2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground

Event #8: $1,700 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
339,770 CAD
Event Info
Buy-in
1,700 CAD
Prize Pool
2,490,000 CAD
Entries
1,660
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
270
Players Left
31

Life Outside Poker w/ Connor Richards: A New Podcast for PokerNews

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Life Outside Poker
Life Outside Poker

Life Outside Poker w/ Connor Richards is a new podcast for PokerNews that focuses on poker players with successful careers and lives outside of poker.

For the first episode, Connor Richards spoke with soap opera actress and high-stakes poker player Farah Fath Galfond, who talked about her acting career spanning more than a decade, first discovering poker in Atlantic City and balancing poker with raising a family.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the hourlong interview with Farah Galfond by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Find Out More About Life Outside Poker!

Pillon Almost Hangs Around; Zhang Chipping Up

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Jinrong Zhang
Jinrong Zhang

After losing a significant pot and being down to just 1.5 big blinds James Pillon moved all in for his last 3,500 from under the gun and got called in one spot by a player in middle position. The cards hit their backs.

James Pillon: 106 All in
Middle Position: K10

Pillon flopped trips on the full board of 665QK and would make it to the next hand with a few more bigs.

The following hand, the action was opened in middle position by Jinrong Zhang to 6,000. It folded all the way to Pillon in the big blind who moved all in for his last 8,000. Zhang called.

James Pillon: 95 All in
Jinrong Zhang: K6

The J108 flop left Pillon open ended and he would get there on the Q turn. Unfortunately, that joy would be short lived as the A hit the river giving Zhang the better straight and sending Pillon to the rail in gross fashion.

Zhang now sits with a top three stack.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jinrong Zhang cn
Jinrong Zhang
340,000
340,000
340,000
Profile photo of James Pillon ca
James Pillon
Busted

Tags: James Pillon

Level: 12

Blinds: 1,500/2,500

Ante: 2,500

Boutin Wins After the Four-Bet

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

There was an early position open to 5,000 before Louis Boutin three-bet to 15,000 from middle position. It then folded to Jean Brassard in the big blind who only took a moment before four-bet jamming for 20,000. The original raiser folded and Boutin flicked in the extra 5,000.

Jean Brassard: 22 All in
Louis Boutin: AK

The full board ran out 4Q4K7 and with the king on the turn, Brassard hit the rail. He let the table know he would be back to battle tomorrow and wished them good luck as he departed.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Louis Boutin ca
Louis Boutin
150,000
40,000
40,000
Profile photo of Jean Bassard ca
Jean Bassard
Busted

Tags: Jean BrassardLouis Boutin

Posch Rips It In

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

There was a late position open to 4,500 before the action was on Adam Posch on the button who called. Louis Boutin called in the small blind and the big blind defended.

The K4Q flop landed and the action checked all the way to Posch on the button who took the betting lead for 5,000. Only Boutin called.

The 3 turn checked through to the 10 river. Boutin checked it once more and Posch went into thought for about 15 seconds. After a moment he moved all in for his remaining 45,000. Boutin went deep into the tank. After close to three minutes he flicked in a call and the cards hit their backs.

Posch tabled the goods. He held 44 for a flopped set and Boutin then gave him a nod and showed he was just keeping him honest with ace-queen for middle pair.

Posch dragged a healthy pot as the end of late registration draws near.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Adam Posch ca
Adam Posch
135,000
-75,000
-75,000
Profile photo of Louis Boutin ca
Louis Boutin
110,000
110,000
110,000

Tags: Adam PoschLouis Boutin

Level: 11

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

Melanson Finds a Much Needed Double

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

The action was opened under the gun to 6,000 before it folded to Dustin Melanson in the cutoff. He sat in the tank for a moment and then raised to 15,000 with just 3,000 behind.

His opponent sat in the tank for about a minute before flicking in a call. They were heads up to a 56Q flop. It only took a moment for the last 3,000 went in and they were off to a turn and river with Melanson at risk.

Dustin Melanson: AQ All in
Under the Gun: QJ

Melanson was ahead but said he was "feeling a jack on the turn." Lucky for him, the 4 turn changed nothing and the 10 river was a brick. Melanson avoided the cooler and got the pure double with some tricky play.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Dustin Melanson ca
Dustin Melanson
35,000
-35,000
-35,000
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Dustin Melanson

Bakri Snags a Small One After Break

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Anthony Bakri opened under the gun to 4,000 before getting called in two spots by a player in middle position and in the big blind.

The 7Q10 flop landed it checked to Bakri who continued for 4,500. Only middle position called.

The 5 turn quickly checked through to a 2 river and once again the action checked through. Bakri showed down 109 and middle position sent his cards to the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Anthony Bakri ca
Anthony Bakri
110,000
110,000
110,000

Tags: Anthony Bakri

Level: 10

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000