Event #8: $1,700 Main Event | 2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground

04-22-2024 18:47 UTC-4

Matthew Paplyk Eliminated in 8th Place ($50,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 34 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Matthew Paplyk raised to 2,000,000 from under the gun, leaving himself just 225,000 behind. It then folded to Sergei Gurin on the button who took his time before flat calling the two million and the remining players folded.

"Any chance you fold?" Paplyk joked as the 10♣9♦4♣ flop landed. He put in the last 225,000 and before Gurin even called, he flipped over the rockets and flicked in a chip. The story got even tougher when Paplyk tabled his hand.

Matthew Paplyk: K♥K♣ All in
Sergei Gurin: A♠A♥

Paplyk was on the wrong end of yet another cooler on this final table. The 4♠ turn and the J♠ river did not bring the help he needed and Paplyk hit the rail after an amazing showing on the felt.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sergei Gurin	12,000,000 4,175,000	4,175,000
Matthew Paplyk	Busted

Tags: Matthew Paplyk Matthew Paplyk Eliminated Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 17:43 UTC-4

The Deck was Feeling Chilly...

Jeremy Geist

Level 33 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

The action was opened in middle position to about 600,000 by Joey Messina before Dustin Melanson three-bet to 1,425,000 as the next player to act. The remaining palyers folded and Messina called.

The 7♣2♥3♠ flop landed and without wasting much time, Messina moved all in for his last 4,000,000. Melanson snap called.

Joey Messina: K♠Q♦ All in
Dustin Melanson: Q♥Q♠

Messina was going to need some help but was drawing to just three remaining outs. His rail called for the king and sure enough, the dealler burned and turned the K♥ to put Messina in an excellent position to double. The 8♥ river was a brick and although he had one foot out the door, Messina now sits healthy with the double. Melanson took a hit but still has plenty of chips to make an impact.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joey Messina	11,500,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Dustin Melanson	10,500,000 -5,000,000	-5,000,000

Tags: Dustin Melanson Joey Messina

04-22-2024 17:09 UTC-4

Ace from Space?

Jeremy Geist

Level 33 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

The action was opened in middle position to 650,000 by Matthew Paplyk before it folded to Joey Messina in the small blind who flatted and the action was on Dustin Melanson in the big blind. After a moment in the tank he moved all in for his tournament life.

Paplyk called and Messina got out of the way before the cards hit their backs.

Dustin Melanson: A♥Q♥ All in
Matthew Paplyk: 10♦10♣

The 2♦7♣8♥ flop landed and the tens were looking good. The 8♣ turn was safe but the miracle A♠ river took Melanson out of his seat with and "Wooooo!!!" as he stayed alive and got the pure double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dustin Melanson	12,000,000 7,100,000	7,100,000

Joey Messina	8,500,000 -2,500,000	-2,500,000
Matthew Paplyk	7,200,000 2,600,000	2,600,000

Tags: Dustin Melanson Joey Messina Matthew Paplyk

04-22-2024 16:46 UTC-4

Robert Wong Eliminated in 9th Place ($35,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Mohammad Feizi limped under the gun before the action folded to Robert Wong on the button who moved all in for his last 2,500,000. The blinds got out of the way and the action was back on Feizi who thought for a moment before flicking in a call and they were off to the races with Wong at risk.

Robert Wong: A♥J♥ All in
Mohammad Feizi: A♦Q♣

The full board ran out 10♦10♣2♦Q♠10♠ and Feizi held to eliminate Wong after an excellent showing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohammad Feizi	14,500,000 7,500,000	7,500,000
Robert Wong	Busted

Tags: Mohammad Feizi Robert Wong

04-22-2024 16:10 UTC-4

Feizi Makes the Rail Go Wild

Jeremy Geist

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

The action was picked up on the turn looking at a board of K♦6♠6♦10♠. It checked to Sergei Gurin on the button who was the preflop raiser and he put out a wager of 800,000. Mohammad Feizi was in the big blind and took a moment before moving all in for his remaining 4,000,000.

Gurin went deep into the tank and seemed to have a tough decsision. Eventually he returned his cards to the dealer and got the bad news.

Feizi let out a "Ship it!", before tabling the 7♠2♦ for a stone cold bluff and the rail went nuts.

Gurin was a great sport and cracked a smile while telling him "nice hand". He still sits healthy towards the top of the leaderboard despite the lost pot.

Does the table owe Feizi a bounty now?

Player	Chips	Progress
Sergei Gurin	9,500,000 -500,000	-500,000
Mohammad Feizi	7,000,000 1,100,000	1,100,000

Tags: Mohammad Feizi Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 15:55 UTC-4

Gurin Gets a Big Double

Jeremy Geist

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Matthew Paplyk opened in early position to 550,000 before action folded to the small blind, where Sergei Gurin three-bet to 2,300,000. It was back on Paplyk who got a count and then put Gurin all in. He called and the cards hit their backs.

Sergei Gurin: K♣K♠ All in
Matthew Paplyk: 6♣6♠

The full board ran out A♥3♦10♥J♥8♣ and Gurin earned the pure double to basically swap stacks with Paplyk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sergei Gurin	10,000,000 5,000,000	5,000,000
Matthew Paplyk	4,600,000 -5,500,000	-5,500,000

Tags: Big Double Matthew Paplyk Sergei Gurin

04-22-2024 15:08 UTC-4

Pietro Lo Giudice Eliminated in 10th Place ($25,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Pietro Lo Giudice moved all in off a short stack and was called by George James to put his tournament life at risk.

The cards hit their backs.

Pietro Lo Giudice: A♥Q♦ All in
George James: 9♦9♣

The full board ran out 10♥7♠4♠4♥4♣ and the nines held for James to send Lo Giudice to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
George James	10,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Pietro Lo Giudice	Busted

Tags: George James Pietro Lo Giudice

04-22-2024 14:58 UTC-4

Ran Yi Eliminated in 11th Place ($25,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

The action was opened in late position by Israel Pantaleon before it folded to Ran Yi in the big blind who moved all in for his tournament life. Pantaleon called and the cards hit their backs.

Ran Yi: J♦10♠ All in
Israel Pantaleon: A♥Q♠

The full board ran out 5♥8♦8♣9♥6♦ and Pantaleon sent Yi to the rail just before the final table redraw.

Player	Chips	Progress
Israel Pantaleon	8,000,000 6,600,000	6,600,000
Ran Yi	Busted

Tags: Israel Pantaleon Ran Yi

04-22-2024 14:41 UTC-4

Michael Porkolab Eliminated in 12th Place ($25,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Michael Porkolab had just lost a massive hand with queens against the kings of Nghi Van Tran when he got the last of his short stack in the middle for just a couple of blinds.

He got called in two spots and they made it all the way to the river on a A♣9♠6♥Q♣5♥ board and Porkolab was not the winner when he tabled 10♥7♥ and lost to the top pair of George James.

Porkolab hit the rail after grinding through multiple pay jumps.

Player	Chips	Progress
George James	4,800,000 -1,000,000	-1,000,000
Michael Porkolab	Busted

Tags: George James Michael Porkolab Nghi Van Tran

04-22-2024 14:25 UTC-4

Hugo Morrissette Eliminated in 13th Place ($19,000)

Jeremy Geist

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Matthew Paplyk opened then button to 325,000 and Hugo Morrissette defended his big blind.

The 10♦2♣2♥ flop landed and the action checked to Paplyk who continued only to get check-raised by Morrissette. He called and the 3♣ rolled off on the turn. Morrissette moved all in. Paplyk called, and the cooler was real.

Hugo Morrissette: J♠2♠ All in
Matthew Paplyk: A♦2♦

Huge cooler with only one card left and the 5♠ did not improve him. Morrissette hit the rail after getting put in a brutal spot.