2019 World Series of Poker

Event #64: $888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em
Day: 4
Event Info

2019 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a4
Prize
$888,888
Event Info
Buy-in
$888
Prize Pool
$7,720,210
Entries
10,185
Level Info
Level
45
Blinds
2,000,000 / 4,000,000
Ante
4,000,000

Lucky Bullet No. 7 Propels Rick Alvarado to Triumph in Crazy Eights Event for $888,888

Level 45 : 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Rick Alvarado
Rick Alvarado

Sometimes, it takes more than one attempt to succeed. And there's always one more chance in an unlimited re-entry tournament.

Rick Alvarado needed to bust six times before he finally converted his number seven into something special. His relentlessness more than paid off.

Alvarado would eventually come out on top in the Event #64: $888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em, beating a 10,185-entry field to claim the $888,888 top-prize and his first WSOP bracelet.

"I'm stoked. It's quite unbelievable. I'm thrilled. This is my biggest cash," Alvarado said.

Final table results:

PlacePlayerCountryPrize (USD)
1Rick AlvaradoUnited States$888,888
2Mark RadojaCanada$548,888
3Thomas DrivasUnited States$409,888
4Vivian SalibaBrazil$308,888
5Aleksandras RusinovasLithuania$233,888
6Patrick ClarkeIreland$177,888
7Vlad DarieRomania$136,888
8Mario HoflerAustria$105,888

If coolers and bad beats are cornerstones of any poker tournament in the world, the Crazy Eights event lived up to its name. It's been an incredible ride full of sick hands and Alvarado was in the epicentre of it.

He came to the final day with one of the shorter stacks among the remaining 10, and there was only one way for him to rise through the standings.

"You know that you're gonna have to take big risks and I just hoped that the first risk I take pays off. And it did."

Alvarado wasn't scared to put his chips in play on the unofficial nine-handed final table, and his king-ten found help against pocket tens.

"After that, it was kind of smooth sailing," Alvarado said.

He was able to solidify himself among the big stacks, but the chips were flying all around the table. Patrick Clarke got the worst of it, getting two-outed by Mark Radoja and then three-outed by Vivian Saliba. While Clarke's promising run ended in sixth place following the nasty streak of tough beats, Radoja and Saliba made it to the final four.

Vivian Saliba
Vivian Saliba

That's where coolers and bad beats made for the storyline. Saliba was knocked out by Thomas Drivas with queens against aces, and while Alvarado remained very active, Drivas had a great opportunity to put Alvarado's aggression to bed.

But in the crucial hand of the tournament, Alvarado simply got there. He went for a huge four-bet shove in a blind-versus-blind spot which started with Drivas' limp. With almost three-quarters of all chips inside the pot, the winner was destined to be a tremendous favorite to win the bracelet.

Alvarado had queen-jack suited and he ran into pocket kings, but he hit the most expensive flush in Drivas' career.

"I'm never gonna live this one down. It was quite a misstep that turned out to be a great suckout," Alvarado said.

Alvarado revealed that he thought Drivas was tired of being bullied around. That's why he decided to go for it, thinking that this was the hand where Drivas is trying to stand up to the aggression without a real hand.

"And I was wrong, but that's how you win tournaments," Alvarado laughed.

It is quite fitting that even the last hand of the tournament didn't leave the better starting hand ahead. Fortunately for Alvarado, he was able to river his three-outer against Radoja, to win the tournament in possibly the best time anyone could. Just when his mom arrived in the Amazon Room.

"I told my mom not to worry about coming for the final 10 because I was a short stack," Alvarado said. But then he scored that first double, and his mom booked a flight from California.

"She was running through the airport to catch it. Then she got here and saw maybe three hands and I won it," Alvarado said. "I couldn't be happier. Everything just worked out today."

With such a scenario, Alvarado knew that the script was sublime today. But it may also be called compensation. Poker has presented Alvarado with some rough moments in the past.

He worked at In-N-Out Burger for around six years between two spells, first quitting to pursue a poker career. Then the Black Friday struck and he had to return.

But that experience didn't leave any mark on Alvarado's approach to the game. Playing the biggest final table of his life, Alvarado wasn't interested in pure laddering up.

"To be honest, I never really looked at the pay jumps too much. After I doubled up at the start of the day, I was just focused on that number one, going for the first place."

Now with $888,888 and a bracelet locked up, Alvarado knows that his shifts at the fast food joint will remain just a memory of the tough times he's overcome. He's made it.

Tags: Mark RadojaPatrick ClarkeRick AlvaradoThomas DrivasVivian Saliba

Mark Radoja Eliminated in 2nd Place ($548,888)

Level 45 : 2,000,000/4,000,000, 4,000,000 ante
Mark Radoja
Mark Radoja

Hand #146: Mark Radoja moved all in from the small blind for 45,000,000 and Rick Alvarado made the call from the big blind.

Mark Radoja: {a-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}
Rick Alvarado: {a-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}

The board ran out {2-Hearts}{q-Clubs}{6-Hearts}{5-Spades}{4-Spades} and Alvarado rivered a pair of fours to win the tournament, eliminating Radoja in 2nd place for $548,888.

Player Chips Progress
Rick Alvarado us
Rick Alvarado
407,400,000 45,400,000
Mark Radoja ca
Mark Radoja
WSOP 2X Winner
Busted

Tags: Mark RadojaRick Alvarado

Thomas Drivas Eliminated in 3rd Place ($409,888)

Level 44 : 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante

Hand #113: Thomas Drivas limped from the small blind and Rick Alvarado raised to 10,000,000 from the big blind. Drivas three-bet to 36,000,000 and Alvarado responded by moving all in for about 170,000,000. Drivas snap-called for less putting at risk about 140,000,000.

Thomas Drivas: {k-Hearts}{k-Clubs}
Rick Alvarado: {q-Spades}{j-Spades}

Drivas was ahead but the board ran out {a-Hearts}{a-Spades}{4-Spades}{9-Spades}{2-Spades} and Alvarado made a flush to win the pot, eliminating Drivas in 3rd place for $409,888.

Player Chips Progress
Rick Alvarado us
Rick Alvarado
302,400,000 158,400,000
Mark Radoja ca
Mark Radoja
WSOP 2X Winner
105,000,000 4,600,000
Thomas Drivas us
Thomas Drivas
Busted

Tags: Rick AlvaradoThomas Drivas

Vivian Saliba Eliminated in 4th Place ($308,888)

Level 44 : 1,500,000/3,000,000, 3,000,000 ante

Hand #101: Mark Radoja raised to 5.3 million in first position, Thomas Drivas three-bet to 18 million to his left and Vivian Saliba cold four-bet shoved for 79.5 million from the small blind.

Radoja had no more business in the hand but Drivas called right away.

Thomas Drivas: {a-Diamonds}{a-Hearts}
Vivian Saliba: {q-Diamonds}{q-Spades}

Her rail shouted for a queen, but it was all over for her on the turn on a {2-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{8-Diamonds}{a-Spades}{9-Clubs} board. Drivas had her covered by about 5 million and the 888poker Ambassador was eliminated in 4th place.

Player Chips Progress
Thomas Drivas us
Thomas Drivas
178,000,000 79,500,000
Vivian Saliba br
Vivian Saliba
Busted

Tags: Mark RadojaThomas DrivasVivian Saliba

Aleksandras Rusinovas Eliminated in 5th Place ($233,888)

Level 42 : 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Aleksandras Rusinovas
Aleksandras Rusinovas

Hand #55: Aleksandras Rusinovas moved all in for around 24 million from the button and Thomas Drivas called in the big blind.

Rusinovas: {j-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}
Drivas: {k-Diamonds}{q-Spades}

The board ran out {j-Hearts}{q-Clubs}{6-Spades}{4-Clubs}{9-Hearts} and Rusinovas was eliminated in fifth place.

Player Chips Progress
Thomas Drivas us
Thomas Drivas
128,000,000 34,000,000
Aleksandras Rusinovas lt
Aleksandras Rusinovas
Busted

Tags: Aleksandras RusinovasThomas Drivas

Patrick Clarke Eliminated in 6th Place ($177,888)

Level 42 : 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Patrick Clarke
Patrick Clarke

Hand #47: Clarke shoved on the button, Saliba called and Alvarado called as well. Saliba bet into a dead side pot on the turn reading {2-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{k-Spades} and Alvarado folded. Clarke showed {j-Spades}{8-Hearts} for an open-ender while Saliba tabled {k-Clubs}{9-Hearts} for two pair. The {6-Hearts} put an end to Clarke's run through the last 20 minutes, leaving him with a sixth-place payout slip.

Player Chips Progress
Vivian Saliba br
Vivian Saliba
49,000,000 24,000,000
Patrick Clarke ie
Patrick Clarke
Busted

Tags: Mark RadojaPatrick ClarkeRick AlvaradoVivian Saliba

Hand #38: Radoja Spikes Two-Outer to Double Up

Level 42 : 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Mark Radoja
Mark Radoja

Hand #38: Patrick Clarke raised to 4 million under the gun and Mark Radoja jammed his 51.7 million from the small blind. Unfortunately for him, he ran with {j-Hearts}{j-Diamonds} into {a-Spades}{a-Hearts}.

The flop, however, included a jack and Radoja jumped from his chair upon seeing {6-Hearts}{8-Spades}{j-Clubs}.

"Come on, man! Hold it!" he shouted.

The {6-Diamonds} turn and {4-Clubs} river changed nothing and Radoja scored a massive double.

"F*** yes, let's go!" Radoja celebrated.

Player Chips Progress
Mark Radoja ca
Mark Radoja
WSOP 2X Winner
108,400,000 49,400,000
Patrick Clarke ie
Patrick Clarke
10,000,000 -52,000,000

Tags: Mark RadojaPatrick Clarke

Vlad Darie Eliminated in 7th Place ($136,888)

Level 42 : 1,000,000/2,000,000, 2,000,000 ante
Vlad Darie
Vlad Darie

Hand #28: Rick Alvarado opened to 4.2 million under the gun, Patrick Clarke flatted on the button, and Vlad Darie called in the big blind.

The flop came {q-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{a-Diamonds} and Darie checked to Alvarado who bet 6.4 million. Clarke called and so did Darie.

The {9-Diamonds} hit the turn and Darie moved all in for 20.4 million. Alvarado checked Clarke's stack and then called. Clarke gave up.

Darie: {a-Spades}{9-Hearts}
Alvarado: {10-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}

Darie turned two pair at the same time when Alvarado spiked a flush, and the {j-Hearts} river sent Darie into the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Rick Alvarado us
Rick Alvarado
147,000,000 41,700,000
Vlad Darie ro
Vlad Darie
Busted

Tags: Patrick ClarkeRick AlvaradoVlad Darie

Mario Hofler Eliminated in 8th Place ($105,888)

Level 41 : 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Mario Hofler
Mario Hofler

Hand #2: Mario Hofler moved all in from middle position for about 23,000,000 and Vlad Darie reshoved from the button for about 47,000,000.

Mario Hofler: {8-Spades}{8-Diamonds}
Vlad Darie: {a-Hearts}{a-Clubs}

The board ran out {10-Spades}{k-Clubs}{j-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}{2-Spades} and Darie stayed ahead, eliminating Hofler in 8th place for $105,888.

Player Chips Progress
Vlad Darie ro
Vlad Darie
74,000,000 23,000,000
Mario Hofler at
Mario Hofler
Busted

Tags: Mario HoflerVlad Darie

Uselis Gediminas Eliminated in 9th Place ($82,130)

Level 41 : 800,000/1,600,000, 1,600,000 ante
Uselis Gediminas
Uselis Gediminas

Rick Alvarado raised to 3,300,000 under the gun and Uselis Gediminas moved all in for around 30 million, sitting two seats to Alvarado's left.

Action folded back to Alvarado who had an easy decision with {a-Spades}{a-Diamonds} and Gediminas ended up coolered with {a-Clubs}{k-Hearts}.

The {10-Diamonds}{k-Clubs}{j-Diamonds} flop was one of the better ones for Gediminas but the {8-Clubs} turn and {4-Hearts} left Alvarado ahead.

The tournament is down to the official eight-handed final table and a hand-for-hand coverage will follow onwards.

Player Chips Progress
Rick Alvarado us
Rick Alvarado
78,000,000 13,000,000
Uselis Gediminas lt
Uselis Gediminas
Busted

Tags: Rick AlvaradoUselis Gediminas