Can't Be Mad at a Million
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Ben Lamb opens up after his ninth-place finish.
2017 World Series of Poker
Event #73: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship
Day: 8
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2017 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$67,877,400
Entries
7,221
Level
43
Blinds
1,500,000 / 3,000,000
Ante
500,000
Hands #30-32: Ott Doubles Up with Two Pair
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #30: Damian Salas moved all-in for 11,625,000 on the button and both blinds folded, sending the blinds and antes towards Salas.
Hand #31: Bryan Piccioli raised to 2.2 million on the button and John Hesp called from the big blind. The flop came 
and Hesp checked the action over to Piccioli who checked behind. The 
fell on the turn and Hesp led out for 3 million. Piccioli called to see the 
on the river. Both players checked and Hesp tabled 
. Piccioli showed 
and scooped a pot from the chip leader.
Hand #32: Dan Ott raised it up to 2.2 million on the button and both Hesp and Scott Blumstein called from the blinds. The flop was 
and the action was checked to Ott who bet 3.5 million. Hesp pushed his cards to the muck and Blumstein shoved all-in. Ott quickly called for his remaining 14,525,000 and was the player at risk.
Scott Blumstein: 
Dan Ott:
The turn was the 
, giving Blumstein a flush draw to go with his straight draw. The river brought the 
and Ott scored a full double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
124,050,000 | -7,850,000 |
|
82,825,000 | -17,175,000 |
|
36,850,000 | 18,175,000 |
|
33,050,000 | 5,950,000 |
|
29,625,000 | -450,000 |
|
20,350,000 | -450,000 |
|
19,800,000 | -450,000 |
|
14,025,000 | 2,250,000 |
Hands #28-29: Blumstein Takes a Couple Before the Flop
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #28: Scott Blumstein raised to 2.8 million from the hijack and he scooped up the blinds and antes after everyone folded.
Hand #29: Action folded to Blumstein in late position and he raised it up to 2.3 million. Bryan Piccioli rubbed his hands together in anticipation of peeling his cards, but he wasn't happy with them and tossed them into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
131,900,000 | -300,000 |
|
|
100,000,000 | 5,100,000 |
|
|
30,075,000 | -300,000 |
|
|
27,100,000 | -1,300,000 |
|
|
20,800,000 | -300,000 |
|
|
20,250,000 | -800,000 |
|
|
18,675,000 | -300,000 |
|
|
11,775,000 | -1,800,000 |
Hands #25-27: Saout Doubles Through Sinclair
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #25: Action folded all the way around to Scott Blumstein in the small blind, and he thought it over for a bit before giving the short stack Antoine Saout a walk in the big blind.
Hand #26: John Hesp raised to 2 million from the cutoff, and Blumstein reraised to 5.2 million on the button. The blinds ducked out of the way, and Hesp quickly four-bet it to 20 million. Blumstein checked his hole cards a few times before folding, and the two exchanged in a bit of playful banter, with Hesp trying to fist bump Blumstein at the end. Blumstein leaned away, and Hesp jokingly went for a punch. Both players laughed it off as they moved on to the next hand.
Hand #27: Action folded around to Saout on the button, and he moved all in for his final 9.7 million. Jack Sinclair quickly called in the big blind, and the cards were tabled.
Saout: 
Sinclair: 
Saout would need some help to survive, and he got it right away, as the flop came down 
, giving him trip tens. Sinclair would need running kings now to win the hand, and the on the turn sealed the double up for the former November Niner. Sinclair caught the on the river to rub some salt in the wound, as Saout doubled to over 20 million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
132,200,000 | 7,450,000 |
|
|
94,900,000 | -6,150,000 |
|
|
30,375,000 | -1,950,000 |
|
|
28,400,000 | -450,000 |
|
|
21,100,000 | 12,150,000 |
|
|
21,050,000 | -10,150,000 |
|
|
18,975,000 | -450,000 |
|
|
13,575,000 | -450,000 |
Main Event Hype From Around the Room
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #22-24: Hesp Soars in Front with Trips
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #22: John Hesp raised to 2 million from under the gun and Scott Blumstein called from directly to his left. Benjamin Pollak called from the hijack, and they went three ways to the flop of . Hesp led out for 3 million and both Blumstein and Pollak called.
The turn was the 
and the action was checked around. The river brought the 
and Hesp checked again. Blumstein bet 8.5 million, Pollak folded, and Hesp quickly called. Blumstein tabled 
and Hesp showed for trip jacks.
Hand #23: Bryan Piccioli raised to 2.2 million on the button and Hesp called from the big blind. The flop fell 
and Hesp bet 3 million. Piccioli laid his hand down and Hesp showed 
, raking in yet another pot.
Hand #24: The action was folded around to Hesp in the small blind. He called and Blumstein checked his option. The flop came and Hesp checked to Blumstein who bet 1.2 million. Hesp mucked his hand and Blumstein earned himself a pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
124,750,000 | 23,650,000 |
|
|
101,050,000 | -11,750,000 |
|
|
32,325,000 | -5,450,000 |
|
|
31,200,000 | -450,000 |
|
|
28,850,000 | -3,150,000 |
|
|
19,425,000 | -1,950,000 |
|
|
14,025,000 | -450,000 |
|
|
8,950,000 | -450,000 |
Hands #19-21: Pollak Takes From Hesp
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #19: Action folded to Scott Blumstein in the cutoff and he raised to 1.8 million. Everyone folded and the chip leader added to his stack.
Hand #20: Dan Ott raised to 1.7 million from early position and raked in the blinds and antes after the rest of the players folded.
Hand #21: John Hesp raised it up to 2 million from early position and Benjamin Pollak called from the cutoff, as did Bryan Piccioli from the big blind. The flop came 
and Piccioli checked. Hesp bet 4 million, Pollak called and Piccioli folded. The turn was the and Hesp opted to check this time, as did Pollak. The river was the and both players checked. Hesp showed for two pair with a king kicker, but Pollak tabled for the winner with ace high.
Here's a look at the chip trends from the first 90 minutes of play:
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
112,800,000 | 1,700,000 |
|
|
101,100,000 | -6,300,000 |
|
|
37,775,000 | 8,500,000 |
|
|
32,000,000 | -2,300,000 |
|
|
31,650,000 | -1,500,000 |
|
|
21,375,000 | 1,700,000 |
|
|
14,475,000 | -1,500,000 |
|
|
9,400,000 | -300,000 |
Hands #17-18: Blumstein Check-Raises the River
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #17: Action folded around to Scott Blumstein in the small blind. He limped in, and Antoine Saout checked his option in the big blind. The flop came down 
, and Blumstein led out for 800,000. Saout called, and the 
hit the turn. Blumstein checked this time, and Saout fired out 1.2 million. Blumstein called, and the completed the board. Blumstein checked again, and Saout spent over a minute in the tank before betting 1,750,000. Blumstein decided to check-raise to four million, and Saout snap folded, giving the pot to Blumstein.
Hand #18: Dan Ott raised to 1.7 million from the hijack, and it folded to Benjamin Pollak in the big blind. He made the call, and they went heads up to a flop of 
. Pollak quickly checked, and Ott continued for 1.3 million. Pollak rechecked his hole cards, then sent them to the dealer, giving Ott the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
111,100,000 | 5,150,000 |
|
|
107,400,000 | -200,000 |
|
|
34,300,000 | -200,000 |
|
|
33,150,000 | -200,000 |
|
|
29,275,000 | -1,900,000 |
|
|
19,675,000 | 2,700,000 |
|
|
15,975,000 | -200,000 |
|
|
9,700,000 | -5,150,000 |
Hands #13-16: The John Hesp Show
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #13: John Hesp raised to 1.8 million from early position and everyone tossed their cards to the muck. Hesp showed 
as he raked in the pot.
Hand #14: Hesp opened to 2 million from under the gun and Dan Ott called from the big blind. The flop came 
and Ott checked to Hesp who bet 2 million. Ott quickly folded and Hesp flashed the to the table.
Hand #15: Jack Sinclair raised to 1.6 million from the hijack and Bryan Piccioli called on the button. Hesp also tagged along from the big blind and the flop came 
. Hesp led out for 3 million and Sinclair called. Piccioli thought for a bit before folding and they were heads up to the turn. Hesp bet 3 million again and Sinclair decided to toss his cards away. The table and crowd begged Hesp to show his cards but he elected not to this time.
Hand #16: Piccioli raised to 2 million from the cutoff and Scott Blumstein called from the big blind. The flop was 
and Blumstein checked it over to Piccioli who checked behind. The came on the turn and Blumstein led out for 3.1 million. Piccioli made the call and the completed the board. Both players checked and Piccioli tabled to scoop the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
107,600,000 | 11,800,000 |
|
|
105,950,000 | -5,500,000 |
|
|
34,500,000 | 3,100,000 |
|
|
33,350,000 | -5,000,000 |
|
|
31,175,000 | -400,000 |
|
|
16,975,000 | -2,800,000 |
|
|
16,175,000 | -800,000 |
|
|
14,850,000 | -400,000 |
Hands #9-12: Hesp "Can't Show Every One!"
Level 37
: 400,000/800,000, 100,000 ante
Hand #9: Damian Salas raised to 2 million from late position and John Hesp called on the button. Scott Blumstein three-bet to 6.2 million from the small blind and action was back on Salas and he folded. Hesp called. The flop came 
and Blumstein bet 4.4 million. Hesp folded.
Hand #10: Action folded around to Blumstein on the button and he raised it up to 1.7 million. Antoine Saout moved all in from the small blind and Blumstein folded.
Hand #11: Blumstein raised to 2 million from the cutoff and the chip leader picked up the blinds and antes.
Hand #12: Dan Ott raised to 1.7 million from early position and Hesp quickly three-bet to 5 million from middle position. Ott paused for a moment and eventually folded. Hesp, who has normally been showing his cards when he takes down a pot, said "I can't show every one!"
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
111,450,000 | -100,000 |
|
|
95,800,000 | 3,600,000 |
|
|
38,350,000 | -500,000 |
|
|
31,575,000 | -100,000 |
|
|
31,400,000 | -100,000 |
|
|
19,775,000 | -1,800,000 |
|
|
16,975,000 | -900,000 |
|
|
15,250,000 | -100,000 |