn't just jam preflop.

Player Chips Progress
Jon Bennett us
Jon Bennett
172,000
102,000
102,000

Tags: Jon Bennett