2018 WinStar River Poker Series

Main Event
Day: 1a
1a1b23
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
Total Entries
807
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000
Players Left 1 / 807
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"Monkey" Mader Doubles Through Banghart

Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante
Phil Mader, pictured at a different event.
Phil Mader, pictured at a different event.

We heard yelling and cursing in the aftermath of a hand between Nebraska natives Phil Mader and Jeff Banghart. The board had come {6-Hearts}{2-Spades}{5-Spades}{a-Hearts}{7-Diamonds} and Banghart was less than pleased.

"You sucked out on me, you monkey," he yelled at Mader, having had his {5-Clubs}{3-Clubs} for a flopped pair outdrawn by {a-Clubs}{k-Hearts} on the turn.

Mader chuckled and collected a double that left Banghart short. Banghart continued to rail against the beat and the dealer told him he needed to settle down. From the sound of the banter, it seemed Mader shoved on the flop.

"Oh, he's my buddy," Banghart said with a sigh.

"Where do you wanna get supper?" Mader asked.

"Wherever you're buying."

Tags: Jeff BanghartPhil Mader

Kempe and Ho Scoop Pots

Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante

At one table, Maria Ho opened to 1,800 from the hijack and the button shipped all in for a little over 15,000. The action was back on Ho who made the call and tabled {a-Hearts}{a-Diamonds} to put her opponent at risk with {10-Clubs}{8-Clubs}. The board ran out {k-Spades}{5-Hearts}{4-Spades}{j-Spades}{k-Clubs} and Ho eliminated her opponent.

At the next table over, Will Pengelly raised to 2,000 from early position after a limp from under the gun. Rainer Kempe was next to act and made the call along with the limper. The flop came {a-Spades}{k-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds} and the action checked to Kempe who bet 3,000. Pengelly was the only player to make the call.

The turn brought the {2-Spades} and Pengelly check-called another bet of 8,500 from Kempe. The {3-Diamonds} on the river slowed the action as both players knuckled the table. Pengelly tabled {k-Spades}{q-Spades} but Kempe flipped over {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs} to scoop the pot.

Tags: Maria HoRainer KempeWill Pengelly

Ma Doubles Through Wang

Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante
Mike Wang, pictured at a different event.
Mike Wang, pictured at a different event.

We didn't catch Mike Wang's hand as the dealer swept it up in a hurry after dealing out a board of {q-Hearts}{j-Spades}{4-Spades}{2-Spades}{a-Hearts}, but he had to send out a double to Steve Ma after raising under the gun and calling a shove of 15,400, as Ma paired up with {a-Diamonds}{k-Clubs}.

Tags: Mike WangSteve Ma

Silvestri Eliminated

Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante

Mario Silvestri was in the big blind and got in a raising war with an opponent who entered the pot under the gun, and it ended with Silvestri putting in his stack of about 30,000 with {q-Diamonds}{q-Spades}. His opponent, though, had {k-Hearts}{k-Spades} and the board bricked out: {2-Spades}{6-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{3-Clubs}{7-Hearts}.

Tags: Mario Silvestri

Cho Sends Eskandar Out the Door

Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante

Three players saw a flop of {q-Spades}{5-Hearts}{3-Spades} and the action checked to Patrick Eskandar in late position. Eskandar bet 4,500 into a pot of around 6,000 and Joon Cho check-raised to 14,500. The action was back on Eskandar who made the call.

The turn brought the {9-Clubs} and Cho splashed in a bet of 15,000. Eskandar went deep into the tank for nearly three minutes before sticking in his last 28,200. Cho quickly called and the cards were tabled with Cho showing {k-Hearts}{k-Diamonds} and Eskandar trailing with {k-Spades}{q-Clubs}.

The river was the {6-Clubs} and Cho's pocket kings held on to eliminate Eskandar on Day 1a.

Tags: Joon ChoPatrick Eskandar

Eyster Busted Again

Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante

Kevin Eyster reentered but found himself short-stacked in a hurry. Down under 10,000, he opened under the gun to 1,800 and got three callers before the big blind shoved all in for 13,100. Eyster put his remaining chips in and everyone else folded.

Eyster showed {9-Spades}{7-Spades} and needed improvement but was live against {a-Clubs}{k-Hearts} with plenty of dead money in there. The {3-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds} flop looked like it would reward him with a double but the {8-Spades} turn was followed by an {a-Diamonds} on the river.

Tags: Kevin Eyster

Updated Chip Counts

Level 8 : 400/800, 100 ante

Level: 8

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 100

Elpayaa Wins a Flip vs Romero

Level 7 : 300/600, 100 ante

After a raise to 3,000 from the hijack, Joe Elpayaa three-bet shoved all in for 19,900 in the cutoff. Orlando Romero called from the big blind and the hijack got out of the way.

Joe Elpayaa: {10-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}
Orlando Romero: {a-Clubs}{k-Clubs}

It was a coin flip with Elpayaa putting his tournament life on the line. The flop of {j-Spades}{j-Clubs}{8-Hearts} proved to be safe for Elpayaa. The turn was the {j-Hearts} and the river brought the {5-Spades} as Elpayaa held on to earn a full double up.

Tags: Joe ElpayaaOrlando Romero

Kessler "Can Play Tomorrow"

Level 7 : 300/600, 100 ante
Allen Kessler
Allen Kessler

On a completed board of {a-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{5-Spades}{7-Hearts}, there was 33,000 in the middle, dwarfing Allen Kessler's remaining stack of 14,000 or so. His lone opponent in the pot shoved all in to put him at risk.

"I don't know how you play," the "Chainsaw" mused. "All right, I guess I can play tomorrow."

He put in calling chips and got shown {8-Spades}{8-Diamonds} for a set. Kessler flicked in his {a-Diamonds}{k-Hearts} and headed for the exit.

Tags: Allen Kessler

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