Event #13: $3,300 High Roller
Day 2 Completed
2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground
Event #13: $3,300 High Roller
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2024 WSOP International Circuit Playground
Buy-in
3,300 CAD
Prize Pool
500,000 CAD
Entries
178
Level
27
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
95
Players Left
1
Francois Billard Stages Impressive Comeback to Take High Roller Title and First Circuit Ring
Level 27
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
After nearly 18 hours of play a winner has emerged from a field of 178 in Event #13: $3,300 High Roller here at the 2024 World Series of Poker Playground. When the dust had settled Francois Billard was the last player standing, last defeating Kevin Rivest in heads-up play to take home his first circuit ring and the $112,500 winner’s payout.
Billard was under the radar as one of the smaller stacks throughout the day until going on a heater at the final three to snatch the victory from the hands of perennial chip leaders Kevin Rivest and Adil Morkos.
Final Table Result
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francois Billard | Canada | $112,500 |
| 2 | Kevin Rivest | Canada | $77,500 |
| 3 | Adil Morkos | Canada | $52,500 |
| 4 | Timothy Ulmer | United States | $40,000 |
| 5 | Anoop Jugurnath | Canada | $31,000 |
| 6 | Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst | Canada | $26,000 |
| 7 | Renmei Liu | Canada | $22,000 |
| 8 | Wenping Chen | Canada | $18,000 |
| 9 | Kyle Yun-Wing Ho | Canada | $15,000 |
| 10 | Jaime Staples | Canada | $12,000 |
Action of the Night
The thirteenth of fifteen circuit events attracted a total of 178 entrants, generating a total prize pool of $534,000 to surpass the $500,000 guarantee. Some notable players who fell on Day 2 before the money was reached include Eliot Hudon, Santiago Plante, Chanracy Khun and Mike Leah. Renmei Liu claimed Leah’s stack after a brutal river and was able to ride that early success all the way to the final table where he finished in seventh place.
Samuel Roussy-Majeau was the unfortunate soul to bust on the stone bubble after losing a preflop race to Seyed Hosseini. From that point on all players were guaranteed at least a min-cash of $4,500 but all eyes were on the top prize of $112,500. Dustin Melanson, who just yesterday took down the $1,700 Main Event for $339,770, was also able to make the money but fell before the final table in 23rd place for $5,500.
Adil Morkos started building a monster stack with two tables left after turning a flush to knock out Danny Boyaci. That hand helped propel Morkos to the final table where he entered with the chip lead.
Players were very deep-stacked at the start of the ten-handed final table and it took roughly two hours for any eliminations to occur. Jaime Staples was first to fall after Billard rivered a set to triple up and avoid elimination himself. Kyle Yun-Wing Ho was also left short after that hand and busted shortly afterwards. Ho was followed out the door by Wenping Chen, Liu and start of day chip leader Stephane Blouin-Verroeulst in eighth, seventh and sixth place respectively.
Anoop Jugurnath traded the chip lead back and forth with Morkos at the beginning of the final table before finding himself short-stacked after doubling up Billard. Rivest got the rest of his chips soon after before Timothy Ulmer bowed out in fourth place after running into Morkos' aces.
Morkos entered three-handed play with over half the total chips and began putting relentless pressure on his opponents. That all changed after Rivest put his chips in the middle with a higher pocket pair and held to take the chip lead and leave Morkos short. Billard got the rest of Morkos' chips not long after to enter heads-up play against Rivest.
Rivest started heads-up play with a modest lead over Billard and did a good job whittling Billard down in the early parts of the heads-up duel. The momentum shifted suddenly after Billard doubled up through Rivest twice. Those hands left Rivest on fumes and Billard finished him off with a few hands later in one last preflop race to take home the high roller title, top prize of $112,500 and his first WSOP circuit ring.
Francois Billard Wins $3,300 High Roller
Level 27
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Francois Billard has emerged triumphant after a lengthy heads-up duel versus Kevin Rivest.
Full recap coming soon.
Kevin Rivest Eliminated in 2nd Place ($77,500 CAD)
Level 27
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Francois Billard opened to 200,000 from the button, Kevin Rivest three-bet shoved for roughly 1,800,000 and Billard called to put Rivest at risk.
Kevin Rivest: K♦3♥ 
Francois Billard: A♠Q♣
The board ran out Q♦2♠2♦6♠Q♠ giving Billard a full house to take the final pot of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
7,120,000 | 1,900,000 |
|
Busted |
Rivest's Turn to Double
Level 27
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Francois Billard moved all in from the button and Kevin Rivest called from the big blind with his stack of roughly 1,000,000 to put himself at risk.
Kevin Rivest: K♣5♣
Francois Billard: 9♣8♥
The board ran out Q♥6♣2♦3♠J♣. Rivest was good with king high and doubled up through Billard.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,220,000 | 420,000 |
|
|
1,900,000 | -420,000 |
Level: 27
Blinds: 50,000/100,000
Ante: 100,000
Billard Spikes the River to Stay in Contention
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Francois Billard limped in from the button, Kevin Rivest raised to 280,000 from the big blind and Billard moved all in for roughly 2,300,000. Rivest made the call to put Billard at risk.
Francois Billard: 3♠3♣
Kevin Rivest: A♥Q♥
Rivest was a massive favorite on the A♠10♥4♦ flop with top pair and remained ahead on the 6♣ turn. Billard hit one of his t wo outs on the 3♥ river, making a set to the pot and chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,800,000 | 2,020,000 |
|
|
2,320,000 | -2,020,000 |
Billard Doubles Through Rivest
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Kevin Rivest shoved from the button and Francois Billard called off with his remaining stack of 1,350,000 to put himself at risk.
Francois Billard: K♦J♥
Kevin Rivest: A♥10♠
The board ran out 3♣K♠5♣4♦9♣. Billard was good with his pair of kings and doubled up through Rivest.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,340,000 | -80,000 |
|
|
2,780,000 | 80,000 |
Rivest Rivers Broadway
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Kevin Rivest opened to 175,000 from the button and Francois Billard defended from the big blind.
The flop came A♦K♥J♣ and Billard check-called a 150,000 continuation bet from Rivest.
Both players checked the J♥ turn leading to the 10♠ river. Billard bet 475,000 and Rivest quickly called.
Billard tabled K♦9♦ for kings up but Rivest showed down Q♠Q♣ for a straight to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,420,000 | 300,000 |
|
|
2,700,000 | -300,000 |
Adil Morkos Eliminated in 3rd Place ($52,500 CAD)
Level 26
: Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Adil Morkos shoved from the button for a bit over 1,000,000 and was called by Francois Billard in the small blind who had him covered.
Adil Morkos: 7♣6♣
Francois Billard: A♠J♣
Morkos took the lead on the 6♠Q♣9♦ flop but Billard made top pair on the A♦ turn to take it back. The 10♠ river was clean for Billard who took the pot while Morkos' deep run came to an end in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,120,000 | |
|
|
3,000,000 | |
|
Busted |