2020 World Series of Poker Main Event

2020 WSOP Main Event - GGPoker
Day: 3
Event Info

2020 World Series of Poker Main Event

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k8
Prize
$1,550,969
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$6,470,400
Entries
674
Level Info
Level
41
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
8
Players Left
1

2020 WSOP Main Event - GGPoker

Day 3 Completed

Damian Salas Crowned Winner in the International Leg of the 2020 WSOP $10,000 Main Event ($1,550,969)

Level 41 : 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Damian Salas
Damian Salas

The first final table winner of the 2020 World Series of Poker $10,000 Championship Main Event has been determined, at the King's Resort in Rozvadov for the international leg of the online/live hybrid.

Eight of the nine finalists out of a field of 674 entries made the trip to the Czech Republic to battle for the lion's share of the $6,470,400 prize pool. Ultimately, the two finalists with the longest travels met heads up and Argentina's Damian Salas defeated Brazil's Brunno Botteon to claim the top prize of $1,550,969.

Salas beamed with pride and proudly flashed the Argentinian flag throughout the entire final table, in which he ultimately prevailed after dominating the duel with Botteon. The Brazilian is mainly active in the online poker arena and reached three final tables including two runner-ups during the 2020 GGPoker WSOP Online Bracelet Events earlier in 2020. While it was another close call, Botteon will certainly be consoled by a massive score of $1,062,723 to further cement his status as one of the rising stars of the South American powerhouse.

Salas, meanwhile, gained chance at redemption after finishing in seventh during the 2017 WSOP Main Event, and he will have the chance to return to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas at the end of the year. The heads-up duel for the title of 2020 World Champion is currently scheduled for Dec. 30, and Salas now awaits the champion of the domestic leg, which has played down to the final nine last night on the WSOP.com client in Nevada and New Jersey.

Portugal's online and live poker wizard Manuel Ruivo finished third and the international final table line-up also featured Ramon Miquel Munoz, Marco Streda, Dominykas Mikolaitis, Stoyan Obreshkov, and Hannes Speiser.

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (USD)
1Damian SalasArgentina$1,550,969
2Brunno BotteonBrazil$1,062,723
3Manuel RuivoPortugal$728,177
4Ramon Miquel MunozSpain$498,947
5Marco StredaSwitzerland$341,879
6Dominykas MikolaitisLithuania$234,255
7Stoyan ObreshkovBulgaria$160,512
8Hannes SpeiserAustria$109,982

*China's Peiyuan Sun has opted not to travel and finished in ninth place ($75,360) as per the rules

Damian Salas
Damian Salas

Salas Overwhelmed and Thankful

In the interview after victory, Salas said he was happy about the performance but also made sure to point out that he "is not the best poker player" but being able to compete against the best in the world has certainly improved his game.

The Argentinian had already crossed paths with runner-up Botteon on the virtual felt many times over the years and described him as a "very tough opponent with a winning mentality."

Salas recalled a pivotal hand early on the final table in which he gained the lead from Botteon when he called a check-raise on the river with just the top pair.

"I was very confident in my game and that hand was important," he said. "It was a tough spot but I also knew he is also very capable of bluffing."

The Argentinian didn't have any special plan for the heads-up duel and prefers to adapt along the way. It was another gutsy bluff by Botteon that ended the tournament as Salas called with the top two pair on yet another tricky board, in which many flush draws got there. Again, Salas credited his opponent's play on the hand.

Salas' nickname "Pampa," which he was given while playing football, means "the wild one, the country man" and he was initially going to use another nickname and that happened to not be available. Ever since, Pampa has stuck around and is a well-known name in the thriving poker scene in Argentina and South America in general, which he hopes can grow further.

Despite the success of the last few years and a very fruitful year 2020 in online poker, Salas plans to continue working as a lawyer in his home country.

"I don't want to spend all my energy playing poker," he said. "I like to take my time to also do other things and not just poker."

As a source of positive vibes and motivation, Salas thrived on the support of his family and friends back home and carried a picture of his three children and wife with him. His daughter Sol even created a handmade bracelet, which he wore for the winner's photos as he thanked everyone back home rooting him on.

Damian Salas
Damian Salas

"I was already a winner because I received all this energy," he said. "I want to thank all my friends, my wife, and my children. I cannot say enough thank you for all the support I have received."

The Action of the Final Day

With several short stacks in contention, the action in the first two levels was tense with very few showdowns about and Speiser was the first to bow out after running queen-ten suited into the pocket tens of Salas. The next player to bust was then Obreshkov and again, Salas dealt the final blow.

Ruivo eliminated Mikolaitis and Streda, the latter with aces over ace-king, but even as he did, Salas busied himself pulling farther ahead in the counts. Munoz eventually succumbed to his short stack, exiting in fourth place.

In three-handed play, start-of-the-day leader Botteon nearly closed the gap to Salas at the top but the Argentinian then knocked out Ruivo when his flush draw got there versus top two pair.

Heads-up play saw Salas with a solid lead at the start and despite Botteon pulling into a narrow lead for a couple of minutes, the match ended in a couple of dozen hands. Eventually, Salas had the best of it with top two pair on the river when he caught Botteon bluffing to secure a payday of more than $1.5 million.

Brunno Botteon
Brunno Botteon adds another major results to an impressive poker resume for 2020

While that wraps up the final table of the international leg at the King's Resort in Rozvadov, the 2020 World Champion is yet to be crowned. All nine finalists of the identical domestic WSOP.com event will play down to a winner, who then faces Salas for the heads-up duel with $1 million added.

That wraps up the live updates for now but stay tuned right here on PokerNews for the conclusion of the online and live poker hybrid.

Tags: Brunno BotteonDamian SalasDominykas MikolaitisHannes SpeiserManuel RuivoMarco StredaRamon Miquel MunozStoyan Obreshkov

Brunno Botteon Eliminated in 2nd Place ($1,062,723)

Level 41 : 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Brunno Botteon
Brunno Botteon

A limped pot led to the {k-Clubs}{4-Clubs}{2-Hearts} flop on which Brunno Botteon checked his option and Damian Salas checked behind. The {6-Hearts} fell on the turn and Botteon checked once again, which led to a bet worth 1 million by Salas. Subsequently, Botteon check-raised to 2.8 million and Salas made the call.

The {8-Clubs} fell on the river and Botteon announced all-in. Salas asked for a count on the shove, which was deemed to be for 6.65 million and the Argentinian took off his sunglasses for the first time on the final table to study his opponent.

One minute passed without any decision, Salas then took some more time and eventually called. Botteon immediately tapped the table and turned over {7-Hearts}{3-Hearts} for a bluff gone wrong as Salas revealed {k-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} for the top two pair.

Botteon's formidable run ends in 2nd place for a stellar payday while Salas has locked up $1,550,969 with the dream of adding another $1 million to that.

Damian Salas Brunno Botteon
Damian Salas Brunno Botteon

The winner ceremony is now being prepared, followed by the winner pictures and an interview with Salas. A recap of today's action is to follow.

Player Chips Progress
Damian Salas ar
Damian Salas
38,275,000
10,450,000
10,450,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Brunno Botteon br
Brunno Botteon
Busted

Tags: Brunno BotteonDamian Salas

Small Pots Only

Level 41 : 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

After the action-filled last couple of hands, the excitement slowed down as Damian Salas chipped up by a mere two big blinds.

Brunno Botteon open-jammed once without picking up a call and they only saw two further flops. In the latest hand, Botteon limped and Salas checked. The flop fell {a-Hearts}{j-Hearts}{5-Clubs} and Salas check-folded to a min-bet of Botteon.

Player Chips Progress
Damian Salas ar
Damian Salas
27,825,000
1,300,000
1,300,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Brunno Botteon br
Brunno Botteon
10,450,000
-1,300,000
-1,300,000

Botteon Chips Up; Salas Strikes Back in a Single Hand

Level 41 : 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Brunno Botteon vs. Damian Salas
Brunno Botteon vs. Damian Salas

Brunno Botteon three-bet jammed into a raise worth 1.5 million by Damian Salas and forced a fold.

Botteon then raised to 1.3 million and Salas raised to 3.7 million. Botteon moved all-in and locked up the next pot.

Salas won the blinds and big blind ante with a raise to 1.5 million.

Up next, Botteon opened to 1.3 million and Salas came along to the {a-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}{7-Clubs} flop. Salas opted to check-call a bet worth 2 million and the {5-Clubs} on the turn was checked by both players. Salas then bet the {3-Hearts} on the river for 1.4 million and Botteon sigh-called.

Salas turned over the {k-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} for kings and treys to win the pot and claim all of Botteon's recent profit.

Player Chips Progress
Damian Salas ar
Damian Salas
26,525,000
100,000
100,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Brunno Botteon br
Brunno Botteon
11,750,000
-100,000
-100,000

Tags: Brunno BotteonDamian Salas

Level: 41

Blinds: 300,000/600,000

Ante: 600,000

Salas Pulls Further Ahead

Level 40 : 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Damian Salas Brunno Botteon
Damian Salas Brunno Botteon

Damian Salas raised to 1.1 million and Brunno Botteon defended the big blind to see a flop of {a-Hearts}{a-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}. Botteon check-raised from 500,000 to 1,600,000 and Salas reraised to 2,800,000, which Botteon called.

They checked down the {2-Clubs} turn and {6-Clubs} river and Salas won the pot with {a-Clubs}{4-Spades} versus {k-Spades}{3-Spades},.

In the next hand, Botteon made it 1,100,000 to go and Salas defended. The {6-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{4-Spades} flop was checked by Salas, who then called a bet of 1,100,000. The {a-Hearts} turn was checked and Salas bet the {j-Clubs} on the river for 800,000. Botteon came along and mucked when he was shown the {a-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}.

Player Chips Progress
Damian Salas ar
Damian Salas
29,025,000
5,300,000
5,300,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Brunno Botteon br
Brunno Botteon
9,250,000
-5,300,000
-5,300,000

Salas Regains the Lead

Level 40 : 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Damian Salas
Damian Salas

Damian Salas raised to 1.3 million and Brunno Botteon defended the big blind. The flop fell {10-Spades}{7-Clubs}{6-Hearts} and both players checked, as they did on the {8-Diamonds} turn. The {9-Diamonds} fell on the river and Botteon check-raised from 1.6 million to 3.6 million, which Salas called.

Botteon tabled the {q-Diamonds}{8-Hearts} and Salas had the jack-high straight with the {j-Hearts}{4-Diamonds} to earn the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Damian Salas ar
Damian Salas
23,725,000
5,400,000
5,400,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Brunno Botteon br
Brunno Botteon
14,550,000
-5,400,000
-5,400,000

Botteon Takes a Narrow Lead

Level 40 : 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante
Damian Salas Brunno Botteon
Damian Salas Brunno Botteon

Damian Salas won the third hand of heads-up with a raise and take it when he made it 1.1 million to go. Brunno Botteon returned the favor in the next hand and the fifth hand then saw a limped pot. They checked to the {a-Spades}{j-Clubs}{2-Spades}{7-Clubs}{6-Diamonds} river on which Botteon led for 500,000. Salas folded and Botteon nearly evened out the stacks.

Botteon then raised to 1.1 million and won the pot uncontested.

Player Chips Progress
Brunno Botteon br
Brunno Botteon
19,950,000
1,500,000
1,500,000
Damian Salas ar
Damian Salas
18,325,000
-1,500,000
-1,500,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner