Event #61: $2,500 Mixed: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed)
Day 3 Completed
2024 World Series of Poker
Event #61: $2,500 Mixed: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed)
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2024 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$1,128,075
Entries
507
Level
31
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0
Entries
21
Players Left
1
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
One of the most popular split pot game tournaments of the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas saw a total of 507 players come out to play. Event #61: $2,500 Stud/Omaha 8-or-Better saw a bigger field than last year’s turnout of 460, and only 77 players saw a piece of the $1,128,075 prize pool. The beginning of the day saw 21 players with eyes set on the bracelet and the first-place prize of $222,703, but by the end of the day, there was only one.
For many years, the list of greatest players without a bracelet has featured the name Dario Sammartino. The Italian pro has climbed to the top of the all-time money list in Italy with an impressive $16 million in lifetime earnings and many WSOP final table appearances in various formats. At the start of the day, he was on this list, but now, at its close, he can proudly cross his name off as he took home his first WSOP bracelet and a first-place prize of $222,703.
“Oh, I feel so good,” Sammartino said with a gracious smile across his face, “and finally, after 12 years, I am so happy. It was a very tough field.” This marks Dario’s 24th appearance at a WSOP final table and his third time getting heads up for a bracelet. Third time's the charm as his match with Jon Kyte lasted just under ninety minutes.
“This field was amazing,” Sammartino said about the highly skilled field of mixed game players and bracelet winners. “I played online all year and many mixed games with some of the best players. I learned from the best by playing with the best. Last year, I started to study and improve, and now I’m a bit better.” Sammartino was planning on playing a full WSOP schedule before this victory, and nothing has changed on that front. “I will try to play everything, but my main priority is the 10k 2-7 No-Limit. After that will be the main event.”
Sammartino’s rail was filled with friends and family. The first place he walked after winning the bracelet was to his rail, to be embraced by those closest to him. “I think love is everything in life. It is very important for me. I have the love of my friends and the love of my family; without them, I am nothing. So thank you to my family, to my friends, to my girlfriend, and my son.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | $222,703 |
| 2 | Jon Kyte | Norway | $148,462 |
| 3 | David Williams | United States | $102,335 |
| 4 | Jeff Madsen | United States | $71,810 |
| 5 | Federico Ottenio | United States | $51,315 |
| 6 | Matt Vengrin | United States | $37,354 |
| 7 | Joey Couden | United States | $27,709 |
| 8 | Scott Blackman | United States | $20,954 |
Day 3 Action
The players came back to quick action as early play saw multiple casualties in the early levels of the day. Brian Schwartz (21st-$8,369), Christopher Battenfield (20th - $8,369), Joshua Ray (19th - $8,369), Ryan Schoonbaert (18th - $8,369), and David Margolis (17th - $8,369) all fell before the final two tables.
The final two tables saw the pace of eliminations slow down. Still, the shortest stacks never seemed safe as bracelet winner Nick Kost (16th - $8,369), Jared Talarico (15th-$10,208), Troy Murdough (14th - $10,208),Dai Ishibashi (13th - $10,208), Patrice Boudet (12th - $10,208), and Jacob Nepom (11th - $12,713), all fell in the next batch of eliminations.
The final player to go before the final table was Columbian player Jose Ferro. His pair of eights could not run down the eights and threes of Federico Ottenio and Ferro collected $12,713 for his deep run.
Final Table Action
Paul Zappulla flirted with the chip lead many times with two tables left, but multiple pots prior to the final table had gone poorly. He eventually played a pot in Omaha Hi-Lo where he flopped top pair and a gutter against Jeff Madsen, who flopped a king-high straight. Zappulla got in final chips in on the turn and was unable to make his straight, giving Madsen the pot and leaving Zappulla to finish the table in ninth place, good for $16,159.
Securing a ladder due to that bustout was Scott Blackman, who began the final table as the shortest stack. His good fortune would end shortly after as he was chopped up in a stud hand between Joey Couden with a six-low and David Williams with aces and kings. Both were enough to beat Blackman’s pair of nines, and he collected $20,954 for his finish.
Madsen fell to the very short stack but managed to scoop a massive triple-up through Williams and Kyte to put himself into contention for the chip lead. Another pot saw Madsen put himself into the lead as he made aces up against Couden, leaving him with just a few chips. The bracelet winner got in his last chips with wired jacks against Sammartino, who made aces on sixth with a low. No improvement came on seventh street, and Couden ended his run in seventh place for $27,709.
Shortly after, it was Matt Vengrin departing in sixth place. After losing a couple of big pots to Kyte, he was down to just a couple of big bets, and he also found himself all in against Sammartino. He moved in his last chip on fifth street with wired fives against Sammartino’s low draw, which turned into aces up on seventh street. Vengrin squeezed the last card in hopes of making trip fives, but it was no good and he collected $37,354 for his efforts.
Kyte took over the lead in the final table, acquiring over half of the chips in play with five players left. Though he managed to land a couple of sizable dents into Kyte’s stack, Ottenio ended up drifting down the counts and became the shortest stack. He was eventually all in for his last chips in Omaha up against Williams and Kyte. Ottenio ended up with just a pair of kings up against two flushes, with Williams holding the nut flush to more than double in the hand, while Ottenio was eliminated in fifth place for $51,135.
After that elimination, Madsen was the next player on the chopping block, holding just two big bets. He got his last chips in Stud in a pot between himself, Kyte, and Sammartino. The side pot got big and Kyte’s pair of queens were good to scoop the whole thing. He put himself back into the chip lead while the four-time bracelet winner was eliminated in fourth place for $71,810.
The three-handed match began with Kyte holding sixty percent of the chips and Sammartino and Williams sitting neck and neck in second and third place, respectively. That changed when a massive pot saw Kyte take a huge bite out of Williams’ stack, leaving him short. Williams doubled shortly after that, but his final hand came in Omaha in a pot against Sammartino. Sammartino had flopped top set against Williams’ open-ended straight and flush draw. The board bricked out seeing Sammartino come into heads up with only a slight deficit, and the WSOP bracelet winner was eliminated in third place for $102,355.
The heads-up match initially saw Kyte push himself further into the lead, but then Sammartino found some momentum in a sizable Omaha pot, where Sammartino flopped a set that turned into a full house. After that, Sammartino went into the lead and never let up with the pressure. Kyte tried to climb back, but the final big confrontation saw Kyte’s Broadway be second best against Sammartino’s flush. The final hand saw his last chips be put in from Stud, and his pair of kings ended up second-best against Sammartino's straight. Sammartino won the tournament, while Kyte finished in second place for $148,462.
Thank you for reading along with PokerNews. Stay tuned for all updates from the 2024 WSOP.
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Omaha Hi Lo
Dario Sammartino raised on the button and in the big blind Jon Kyte called.
The flop rolled out 2♠10♣Q♣ and Kyte checked over to Sammartino who bet and Kyte raised which Sammartino called.
Kyte bet the 6♠ turn and Sammartino called.
On the river J♣, Kyte bet and Sammartino called, tabling J♠7♣5♣3♠ for a flush, besting Kyte's Broadway A♥K♣K♥5♦.
Kyte was left with just enough for the ante and bring-in in Stud.
Stud Hi-Lo
After two pots resulting in chop pots, Kyte was all in a third time.
Jon Kyte: 6♣K♠4♣3♠K♠5♦9♦ 
Dario Sammartino: 6♣8♠10♠9♠Q♦6♥J♦
Sammartino when seeing the jack on seventh, Sammartino's rail cheered with the Italian making a straight.
Sammartino and Kyte hugged it out as Kyte finished in second place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
17,745,000
1,645,000
|
1,645,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Hi-Lo
Jon Kyte: XxXx/7♣5♣2♣9♠/Xx
Dario Sammartino: K♣6♦4♦/K♥Q♦A♠3♦
Jon Kyte completed and Dario Sammartino raised. Kyte called.
Kyte called a bet from Sammartino on fourth street and then Sammartino called a bet from Kyte on fifth.
Both players checked down on sixth and seventh and Sammartino announced, "Kings," as he tabled K♣6♦4♦.
Kyte couldn't beat it and mucked — slipping to just 1,600,00 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
16,100,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,600,000
-2,100,000
|
-2,100,000 |
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Hi-Lo
Sammartino completed in full and Kyte raised which Sammartino called.
Dario Sammartino: XxXx/2♠K♦3♠7♣/Xx
Jon Kyte: XxXx/qs3c2dac]/Xx
Sammartino check-called a bet from Kyte on fourth and fifth street.
On sixth street, both players checked.
Seventh street saw Sammartino bet and Kyte called and mucked after seeing Sammartino's K♣5♣5♦.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,000,000
700,000
|
700,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,700,000
-700,000
|
-700,000 |
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Omaha Hi-Lo
Dario Sammartino limped on the button and Jon Kyte checked his option.
Kyte proceeded to check-call bets from Sammartino on the A♥4♦2♥ flop, K♠ turn, and 2♦ river.
Sammartino turned over A♣7♦6♥5♠ for aces-up with a low and Kyte sent his hand into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,300,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,400,000
-2,050,000
|
-2,050,000 |
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Omaha Hi-Lo
Dario Sammartino raised on the button and Jon Kyte called.
"You never fold huh?" Sammartino asked Kyte before the flop.
The flop rolled out 6♠Q♥3♣ and Kyte check called a bet from Sammartino.
Kyte checked the turn 6♦ and Sammartino bet, which Kyte responded to by raising. Sammartino raised once more and Kyte called.
On the river 9♥, Kyte checked over to Sammartino who bet. Kyte thought for a bit before putting in the chips to call.
"A six is no good my friend," Sammartino remarked as he tabled A♦10♠3♦3♥ for threes full and the Italian took a sizable lead over Kyte.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,200,000
3,800,000
|
3,800,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
6,450,000
-3,850,000
|
-3,850,000 |
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Omaha Hi-Lo
Jon Kyte limped on the button and Dario Sammartino raised from the big blind. Kyte called.
Sammartino proceeded to check-call bets from Kyte on the 10♥9♦10♠ flop, J♠ turn, and J♥ river.
"I was trapping," Sammartino said as he put in the last called.
"I have a straight," Kyte replied as he turned over 9♠8♠7♦3♠.
Sammartino revealed he held the 10♦ and sent his hand into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,300,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
7,400,000
-1,000,000
|
-1,000,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Hi-Lo
Both players called.
Dario Sammartino: XxXx/Q♦9♣7♥10♦/Xx
Jon Kyte: XxXx/K♥2♥2♠7♣/Xx
Kyte bet on fourth street which Sammartino responded to by raising and Kyte called.
Fifth street saw action check through to sixth street which saw Kyte bet and Sammartino call.
On seventh street Kyte checked.
"I like check," Sammartino said as he checked behind. Kyte motioned to the board and Sammartino turned over J♥J♠4♦ for a pair of jacks and he took back a pot from Kyte.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,300,000
-1,500,000
|
-1,500,000 |
|
|
8,400,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
|
|
||
Level 31
Limit Flop: 125,000/250,000 Blinds, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Games: 50,000 Ante, 75,000 Bring In, 250,000 Completion, 250,000-500,000 Limits
Stud Hi-Lo
Jon Kyte: Q♣5♠2♠/A♣3♠4♣10♦
Dario Sammartino: XxXx/K♠K♦J♦7♣/Xx
Catching up on fifth street, both players checked and then Jon Kyte called a bet from Dario Sammartino on sixth.
Sammartino check-called a bet from Kyte on seventh and Kyte announced, "Wheel," as he turned over Q♣5♠2♠ for the goods.
Sammartino mucked and Kyte was awarded the scoop.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,800,000
1,900,000
|
1,900,000 |
|
|
6,900,000
-1,900,000
|
-1,900,000 |
|
|
||