2024 WSOP Paradise

Event #5: $25,000 Dealers Choice Championship
Day: 2
Event Info
2024 WSOP Paradise
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qj
Prize
$353,340
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$1,225,000
Entries
49
Level Info
Level
24
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
36
Players Left
4
Players Left 1 / 49
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Flashback: Online Qualifier Stanislav Zegal Wins First WSOP Paradise Main Event

Level 10
Stanislav Zegal
Stanislav Zegal

Last year, the first-ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Main Event champion was crowned as Germany's Stanislav Zegal took down the $5,000 buy-in event for $2 million and his first WSOP bracelet. The GGPoker qualifier defeated heads-up opponent Michael Sklenicka of Czechia to wrap up a final day that only lasted four hours.

The inaugural WSOP Paradise Main Event at the five-star Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas drew 3,010 players for a prize pool that climbed above the $15 million guarantee. The field included dozens of online qualifiers, including Zegal, who was able to parlay his online poker prowess into a life-altering seven-figure victory.

“I was so lucky, the cards just fell my way all the time," Zegal told PokerNews. "I think I played well too, but obviously (there’s) tons of luck... This is what you call life-changing money, I guess.”

2023 WSOP Paradise Main Event Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Stanislav ZegalGermany$2,000,000
2Michael SklenickaCzechia$1,200,000
3Daniel NeilsonAustralia$900,000
4Matt GlantzUnited States$685,000
5Rui SousaPortugal$510,000
6Gabriel SchroederBrazil$400,000
7Montgomery McQuadeUnited Kingdom$300,000
8Luke GrahamUnited States$250,000

Read the Tournament Recap Here

Big Stacks at the Break

Level 10
Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Nacho Barbero ar
Nacho Barbero
880,000
206,000
206,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Josh Arieh us
Josh Arieh
690,000
555,000
555,000
Profile photo of Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
610,000
70,000
70,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Daniel Negreanu ca
Daniel Negreanu
550,000
150,000
150,000
WSOP 7X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
GGPoker
Profile photo of Konstantin Maslak ru
Konstantin Maslak
440,000
150,000
150,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Shaun Deeb us
Shaun Deeb
420,000
70,000
70,000
Team Lucky
WSOP 8X Winner

Level: 11

Limit Flop/Draw: 6,000-12,000, 12,000-24,000 Limit
Stud Games: 3,000 Ante, 3,000 Bring-In, 12,000 Completion, 12,000-24,000 Limits
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 6,000/9,000 Ante, 3,000-6,000 Blinds

Glaser Check-Jams on Watson

Level 11
Benny Glaser
Benny Glaser

No-Limit Hold'em

In a heads-up pot on a flop of 1059, Benny Glaser checked from the big blind and Mike Watson bet 25,000 from the hijack. Glaser called. Both players then checked on the 7 turn.

Glaser checked again on the Q river and Watson bet 45,000. Glaser check-jammed a stack of around 200,000 and Watson slid his cards to the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
500,000
110,000
110,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Benny Glaser gb
Benny Glaser
320,000
24,000
24,000
WSOP 8X Winner

Tags: Benny GlaserMike Watson

"You're Just Lighting Chips on Fire"

Level 11
Jared Bleznick
Jared Bleznick

Badugi

Jared Bleznick raised from the hijack and was called by Jason Mercier in the cutoff and Nacho Barbero on the button.

Bleznick stood pat, Mercier took one, and Barbero took two. Bleznick bet and both opponents called.

On the second draw all players did the same. Bleznick led again, Mercier raised, and Barbero folded. After some deliberation, Bleznick tossed out a three-bet and Mercier opted to let it go.

Bleznick showed a nine-eight badugi to the table.

"That's an insane three-bet," Mercier elaborated. "You're just lighting chips on fire."

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jared Bleznick us
Jared Bleznick
360,000
230,000
230,000
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
120,000
80,000
80,000
WSOP 6X Winner

Tags: Jared BleznickJason MercierNacho Barbero

Racener Shoves on Sternheimer

Level 11

No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw

Philip Sternheimer opened to 15,000 on the button and John Racener three-bet jammed a stack of around 225,000 in the big blind.

Sternheimer went in the tank before folding to hang on to a similar amount.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of John Racener us
John Racener
240,000
46,000
46,000
WSOP 3X Winner
Profile photo of Philip Sternheimer gb
Philip Sternheimer
235,000
195,000
195,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: John RacenerPhilip Sternheimer

Three-Way All In as Mercier Triples and Bleznick Hits the Rail

Level 11

Pot-Limit Omaha

Jared Bleznick opened the hijack to 18,000 and Jason Mercier called in the cutoff. On the button, Nacho Barbero potted to 81,000 and both opponents called.

On the K75 flop, Bleznick led for 10,000. Mercier went deep in the tank with 12,000 behind and opted to call. Barbero then potted, Bleznick called all in for 135,000, and Mercier put in his last 2,000.

Jason Mercier: JJ44 All in
Jared Bleznick: 10988 All in
Nacho Barbero: AA95

Surprisingly, Barbero's aces were still in front while Bleznick had a gutshot. However, the 4 landed on the turn and Mercier made a set to take the lead. Mercier filled up on the 5 river and Bleznick hit the rail with Barbero winning the side pot.

"How do I not win there?" questioned Bleznick. "Any six and you guys are dead."

"You have a gutshot, bro," replied Barbero.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Nacho Barbero ar
Nacho Barbero
930,000
50,000
50,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
295,000
175,000
175,000
WSOP 6X Winner
Profile photo of Jared Bleznick us
Jared Bleznick
Busted
$25K Fantasy
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Jared BleznickJason MercierNacho Barbero

"Best Player in the Tournament" Hits the Rail

Level 11
Scott Seiver
Scott Seiver

Recently eliminated player Jared Bleznick walked around the tournament area speaking praise of reigning WSOP Player of the Year Scott Seiver, stating emphatically that he is the "best player in this tournament."

"Because I am," Seiver replied when he overheard the conversation.

But it was unfortunate timing as the praise came right as Seiver was eliminated, meaning the title of best player in the event is now up for grabs.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Scott Seiver us
Scott Seiver
Busted
WSOP 7X Winner

Tags: Jared BleznickScott Seiver

Mercier Scoops Duek

Level 11

Stud Hi-Lo

Jason Mercier completed, Michael Duek raised, and Mercier called.

Jason Mercier: 542 / 63J7
Michael Duek: XxXx / 68103 / Xx

Duek led on fourth, Mercier raised, and Duek called.

Mercier check-called a bet on fifth and led on sixth.

Mercier led for a final time on seventh and was quickly called. Mercier revealed his straight and six low to scoop a big one.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
395,000
100,000
100,000
WSOP 6X Winner
Profile photo of Michael Duek us
Michael Duek
85,000
65,000
65,000

Tags: Jason MercierMichael Duek