PokerStars WCOOP Day 13: Chris Hunichen Captures First WCOOP Win
Day 13 of the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) at PokerStars saw another seven champions named with four big buy-in events and three low buy-in events coming to a completion.
One of the big winners of the day was Chris "Big Huni" Hunichen, who won over $50,000 in the WCOOP-40-H: $530 5 Card PLO [6-Max], $200K Gtd. Hunichen, one of the most decorated online tournament players of all time, had fallen one spot short of glory twice before in WCOOP tournaments. This is no longer the case as Hunichen captured his first WCOOP title to add to his mantle of accolades in the online poker realm.
The 5-Card PLO tournament played out over a two-day span seeing a total of 609 entries creating a prize pool of $304,500. Only 77 players were to be paid out with a min-cash taking home $1,144.
Final Table Action Begins
The final table began with seven players and Norwegian "legenden" sat at the table as chip leader with 7 million while "Trabelsi" held the short stack at 2.2 million.
The table quickly feasted on the small stack of "Trabelsi" and it was ultimately Hunichen that ended the Finish player's tournament when the two players got all the chips in on a flop of A♦J♠6♥. Hunichen held A♣J♣5♦3♦2♦ while "Trabelsi" held K♣K♠J♦9♣Q♦. The A♠ on the turn gave Hunichen a full house and left "Trabelsi" drawing dead, giving "Trabelsi" $7,956 for seventh place while placing "Big Huni" as the chip leader with around 9.5 million.
Rui "RuiNF" Ferreira was the next player to leave as he got short stacked down to 1.3 million and got the rest of his chips into the middle with Q♦Q♠A♣J♠9♣ against the higher paired hand of K♣K♠J♣6♠4♥ of "legenden". The board didn't improve either players hands and "legenden" won the hand to eliminate Ferreira from the tournament in sixth place for $10,138.
PLO can swing stacks quickly, and that was on display in this tournament as "legenden" went from the chip leader at the beginning of five handed play to the fifth place finisher. After doubling up Mike "munchenHB" Telker, "legenden" shoved their remaining stack on the river with two pairs and was called by the set of aces of two-time WCOOP champion "WhatIfGod" to eliminate the Norwegian in fifth place for $14,141 while "WhatIfGod" closed in on the chip lead of Hunichen.
Hunichen Builds His Chip Lead
Hunichen then got back into the mix, knocking out the short stack of Telker when Hunichen made a wheel on river. Telker received $19,726 for fourth place while Hunichen closed in on 14 million in chips.
Hunichen added more chips to his growing stack when he took most of "LgwZ"'s stack in a set over set scenario according to the PokerStars blog. Hunichen then gave the final blow to the Brazilian when on a board of 4♦8♠4♣ and "LgwZ" holding A♥A♠6♦5♣4♠ against the A♦K♥J♦4♥2♥. The board brought two more diamonds, giving Hunichen a flush and eliminating "LgwZ" in third place for $27,515.
Heads-Up Play
Hunichen started the heads-up battle as the overwhelming chip leader and after the two players swiftly decided that a deal wasn't going to be reached, Hunichen made short work of his two-time WCOOP Champion Sweedish opponent, only needing six hands to end the heads up match.
After "WhatIfGod" raised on the button and Hunichen called. A flop of 2♠10♦4♠ came was placed on the board and after Hunichen check-raised, "WhatIfGod" piled in the rest of their stack with a three-bet shove which was called by Hunichen. Hunichen had the lead, holding 10♥8♥7♦4♦3♠ for two pairs while "WhatIfGod" had an over pair of aces holding A♠A♦9♦5♦4♣. The turn and river only improved Hunichen's two pairs to tens and sevens, giving him his first WCOOP title while "WhatIfGod" settled for second place. Hunichen collected $53,537 for the victory while "WhatIfGod" accepted $38,381 for second place prize money.
WCOOP-39 Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris 'Big Huni' Hunichen | $53,537 |
| 2 | WhatIfGod | $38,381 |
| 3 | LgwZ | $27,515 |
| 4 | Mike 'muchenHB' Telker | $19,726 |
| 5 | legenden | $14,141 |
| 6 | Rui 'RuiNF' Ferreira | $10,138 |
| 7 | Trabelsi | $7,956 |
WCOOP News and Notes
- Damian "pampa27" Salas made the final table of three in the WCOOP-43-H $215+R NLHE [3-Max, Turbo, Zoom], $250K Gtd. He held the chip lead with the final three while Thomas "KKsuckAA" Hoang sat in third place. MLS20 was in second place, making his second 3-max final table of the 2017 WCOOP. Four big blinds separated the three players coming off the final break of the tournament. Salas was the first to leave the final table, receiving $24,699. After the last card was dealt it was MLS20 getting the better of Hoang to win the title and $74,098 while Hoang received $42,780 for the runner up finish.
- Pascal "Päffchen" Hartmann was denied his second WCOOP title this year when he was defeated by "jeffhang888" during heads-up play in WCOOP-38-H: $215 NLHE [6-Max], 250K Gtd.
- The WCOOP-39-H: $1,050 NLHE [8-Max, Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill SE], $1M Gtd will need a third and final day of action as play stopped with 10 players remaining. "sousinha23" is the chip leader with players vying for the $113,281 first place prize.
- Bulgaria's PSMozak is squarely in the lead of the WCOOP leaderboard with 495 points. "ImluckNuts" is in second place with 435 points, followed by GeraldoCesar with 355 points.
Day 13 WCOOP Winners
| Event | Buy-In | Prize Pool | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #38 NLHE-H 6-Max | $215 | $428,200 | jeffhang888 | $64,024 |
| #40 5-Card PLO-H 6-Max | $530 | $304,500 | Big Huni | $53,537 |
| #41 NLHE-H | $530 | $329,000 | thehushpuppy | $57,005 |
| #43 NLHE-H 3-Max Rebuy | $215 | $428,330 | MLS20 | $74,098 |
| #34 NLHE-L | $55 | 302,000 | guicosta94 | $42,922 |
| #35 NLHE-L | $27 | $219,599 | SlippedMe | $25,378* |
| #36 FL Badugi | $55 | $28,100 | Abit9144 | $5,283 |
* Denotes deal made at the final table
PokerNews will be recapping all of the action as it is played out during the 2017 WCOOP so check back for daily updates, news, and more.
