2024 NAPT Las Vegas

$550 NAPT Mystery Bounty
Day: 2
Event Info

2024 NAPT Las Vegas

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
aj
Prize
$46,800
Event Info
Buy-in
$550
Prize Pool
$576,480
Entries
1,201
Level Info
Level
35
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
179
Players Left
1

Gregor Sverko Kicks Off His NAPT in Style With $550 Mystery Bounty Title

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Gregor Sverko Wins $550 Mystery Bounty
Gregor Sverko Wins $550 Mystery Bounty

Two key moments at the final table of the PokerStars North American Poker Tour Las Vegas $550 Mystery Bounty were all it took for Gregor Sverko to start off his festival with a bang.

Sverko was all in for 2,575,000 against Daniel Samson and a card away from elimination as Samson turned trips, but Sverko caught a miracle straight on the river to double up. Then, in what proved to be his shining moment, Sverko flopped a full house to put an end to Samson and earn the trophy and $46,800 first prize.

NAPT $550 Mystery Bounty final table results

PlacePlayerCountryPrizeBountiesTotal Earnings
1Gregor SverkoCroatia$46,800$19,500$66,300
2Daniel SamsonUnited Kingdom$28,800$8,500$37,300
3Shyamsundar ChallaUnited States$20,530$5,000$25,530
4Chanelle MorimatsuUnited States$15,800$2,000$17,800
5Alexandro TricaricoBelgium$12,180$3,000$15,180
6Chris JohnstonUnited States$9,420$2,000$11,420
7Victor ParedesUnited States$7,280$4,000$11,280
8Eric SiegelUnited States$5,640$500$6,140
9Chinchia HsuTaiwan$4,330$500$4,830

“It feels good. This year hasn’t been very good for me, online or live. And it’s my first trophy, my first live trophy, so I’m pretty happy about it,” the Croatian pro said after securing the title that pushed him past $400,000 in career earnings.

Sverko, who also earned $19,500 in bounties, was humble in victory and recognized the role that some good fortune played in his win. “I just ran good. Played pretty good, I think. Just won flips. That’s it,” he said. “I think I mostly had it. When the pot was big I just had it, so that’s the secret.”

Day 2 Action

The five starting flights of this event were all played in the Resorts World Las Vegas poker room. Day 2 saw the opening up of the main tournament area as 179 players returned to action out of a massive field of 1,201 entries.

David Jackson (173rd), Rep Porter (164th), Adam Walton (155th), PokerNews Podcast co-host Michael Holtz (152th), Michael Wang (144th), and Irish Open champion David Docherty (131st) were among the first to fall in a flurry of eliminations to start the day as players tried to get their hands on the mystery bounty tokens.

Rhett van Leeuwen began the day as chip leader but could only manage to make it to 59th place, while Nicholas Seward (57th), Justin Young (48th), Shawn Buchanan (47th), and Joshua Remitio (45th) were also sent off to collect their payday.

PokerStars Team Pro Barny Boatman lost most of his chips in a pre-flop race against Chris Johnston and fell in 34th place shortly after, while Maria Konnikova was eliminated in 33rd by Sverko.

David Dongwoo Ko was coasting along with 2,600,000 and in contention for the chip lead when he seemed poised to grow his stack even more. Ko picked up queens and had Chanelle Morimatsu all in for her last 950,000 with king-jack. Ko flopped a set to take a big lead in the pot, but Morimatsu turned a straight to double up. Just a few hands later, Ko was all in with ace-king against Morimatsu’s ace-queen and was about to get his chips back when a cruel queen fell on the river to send him crashing out in 28th place.

David Dongwoo Ko
David Dongwoo Ko

Terrance Reid picked up two kings and had Victor Paredes all in for 935,000 with ace-nine, but Paredes turned an ace to double up. Reid then ran into Jim Paulus’ aces to finish in 17th. Quang Vu was eliminated in 13th when he ran his tens into the jacks of Alexandro Tricarico, while Paulus fell in 12th in a three-way all in that saw Johnston scoop the pot with a pair of eights.

Terrance Reid
Terrance Reid

Colton Blomberg busted in 10th place when he couldn’t overcome Tricarico’s pocket sixes, setting the nine-handed final table. Tricarico led with 8,500,000, followed by Samson (6,700,000), and Sverko (5,900,000).

Chinchia Hsu, who began the final table with just four big blinds, was the first casualty as Shyamsundar Challa claimed his bounty. Eric Siegel then got his last 1,800,000 in with ace-jack as Johnston called with ace-nine, but Johnston flopped trips to take the lead and bust Siegel in eighth place.

Eric Siegel
Eric Siegel

Sverko picked up aces to eliminate Paredes in seventh, while Morimatsu climbed into the chip lead when she doubled up off Johnston for 3,675,000 with two pair. Johnston finally fell in sixth when he shoved for 2,000,000 with nine-eight and Challa called with an ace.

Samson picked off a big bluff from Morimatsu as he moved into the chip lead before tangling with Tricarico in what proved to be a massive cooler. Heads-up on the turn, Samson moved all in for 6,500,000 and Tricarico called with trip queens. Samson had ace-queen and took the pot with his ace-kicker to send the former chip leader to the rail in fifth place.

Alexandro Tricarico
Alexandro Tricarico

After Sverko’s miracle double up against Samson, he showed a full house holding two jacks to beat Morimatsu’s trip eights and eliminate her in fourth place. Sverko also sent out Challa in third place with ace-ten against ace-six as he took a 22,000,000 to 14,100,000 chip lead into heads-up.

Chanelle Morimatsu
Chanelle Morimatsu

Samson took the chip lead with a big turn shove for 9,000,000, but Sverko moved back in front after betting 5,000,000 on the river with two pair as Samson paid him off. Samson then moved all in for 16,000,000 with ace-seven and Sverko called with ace-jack. A final table filled with bad beats and lucky rivers ended with little suspense, however, as Sverko flopped a full house to leave Samson drawing dead.

Daniel Samson
Daniel Samson

The mystery bounty component of the tournament played a big part in Sverko’s strategy at the start of the day, but by the final table, his focus was firmly on grabbing hold of the trophy.

“At the beginning, I was gambling a little bit more. And then, as the final table approached, I kind of, not tightened up, but the bounties aren’t worth as much. Similar to Progressive KOs online,” he said.

Sverko was the first to admit that he needed a little luck to be the last man standing in this massive field, but in the fast-paced action brought on by the ever-looming presence of the mystery bounties, it was just what he needed.

That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the $550 Mystery Bounty. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the 2024 NAPT.

Tags: Alexandro TricaricoChanelle MorimatsuChinchia HsuChris JohnstonDaniel SamsonDavid Dongwoo KoEric SiegelGregor SverkoShyamsundar ChallaTerrance ReidVictor Paredes

Daniel Samson Eliminated in 2nd Place ($28,800)

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Daniel Samson
Daniel Samson

Daniel Samson limped in on the button and Gregor Sverko raised to 1,600,000. Samson limp-jammed a stack of around 16,000,000 and Sverko called after getting a count.

Daniel Samson: A7 All in
Gregor Sverko: AJ

"Watch a seven come," Samson said. They were famous last words as the flop landed AJJ to have him drawing dead as Samson flopped a full house.

The board then finished out 3K and the dealer confirmed that Sverko had him covered.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Gregor Sverko hr
Gregor Sverko
36,000,000
16,000,000
16,000,000
Profile photo of Daniel Samson gb
Daniel Samson
Busted

Tags: Daniel SamsonGregor Sverko

Shyamsundar Challa Eliminated in 3rd Place ($20,530)

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Shyamsundar Challa
Shyamsundar Challa

Shyamsundar Challa limped in from the small blind and Gregor Sverko raised to 1,200,000. Challa then moved all in for 8,500,000 and Sverko called.

Shyamsundar Challa: A6 All in
Gregor Sverko: A10

Challa was dominated heading to the flop, which came A104 to give Sverko top two pair. Challa was already drawing dead after the K turn, while the 7 fell on the river to seal his elimination in third place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Gregor Sverko hr
Gregor Sverko
22,000,000
8,300,000
8,300,000
Profile photo of Daniel Samson gb
Daniel Samson
14,100,000
-875,000
-875,000
Profile photo of Shyamsundar Challa us
Shyamsundar Challa
Busted

Tags: Gregor SverkoShyamsundar Challa

Chanelle Morimatsu Eliminated in 4th Place ($15,800)

Level 34 : 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Chanelle Morimatsu
Chanelle Morimatsu

Gregor Sverko raised to 600,000 on the button and Chanelle Morimatsu called in the big blind.

The flop came J87 and Sverko bet 425,000. Morimatsu called and the 8 turn was checked through.

Morimatsu led out for 1,300,000 on the 6 river and Sverko moved all in. Morimatsu called with K8 for trip eights, but Sverko showed JJ for a full house.

The stacks were counted down and Sverko had 5,625,000 remaining. Morimatsu was covered by just 100,000 and was sent to the rail in fourth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Gregor Sverko hr
Gregor Sverko
13,150,000
7,350,000
7,350,000
Profile photo of Chanelle Morimatsu us
Chanelle Morimatsu
Busted

Tags: Chanelle MorimatsuGregor Sverko

Sverko Survives on the River

Level 34 : 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Gregor Sverko
Gregor Sverko

Shyamsundar Challa raised to 600,000 under the gun and Gregor Sverko moved all in for 2,575,000 on the button. Daniel Samson reshoved in the small blind and Challa got out of the way.

Gregor Sverko: K10 All in
Daniel Samson: AQ

Samson hit top pair on the QJ6 flop, while Sverko picked up a straight draw. The Q turn took away some of Sverko's outs, but he caught the 9 on the river to make his straight and double up.

"Unbelievable. He couldn't even catch the ace," Samson said as he handed over the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Samson gb
Daniel Samson
14,400,000
-4,600,000
-4,600,000
Profile photo of Shyamsundar Challa us
Shyamsundar Challa
7,500,000
-1,500,000
-1,500,000
Profile photo of Gregor Sverko hr
Gregor Sverko
5,800,000
2,400,000
2,400,000

Tags: Daniel SamsonGregor SverkoShyamsundar Challa

Alexandro Tricarico Eliminated in 5th Place ($12,180)

Level 34 : 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Alexandro Tricarico
Alexandro Tricarico

In a heads-up pot on a board of Q8Q, Daniel Samson checked from the big blind and Alexandro Tricarico bet 450,000 from the cutoff. Samson check-raised to around 1,000,000 and Tricarico called.

Samson then moved all in for around 6,500,000 on the 4 river and Tricarico went into the tank. "I'm not nit-rolling, I don't think I'm going to fold," he said before calling with slightly less.

Alexandro Tricarico: QJ
Daniel Samson: AQ All in

Tricarico was out-kicked with his trips and hit the rail in fifth place as the 10 bricked off on the river.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Samson gb
Daniel Samson
19,000,000
11,500,000
11,500,000
Profile photo of Alexandro Tricarico be
Alexandro Tricarico
Busted

Tags: Alexandro TricaricoDaniel Samson

Samson Hero Calls Morimatsu

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Daniel Samson
Daniel Samson

Chanelle Morimatsu raised to 500,000 under the gun and Daniel Samson called in the small blind.

Morimatsu continued for 500,000 on the AQ2 flop and Samson called. The turn was the K and Morimatsu bet another 500,000. Samson again called.

The 10 fell on the river and Morimatsu bet 1,200,000. Samson took a minute and eventually called again. Morimatsu paused for a few seconds before she showed 98, while Samson had A10 for two pair to win the pot.

"That's the worst slow roll ever. I thought you were going to turn over the ace of hearts," Samson told her after the hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Samson gb
Daniel Samson
7,500,000
2,500,000
2,500,000
Profile photo of Chanelle Morimatsu us
Chanelle Morimatsu
6,000,000
-3,000,000
-3,000,000

Tags: Chanelle MorimatsuDaniel Samson

Tricarico Loses Two

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Alexandro Tricarico
Alexandro Tricarico

Alexandro Tricarico opened to 750,000 in the small blind and Chanelle Morimatsu three-bet to around 3,000,000 in the big blind. Tricarico folded.

The next hand, Tricarico played a heads-up pot against Shyamsundar Challa in the big blind. Challa check-called on the flop of KK5 and the 3 turn then checked through.

Challa checked again on the Q river and Tricarico bet around 1,000,000. Challa quickly called and showed K7 to win the pot with trips.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chanelle Morimatsu us
Chanelle Morimatsu
9,000,000
200,000
200,000
Profile photo of Shyamsundar Challa us
Shyamsundar Challa
9,000,000
2,800,000
2,800,000
Profile photo of Alexandro Tricarico be
Alexandro Tricarico
6,000,000
-3,100,000
-3,100,000

Tags: Alexandro TricaricoChanelle MorimatsuShyamsundar Challa

Chris Johnston Eliminated in 6th Place ($9,420)

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Chris Johnston
Chris Johnston

Chris Johnston open-jammed a stack of around 2,000,000 in middle position and Shyamsundar Challa called in the big blind.

Chris Johnston: 98 All in
Shyamsundar Challa: A5

Johnston couldn't pull ahead as the board ran out 273J2 to mark his elimination.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Shyamsundar Challa us
Shyamsundar Challa
6,200,000
1,400,000
1,400,000
Profile photo of Chris Johnston us
Chris Johnston
Busted

Tags: Chris JohnstonShyamsundar Challa

Morimatsu Doubles Off Johnston

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Chanelle Morimatsu
Chanelle Morimatsu

Chris Johnston raised to 425,000 in the hijack and Shyamsundar Challa called in the big blind.

The flop came K93 and Johnston bet 650,000. Challa then moved all in and Johnston folded.

The next hand, Johnston raised to 350,000 under the gun and Chanelle Morimatsu moved all in for 3,675,000 on the button. Johnston leaned back in his seat and let out a deep breath before calling.

Chanelle Morimatsu: A5 All in
Chris Johnston: KJ

Johnston failed to improve on the 97454 board as Morimatsu finished with two pair to earn the double up.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chanelle Morimatsu us
Chanelle Morimatsu
7,200,000
3,000,000
3,000,000
Profile photo of Shyamsundar Challa us
Shyamsundar Challa
4,800,000
750,000
750,000
Profile photo of Chris Johnston us
Chris Johnston
1,500,000
-5,300,000
-5,300,000

Tags: Chanelle MorimatsuChris JohnstonShyamsundar Challa