2019 WinStar Labor Day River Poker Series

$1,500 Main Event
Day: 1b
1a1b1c23
Event Info
2019 WinStar Labor Day River Poker Series
Final Results
Winner
Eric Bunch
Prize
$260,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,763,640
Total Entries
1,242
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
125,000 / 250,000
Ante
250,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
412
Players Left
50
Players Left 1 / 1,242
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Wang Puts Minkin To the Test

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante
Michael Wang
Michael Wang

After being seated at the same table for yesterday's Day 1a, Michael Wang and Kelly Minkin have found themselves as tablemates yet again early on Day 1b. After playing several hands with one another yesterday, two wasted no time getting into a pot together this afternoon as well.

There was 2,500 in the pot on a flop of {7-Hearts}{5-Diamonds}{k-Spades} and Minkin checked in early position to Wang, who was on her left. Wang bet 1,500 and Minkin called. The turn came {3-Hearts} and MInkin check-called another 3,600 from Wang.

The river fell {q-Hearts} and Minkin checked once more. Wang announced he was all in, shoving his last 14,000 forward to effectively put Minkin all in for her last 8,400. Minkin thought about her decision for about 20 seconds and pushed her cards forward to the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Wang us
Michael Wang
26,700
900
900
WSOP 3X Winner
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Kelly Minkin us
Kelly Minkin
8,400
6,900
6,900

Tags: Kelly MinkinMichael Wang

Onimole Beneficiary Of Set Over Set Situation

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

A player raised to 500 from middle position, and William McCracken called in the cutoff. Babatunde Onimole three-bet to 1,700 on the button, and both the middle position player and McCracken called.

All three players checked through the {a-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{10-Clubs} flop, and the middle position player checked the {q-Clubs} turn as well. McCracken bet 2,000 and only Onimole called.

The {6-Clubs} hit the river, and McCracken bet 3,500. Onimole instantly shoved, putting McCracken at risk for his last 16,000, and McCracken didn't take long to call. Onimole tabled {a-Diamonds}{a-Clubs} for top set, and McCracken grimaced, then showed his {4-Clubs}{4-Hearts} for an inferior set before hitting the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Babatunde Onimole us
Babatunde Onimole
55,000
Profile photo of William McCracken us
William McCracken
Busted

Tags: William McCrackenBabatunde Onimole

Hopkins Takes from Minkin

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

Kelly Minkin opened to 400 from under the gun and was called by the cutoff and the player on the button. The small blind folded and Darrell Hopkins defended his big blind, taking action four ways to a flop of {k-Clubs}{2-Clubs}{2-Hearts}. Hopkins checked and Minkin put out a continuation-bet of 1,000. The next two players folded, putting action back on Hopkins, who made the call.

With action heads up, the turn came {q-Spades}. Hopkins checked to Minkin, who fired a second barrel of 2,500. Hopkins put out chips to call.

The river fell {k-Hearts} and Hopkins led out, betting 3,500. Minkin folded and Hopkins took down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Darrell Hopkins us
Darrell Hopkins
31,600
31,600
31,600
Profile photo of Kelly Minkin us
Kelly Minkin
15,300
9,700
9,700

Tags: Darrell HopkinsKelly Minkin

Crider Rivers the Nut Flush

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante

There was 1,700 in the pot on a flop of {4-Spades}{3-Spades}{3-Hearts} and the big blind bet out 1,000 into two opponents. The first was in early position and called The second was Terry Crider, who was in middle position and also called.

The three went to the turn {q-Clubs} and the big blind announced a bet of 4,000. The early-position player folded, putting action back on Crider He made the call and the river fell {7-Spades}. The big blind checked. Crider threw out a bet of 2,100 and the big blind threw out chips to call.

Crider tabled {a-Spades}{q-Spades} for the nut flush and his opponent threw his cards across the table in disgust, remarking about how Crider had gotten lucky in the hand.

"Was ace-queen good?" asked Crider from across the table.

"I had you beat until the river," his opponent responded.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Terry Crider us
Terry Crider
16,500

Tags: Terry Crider

Jonathan Bloyen Wins WinStars 2019 Labor Day River Series Opening Event

Level 2 : 100/100, 100 ante
Jonathan Bloyen
Jonathan Bloyen

For the past week, WinStar has been playing host to a series of side event as a part of the 2019 Labor Day River Series. While PokerNews is only offering live updates from the Main Event, we still wanted to give some love to the lucky WinStar winners.

One such event was Event #1: $500 NLH Flighted Ultimate, which attracted 827 runners over five starting flights. The tournament ended in a deal that saw Jonathan Bloyen win $55,000 (plus $2,000 as a multi-bag bonus) and the title, while Wei Zhang took second for $52,000.

Others to cash that tournament were Eduardo Contreras (3rd - $32,718), William Hesser (4th - $28,000), Peter Lockwood (5th - $28,000), La Sengphet (6th - $20,207), Kathryn Chen (15th - $5,241), Pengelly (30th - $1,801), Keith Copp (38th - $1,549), and Seneca Easley (45th - $1,549).

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerPrize
1Jonathan Bloyen$55,000
2Wei Zhang$52,000
3Eduardo Contreras$32,718
4William Hesser$28,000
5Peter Lockwood$28,000
6La Sengphet$20,207
7Daniel Lu$12,965
8Nikola Mircetic$9,724
9Leslie Manuel$8,483

Level: 2

Blinds: 100/100

Ante: 100

Brozek Chips Up With Two Pair; Minkin Enters

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante

Five players took to a {10-Spades}{k-Spades}{4-Hearts} flop together, and action checked to a player in middle position, who bet 600. Vaughn Brozek called from the hijack, as did the button, while the small blind and Michael Wang in the big blind both ducked out of the way.

The {a-Spades} turn was checked to the button, who bet 1,000. Only Brozek called.

Both players checked the {j-Diamonds} river, and Brozek flipped up {a-Diamonds}{j-Clubs} for aces-up. His opponent mucked.

As the hand was taking place, Kelly Minkin took her seat at the table, finding herself at a table with Michael Wang for the second straight day.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Vaughn Brozek us
Vaughn Brozek
28,800
Profile photo of Kelly Minkin us
Kelly Minkin
25,000

Tags: Kelly MinkinMichael WangVaughn Brozek

Welcome To the Table, Phil Mader!

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante
Phil Mader, pictured at another event
Phil Mader, pictured at another event

Phil Mader had just taken his seat and been dealt into his first hand of action, finding himself in the big blind. He had a raise of 4,000 out with action on the player on the button, who had 1,200 out in front of himself already and called Mader's reraise. The small blind also had 1,200 committed, which was all he would put into the pot as he mucked to let Mader and his opponent duke it out postflop.

The flop fell {8-Clubs}{3-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} and Mader threw out a continuation-bet of 3,000. His opponent called. Mader fired another 7,000 on the turn {5-Diamonds} and was called again.

The river came {3-Spades} and Mader announced he was all in, putting his last 10,500 out afterward His opponent went into the tank, thinking about his decision for two minutes, before announcing a fold. He then looked back at his cards as if he did not want to let go of them, ultimately sending them to the muck as the dealer sent the pot to Mader.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Phil Mader us
Phil Mader
40,200
15,200
15,200

Tags: Phil Mader

Montalbano's Wheel Gets Paid

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante

On a {10-Hearts}{2-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} flop, Herbert Montalbano bet 1,000 from middle position, and Deborah Hinton quickly raised to 3,000 next to act. Montalbano wasted little time in making the call.

Both players quickly checked the {3-Hearts} turn, and the {a-Hearts} hit the river. Montalbano bet 1,000, and Hinton raised to 3,000. Montalbano made the call, and after Hinton tabled {a-Diamonds}{10-Clubs} for top two pair, Montalbano revealed his {5-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds} for a straight and the winner.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Herbert Montalbano us
Herbert Montalbano
32,500
32,500
32,500
Profile photo of Deborah Hinton us
Deborah Hinton
17,500
17,500
17,500

Tags: Deborah HintonHerbert Montalbano

Rodriguez Check-Raises Turn

Level 1 : 100/100, 0 ante
Eluterio Rodriguez
Eluterio Rodriguez

There was three-way action with a pot of around 4,800 going to a flop of {6-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{10-Clubs}. A player in middle position checked, as did Eluterio Rodriguez in the hijack. Michael Wang was in the cutoff and bet 1,700. The hijack called, putting action back on Rodriguez, who check-raised to 4,200.

Both Wang and the hijack folded and Rodriguez raked in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Eluterio Rodriguez us
Eluterio Rodriguez
27,500
27,500
27,500
Profile photo of Michael Wang us
Michael Wang
25,800
800
800
WSOP 3X Winner
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Eluterio RodriguezMichael Wang