The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Millionaire Maker champion will collect the $1 million bonus check from ClubWPT Gold regardless of the WSOP's ruling on the alleged chip-dumping scandal, PokerNews confirmed.
Jesse Yaginuma overcame a 9-1 chip deficit to James Carroll during heads-up play in the $1,500 buy-in tournament to win the $1,255,180 first-place prize, a payout that is currently in limbo due to an open investigation into the matter. Carroll's $1,012,320 second-place cash also remains uncertain.
Antoinette Fiorenza raised to 7,000 and Dusti Smith called in the big blind. The flop came 9♠5♦10♠ and Smith check-called for 12,000.
The 2♦ turn saw another check-call from Smith, this time for 35,000. On the K♦ river, Smith fired 55,000 and Fiorenza made the call with Q♣Q♠, but only to see K♠10♥ in Smith's hands for top two pair.
Bubble Hand - Event #70: $1,000 LADIES No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Geraldine Spears moved all in for her remaining 8,000 chips from middle position. Alisa Baumann called from the hijack and the players flipped their hands.
Geraldine Spears: A♦K♥
Alisa Baumann: 8♥8♠
Spears was looking to improve to stay alive and make the money, but there was no help on the 4♥5♣J♣ flop.
The 5♦ was turned and Spears was still behind.
She was left to walk away from the table on the 5♥ river and she just missed out on reaching the money.
JJ Liu raised to 11,000 in middle position and Benita Novshadian called before Ana Marquez decided to three-bet to 36,000 in the cutoff. Liu folded and Novshadian shoved for 73,000. marquez considered it for some time and called:
Benita Novshadian: A♣K♣
Ana Marquez: A♦Q♣
Novshadian had the dominating hand and stayed ahead throughout the board 4♦10♥7♥9♣6♥ to take down the pot.
Florence Mazet opened to 8,000 and it folded to Pamela Steinhouse, who managed to survive the bubble with less than five big blinds, and shoved for her last 19,000 in the small blind. Mazet called, showing 6♠6♦ while Steinhouse held A♦Q♣ for a typical flip situation.
Steinhouse didn't find anything throughout the board 3♦3♣K♣10♠10♣ and made her way to the payout desk to collect the min-cash.