LIVE EVENTS

Event #22, the $100 + $20 + $100 8-Max 50/50 Bounty Re-entry, wrapped up the 2020 World Cup of Cards in exciting fashion. The prize pool guarantee of $20,000 was inflated to $25,762 by the massive turnout of 273 entries. The top 35 players would make it in the money with a grand prize of $5,632 for the winner.

The evening was fast-moving and action-packed as players hunted for $100 bounty chips. The chips flew throughout the night, as the leaders shifted after every break. Once the field reached the final table, play slowed significantly as the stakes grew.

Mykyta Kurilenko was the first to go after the final three reached an ICM deal. He finished third for $3,815. This left Philippe Belley and Guowei Hu to fight for the additional $607.

The final hand saw Hu shove with Belley called with . The dealer flopped to Belley’s delight. The turn solidified Belley’s victory with two pairs as the river was useless to both players. Hu finished second for $3,715 and Belley was awarded a total of $4,602 and crowned champion.  

Congratulations!

8-Max 50/50 Bounty Champion: Philippe Belley, $4,602

2nd place: Guowei Hu, $3,715

Final Hand:

3rd place: Mykyta Kurilenko, $3,815

The final three players, Philippe Belley, Mykyta Kurilenko, and Guowei Hu, briefly paused level 26 to discuss an ICM deal. Originally the three decided against but play was paused after two more hands and they were able to reach an agreement. The deal awards Belley with $3,995, Kurilenko with $3,815, and Hu with $3,715. The winner will be awarded an additional $607.

Shijaudin Daud Sha was eliminated in sixth place to receive $1,320, Stephen Kindraczuk went out in fifth for $1,700 and Yannick Labattaglia finished fourth for $2,140.

Play at the final table has undoubtedly slowed as players are thinking twice before making any big moves. John Helou was the first to be eliminated at the final table to finish 9th for $540. David Tazbaz went home next in 8th place for $740.

Francois Semaan went heads up against Mykyta Kurilenko, shoving with queen-ten against Kurilenko’s pocket fives. The board read to give Kurilenko two pairs and send Semaan home in 7th for $1,010.

Six players remain.

Chip leader at the third break, Natasha Tatta, was eliminated in 10th place ($400) to re-seat the remaining nine players at the final table. Competitors have just resumed play in pursuit of the $5,712 grand prize.

Here’s a look at the final seating draw:

16 players have just completed a seating redraw to reconfigure into the final two tables. Remaining competitors are guaranteed to finish with at least $300 but everyone is trying to ladder up to the final table where the payout jumps to $530.

Stephen Kindraczuk doubled his stack moments ago after eliminating Robert Dale in 17th place ($300). It seems the chips are quite evenly distributed at this point in the night, making it anyone’s game.

Here’s a list of the most recent eliminations:

• 17th – Robert Dale, $300
• 18th – Gabriel Demers, $270
• 19th  – Tanvir Ahmed, $270
• 20th – Ian Armorer, $240
• 21st – Stephen Langlois, $240

25 players have returned to the floor after the third break. Tension is building as the payouts grow with each elimination, those that remain are guaranteed a min-cash of at least $200.

Natasha Tatta is the new chip leader heading into level 18 with a stack of 740,000. Tatta’s stack is more than double the chip average of 273,000 and good for 22 big blinds. Philippe Belley and Michele Pengue are neck and neck in second and third on the leaderboard.

The top 35 players have made it to the money! All remaining competitors are guaranteed to go home with at least $140 but everyone’s got their eyes on the top prize of $5,612.

A number of players have built mountains of chips which has really put the pressure on the small stacks. They know they have to make some big moves if they want to stay alive. Play continues…

61 players have returned from the second break of the night in pursuit of reaching the money bubble. Many players have been able to double the average chip stack of 110,000 to take an impressive lead of the field. The leaderboard has been completely repopulated with the exception of Mathieu Boulanger-Vaugeois who has maintained second place.

Jacques Iza is the new leader in town with a huge stack of 345,000 which is worth about 115 big blinds. Boulanger-Vaugeois is second in command, rougly 100,000 behind Iza, with 242,000.

Here’s a look at the current leaderboard:

The field is shrinking at a relatively fast pace midway through level eleven. A number of players have acquired large piles of chips since the first break, seemingly forcing a shift of the leaderboard. Short stacks are beginning to feel some pressure from the increasing blinds as many all-in calls can be heard throughout the room.

Here’s a look at some level 11 action:

The turnout for tonight’s event was huge. There were a total of 273 entries, including 67 re-entries, before the late registration period closed at 9:15pm. Stay tuned for the announcement of the prize pool shortly.

164 players have resumed play into level seven after the first break with the average stack at 41,300. Ayana Massa is the early chip lead with a stack of 114,100, good for about 142 big blinds. Mathieu Boulanger-Vaugeois is just 500 chips behind Massa with 113,700 in second place.

Here’s a look at the full leaderboard:

8-Max 50/50 Bounty is off to a booming start with 186 entries in three levels. Event #22 has attracted a multitude of competitors all trying to get in on the action before the 2020 World Cup of Cards comes to a close. The late registration period will be open for another 75 minutes until 9:15pm, before the beginning of level seven. Don’t miss out!

Here’s a look at what’s happening on the floor: