2019 World Series of Poker

Event #45: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller
Day: 4
Event Info

2019 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kq76
Prize
$1,618,417
Event Info
Buy-in
$25,000
Prize Pool
$6,602,500
Entries
278
Level Info
Level
32
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
0

Matthew Gonzales Eliminated in 3rd Place ($699,364)

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante
Matthew Gonzales
Matthew Gonzales

Stephen Chidwick raised the pot for 900,000 in total out of the small blind and Matthew Gonzales came along from the big blind with 2,400,000 behind to see the {k-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds}{4-Spades}. Chidwick continued right away for the size of the pot, 1,800,000 in total, Gonzales moved all in and Chidwick called off the additional 575,000 to put Gonzales at risk.

Matthew Gonzales: {9-Diamonds}{6-Diamonds}{5-Clubs}{4-Clubs}
Stephen Chidwick: {k-Spades}{8-Hearts}{5-Spades}{2-Diamonds}

Gonzales had a ton of outs with his pair, straight draw and flush draw, and some of them vanished on the {j-Spades} turn as Chidwick picked up a flush draw himself. The {q-Spades} on the river further improved Chidwick to a flush and that sent Gonzales to the rail in 3rd place for $699,364.

There will now be a short break to set up the duel for the bracelet between Chidwick and James Chen.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
25,300,000
4,000,000
4,000,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of James Chen tw
James Chen
16,400,000
-600,000
-600,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Matthew Gonzales us
Matthew Gonzales
Busted

Tags: James ChenMatthew GonzalesStephen Chidwick

Robert Mizrachi Eliminated in 4th Place ($497,112)

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante
Robert Mizrachi
Robert Mizrachi

First to act, James Chen raised to 700,000 and Robert Mizrachi called all in for 350,000 on the button, Stephen Chidwick in the small blind and Matthew Gonzales in the big blind both called.

The flop brought {a-Spades}{2-Spades}{2-Diamonds} and all three remaining active players checked to the {j-Spades} turn. Chidwick bet 600,000, Gonzales let go and Chen stuck around to see the {3-Clubs} on the river.

Chidwick now made it 1,000,000 to go and that isolated successfully, as Chen opted to fold. The cards were turned over with Mizrachi holding the {a-Hearts}{q-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}{3-Spades}, however, Chidwick had that beat with {k-Clubs}{q-Spades}{j-Hearts}{5-Spades} for a flush to send Mizrachi to the rail in 4th place.

While Mizrachi missed out on his fifth bracelet, he adds another final table appearance and payday of $497,112 to his poker resume.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
21,300,000
2,300,000
2,300,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of James Chen tw
James Chen
17,000,000
-1,300,000
-1,300,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Matthew Gonzales us
Matthew Gonzales
3,400,000
-700,000
-700,000
Profile photo of Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi
Busted
WSOP 5X Winner

Tags: James ChenMatthew GonzalesRobert MizrachiStephen Chidwick

Mizrachi's Stack Reduced to a Miracle

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante

In a battle of the blinds between James Chen and Robert Mizrachi, they checked the {4-Hearts}{3-Spades}{2-Diamonds} flop and Chen bet the {9-Hearts} turn for 500,000, which Mizrachi called. On the {k-Spades} river, Chen bet the pot for 1,600,000 once more and Mizrachi called with just 175,000 behind.

Chen tabled {q-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{4-Clubs}{4-Diamonds} for a set of fours and Mizrachi flashed his {k-Hearts}{7-Hearts}{3-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} for a set of treys in disgust.

One hand later, Mizrachi called all in for 175,000 in the small blind with the {j-Spades}{6-Spades}{2-Clubs} and doubled through the {9-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}{8-Spades}{7-Diamonds} of Stephen Chidwick on a board of {j-Clubs}{4-Diamonds}{3-Hearts}{k-Clubs}{3-Spades}.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
19,000,000
200,000
200,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of James Chen tw
James Chen
18,300,000
2,100,000
2,100,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Matthew Gonzales us
Matthew Gonzales
4,100,000
-500,000
-500,000
Profile photo of Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi
350,000
-1,750,000
-1,750,000
WSOP 5X Winner

Tags: James ChenRobert MizrachiStephen Chidwick

Mizrachi Drops to Seven Big Blinds

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante

James Chen limped the small blind and Robert Mizrachi checked from the big blind to a {a-Clubs}{7-Clubs}{6-Diamonds} flop, on which Chen bet 400,000 and Mizrachi called. On the {7-Hearts} turn, Chen made it 1,000,000 to go and Mizrachi swiftly released his cards.

A limped pot between Mizrachi and Stephen Chidwick headed to the {7-Spades}{6-Diamonds}{6-Clubs} flop, on which Mizrachi check-called a bet of 300,000. The {q-Diamonds} appeared on the turn and Mizrachi checked once more. This prompted a bet of 600,000 by Chidwick and Mizrachi let go once more to drop to seven big blinds only.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
18,800,000
600,000
600,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of James Chen tw
James Chen
16,200,000
700,000
700,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Matthew Gonzales us
Matthew Gonzales
4,600,000
Profile photo of Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi
2,100,000
-1,300,000
-1,300,000
WSOP 5X Winner

Tags: James ChenRobert MizrachiStephen Chidwick

Big Stacks Chidwick and Chen Tangle Twice

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante

James Chen raised to 700,000 on the button and Stephen Chidwick defended out of the big blind. The flop came {k-Hearts}{q-Hearts}{4-Hearts} and Chidwick check-folded to a bet of 400,000.

Robert Mizrachi joined the action with a button raise to 625,000 next and Chidwick in the small blind three-bet the pot to 2,180,000 to force a fold from Mizrachi.

Chidwick made it 700,000 to go from the button one hand later and fellow big stack Chen called in the big blind to see a {a-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{2-Diamonds} flop. A check by Chen was followed by a continuation bet of 400,000 by Chidwick and Chen called.

The {8-Clubs} on the turn paired the board and both players checked to the {7-Hearts} river. Chen carefully cut out a min-bet of 300,000 and Chidwick also took his time before sending his cards into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
18,200,000
-900,000
-900,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of James Chen tw
James Chen
15,500,000
2,475,000
2,475,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Matthew Gonzales us
Matthew Gonzales
4,600,000
-425,000
-425,000
Profile photo of Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi
3,400,000
-1,500,000
-1,500,000
WSOP 5X Winner

Tags: James ChenRobert MizrachiStephen Chidwick

Alex Epstein Eliminated in 5th Place ($359,320)

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante
Alex Epstein
Alex Epstein

Alex Epstein raised the pot for 1,050,000 first to act and Chidwick came along from the small blind. The flop brought {a-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{3-Spades} and Chidwick checked over to Epstein, who continued for 1,200,000 and picked up a call by Chidwick.

The {4-Diamonds} fell on the turn and Chidwick checked once more. Epstein emptied the clip and moved all in for 4,050,000. That sent Chidwick into the think tank and the Brit eventually made the call to create the second-biggest pot of the tournament so far.

Alex Epstein: {k-Spades}{q-Clubs}{10-Clubs}{2-Spades}
Stephen Chidwick: {a-Diamonds}{q-Diamonds}{10-Spades}{9-Clubs}

Epstein held the nut flush draw and needed a spade and a spade only to avoid elimination, and the {2-Hearts} on the river was a blank to send him to the rail in 5th place for $359,320, while Chidwick took over the lead once more with four players remaining.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
19,100,000
6,600,000
6,600,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Alex Epstein us
Alex Epstein
Busted
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Alex EpsteinStephen Chidwick

Chidwick Takes First Pot After Break

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante

Robert Mizrachi limped the small blind and Stephen Chidwick checked in the big blind to see a flop of {8-Spades}{2-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}, no betting action followed. The {4-Clubs} appeared on the turn and Mizrachi now bet 300,000, which Chidwick called.

The {j-Spades} river completed the board and Mizrachi slowed down, checked his option. This prompted a pot-sized bet of 1,200,000 by Chidwick and the near-instant fold of Mizrachi followed.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
12,500,000
600,000
600,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi
4,900,000
-550,000
-550,000
WSOP 5X Winner

Tags: Robert MizrachiStephen Chidwick

Table Behaviour at the $25k PLO Final Table

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 0 ante
PLO High Roller FT
PLO High Roller FT

It’s always interesting to observe players’ actions at final tables when they are not involved in hands. The $25,000 PLO High Roller is down to five players and here we take a look at the way they’re behaving while at the table.

James Chen who came into the day fifth in chips but consolidated his position after an early three-bet pot against Alex Epstein and has now moved into the overall chip lead. He’s been one of the more studious players at the table, especially during hands.

He’s been observed on numerous occasions studying not just the bet he’s facing, but the stacks of the short stacks around the table. In fact, Chen is rarely out of his seat.

Moving clockwise around the remaining five players we come to Robert Mizrachi. The Mizrachi rail isn’t out in force like it was for his brother just yet, but should he remain in contention – he is currently fourth in chips – then no doubt the Amazon room will get a lot louder.

Stephen Chidwick is perhaps the quietest player at the final table, even less so than Chen. Possibly the tallest player, he is situated in the middle of the remaining five players. Whilst Chen shuffles chips, Chidwick does nothing until its his turn to act. However, similarly to Chen he rarely gets out of his seat.

The same cannot be said for Matthew Gonzales who is up and down trampoline. This was especially notable during the hand where he quadrupled up. He was sat there stewing as the big stacks either side of him continued to battle it out.

One of those big stacks was Chidwick, the other is Alex Epstein. Already a bracelet winner in 2019, Epstein spoke in his interview after his $10,000 Short Deck victory about how other pros might not realize how experienced he is.

“When [professionals] see me and the way that I table talk and set myself up,” said Epstein. “They think they have a post-flop edge in a game where they definitely don't have a post-flop edge.”

Epstein may have been referring to Short Deck at the time, but from his experience playing PLO cash, the same might be able to be said about this game as well.

Whatever happens, and however these players act one of them is going to walk away with $1,618,417 and a WSOP gold bracelet.

Tags: Alex EpsteinJames ChenMatthew GonzalesRobert MizrachiStephen Chidwick

Level: 31

Blinds: 150,000/300,000

Ante: 0

Chen Jams Into Epstein to Take The Lead

Level 30 : 125,000/250,000, 0 ante
James Chen
James Chen

Alex Epstein raised to 650,000 on the button and James Chen called in the small blind. On the {7-Spades}{5-Hearts}{3-Diamonds} flop, Chen checked and called a bet of 750,000 before checking again the {9-Spades} on the turn. Epstein now bet 2,250,000 for more than two third of the pot.

Chen moved all in and Epstein snap-folded in the final hand of the level before the players headed into their first 15-minute break of the day.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of James Chen tw
James Chen
13,025,000
3,625,000
3,625,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
11,900,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Alex Epstein us
Alex Epstein
6,300,000
-3,800,000
-3,800,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Robert Mizrachi us
Robert Mizrachi
5,450,000
-250,000
-250,000
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Matthew Gonzales us
Matthew Gonzales
5,025,000
325,000
325,000

Tags: Alex EpsteinJames Chen