2018 World Series of Poker

Event #65: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship
Event Info

2018 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kj
Prize
$8,800,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$74,015,600
Entries
7,874
Level Info
Level
44
Blinds
2,000,000 / 4,000,000
Ante
500,000

Feature Table Hands #92-96: Dyer Plays Them All

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
Michael Dyer
Michael Dyer

Hand #92: Frederik Brink opened to 900,000 from the hijack and Michael Dyer called on the button. The flop fell {7-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{2-Hearts} and Brink checked to Dyer who tossed in a bet of 850,000. Brink quickly folded and Dyer dragged in the pot.

Hand #93: Dyer raised to 800,000 in the cutoff and Hari Bercovici defended his big blind. The flop came {k-Diamonds}{4-Clubs}{2-Hearts} and Bercovici checked to Dyer who continued for 725,000. Bercovici gave it some thought but elected to lay his hand down, sending another pot to Dyer.

Hand #94: Dyer opened again to 800,000 from the hijack and Martijn Gerrits three-bet to 2,400,000 on the button. Dyer made the call and the flop came {a-Clubs}{9-Diamonds}{4-Spades}. Both players checked to the {k-Hearts} on the turn where Dyer led out for 1,825,000. Gerrits stuck around to see the {5-Diamonds} on the river. Both players tapped the table and Dyer tabled {2-Hearts}{2-Clubs} but Gerrits showed {a-Diamonds}{6-Hearts} to scoop the pot.

Hand #95: Dyer raised to 800,000 from middle position and Yueqi Zhu called from the small blind. The flop came {7-Clubs}{6-Hearts}{5-Spades} and Zhu check-called a bet of 725,000 from Dyer. The turn brought the {a-Hearts} and both players checked to the {k-Hearts} on the river. Two more checks and Zhu showed {a-Clubs}{10-Spades} to set Dyer back some more.

Hand #96: Dyer made it 800,000 to go from under the gun and picked up the blinds and antes.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Dyer us
Michael Dyer
81,600,000
-1,800,000
-1,800,000
Day 8 Chip Leader
Profile photo of Alex Lynskey au
Alex Lynskey
37,700,000
-500,000
-500,000
Profile photo of Martijn Gerrits nl
Martijn Gerrits
23,500,000
3,800,000
3,800,000
Profile photo of Yueqi Zhu cn
Yueqi Zhu
15,300,000
3,900,000
3,900,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Frederik Brink dk
Frederik Brink
14,900,000
-2,700,000
-2,700,000
Profile photo of Hari Bercovici il
Hari Bercovici
9,200,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
Profile photo of Joe Cada us
Joe Cada
7,200,000
-3,700,000
-3,700,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 4X Winner

Tags: Frederik BrinkHari BercoviciMartijn GerritsMichael DyerYueqi Zhu

Secondary Table Hands #87-91: Labat Crosses 50 Million

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
Antoine Labat
Antoine Labat

Hand #87: John Cynn raised to 900,000 from under the gun and Antoine Labat called from the big blind.

The flop came down {J-Hearts}{7-Spades}{3-Hearts} and Labat checked to Cynn who continued for 1,000,000. Labat called, the {6-Hearts} turn was checked by both players and the {2-Clubs} river completed the board. Labat bet 400,000, Cynn called and Labat won with a hand that was not shown by the cameras.

Hand #88: Ryan Phan raised to 850,000 from the button and John Cynn called from the big blind.

The flop fell {A-Clubs}{K-Spades}{J-Clubs} and Cynn check-called 500,000 from Phan. The turn was the {2-Hearts} and Cynn check-called 1,500,000 from Phan.
The {2-Clubs} river completed the board and both players checked.

Cynn tabled {A-Spades}{J-Diamonds} for aces and jacks, besting Phan's {K-Hearts}{8-Clubs} to win the pot.

Hand #89: Tony Miles opened to 1,000,000 from under the gun and got no action.

Hand #90: John Cynn opened to 900,000 from the button, Tony Miles three-bet to 3,400,000 from the big blind and Cynn folded.

Hand #91: Antoine Labat raised to 925,000 from the hijack and Nicolas Manion called from the big blind.

The flop came down {A-Spades}{8-Hearts}{7-Diamonds} and Manion check-called 925,000 from Labat. The turn was the {K-Hearts} and Manion check-folded to Labat's bet of 1,850,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Antoine Labat fr
Antoine Labat
50,100,000
4,800,000
4,800,000
Profile photo of Nicolas Manion us
Nicolas Manion
44,600,000
-2,400,000
-2,400,000
Day 7 Chip Leader
Profile photo of John Cynn us
John Cynn
27,000,000
-6,600,000
-6,600,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Ryan Phan us
Ryan Phan
24,400,000
3,000,000
3,000,000
Profile photo of Artem Metalidi ua
Artem Metalidi
21,000,000
-200,000
-200,000
Profile photo of Tony Miles us
Tony Miles
14,500,000
2,300,000
2,300,000
Profile photo of Aram Zobian us
Aram Zobian
11,700,000
-200,000
-200,000
Day 6 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Konstantin Beylin us
Konstantin Beylin
11,300,000
-900,000
-900,000

Tags: Antoine LabatJohn CynnNicolas ManionRyan PhanTony Miles

Feature Table Hands #97-98: Cada Gets a Lucky Double

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
Joe Cada
Joe Cada

Hand #97: Yueqi Zhu raised to 900,000 in the cutoff and got action from big blind Michael Dyer. They checked to {k-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{9-Diamonds}. Dyer bet 1,350,000 and won.

Hand #98: Frederik Brink raised to 900,000 in the cutoff and Joe Cada shoved all in for 6,875,000 in the next seat. Brink called without much thought. Cada was dominated with {a-Hearts}{6-Hearts} against {a-Clubs}{10-Hearts}.

The {5-Hearts}{3-Hearts}{2-Spades} flop brought a world of possibilities for Cada. He'd now take a commanding lead with a four, heart or a six. The turn was a {9-Diamonds}, missing Cada. The river brought the {4-Hearts} and Cada doubled with a flush.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Joe Cada us
Joe Cada
14,700,000
7,500,000
7,500,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 4X Winner
Profile photo of Frederik Brink dk
Frederik Brink
7,900,000
-7,000,000
-7,000,000

Tags: Frederik BrinkJoe CadaMichael DyerYueqi Zhu

Hari Bercovici Hanging Tough

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
Hari Bercovici
Hari Bercovici

Of the fifty-three Israeli players who entered this year's Main Event, Hari Bercovici is the only one left. The fifty-six-year-old from Be'er Sheva, Israel got into poker by playing in home games with friends.

"I don't play much poker," Bercovici said. "Just in Vegas."

Bercovici has been a regular at the WSOP for the last few years, cashing in the Rio Daily Deepstacks side events and, in 2016, finishing 34th in the Main Event for $216,211. His WSOP career earnings are $218,137.

A key hand that propelled this year's deep run, Bercovici said, came when he tripled up with two nines against one opponent's two aces and another's two jacks. Some good luck was accompanied by crafty, unpredictable play. On Day 4, after his opponent checked a {J-Hearts}{4-Spades}{A-Hearts}{3-Hearts} board, Bercovici shoved all-in dark for 450,000 into a pot of 260,000. When the river came a {2-Hearts}, his opponent folded and Bercovici showed a pair of threes.

Bercovici kept accumulating chips on Day 5. In one hand, on a flop of {J-Spades}{6-Spades}{6-Clubs}, action checked to Jonathon Prested who bet 225,000. Bercovici called and then Aram Zobian raised to 725,000. Prested quickly folded and Bercovici called.

Both players checked the {A-Spades} turn and the {A-Diamonds} river. Bercovici showed {K-Spades}{10-Spades} for a turned flush, which was good enough to win the pot despite the double-paired board. He chipped up to six million while Zobian, who is also still alive in the tournament, took a hit to his stack. By Day 6, Bercovici had one of the biggest stacks in the room.

Today, Bercovici has been hovering in between the chip leaders and the short stacks. "Unfortunately, the day is not going very well," he said. "But the tournament overall has been going very well, and the experience has been great." His son, Lee, who was recently released from the Israeli military, is supporting his dad on the rail.

Bercovici said that he's feeling better, and probably playing better, this year. He doesn't have any big plans for the money he wins, even if he finishes first.

"I'll continue my life either way," he says.

Feature Table Hands #99-103: Dyer Stays Active, Others Start to Push Back

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante

Hand #99: Michael Dyer raised to 800,000 on the button and Alex Lynskey three-bet to 3,200,000 from the small blind. Dyer thought about it for a minute and then sent his cards to the muck.

Hand #100: Dyer made it 800,000 to go from the cutoff and picked up the blinds and antes.

Hand #101: Dyer opened to 800,000 from the hijack and Lynskey called in the cutoff. Hari Bercovici called from the small blind and Yueqi Zhu came along from the big blind. The flop came {k-Clubs}{j-Hearts}{2-Hearts} and the action checked to Dyer who bet 1,325,000. Lynskey folded and Bercovici shoved all in for 7,750,000. Zhu quickly folded and Dyer's cards followed them into the muck.

Hand #102: Dyer raised to 800,000 from middle position and Bercovici called on the button. The flop fell {q-Spades}{9-Diamonds}{7-Spades} and Dyer led out for 725,000. Bercovici sent his cards to the muck and Dyer earned himself the pot.

Hand #103: Frederik Brink limped in from the small blind and Joe Cada announced all in from the big blind. Brink was put to the test for his remaining 7,275,000 chips but quickly tossed his cards away.

Tags: Alex LynskeyFrederik BrinkHari BercoviciJoe CadaMichael DyerYueqi Zhu

Secondary Table Hands #92-96: Cynn Turns a Straight on Beylin

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
John Cynn
John Cynn

Hand #92: Tony Miles opened to 900,000 from the button and Artem Metalidi called in the big blind.

The flop landed {J-Spades}{K-Hearts}{4-Diamonds} and Metaldi checked to Miles who bet 1,300,000. Metalidi folded, and Miles collected the pot.

Hand #93: John Cynn opened to 900,000 from middle position and Nicolas Manion called on the button. Artem Metalidi called in the small blind, and the flop landed {8-Clubs}{7-Clubs}{K-Diamonds}.

Metalidi checked, Cynn bet out 1,400,000, and Manion folded. Metalidi called, and the turn fell the {5-Clubs}. Metalidi checked, Cynn bet 3,100,000 and Metalidi folded.

Hand #94: John Cynn raised to 900,000 from middle position before Konstantin Beylin three-bet 2,400,000 next to act.

The action folded back to Cynn, and he flicked his cards to the muck.

Hand #95: Aram Zobian raised to 900,000 from the button, and he collected the blinds and antes.

Hand #96: Konstantin Beylin opened to 1,000,000 under the gun and Nicolas Manion called in middle position as did John Cynn in the big blind.

The flop landed {K-Hearts}{J-Hearts}{10-Clubs} and Cynn checked to Beylin who continued for 1,500,000. Manion folded, and Cynn called as the turn fell the {A-Hearts}.

Cynn checked, Beylin bet 2,500,000, and Cynn called. The river of the {5-Spades} completed the board, and Cynn checked for a third time as Beylin checked behind.

Cynn tabled his {Q-Clubs}{7-Clubs} for a straight, and Beylin mucked.

Tags: Aram ZobianArtem MetalidiJohn CynnKonstantin BeylinNicolas ManionTony Miles

Dinner Break

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante

The remaining 15 players are heading on a 65-minute dinner break.

Play will resume at 7 p.m. (PDT).

TableSeatPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
Feature1-- empty — ------
Feature2Joe CadaUnited States15,200,00038
Feature3Michael DyerUnited States82,250,000206
Feature4-- empty — ------
Feature5Alex LynskeyAustralia37,725,00094
Feature6Martijn GerritsNetherlands22,375,00056
Feature7Hari BercoviciIsrael11,725,00029
Feature8Yueqi ZhuChina13,075,00033
Feature9Frederik BrinkDenmark6,875,00017
      
Secondary1Ryan PhanUnited States23,575,00059
Secondary2Antoine LabatFrance49,250,000123
Secondary3John CynnUnited States36,450,00091
Secondary4Konstantin BeylinUnited States8,000,00020
Secondary5Tony MilesUnited States15,475,00039
Secondary6Nicolas ManionUnited States42,525,000106
Secondary7Artem MetalidiUkraine17,475,00044
Secondary8Aram ZobianUnited States11,800,00030
Secondary9-- empty — ------
 Michael Dyer's Chips
Michael Dyer's Chips
Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Dyer us
Michael Dyer
82,250,000
650,000
650,000
Day 8 Chip Leader
Profile photo of Antoine Labat fr
Antoine Labat
49,250,000
-850,000
-850,000
Profile photo of Nicolas Manion us
Nicolas Manion
42,525,000
-2,075,000
-2,075,000
Day 7 Chip Leader
Profile photo of Alex Lynskey au
Alex Lynskey
37,725,000
25,000
25,000
Profile photo of John Cynn us
John Cynn
36,450,000
9,450,000
9,450,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Ryan Phan us
Ryan Phan
23,575,000
-825,000
-825,000
Profile photo of Martijn Gerrits nl
Martijn Gerrits
22,375,000
-1,125,000
-1,125,000
Profile photo of Artem Metalidi ua
Artem Metalidi
17,475,000
-3,525,000
-3,525,000
Profile photo of Tony Miles us
Tony Miles
15,475,000
975,000
975,000
Profile photo of Joe Cada us
Joe Cada
15,200,000
500,000
500,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 4X Winner
Profile photo of Yueqi Zhu cn
Yueqi Zhu
13,075,000
-2,225,000
-2,225,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Aram Zobian us
Aram Zobian
11,800,000
100,000
100,000
Day 6 Chip Leader
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Hari Bercovici il
Hari Bercovici
11,725,000
2,525,000
2,525,000
Profile photo of Konstantin Beylin us
Konstantin Beylin
8,000,000
-3,300,000
-3,300,000
Profile photo of Frederik Brink dk
Frederik Brink
6,875,000
-1,025,000
-1,025,000

John Cynn Looking to Improve on 2016 Main Event Finish with 2018 Final Table

Level 34 : 200,000/400,000, 50,000 ante
John Cynn
John Cynn

While anyone watching the Main Event coverage this year has been focused on 2009 Main Event champion Joe Cada’s repeat deep run, there’s another player who has been here before, though he didn’t make it quite to the final table… yet.

John Cynn from Indianapolis made it all the way to Day 7 in 2016, but dwindled down and busted in 11th place on the unofficial final table bubble.

His 2016 Main Event run fell short when his stack dwindled to under ten big blinds and he got it in with queen-ten, but Gordon Vayo found ace-king in the big blind to look him up and send Cynn to the rail.

The bittersweet run in the Main that year earned Cynn $650,000, his previous best score being just under $20,000 for a 59th-place finish in the 2015 Millionaire Maker.

In the two years since his 2016 Main Event run, Cynn has added $200,000 in tournament winnings to his credit and is thrilled to be back under the lights of the Thunderdome.

“I’m feeling pretty great. This is definitely another surreal experience.”

His experience this time around is a bit different, having been here before.

“I’m definitely more comfortable than before, which is nice. It could be either because it’s my second time or because I have a bigger stack.

“Both experiences were incredible, but definitely having a lot of fun this time.”

Cynn’s Main Event trajectory has seen him chip up substantially on every day of the tournament besides a stagnant Day 2, as you can see below.

DayEnd-of-Day Chip CountRank
1c133,000215/3,480
2c138,900700/1,655
3709,000121/1,182
41,931,00058/310
55,155,00026/109
614,750,00013/26
John Cynn
John Cynn having fun in his second super deep run in the Thunderdome.

On Day 6 with blinds at 100K/200K/30K ante, Cynn was sitting with just over 4 million chips on the button and saw a very active Nirath Rean open to 450,000 under the gun before Daniel Tang flat-called. Cynn shipped with ace-jack and Rean tank re-shoved.

Once Tang folded, Cynn said, “This is really bad for me,” but was relieved to see he was flipping against pocket nines. The ace came right in the window, though the three-heart flop gave his opponent a flush draw, and Cynn told the table, “I’m very nervous right now.”

He followed up with, “I’ve never run this good in flips in tournament, anything. It’s insane how good I’m running. So I can’t complain no matter what happens.”

A clean runout followed and Cynn scored a big double up that got him going. He would end the day right in the middle of the pack with 14,750,000. By the second break on Day 7, Cynn had more than doubled what he started the day with, sitting at 32,200,000 and we asked how he got all those chips.

“By getting really lucky, I mean, this has been easily the best seven-day stretch of cards I’ve had in my whole entire life. And for that to come during the Main Event is like, unreal.”

If you ask anyone in poker, they’ll agree: that’s the dream.

Tags: Joe CadaJohn Cynn