This is the final group of players who collected $18,535 for their Main Event finishes.
This is the final group of players who collected $18,535 for their Main Event finishes.
A player had opened and Mike Matusow three-bet from the button to 76,000. Janet Hornung four-bet all in for 121,000 from the big blind and the initial raiser folded.
"The worst part about calling," said Matusow as he deliberated, "Is that I have to show..."
"Hand in the cookie jar," muttered someone at the table as Matusow committed his chips to the pot.
Janet Hornung: ![]()
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Mike Matusow: ![]()
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The flop ![]()
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gave Hornung trips and left Matusow drawing very slim. The turn and river ![]()
changed nothing and Hornung doubled up.
"I was waiting to get him," said Matusow. "And this is what happens.
"Waiting and waiting...letting him and letting him..."
All the chips went in before the flop and Ryan Leng was the one at risk against Louis Hillman.
Louis Hillman: ![]()
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Ryan Leng: ![]()
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Leng was in a race to stay alive but couldn't connect when the board ran out ![]()
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giving Hillman two pairs jacks and nines, sending Leng to the payout desk.
Gus Hansen opened to 24,000 from under the gun and Jordan Knackstedt defended his big blind. The flop came ![]()
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and Knackstedt checked to Hansen who bet 22,000.
Knackstedt check-raised to 100,000 and called off a shove from Hansen.
Jordan Knackstedt: ![]()
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Gus Hansen: ![]()
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The turn
and river
even improving Knackstedt to a boat and Hansen was eliminated
In the last hand before the break, Fabrizio Gonzalez opened to 22,000 in the cutoff and Henrik Hecklen defended his big blind. The flop came ![]()
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and Hecklen check-called a bet of 15,000 from Gonzalez.
The turn brought the
and both players checked to the
on the river. Hecklen led out this time for 35,000 and Gonzalez called after a brief pause. Hecklen turned over ![]()
and Gonzalez mucked his cards.
A player in middle position raised to 20,000 and action folded around to Michael Soccio in the big blind. He three-bet to 57,000 and his opponent four-bet to put Soccio to a decision for his total stack of 543,000.
Soccio went into the tank for over two minutes, talking himself through his thought process. At one point, his voice was audible enough to hear him say that his opponent's line made no sense. Eventually, he made the call.
Michael Soccio: ![]()
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Opponent: ![]()
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The two players both found themselves in identical situations before the flop which came ![]()
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.
Soccio became animated about his newly found nine outs to a double, exclaiming and predicting that another club would come.
The turn came
.
"C'mon, Marcio!" Soccio said to the dealer who was unable to keep a poker face, cracking a smile as Soccio's excitement grew.
The river fell
to complete Soccio's wish, fill up his flush, and secure his double up.
"That's my dude right there!" Soccio exclaimed. "That's my dude!"
His chips were then totaled to the aforementioned figure of 543,000 and his opponent paid him, bringing him north of seven figures just before the second break of the day.
Level 17 has completed with just 688 players remaining and 598 hopefuls already headed to the payout desk in the first two levels of the day. When they return to action, they will resume in Level 18 with blinds of 6,000/12,000 and a 12,000 big blind ante.
Here’s a look at some recent highlights from the tables:
Level: 18
Blinds: 6,000/12,000
Ante: 12,000
This is the first batch of players who doubled their money, collecting $20,200 for their respective finishes.