2017 World Series of Poker

Event #46: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Day: 3
Event Info

2017 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kqj8
Prize
$223,339
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,500
Prize Pool
$1,120,500
Entries
830
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
25,000 / 50,000
Ante
0

Nathan Gamble Wins Event #46: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo for $223,339

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante
Nathan Gamble
Nathan Gamble

In one of the most dominant final table performances of the year, Nathan Gamble took down Event #46: $1,500 Pot-Limit Hi-Lo 8 or Better for $223,339.

"This bracelet's going to my dad," said an emotional Gamble after his victory. "My dad puts together tournaments, just home-game tournaments, and he's always supported me. Honestly, he doesn't have a chance of getting one, so this one goes to him!

"It means the world to me."

Gamble took a monster chip lead into four- and three-handed play and took down the heads-up battle in a single hand to secure his first WSOP gold bracelet.

Twenty-one players returned for the final day of the proceedings in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, and they were led by Millard Hale. Among the early bustouts were Christopher O’Rourke and Bernardo Dias, and the field lost two of its highest-profile names shortly before the final table.

First, Barry Greenstein was eliminated after a pot involving him and Fernando Macia. He was left short and lost his remaining chips to exit in 14th place ($9,513).

Joining him on the rail just short of a place at the final table was fellow bracelet winner Barny Boatman. After chipping up steadily, Boatman got his stack in three ways and saw his remaining chips chopped up after failing to make a winning high or low. He finished in 12th place ($12,034).

Once the final table was set with Jason Riesenberg’s 10th-place finish ($12,034), Wendy Weissman was the first casualty in ninth place ($15,470). Then followed a quiet period, with the eight remaining players trading chips back and forth, none of them able to make a considerable enough dent in the others’ stacks.

However, Gamble began to forge his chip lead. He made a nut flush against overnight chip leader Millard Hale to bust his opponent in eighth ($20,205), and then watched as Day 1 chip leader Fernando Macia was eliminated by Ray Henson in seventh ($26,803).

By that point, Gamble had around a third of the chips in play, and watched as the likes of Henson and Adam Hendrix tried to catch up to him. Hendrix’s cause was helped by the elimination of Miguel Use in sixth ($36,106), but Gamble pressed his chip lead again when he knocked out Marco Johnson in fifth place ($49,379). The result was Johnson’s second-consecutive deep run in this event, following his third-place finish in this event last year.

Gamble chipped up twice through Michael Gross before busting him by making quads, with Gross leaving in third place ($68,544).

On the first hand of heads-up play against Hendrix, after checking in the big blind, Gamble remarked, "Let's get this done in one hand." And it was.

PositionPlayerCountryPrize
1Nathan GambleUnited States$223,339
2Adam HendrixUnited States$137,992
3Ray HensonUnited States$96,555
4Michael GrossUnited States$68,544
5Marco JohnsonUnited States$49,379
6Miguel UseBelgium$36,106
7Fernando MaciaUnited States$26,803
8Millard HaleUnited States$20,205
9Wendy WeissmanUnited States$15,470

Speaking after his victory, Gamble said that his deep run in the 2016 Main Event, where he finished 176th for $42,285, helped him to victory.

"I made it to Day 5 [in the Main Event] where they put me on the secondary feature table. That got my nerves. I had Greg Raymer on my left, and having that exposure and having that time in a game I'm extremely comfortable with really helped a lot."

Gamble put in a dominant run of form to see off a tough final table which included last year's third-place finisher Marco Johnson.

"I absolutely ran good," Gamble said. "Coming into day, I had 250,000, which was good enough for 17th place out of 21. I just destroyed the first table, because I felt I was playing better than them. I hit a one-outer to get us to two tables. Ever since then, it's been like everything I needed came true."

Tags: Adam HendrixBarry GreensteinChristopher O'RourkeJason RiesenbergMarco JohnsonMichael GrossMiguel UseMillard HaleNathan GambleRay HensonWendy Weissman

Adam Hendrix Eliminated in 2nd Place ($137,992)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante
Adam Hendrix
Adam Hendrix

In the very first hand of heads-up play Adam Hendrix limped and Nathan Gamble checked.

"Let's get this done in one hand," said Gamble as the pair saw a flop of {8-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}{3-Hearts}. Gamble bet 120,000, and Hendrix raised pot and was all in. Gamble called, and the hands were turned over.

Gamble: {k-Diamonds}{q-Hearts}{j-Clubs}{8-Hearts}
Hendrix: {4-Spades}{10-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{2-Clubs}

The turn was the {8-Clubs} and the river the {k-Clubs}. Just like that, Gamble finished off his last rival, eliminating Hendrix in second place for a $137,992 payday.

Player Chips Progress
Nathan Gamble us
Nathan Gamble
WSOP 2X Winner
6,225,000 590,000
Adam Hendrix us
Adam Hendrix
Busted

Tags: Adam HendrixNathan Gamble

Ray Henson Eliminated in 3rd Place ($96,555)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante
Ray Henson
Ray Henson

Nathan Gamble's avalanche is still raging. Gamble just added another knockout to his collection, sending Ray Henson to the rail in third place.

The action was quick and simple. Henson potted from the button, Gamble put in enough chips to cover everyone, and Henson called all in for about 400,000 total.

Henson: {A-Diamonds}{J-Diamonds}{J-Spades}{4-Clubs}
Gamble: {A-Clubs}{K-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}{3-Spades}

The {8-Clubs}{Q-Spades}{2-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}{K-Spades} board favored Gamble, just like many of the previous ones.

"Good game, Ray," Gamble said, shaking Henson's hand.

Henson took the bronze medal, pocketing $96,555 for his efforts. He started the ten-handed finale with the second-shortest stack, and he stuck around for much longer than most of his opponents may have expected.

Gamble now has a devastating chip lead heading into the final duel for the bracelet.

Player Chips Progress
Nathan Gamble us
Nathan Gamble
WSOP 2X Winner
5,635,000 835,000
Adam Hendrix us
Adam Hendrix
590,000 -380,000
Ray Henson us
Ray Henson
Busted

Tags: Nathan GambleRay Henson

Michael Gross Eliminated in 4th Place ($68,544)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante
Michael Gross
Michael Gross

Nathan Gamble raised to 125,000 from under the gun. Michael Gross moved all in for around 300,000 from the big blind, and Gamble called.

Gamble: {a-Clubs}{4-Clubs}{4-Spades}{8-Hearts}
Gross: {j-Diamonds}{a-Spades}{8-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}

The board ran out {10-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{7-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds}{k-Clubs}, giving Gamble quads and eliminating Gross.

"Do you ever get tired of making quads?" asked Henson.

Gross took home $68,544 for his fourth-place finish.

Player Chips Progress
Nathan Gamble us
Nathan Gamble
WSOP 2X Winner
4,800,000 400,000
Michael Gross us
Michael Gross
Busted

Tags: Michael GrossNathan Gamble

Marco Johnson Eliminated in 5th Place ($49,379)

Level 27 : 25,000/50,000, 0 ante
Marco Johnson
Marco Johnson

Marco Johnson's second-consecutive deep run in this tournament has come to an end at the hands of the runaway train that is Nathan Gamble.

Gamble raised to 125,000, Johnson three-bet all in, and Gamble called.

Gamble: {3-Spades}{3-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{7-Hearts}
Johnson: {a-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{k-Spades}{j-Spades}

Jonson looked to be fairly live for at least half the pot on the {8-Diamonds}{7-Spades}{4-Clubs} flop. The {a-Hearts} on the turn limited those possibilities somewhat, and the {7-Diamonds} on the river slammed the door shut, giving Gamble quad sevens and eliminating last year's third-place finisher in fifth place for $49,379.

Player Chips Progress
Nathan Gamble us
Nathan Gamble
WSOP 2X Winner
3,025,000 25,000
Marco Johnson us
Marco Johnson
WSOP 2X Winner
Busted

Tags: Marco JohnsonNathan Gamble

Miguel Use Eliminated in 6th Place ($36,106)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Miguel Use
Miguel Use

Miguel Use raised pot to 140,000, and Adam Hendrix called.

The flop came {a-Hearts}{9-Hearts}{8-Spades}. Use moved all in, and Hendrix called.

Use: {a-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}{10-Spades}{k-Hearts}
Hendrix: {a-Spades}{3-Spades}{10-Hearts}{8-Clubs}

Hendrix had flopped two pair and was ahead. The turn was the {5-Hearts} and the river the {j-Hearts}, and Use was eliminated in sixth place for $36,106.

Player Chips Progress
Adam Hendrix us
Adam Hendrix
1,000,000 325,000
Miguel Use be
Miguel Use
Busted

Tags: Adam HendrixMiguel Use

Fernando Macia Eliminated in 7th Place ($26,803)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Fernando Macia
Fernando Macia

Ray Henson raised to 80,000, and Fernando Macia moved all in for his last 210,000. Henson called.

Henson: {6-Spades}{8-Clubs}{3-Clubs}{a-Diamonds}
Macia: {6-Hearts}{7-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}{a-Spades}

The board ran out {a-Clubs}{10-Hearts}{9-Clubs}{j-Spades}{j-Clubs}, and Henson scooped with two pair, aces and jacks with an eight kicker.

Macia took home $26,803 for his seventh-place finish.

Player Chips Progress
Ray Henson us
Ray Henson
780,000 620,000
Fernando Macia us
Fernando Macia
Busted

Tags: Fernando MaciaRay Henson

Millard Hale Eliminated in 8th Place ($20,205)

Level 26 : 20,000/40,000, 0 ante
Millard Hale
Millard Hale

After a long wait for a truly giant clash, the players finally delivered.

Millard Hale started the hand by raising pot from early position. He received a call from the chip leader, Nathan Gamble, sitting in the cutoff. The next player to act was another big stack, Adam Hendrix. Hendrix squeezed to 420,000, and Hale decided to move all of his chips in — 510,000 total. Gamble wasn't willing to step back, and he called fairly quickly. Hendrix's face showed a little bit of confusion, but he had no option to bump up the pot any more. While he technically still could leave the pot, the odds made a clear option for him; he called.

With over 1.5 million in the pot, neither Gamble nor Hendrix were interested in increasing that giant sum as they checked through the {9-Hearts}{3-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs}{3-Hearts}{J-Hearts} board.

"Nut flush," Gamble announced, and Hendrix shook his head in frustration. Hale knew he was on his way to payouts as Gamble rolled over his {A-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{7-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}. As per the rules of an all-in situation, all players have to expose their hands, even though Hale and Hendrix knew they weren't getting any piece of the massive pot.

Hendrix held {A-Clubs}{K-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{2-Spades}, while Hale's last hole cards in the tournament were {A-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}{2-Clubs}. Hale, who entered the final day in chip lead, walked away in eighth place for $20,205.

Gamble extended his lead, now maneuvering nearly half of the total chips in play.

Player Chips Progress
Nathan Gamble us
Nathan Gamble
WSOP 2X Winner
2,850,000 1,050,000
Adam Hendrix us
Adam Hendrix
675,000 -470,000
Millard Hale us
Millard Hale
Busted

Tags: Adam HendrixMillard HaleNathan Gamble

Jason Riesenberg Eliminated in 10th Place ($12,034)

Level 24 : 12,000/24,000, 0 ante
Jason Riesenberg
Jason Riesenberg

Jason Riesenberg was all in from under the gun for his last 59,000. He got three callers: Michael Gross, Wendy Weissman and Millard Hale.

The remaining three players checked down the board of {6-Clubs}{j-Clubs}{9-Clubs}{j-Hearts}{10-Spades}, and all cards were turned over.

Riesenberg: {a-Spades}{q-Spades}{6-Spades}{3-Spades}
Gross: {a-Hearts}{5-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}
Weissman: {a-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}{2-Clubs}{7-Spades}
Hale: {a-Clubs}{q-Clubs}{4-Spades}{5-Spades}

Hale had flopped a flush, and with no low hand, he scooped the pot, eliminating Riesenberg in 11th place for $12,034.

Player Chips Progress
Michael Gross us
Michael Gross
1,010,000 -60,000
Millard Hale us
Millard Hale
580,000 93,000
Wendy Weissman us
Wendy Weissman
290,000 -55,000
Jason Riesenberg us
Jason Riesenberg
Busted

Tags: Jason RiesenbergMichael GrossMillard HaleWendy Weissman

Kevin Saul Eliminated in 11th Place ($12,034)

Level 23 : 10,000/20,000, 0 ante
Kevin Saul
Kevin Saul

Kevin Saul has been grinding a downhill course since the start of this level, and his velocity even increased. Saul wasn't able to change the direction and fell all the way down.

First, he suffered a big blow in a pot that started with Saul raising to 45,000 from the button. Millard Hale called from the big blind and the action on the flop looked like a game of tennis. The ball was moving left to right within seconds.

Hale checked on the {4-Hearts}{7-Hearts}{K-Diamonds} and what followed was a super-fast "pot-all-in-call" sequence.

Hale: {A-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts}{7-Spades}{K-Hearts}
Saul: {6-Diamonds}{2-Hearts}{2-Spades}{3-Clubs}

Hale hit the flop right on the money, having top two pairs in addition to a flush draw. Saul had only a gutshot straight draw. While he wasn't likely to win the high half of the pot, he needed one more low card to secure a chop.

The {7-Diamonds} turn sealed the high for Hale and the {4-Diamonds} river missed Saul's low outs.

Saul was down to his last 168,000 and he lost his remaining chips in the following minutes. Michael Gross drew a close to Saul's performance with {A-Clubs}{K-Clubs}{7-Clubs}{5-Clubs}. Saul's cards and the board were already mucked by the time we arrived.

Player Chips Progress
Millard Hale us
Millard Hale
412,000 182,000
Kevin Saul us
Kevin Saul
Busted

Tags: Kevin SaulMichael GrossMillard Hale