Wednesday, June 18, 2014 3:22 PM Local Time
Steven Wolansky Wins Event #36: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball for $89,483
Two days ago, 241 players took their shot at poker glory here in Event #36: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball. Just six of those players returned to action today, competing for the $89,483 first-place prize and a 2014 WSOP gold bracelet. After 77 hands of play, five players were sent to the rail, and only Steven Wolansky was left when the dust settled.
Wolansky just missed out on a bracelet last year when he finished runner-up in the 2013 WSOP Event #8: $2,500 Eight-Game Mix. But today he was able to make up for it by winning his first piece of gold. It wasn't easy, though, despite him starting with the chip lead.
Wolansky actually got off to a bad start and was at risk on Hand #4. Fortunately, he was able to double through Samuel Touil, who fell to Joseph Cheong two hands later.
On Hand #19, Cheong sent Orjan Skommo to the rail in fifth place, and 22 hands later, Christopher Mecklin followed him out the door in fourth, courtesy of Cheong as well.
At that point, there was a short break. In the first hand back, German footballer Max Kruse fell. The 26-year-old striker and second-leading scorer for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the German Football League was expected to serve as a reserve for Germany in its attempt at a fourth World Cup title in Brazil, but he was surprisingly left off the roster last month. That afforded him the opportunity to play at the 2014 WSOP, and he made the most of it by playing his first 2-7 draw lowball event after learning the game via a 30-minute crash course from a friend, George Danzer, while watching Germany play against Portugal last week.
Kruse's demise came on Hand #42 when he moved all in from the small blind and Cheong made a quick call from the big. Kruse drew one and Cheong stood pat with . Kruse showed that he was drawing very live with , but he squeezed out his last card to see paint. It was a , which meant the German striker had to settle for third place and $36,494 in prize money.
Cheong was responsible for all four eliminations leading up to heads-up play, which he began with a slight chip lead. The match started off slowly, but eventually, he and Wolansky began to play for bigger pots. That was the turning point, and everything started going Wolansky's way from that point on. In fact, he won 11 hands in a row that culminated in the elimination of Cheong.
| Place | Players | Prize |
|---|
| 1st | Steven Wolansky | $89,483 |
| 2nd | Joseph Cheong | $55,309 |
| 3rd | Max Kruse | $36,494 |
| 4th | Christopher Mecklin | $24,908 |
| 5th | Orjan Skommo | $17,445 |
| 6th | Samuel Touil | $12,529 |
Congratulations to Steven Wolansky on winning Event #36: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball for $89,483 and his first WSOP gold bracelet.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 3:01 PM Local Time
Joseph Cheong Eliminated in 2nd Place ($55,309)
Hand #77: Joseph Cheong raised to 24,000 and then called off for 215,000 total when Steven Wolansky moved all in from the big blind.
Wolansky drew one and Cheong stood pat with . Wolansky showed that he was drawing to .
Wolansky squeezed out his card. "It's four across," he said. "Spade."
He then showed the for a winning low. Cheong fell just short of his first bracelet and will have to settle for a $55,309 consolation prize.
| Steven Wolansky | 1,087,000 | 325,000  |
| Joseph Cheong | 0 | -325,000  |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:56 PM Local Time
Hands #71-76: Everything Going Wolansky's Way
Hand #71: Joseph Cheong raised to 24,000 and then folded when Steven Wolansky three-bet to 80,000.
Hand #72: Wolansky opened for 20,000, Cheong called, and then both players drew two. Cheong checked and then folded when Wolansky bet 25,000.
Hand #73: Wolansky received a walk.
Hand #74: Wolansky raised to 20,000 and won the pot.
Hand #75: Cheong raised to 24,000 and Wolansky called. Both players drew one and checked. Cheong showed a king-low, but it was no good, as Wolansky had a jack-low.
Hand #76: Wolansky raised to 20,000 and won the pot.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:52 PM Local Time
Hands #68-70: The Chips are Starting to Move
Hand #68: Steven Wolansky raised to 20,000 and won the pot.
Hand #69: Joseph Cheong raised to 24,000 and folded when Wolansky three-bet to 80,000.
Hand #70: Wolansky raised to 20,000 and was met by a three-bet to 50,000 from Cheong. Wolansky responded by moving all in. Cheong folded.
| Steven Wolansky | 762,000 | 75,000 |
| Joseph Cheong | 325,000 | -75,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:50 PM Local Time
Hands #61-67: Cheong Slips a Bit
Hand #61: Steven Wolansky received a walk.
Hand #62: Wolansky opened for 20,000 and Joseph Cheong called. Cheong drew two, as did Wolansky. Cheong check-called a bet of 20,000. Wolansky showed a -low and Cheong mucked.
Hand #63: Cheong raised to 20,000, Wolansky called, and they drew two and one, respectively. Wolansky checked and then called when Cheong bet 20,000. Cheong showed a queen-low, but it was no good as Wolansky had made .
Hand #64: Wolansky raised to 20,000 and won the pot.
Hand #65: Cheong raised to 25,000 and won the pot.
Hand #66: Wolansky raised to 20,000 and then folded when Cheong three-be to 58,000.
Hand #67: Cheong raised to 25,000 and then called when Wolansky three-bet to 80,000. Wolansky stood pat, Cheong drew one, and both players checked. Wolansky tabled and Cheong mucked.
| Steven Wolansky | 687,000 | 150,000 |
| Joseph Cheong | 400,000 | -150,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:44 PM Local Time
Hands #58-60: The Stacks are Evening Up
Hand #58: Steven Wolansky raised to 20,000 and Joseph Cheong folded.
Hand #59: Cheong raised to 20,000 and Wolansky folded.
Hand #60: Wolansky opened for 20,000, Cheong called, and then both players drew two. Cheong led out for 30,000, and Wolansky called only to muck when his opponent tabled .
| Joseph Cheong | 550,000 | -42,000 |
| Steven Wolansky | 537,000 | 42,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:41 PM Local Time
Hands #52-57: Let's Go for a Walk
Hand #52: Steven Wolansky raised to 20,000 and Joseph Cheong called. Both players drew one, which they followed up by checking. Cheong had made a pair of fives, but it was good, as Wolansky indicated he had made a bigger pair.
Hand #53: Cheong opened for 20,000, Wolansky called, and then both players drew one, which they once again followed up by checking. Wolansky had paired sevens, and Cheong won the pot with a -low.
Hand #54: Cheong received a walk.
Hand #55: Wolansky received a walk.
Hand #56: Wolansky raised to 20,000 and won the pot.
Hand #57: Wolansky received a walk.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:38 PM Local Time
Hands #43-51: The First Hands of Heads-Up Play
Hand #43: Joseph Cheong raised to 20,000 on the button and Steven Wolansky folded.
Hand #44: Wolansky raised to 20,000 on the button, Cheong called, and then they drew two and one, respectively. Cheong led out for 15,000 and Wolansky called.
"Pair of jacks," Cheong said. Wolansky then rolled over to win the pot.
Hand #45: Cheong raised to 20,000 on the button and Wolansky folded.
Hand #46: Wolansky opened for 20,000, Cheong called, and then it was off to the draw. Cheong took one, Wolansky two, and then both players checked. Cheong showed a pair of sevens, which was no good against Wolansky's .
Hand #47: Cheong raised to 20,000 on the button, Wolansky called, and the both players drew one. Action went check-check and Cheong showed a pair of eights. It was no good as Wolansky held a king-low.
Hand #48: Cheong received a walk.
Hand #49: Wolansky received a walk.
Hand #50: Wolansky raised to 20,000, Cheong called, and both players drew one. Cheong led out for 30,000 and Wolansky called. Cheong showed a -low, but it was no good as Wolansky held .
Hand #51: Wolansky received a walk.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:33 PM Local Time
Heads-Up Chip Counts
| Joseph Cheong | 592,000 | 118,000 |
| Steven Wolansky | 495,000 | 0 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:31 PM Local Time
Max Kruse Eliminated in 3rd Place ($36,494)
Hand #42: In the first hand back from the break, Max Kruse moved all in from the small blind and Joseph Cheong made a quick call from the big. Kruse drew one and Cheong stood pat with .
Kruse showed that he was drawing very live with , but he squeezed out his last card to see paint. It was a , which meant the German striker wouldn't be capturing this championship title. Instead he has to settle for third place and $36,494 in prize money.
| Max Kruse | 0 | -118,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:24 PM Local Time
Level 19 started
Level: 19
Blinds: 4000/8000
Ante: 2000
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:15 PM Local Time
Don't Miss Multi-Table Madness on WSOP.com
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For complete information regarding WSOP.com's Multi-Table Madness promotion, please click here.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:10 PM Local Time
Chip Counts at Break
The players are on a 20-minute break.
| Steven Wolansky | 495,000 | 55,000 |
| Joseph Cheong | 474,000 | 181,000 |
| Max Kruse | 118,000 | -95,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:08 PM Local Time
Christopher Mecklin Eliminated in 4th Place ($24,908)
Hand #38: Max Kruse raised to 13,000 from the small blind, Joseph Cheong called from the big, and then both players drew one. Kruse checked, as did Cheong, and then both players showed that they had paired. Kruse's was lower though, so he won the pot.
Hand #39: Steven Wolansky received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #40: Kruse raised to 15,000 under the gun and took down the pot.
Hand #41: Cheong opened for 15,000 under the gun and was met by a three-bet to 38,000 by Christopher Mecklin in the small blind. Kruse flatted in the big, Cheong four-bet to 95,000, and Mecklin moved in for 110,000. Cheong called and Kruse got out of the way.
Mecklin drew one and Cheong stood pat. Mecklin was drawing to an and drew a , but he had been drawing dead as Cheong was dealt the a perfect . Mecklin took his leave in fourth place and walks away with $24,908.
| Christopher Mecklin | 0 | -145,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:03 PM Local Time
Hands #31-37: Moving Some Chips Around
Hand #31: Joseph Cheong raised to 15,000 from the small blind, Steven Wolansky called from the big, and then both players drew one. Cheong led out for 20,000 and Wolansky folded.
Hand #32: Max Kruse raised to 15,000 from the cutoff and then called when Christopher Mecklin three-bet to 42,000 from the big blind. Both players drew one and then checked. Mecklin tabled and Kruse mucked.
Hand #33: Steven Wolansky opened for 13,000 from the button and Kruse called from the big blind. Kruse drew one and then checked when Wolansky stood pat. Wolansky bet 22,000 and Kruse called only to muck when his opponent rolled over .
Hand #34: Christopher Mecklin raised to 15,000 on the button and took down the blinds.
Hand #35: Cheong opened for 15,000 from the small blind and then folded when Wolansky three-bet to 77,000 from the big blind.
Hand #36: Kruse raised to 14,000 from the cutoff, Mecklin defended from the big blind, and the both players drew one. It went check-check and Kruse won the pot with a low.
Hand #37: Steven Wolansky opened for 13,000 from the button and Max Kruse called from the big blind. Both players drew one and then checked. Wolansky showed and it was good.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 1:54 PM Local Time
Hands #25-30: Wolansky Takes from Cheong
Hand #25: Joseph Cheong raised to 15,000 from the cutoff and Max Kruse called. Both players drew one, and then both players checked. Kruse showed that he had made a pair of tens, which meant Cheong, who had made a pair of fours, had the better low.
Hand #26: Max Kruse raised to 15,000 from the small blind and Joseph Cheong defended from the big. Kruse stood pat and then checked after Cheong drew two. Cheong bet 30,000 and Kruse folded while showing a jack.
Hand #27: Max Kruse raised to 15,000 on the button and took down the blinds.
Hand #28: Steven Wolansky raised to 14,000 from the small blind but folded when Christopher Mecklin pushed back with a three-bet to 44,000 from the big.
Hand #29: Steven Wolansky raised to 13,000 from the button and took down the blinds.
Hand #30: Steven Wolansky opened for 13,000 from the cutoff and Joseph Cheong defended from the big blind. Both players drew one and then Cheong check-called a bet of 16,000. Wolansky tabled and Cheong mucked.
| Steven Wolansky | 440,000 | 62,000 |
| Joseph Cheong | 293,000 | -52,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 1:42 PM Local Time
Hands #20-24: Back and Forth
Hand #20: Joseph Cheong raised to 14,000 on the button and won the pot.
Hand #21: Christopher Mecklin raised to 13,000 in the small blind and took down the pot.
Hand #22: Max Kruse raised to 15,000 in the small blind and Joseph Cheong three-bet to 41,000 in the big blind. Kruse called and drew one, while Cheong stood pat.
Both checked and Kruse took the pot with .
Hand #23: Steven Wolansky received a walk.
Hand #24: Joseph Cheong raised to 14,000 on the button and Steven Wolansky called from the small blind. Each player drew one, checked and Wolansky took the pot with a -low.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 1:37 PM Local Time
Orjan Skommo Eliminated in 5th Place ($17,445)
Hand #17: Steven Wolansky raised to 13,000 from the cutoff and took down the pot.
Hand #18: Steven Wolansky opened for 13,000 under the gun and Joseph Cheong defended the big blind. Both players drew one and then checked. Wolansky tabled a jack-low and Cheong mucked.
Hand #19: Orjan Skommo moved all in from the button for his last 33,000 and Joseph Cheong called from the small blind. Steven Wolansky folded the big and then Cheong drew one while Skommo took two.
Cheong showed he was drawing to a , and he ended up drawing a . Skommo was drawing to an , and while the he drew looked good, the was not as it paired his hand. Cheong's queen-low was good and Skommo hit the rail in fifth place for $17,445.
| Joseph Cheong | 345,000 | 75,000 |
| Orjan Skommo | 0 | -109,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 1:33 PM Local Time
Hands #11-16: Six Hands for Your Reading Pleasure
Hand #11: Orjan Skommo opened for 12,000 from the hijack and then folded when Joseph Cheong three-bet to 30,000 from the cutoff.
Hand #12: Christopher Mecklin raised to 13,000 from the button, Max Kruse called from the small blind, and then Kruse stood pat. Mecklin drew one and then both players checked. Kruse tabled and it was good as Mecklin mucked.
Hand #13: Steven Wolansky raised to 12,000 and Max Kruse and Joseph Cheong called from the button and big blind, respectively. Each of the players drew one card, and then Cheong checked to Wolansky, who bet 22,000. Kruse folded, and Cheong called with . Wolansky mucked.
Hand #14: Christopher Mecklin was first to act and raised to 14,000, which won him the pot.
Hand #15: Joseph Cheong raised to 13,000 on the button and took down the blinds.
Hand #16: Steven Wolansky opened for 13,500 and Max Kruse defended from the big blind. Kruse drew one, Wolansky stood pat, and Kruse checked. Wolansky bet 14,000 and Kruse called with a . It was good as Wolansky flashed a jack-low before mucking.
| Steven Wolansky | 378,000 | -14,000 |
| Max Kruse | 213,000 | 9,000 |
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 1:22 PM Local Time
Hands #7-10: Cheong and Wolansky Battle
Hand #7: Joseph Cheong raised to 14,000 in the hijack and Steven Wolansky three-bet to 35,000 in the cutoff. Cheong called and drew one, while Wolansky drew two cards. Cheong bet 25,000 and was immediately called by Wolansky.
"You got it," said Cheong.
Wolansky showed and won the pot.
Hand #8: Joseph Cheong received a walk.
Hand #9: Steven Wolansky received a walk.
Hand #10: Joseph Cheong raised to 14,000 on the button and took down the blinds and antes.