Ben Zamani Adds WSOPC Planet Hollywood Title to Trophy Case

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Apr 03, 2018 3 min read

Ben Zamani continues to crush all manner of live poker tours, with his latest triumph coming in the World Series of Poker Circuit Planet Hollywood Main Event. He got through a field of 610 to win a first-place prize of $192,152 Monday night.

The final table included experienced tourney regulars like Ben Palmer, Barry Hutter, Jesse Yaginuma and WSOPC PH High Roller champ Joseph Cheong.

Zamani's quickly growing list of live tournament accolades now includes his first Circuit ring, two WSOP bracelets, 10 cashes of at least six-figures, $4.7 million in winnings and Season 15 WPT Player of the Year honors. Last year, he won the WinStar River Poker Series Main Event, covered here on PokerNews.

Official Final Table Results

Being a Las Vegas event, the tournament saw several recognizable names make runs. Eric Baldwin, Ankush Mandavia — both of whom also final tabled the High Roller — Ryan Tosoc, Nipun Java, Matt Berkey, Val Vornicu, Tim Reilly, Jared Jaffee and defending WSOP Global Casino Championship winner Sean Yu were among those making the 63 paid places.

Final Table Action

According to the live updates, the final table began with not one of the stars, but Scott Powrie holding a big chip lead as the only player over 100 big blinds when nobody else was cracking 60.

Two-time WPT runner-up Dylan Wilkerson was first to go on the final day when he jammed about 22 big blinds from late position with ace-king. Unfortunately for him, Palmer woke up with kings in the big blind and busted him.

Powrie, though, solidified his lead after that as he three-bet aces after an open and a call from Stephen Nussrallah. Both opponents peeled and Nussrallah got it in on the queen-high flop with ace-queen, failing to find his two-outer.

Zamani then made a big move up and eliminated a dangerous opponent when he picked up the rockets, three-betting Cheong's button open. Cheong jammed 22 big blinds with A♥5♥ and managed to flop some equity with a gutshot, but no further help emerged.

Hank Mlekoday was Zamani's next victim, defending his big blind with Q♣10♠ and flopping top pair. He was in awful shape as Zamani had a set of nines, though, and Mlekoday's river shove got snap-called.

After short stack Yaginuma busted, Zamani busted Aaron McEvoy in a cooler to take control of half of the chips going four-handed. Zamani opened the small blind, McEvoy three-bet with pocket tens, and Zamani shoved with kings and held.

Zamani took complete control at that point, despite a cooler that saw Palmer double through and threaten his lead. Most crucial was a pot that saw Zamani check-raise the turn with A♣5♠ on 9♣5♣3♠7♣ against Palmer's 9♠7♠. Palmer called and then called a river bet when the A♦ hit. Winning the next couple of key pots vaulted Zamani to a comical chip lead with 10,350,000 at 40,000/80,000/10,000 when all three of his opponents had under 800,000.

Nobody stood much of a chance at that point, and Zamani knocked out Hutter and Powrie in one hand, gambling with 8♠4♠ and hitting just a pair of fours for the win against A♠7♥ and K♦Q♦, respectively. With the better stack, Hutter laddered past Powrie. Palmer was the last one left and sent his last crumbs to Zamani in short order.

"There were a lot of tough players, but I had the best position at the table compared to the other players," Zamani told tournament reporters. "The way the chips were, everything kind of played itself. And no bad beats."

Here's a look at all of the ring winners at Planet Hollywood:

_{Photo courtesy of WSOP}

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