2024 The Commerce Casino Hold'Em Series

$1,200 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2024 The Commerce Casino Hold'Em Series

Final Results
Winner
Prize
$87,315
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,200
Prize Pool
$542,850
Entries
517
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
51
Players Left
1

A Honeymoon Victory: Sungmin Cho Takes the Championship at The Commerce Casino Hold'em Series $1,200 Main Event After Three-Way ICM Chop

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Sungmin Cho
Sungmin Cho

After six days that included five Day 1 flights, the $1,200 Main Event at The Commerce Casino Hold’em Series has been completed. There were 517 entrants for this event that generated a prize pool of $542,850. Day 2 started with 51 players and ended in a three-way ICM chop with Sungmin Cho taking home the championship trophy and the top prize of $87,315.

At the time of the ICM chop, Cho from Seoul, South Korea, was the chip leader and was crowned the champion of the tournament. Cho is celebrating his honeymoon with his new wife in Los Angeles at The Commerce Casino. After being unable to play poker for the last six months, his wife agreed to let him enter a tournament while on their honeymoon. He seized that opportunity and emerged with the Day 1b chip lead. Near the money bubble, he remarked, “I’m just really having fun; I haven’t played a tournament in so long.” The fun didn’t stop as he cruised through Day 2, and by the time of the ICM chop, he held 9,800,000 of the 20,680,000 chips in play and was named the champion of the $1,200 Main Event. After an exciting tournament experience, Cho is now wrapping up his honeymoon in Los Angeles and going to spend some time with his wife.

Brian Hastings was second in chips at the time of the ICM chop, but was nearly even with the third-place finisher Paul W. Lee. However, after seeing the numbers, Hastings ended up receiving $5,000 more than the original number. Given Hastings's impressive track record—over $5,000,000 in tournament earnings and six World Series of Poker bracelets — both players were more than willing to accommodate and Hastings took home $80,100. As mentioned earlier coming in third, Lee was the chip leader heading into Day 2 and received $72,495.

Paul W Lee
Paul W Lee

Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize
1Sungmin ChoSouth Korea$87,315*
2Brian HastingsUnited States$80,100*
3Paul W LeeUnited States$72,495*
4Naoya MorozumiJapan$33,440
5Katherine BrandtUnited States$25,730
6Michael NiaUnited States$21,310
7Martin CarneroPeru$17,890
8Alexander FarahiUnited States$14,520
9Yan YanUnited States$11,160

*denotes three-way ICM chop

Early Day 2 Action

Several dramatic moments unfolded early on Day 2. The action kicked off when Sanjeev Kapoor eliminated Peter Cross in 47th place ($2,410), jamming with a gut shot straight draw against Cross’s set of jacks. Miraculously, the gut shot hit on the river, knocking out Cross.

Next, Di Wu, who came into Day 2 among the top 10 in chips, found himself all in on the turn with a straight, facing off against Preston Patzs's trip threes. Unfortunately for Wu, the river paired the board, sending him to the payout desk in 41st place ($2,740).

Joshua Prager had a healthy stack coming to the three table redraw, but ended up finishing in 25th place ($3,770) after running his pocket queens into the pocket aces of Hastings.

The final table bubble popped when Day 1c chip leader Bradley Harris, who had fallen to just 8,500 chips early on Day 1c, made a remarkable comeback to secure a 10th place finish and a payout of $9,390 for his efforts.

Bradley Harris
Bradley Harris

Final Table

The first casualty at the final table occurred when Yan Yan was all in for her last 575,000 with ace-king suited, facing Hastings with queen-jack suited. The flop brought a jack, giving Hastings the advantage. Yan was ultimately sent to the payout desk, collecting $11,160 for her ninth-place finish.

Out in eighth place was Alexander Farahi, who was short-stacked and committed his remaining chips after flopping a pair of fives. Unfortunately for him, Sungmin Cho flopped top pair and sent Farahi to the rail, as he was unable to improve his hand.

The seventh-place finisher was Martin Carnero, who ran his pocket nines into the pocket tens of Lee. Lee flopped a set, sealing Carnero's fate and sending him home with $17,890 for his impressive run.

Out in sixth was Michael Nia, who is known for his appearances on live-streamed cash games in LA. He was the short stack at the table and went all in from the hijack with king-eight, only to be called by the ace-high of Hastings in the big blind. When the board ran out, Nia wasunable to improve and was eliminated in sixth place.

Finishing in fifth place was Katherine Brandt, who was eliminated after a brutal cooler from Hastings. She defended her big blind after Hastings opened and check-called bets from him on the flop and turn. After she checked on the river, Hastings went all in for her remaining stack, which she eventually called, revealing trip queens made on the river. However, Hastings made the nut flush on the river, sending her out in fifth.

Naoya Morozumi is a poker YouTuber from Japan who played on every single Day 1 flight with his film team by his side. He finally managed to find a bag for Day 2 after surviving with only 48,000 chips on Day 1e, the final Day 1 flight. Sitting in 50th out of 51 players coming Day 2, Morozumi spun his short stack into a fourth-place finish before being eliminated by Hastings.

Naoya Morozumi
Naoya Morozumi

That concludes our coverage here at The Commerce Casino. But be sure to follow PokerNews for live updates and coverage from tournaments all around the globe.

Tags: Alexander FarahiBradley HarrisBrian HastingsDi WuJoshua PragerKatherine BrandtMartin CarneroMichael NiaNaoya MorozumiPaul W LeePeter CrossPreston PatzSanjeev KapoorSungmin ChoYan Yan

Naoya Morozumi Eliminated in 4th Place ($33,440)

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Naoya Morozumi
Naoya Morozumi

Brian Hastings opened the action with a raise to 450,000 from the cutoff. It folded to the big blind Naoya Morozumi who three-bet all in for 1,200,000, which Hastings called to put him at risk.

Naoya Morozumi: A8 All in
Brian Hastings: QJ

Morozumi was ahead with his ace high, but Hastings had to live cards, that both came on the 2QJ flop, meaning Morozumi would need running cards to stay in the tournament. The 7 on the turn did bring outs for Morozumi in the form of a flush draw, but the A river meant Hastings still had the best hand with two pair queens and jacks and Morozumi was sent to the payout desk in fourth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Hastings us
Brian Hastings
6,400,000
750,000
750,000
Day 1A Chip Leader
WSOP 6X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Naoya Morozumi jp
Naoya Morozumi
Busted

Tags: Brian HastingsNaoya Morozumi

Katherine Brandt Eliminated in 5th Place ($21,310)

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Katherine Brandt
Katherine Brandt

Brian Hastings opened the action with a raise to 300,000 from the hijack and was called by the big blind Katherine Brandt.

The flop came QK9 and Brandt check-called a bet of 250,000.

After the 3 on the turn, Brandt again check-called a bet from Hastings, this time for 450,000.

The river brought the Q and after Brandt checked, Hastings announced all in for Brandt's stack of 1,800,000. After sitting in the tank for over two minutes, she made the call and turned over AQ for trip queens. Unfortunately for her Hastings tabled A10 for the nut flush and eliminated Brandt in fifth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Hastings us
Brian Hastings
6,000,000
2,800,000
2,800,000
Day 1A Chip Leader
WSOP 6X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Katherine Brandt us
Katherine Brandt
Busted

Tags: Brian HastingsKatherine Brandt

Michael Nia Eliminated in 6th Place ($21,310)

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Michael Nia
Michael Nia

Action folded to Michael Nia in the cutoff and he raised all in for 1,075,000. It folded to the big blind Brian Hastings who made the call to put Nia at risk.

Michael Nia: K8 All in
Brian Hastings: A4

Hastings was ahead with his ace high and Nia would need to improve to stay in the tournament. But when the board ran out 210263 the ace of Hastings was still best and Nia was eliminated in sixth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Hastings us
Brian Hastings
3,400,000
800,000
800,000
Day 1A Chip Leader
WSOP 6X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Michael Nia us
Michael Nia
Busted

Tags: Michael NiaBrian Hastings

Martin Carnero Eliminated in 7th Place ($17,890)

Level 28 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Martin Carnero
Martin Carnero

Sungmin Cho opened the action with a raise to 250,000 from the hijack and was called by Paul W Lee in the cutoff, and Michael Nia on the button. When it folded to the big blind Martin Carnero he three-bet all in for 1,670,000. Cho mucked his hand before Lee called, which Nia then quickly got out of the way to leave the players heads up.

Martin Carnero: 99 All in
Paul W Lee: 1010

Carnero ran into the bigger pocket pair, and once the board ran out K410AQ Lee improved to a set of tens and eliminate Carnero.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Paul W Lee us
Paul W Lee
4,100,000
2,300,000
2,300,000
Day 1E Chip Leader
Profile photo of Martin Carnero pe
Martin Carnero
Busted

Tags: Martin CarneroMichael NiaPaul W LeeSungmin Cho

Alexander Farahi Eliminated in 8th Place ($17,890)

Level 28 : Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Alexander Farahi
Alexander Farahi

Action folded to Sungmin Cho in the hijack and he raised to 250,000. It then folded to Alexander Farahi in the big blind who made the call.

The flop came Q49 and Farahi checked to Cho who went all in for Farahi's last 450,000. After thinking over his decision, he made the call to put himself at risk.

Alexander Farahi: 54 All in
Sungmin Cho: KQ

Farahi flopped a pair and went with it, but would need to improve to beat the pair of queens from Cho. But when the board ran out 9 on the turn, and 2 on the river, Cho had the best hand still and Farahi was eliminated in 8th place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Sungmin Cho kr
Sungmin Cho
6,300,000
500,000
500,000
Day 1B Chip Leader
Profile photo of Alexander Farahi us
Alexander Farahi
Busted

Tags: Alexander FarahiSungmin Cho

Brandt's Back

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Katherine Brandt
Katherine Brandt

Action folded to Alexander Farahi in the cutoff who raised to 250,000. Then Katherine Brandt on the button three-bet all in for 885,000. Once it folded back to Farahi he made the call to put Brandt at risk.

Katherine Brandt: AJ All in
Alexander Farahi: KQ

Brandt was ahead with her ace high, and the 998 changed nothing. But the Q on the turn gave Farahi the lead, but only momentarily as the river brought the 10 to give Brandt a straight and double up to over 2,000,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Katherine Brandt us
Katherine Brandt
2,000,000
1,315,000
1,315,000
Profile photo of Alexander Farahi us
Alexander Farahi
650,000
-2,950,000
-2,950,000

Tags: Katherine BrandtAlexander Farahi

Carnero Doubles and Leaves Brandt Short

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Martin Carnero
Martin Carnero

Action folded to Martin Carnero who raised to 700,000, leaving just 30,000 chips behind. When it folded Katherine Brandt in the big blind, she debated her decision before announcing all in, and Carnero quickly put in his last 30,000.

Martin Carnero: A7 All in
Katherine Brandt: KQ

Carnero was ahead with his ace high, and once the board ran out 6668A he made a full house sixes full of aces to double up, leaving Brandt with only 200,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Martin Carnero pe
Martin Carnero
1,600,000
650,000
650,000
Profile photo of Katherine Brandt us
Katherine Brandt
200,000
-1,100,000
-1,100,000

Tags: Katherine BrandtMartin Carnero

Yan Yan Eliminated in 9th Place ($11,160)

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Yan Yan
Yan Yan

Yan Yan was all in for her last 575,000, and Brian Hastings called to put her at risk.

Yan Yan: AK All in
Brian Hastings: QJ

Yan was ahead with her ace high, but Hastings had two live cards to beat the ace-king. When the board ran out 4J885 Hastings improved to a pair of jacks to eliminate Yan in ninth place.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Brian Hastings us
Brian Hastings
3,900,000
300,000
300,000
Day 1A Chip Leader
WSOP 6X Winner
Run It Once
Profile photo of Yan Yan us
Yan Yan
Busted

Tags: Brian HastingsYan Yan

Morozumi Not Buying It

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante
Naoya Morozumi
Naoya Morozumi

Naoya Morozumi opened the action was a raise to 160,00 from middle position, and was called by Alexander Farahi on the button, and the small blind Katherine Brandt.

The flop came 1023 and Brandt checked to Morozumi who bet out 110,000. Both Farahi and Brandt called to see a turn.

After the K on the turn it was checked to Morozumi, who bet out 250,000. Farahi folded, and Brandt made the call.

The river was the J and Brandt decided to lead out for a bet of 375,000. Morozumi shook his head and made the call. Brandt tabled 99 for but Morozumi had the winner with AK with a pair of kings to take the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Alexander Farahi us
Alexander Farahi
3,600,000
700,000
700,000
Profile photo of Naoya Morozumi jp
Naoya Morozumi
3,100,000
1,700,000
1,700,000
Profile photo of Katherine Brandt us
Katherine Brandt
2,200,000
100,000
100,000

Tags: Naoya MorozumiKatherine BrandtAlexander Farahi