Tomorrow marks a full week of action at the World Series of Poker. The return of the live series has brought thousands of players to Las Vegas including many from outside the US.
That included some huge runs so far from Benny Glaser and Adrian Mateos, who both came close to their fourth bracelets. Players from Canada and France have also shined. Here’s a look at some of the action so far and some players making nice runs.
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Glaser, Benyamine run deep in $25,000 HORSE
Many in the poker world watched this event to see if 15-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth could add a 16th. He didn’t quite get there and finished sixth for $95,329.
Well-regarded pros Benny Glaser, of the United Kingdom, and France’s David Benyamine were among the final three players.
Glaser was seeking his fourth bracelet and Benyamine looked for his second. Ultimately Benyamine bowed out in third for $236,626 and Glaser took runner-up for $341,274.
In a final table full of poker stars, an unknown actually emerged as the champion. Jesse Klein owns a recruiting business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came into the event with only $23,000 in live tournament winnings. He seemingly came out of nowhere to secure the bracelet and $552,182.
Klein has been a high stakes cash game player, but doesn’t enter tournaments often. He had this event circled on his calendar however.
“If I was going to play something, I’d enjoy playing against the best of the best,” he told USPoker after his win. “The competition is great and it was just one of those things where it all came together.”
Glaser took the finish in stride with plenty of events ahead this fall..
2nd in the $25k HORSE for $341k.
A bittersweet finish, so close to the 4th bracelet, but still happy with the result! 😊
Thanks for all the support and all the kind words everyone. ❤️ It means a lot.
And it was only the first event!
Hopefully lots more good things to come! 😀 pic.twitter.com/ugiF4IljlF— Benny Glaser (@BennyGlaser) October 4, 2021
Adrian Mateos gets close in $25,000 High Roller
Three-time bracelet winner Adrian Mateos seemed in a prime spot to add a fourth bracelet in the $25,000 NLHE High Roller. However, the Spanish superstar found himself on a short stack for much of the three-handed play.
Ultimately, California’s Tyler Cornell scored his first bracelet for $833,289. The Californian also finished eighth in the 2020 WSOP Online Main Event at GGPoker in 2020 for $328,305.
Mateos took third for $381,870 and Virginia’s Michael Liang finished runner-up for $515,014. This was the first event streamed on PokerGO this fall.
“It feels amazing,” Cornell told PokerGO after the win. “I’ve been trying to do this for a long time and I finally got a win.”
Canadian scores in $1,500 Dealers Choice
The seventh event of the series saw the first non-American win a bracelet. Jaswinder “Jesse” Lally topped a field of 307 for his first bracelet and $97,915.
The tournament features 20 different games and Lally admitted to not knowing all of them when he got in the event.
“I was so excited to make the final table first of all, but now that my dream has come true, it’s just an amazing feeling,” the 58-year-old told WSOP.com afterward. “I learned a lot playing all these games. Some of these games I’ve never played like Badacey or Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo Regular.”
Frenchman finishes runner-up in turbo event
In Event 10: $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty, a player from France just missed the winner’s circle in this quick tournament. Pierre Calamusa took runner-up for runner-up for $94,060 in an event that attracted 1,640 entries for a $1.5 million prize pool.
Calamusa now has $1.4 million in live tournament winnings and is sponsored by Winamax back in France. It’s been a nice week for the Winamax roster with Mateos also part of the company’s ambassador roster.
Michael Perrone, of Chicago, Illinois, took the top spot in the Super Turbo Bounty for his first bracelet and $152,173.
Poker Hall of Fame now accepting nominations
As part of the WSOP festivities, the Poker Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations through Oct. 14. Poker fans can nominate players who meet this criteria:
- Must have played against acknowledged top competition
- Must be at least 40 years old at time of nomination
- Have played for high stakes
- Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
- Stood the test of time
Non-players can be nominated as well but must have “contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.”
When the nomination period is complete, Caesars Entertainment will announce the finalists on Oct. 15. That list then goes to Hall of Fame members to vote. CBS Sports Net will announce the newest member during the WSOP Hall of Fame Bounty Event on Nov. 17.
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A look at the week ahead
Plenty of big events are planned in the coming days. Many in the poker world will be watching the conclusion of the $25,000 Heads-up Championship. The event has reached the round of 16 with players like Galen Hall, Jason Koon, Cary Katz, and Jake Daniels still alive.
The big-field fun continues this weekend as well with the $1,500 Millionaire Maker getting started Oct. 8. Here’s a look at some of the action ahead:
- $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship – Oct. 7
- $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship – Oct. 8
- $1,000 Flip & Go No Limit Hold’em Presented by GGPoker – Oct. 10
- $400 NLHE Ultra Deepstack – Oct. 10 (Online Event 3 at WSOP.com)
- $1,000 Ladies Championship – Oct. 11