Wynn Millions Rewind: Andrew Moreno's Biggest Hands on Way to Victory
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Last week, PokerNews offered live updates from the $10,000 buy-in, $10,000,000 GTD Wynn Millions, which saw Andrew Moreno top a 1,328-entry field to win $1,460,106 in prize money.
Throughout the tournament, there were some memorable hands including a brutal cooler involving Bryn Kenney and Alex Foxen, as well as Ari Engel winning with straight flush over straight flush.
In this article, we rewind it back by looking at some of the biggest and most-influential hands Moreno play on his way to victory.
Moreno Hits Every Out to Send Opponent Packing
On Day 1c of the tournament in Level 10 (1,000/1,500/1,500) when action folded to the player in the cutoff, who raised all in for 16,000. Moreno called from the small blind.
Andrew Moreno: A♣7♦
Opponent: Ax9x
Moreno was dominated but he had luck on his side as the flop fell 6♥7♥7♠ giving him trips. Things got better for Moreno as the case 7♣ dropped on the turn giving him quads leaving his opponent drawing dead to the 8♥ river. That hand helped Moreno reach 200,000 in chips.
Moreno Sets Up Two Opponents
On Day 3 in Level 18 (5,000/10,000/10,000), Moreno had around 225,000 when he looked down at KxKx and raised to 16,000 from early position. The player in the cutoff called with what turned out to be Kx8x and the big blind came along with 4x4x.
When the flop fell Kx8x4x with two diamonds, both the player in the big blind and Moreno checked. The cutoff bet 22,000, the big blind check-raised to 60,000, and Moreno jammed.
The big blind re-jammed for around 800,000 while the cutoff called off for approximately 600,000.
A 10x bricked on the turn followed by a Jx on the river and Moreno tripled on the hand to 670,000.
Moreno Calls River For His Tournament Life
On Day 5 in Level 27 (40,000/80,000/80,000), action folded around to Andrew Moreno, who limped in the small blind. Anthony Huntsman raised to 250,000 out of the big and Moreno came along.
The flop came 7♠8♣2♠. Both players checked.
The turn was the J♦. Moreno led with a bet of 390,000 which Huntsman called.
The river came the 10♠. After a Moreno check, Huntsman shoved all in to put Moreno to the test.
"I’m going to put the chips in and if I have to leave here back home to San Diego at least I know that I went with my gut."
Moreno took off his sunglasses and looked up, getting ready for a long tank. He studied Huntsman and replayed the hand in his head while looking at the board. After a few minutes, he placed a few chips in the middle for the call.
Huntsman immediately indicated "good call" and turned over the K♠7♣. Moreno then tabled the winner, which was the Q♥10♥ for second pair, enough to take down a pot worth 4.1 million.
"Once I check and my opponent moved all in, after I put the hand together, what I thought about how my opponent would play his value hands, I really thought I needed to call with my hand," Moreno told PokerNews. "However, putting all the money in was really difficult for me. Most of the time I was thinking was me just being really sure I wanted to do it."
He continued: "I just said I have to do this for myself, I think this is right. I’m going to put the chips in and if I have to leave here back home to San Diego at least I know that I went with my gut."
The Triple-Barrel Bluff
On Day 6 in Level 33 (150,000/300,000/150,000), it was heads-up against Clayton Maguire and Hand #201 on the final table when Maguire limped. Moreno raised to 1,600,000 and Maguire called.
The flop came 5♥A♣A♦. Moreno bet 900,000, Maguire called. The turn was the J♥. Maguire called a bet of 2,600,000 from Moreno.
The river was the A♠ to put three aces on board. Moreno loaded up for a third barrel, grasping chips from his stack, and this time fired for a whopping 4,800,000. Maguire took his time but eventually, he folded.
Moreno tabled the 9♦2♣ bluff and took in the pot.
Moreno Catches Ten For Huge Double
On Hand #210 in the same level, Moreno limped the button and Maguire raised to 1,500,000. Moreno three-bet to 5,400,000. Maguire then four-bet over the top all in. Moreno checked his cards and kind of raised his eyebrows before calling.
Moreno was suddenly at risk and behind holding the A♠10♥ vs the A♥Q♣ of Maguire who had to fade the board to take home the title.
The flop hit Moreno as it came the K♣10♣7♦. The turn was the 2♦ and the river the K♠ to give Moreno the massive double and snatch the win from Maguire's grasp.
Moreno Closes It Out
In what would be the final hand of the tournament, which was #215 on the final table, Maguire would once again be on the receiving end of bad luck. It happened when Maguire moved all in for 5.5 million from the button and Moreno called.
Clayton Maguire: A♣K♣
Andrew Moreno: A♠Q♠
Maguire was on the better end of the big-ace cooler, though the K♠5♠Q♦ flop made things interesting by not only giving him top pair, but also giving Moreno a pair and flush draw.
The Q♥ turn vaulted Moreno into the lead with trips, and he closed out the tournament after the 8♦ completed the board on the river.
Moreno shook hands with Maguire, who finished as the 2021 Wynn Millions runner-up for $1,443,757.
