Straight Flush vs. Boat: Brutal Cooler Deep in WSOP Main Event
A nightmare turn card appeared for a former Hustler Casino Live dealer late on Day 6 of the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.
Sami Bechahed, who won the PokerStars NAPT Las Vegas Main Event in November, was only about 70 spots shy of becoming the next world champion and winning $10 million. And then he ran into an unfortunate situation at the worst possible time.
Poker Dealer Faces Brutal Cooler
As caught by PokerNews live reporter Dan O'Hair on a board of J♥10♠J♠7♠, with several hundred thousand chips already in the middle, Bechahed checked from the big blind to Luis Vazquez, who bet 250,000. Bechahed check-raised to 625,000 and Vazquez called.
The Q♦ appeared on the river, and Bechahed wagered 2,600,000 — the blinds were at 100,000/150,000 — and Vazquez quickly moved all in for 4,825,000. Bechahed, who had his opponent slightly covered, took no time at all to make the call with J♦7♦ for a full house. But that monster hand was no good as Vazquez turned over 9♠8♠ for a winning straight flush.
The cooler left the former poker dealer and North American Poker Tour (NAPT) champion with only four big blinds.
Moments later, Bechahed's run in the $10,000 buy-in world championship event would come to an end. He was eliminated in 74th place for $120,000, bringing his lifetime earnings in live tournaments to just under $1.5 million, according to The Hendon Mob. The California resident reached his first WSOP bracelet event final table earlier this summer, finishing in eighth place for $48,904 in Event #31: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em (6-Handed).
At the time of publishing, with 70 players remaining in the second-to-last level of Day 6, Vazquez was sitting on 11,500,000 chips, good for 21st place. Some big name players still standing are Kristen Foxen, Brian Rast, and Stephen Song.
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