The bracelet and title for WSOP event no. 31 now belongs to Sam Stein, winner of the $3,000 pot-limit Omaha tournament. Stein defeated a field of 685 and was rewarded with a $420,802 payday for his efforts.
Stein has been an absolute force on the tournament circuit for the past two years, racking up nearly $4 million in earnings. Earlier this summer, he finished third in the $10,000 pot-limit hold’em championship, where he picked up $264,651. In January, he final tabled the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure main event banking a cool $1 million.
Because of his success on the felt, Stein now finds himself just four points off the lead in the Card Player Player of the Year race, sitting behind current leader Galen Hall. Stein is no stranger to the POY race, having finished in 26th place in 2010.
The Henderson, Nevada resident defeated a stacked final table that included eventual runner up Ben Lamb, Christian Harder and Adam Junglen.
Here is a look at all the action according to Card Player’s live updates page.
Dilyan Kovachev Eliminated in 9th Place ($31,360)
Dilyan Kovachev came to the final table as the short stack and was the first one eliminated in 9th place. Austin Scott raised to 40,000 before the flop, Dilyan Kovachev three-bet the size of the pot, Scott reraised enough to put Kovachev all in and Kovachev called.
Kovachev: A
K
8 5
Scott: K
10 9 2
The board came 9 4 4 3 9, giving Scott a flush on the turn. Scott raked the pot and Dilyan Kovachev was the first one to go in 9th place ($31,360).
Austin Scott Eliminated in 8th Place ($40,748)
Austin Scott button-raised to 48,000 before the flop and Warren Fund called from the big blind.
The flop came 7 4 2, Fund bet 106,000, Scott potted to 424,000 and Fund called.
The turn was the K and Scott got it all in with a baby flush against Fund’s nut flush.
Scott: 10 7 5 2
Fund: A J8 4
Scott wasn’t drawing completely dead however because he also held two pair (sevens and deuces). He was drawing live to a full house, but the river was the 6, and Austin Scott was eliminated in 8th place ($40,748).
Brock Parker Eliminated in 7th Place ($53,633)
Christian Harder raised to 53,000 before the flop, Warren Fund potted to 175,000, Brock Parker moved all in, Harder folded and Fund called.
Parker: A K K 10
Fund: A A 9 3
Fund was ahead with a pair of aces against Parker’s pair of kings. The board came J 4 2 J 4, ho help to Brock Parker who was eliminated in 7th place ($53,633).
Zimnan Ziyard Eliminated in 6th Place ($71,548)
Zimnan Ziyard started the level as the short stack and managed to find an early double up through Christian Harder with a set of kings against top two pair. Ziyard was still short however when he got it all in preflop against Adam Junglen with the best hand.
Ziyard: A K K 4
Junglen: J 10 9 7
The board came 9 9 7 A Q, giving Junglen a full house on the flop. Zimnan Ziyard was eliminated in 6th place ($71,548).
Adam Junglen Eliminated in 5th Place ($96,737)
Adam Junglen raised to 100,000 before the flop and Sam Stein called.
The flop came 8 5 3, Stein checked, Junglen bet 125,000, Stein check-raised the size of the pot to 575,000, Junglen shoved and Stein called.
Junglen: Q 10 9 8
Stein: J 8 5 4
Junglen was behind with top pair against Stein’s top two pair. The turn and river were the 2 and A, no help to Adam Junglen who was eliminated in 5th place ($96,737).
Christian Harder Eliminated in 4th Place ($132,623)
Ben Lamb button-raised to 120,000, Christian Harder reraised the size of the pot to 420,000, Lamb shoved and Harder called all in.
Lamb: A J 9 9
Harder: K J 9 8
Harder was behind and he would need to catch up to stay alive. The board came A 7 5 Q 4, giving Lamb top pair on the flop to win the pot. Christian Harder was eliminated in 4th place ($132,623).
Warren Fund Eliminated in 3rd Place ($184,368)
Warren Fund button-raised to 180,000 before the flop and Sam Stein called from the big blind.
Fund: A A 10 7
Stein: K Q J 6
Stein was ahead on the flop with two pair. The turn and river were the 2 and the 9, no help to Warren Fund who was eliminated in 3rd place ($184,368).
Ben Lamb Eliminated in 2nd Place ($259,918), Sam Stein Wins Event No. 31 ($420,802)
Ben Lamb started the final heads-up match at a 2:1 chip disadvantage and was never able to overcome the deficit. There was a little back and forth action but nothing major until about a half hour into the level when Sam Stein button-raised to 120,000 before the flop and Ben Lamb called from the big blind.
The flop came K J 3, Lamb bet 150,000 and Stein called.
The turn was the 10, Lamb bet 225,000, Stein reraised the size of the pot, Lamb moved all in and Stein called.
Lamb: Q J 9 4
Stein: A Q J 6
Stein had turned the ace-high straight and could not lose the pot. Although Lamb was not drawing dead on the turn, he was drawing to only a chop with another ace. The river was the 2, and Ben Lamb was eliminated in 2nd place ($259,918). Sam Stein wins the gold bracelet for Event #31 and the $420,802 grand prize.
