Monday, March 20, 2017 7:33 PM Local Time
Event #9
No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Buy-in: $1,500 (+$175)
Total Entries: 341
Prizepool: $511,500
For the second time at a Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit, Abraham Korotki walks away as Main Event Champion.
Atlantic City, New Jersey (March 20, 2017) – A repeat, Main Event Champion has been crowned at the Harrah’s Atlantic City Circuit stop. Abraham Korotki seized his second World Series of Poker gold ring on Monday. He fought through 341 entrants and three days of tournament poker to win Event #9: $1,675 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event.
“This was a good tournament. It was fun and a lot of nice people in it, so I enjoyed it,” said Korotki.
The accomplishment marked Korotki’s second Main Event triumph at Harrah’s Atlantic City, an astounding feat to say the least. His first conquest was completed in 2006 when things were a bit different than they are now, a detail Korotki touched on when asked to compare the two cases.
“Well, the first one was a decade ago. I would say over the decade… Players have gotten better,” Korotki noted. “And it is very difficult to win a tournament, let alone multiple tournaments.”
Korotki’s debut, gold-ring win was worth $433,008, a massive payday stemming from the fact the buy-in was $9,700 back then. Even with the large difference in entry-fees, his most recent cash prize came out to a handsome sum of $117,645.
Although Korotki was among the top-five stacks going into the second day of the tournament, it was no easy road to the finish. The Delaware resident found himself at risk against Thomas Ippolito, midway through Day 2. After surviving the hand, Korotki went on a rampage, scoring multiple knockouts, eventually bagging up with the chip lead.
“And then today [Day 3], I lost a huge hand. I misread the opponent,” said Korotki. “But I was fortunate to flop a couple straights.”
Nine players, the official final table, were present to start Day 3 of the Main Event. Korotki made a misstep early, but turned it around later on with some luck going his way.
“As I say, there’s no one that has ever won a tournament that didn’t have some luck with them,” Korotki stated.
When it got down to three players, it was Korotki, Alex Rocha, and Edward Duncan facing off. To everyone’s amazement the three players realized that they were all placed at the same table during Day 1A. The odds of them being the final three were, some would say, astronomical.
In the end, it was two-time gold ring recipient, Alex Rocha, and Korotki heads up for first place. Korotki made quick work of his opponent and claimed the title.
There was a supporter for Korotki, watching from the rail throughout the Main Event. It was his lovely wife, an immeasurable counterpart, and charm, that has been by his side for many years.
“The second she came in yesterday, I won some big hands. She was with me a decade ago. We walked these halls. We used to circle all around, during our breaks, and just talk,” Korotki reminisced. “So, yes, she brought me the luck.”
Here is a look at the final table results:
1st: Abraham Korotki - $117,645
2nd: Alex Rocha - $72,730
3rd: Edward Duncan - $53,085
4th: Henry Edmondson - $39,355
5th: Nenad Cvetkovic - $29,647
6th: Brian Paneth - $22,675
7th: Jeremy Stein - $17,596
8th: Shannon Shorr - $13,851
9th: Jules Cornelius - $11,059
Complete results can be found here.
Monday, March 20, 2017 3:55 PM Local Time
Main Event Winner Abraham Korotki
Abraham Koroki and Alex Rocha started their heads-up match dead even in chips. Those chips flowed mostly in Koroki's direction, and Koroki closed it out within one level of play. For the win, Koroki earns $117,645, an entry into the Global Casino Championship, and his second Circuit gold ring.
Alex Rocha, who missed out on his third gold ring, earns a payday of $72,730 for his 2nd place finish in the Main Event.
Congratulations to both!
A full winner story and recap of the event will be posted later tonight.
2nd Place Finisher Alex Rocha
Monday, March 20, 2017 3:01 PM Local Time
Edward Duncan Eliminated
Abraham Korotki folds on the button. Alex Rocha calls in the small blind. Edward Duncan makes it 220,000 to see a flop and Rocha calls.
The flop comes . Rocha checks it to Duncan, who proceeds to move all in for about 700,000. Rocha calls without any hesitation.
Duncan flips over . Rocha tables for top pair.
The turn is the and the river gives Rocha a full boat with the . Duncan's Main Event comes to a close and Rocha chips up to become virtually even with his heads-up opponent, Abraham Korotki.
Alex Rocha - 3,400,000 (85 bb)
Edward Duncan - Eliminated in 3rd place ($53,058)
Along with the cash, Duncan also banks 45 points. This brings his total to 75 points, putting him in the outright lead in the Casino Champion race.
Monday, March 20, 2017 2:32 PM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 5,000
Monday, March 20, 2017 2:25 PM Local Time
Henry Edmondson Eliminated
Abraham Korotki raises to 70,000 on the button, Henry Edmondson three-bets to 220,000 in the big blind, and Korotki calls.
On the flop, Edmondson bets 130,000 and Korotki calls.
The turn is the . Edmondson announces he is all in and the amount is around 1,000,000. Korotki snap-calls to put him at risk and they show down.
Edmondson:
Korotki:
Korotki is ahead with his turned Broadway straight, and the river changes nothing. Edmondson is eliminated in 4th place, taking home $39,355 for his finish today.
Abraham Korotki - 3,685,000 (122 bb)
Henry Edmondson - Eliminated in 4th place ($39,355)
Monday, March 20, 2017 2:10 PM Local Time
Nenad Cvetkovic Eliminated
Nenad Cvetkovic moves all in from under the gun. Abraham Korotki folds from the cutoff. Next up is Alex Rocha who asks for a count. The dealer lays out the chips, showing 265,000 total. Rocha calls. The blinds fold and the final two players turn over their hands.
Cvetkovic has . Rocha flips up .
The board runs out . No one connects and Rocha's ace wins him the pot, sending Cvetkovic to the rail.
Alex Rocha - 1,770,000 (59 bb)
Nenad Cvetkovic - Eliminated in 5th place ($29,647)
Monday, March 20, 2017 1:48 PM Local Time
Brian Paneth Eliminated
Abraham Korotki opens to 65,000 on the button and Brian Paneth raises to 150,000 in the big blind.
Korotki calls and they see a flop of . Paneth bets 200,000 and Korotki goes all in, with Paneth covered. Paneth quickly calls and they show down.
Paneth:
Korotki:
Paneth has top two pair, but he's behind the flopped Broadway straight of Korotki. The turn and the river can't help Paneth and he is eliminated from the tournament. Paneth earns $22,675 for his performance in the Main Event.
Abraham Korotki - 2,200,000 (73 bb)
Brian Paneth - Eliminated in 6th place ($22,675)
Monday, March 20, 2017 1:30 PM Local Time
Level: 26
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 5,000
Monday, March 20, 2017 1:23 PM Local Time
The remaining six players are on a short break. Here are the current counts:
Alex Rocha - 1,810,000 (60 bb)
Abraham Korotki - 1,290,000 (43 bb)
Henry Edmondson - 1,240,000 (41 bb)
Edward Duncan - 1,055,000 (35 bb)
Brian Paneth - 885,000 (29 bb)
Nenad Cvetkovic - 390,000 (13 bb)
Monday, March 20, 2017 1:16 PM Local Time
Edward Duncan raises to 50,000 in the hijack. Directly to his left is Jeremy Stein, in the cutoff, who three-bet shoves for his remaining 360,000. Duncan thinks it over, and eventually calls.
Stein flips over , Duncan tables . It is a flip going into the flop. The first three cards come and they read . Duncan pairs his jack and takes the lead.
The turn is the . Stein is drawing to two outs. The lands on the river, giving Duncan trips for some overkill. Stein ends his Main Event run.
Edward Duncan - 1,150,000 (47 bb)
Jeremy Stein - Eliminated in 7th place ($17,596)
Monday, March 20, 2017 12:59 PM Local Time
Alex Rocha opens to 50,000 under the gun and Abraham Korotki calls in the big blind.
The flop is . Korotki checks, Rocha bets 60,000, and Korotki calls.
On the turn, Korotki checks again, and Rocha puts together a bet of 135,000. Korotki check-raises to 300,000, and Rocha thinks for a little while and calls.
The river is the and Korotki quickly moves all in, putting Rocha to a decision for his tournament life.
Rocha says he was going to call any amount, but has to think about an all in, and goes into the tank. He starts talking about how the first hand after a dealer change would sometimes be a setup hand with a stacked deck in underground games, and this happens to be the first hand with a new dealer.
He tells Korotki, "I don't think I'm folding... If it's a cooler I think I just have to accept my fate."
Korotki gives nothing away, and Rocha eventually pushes a stack forward to call.
Korotki shows for a pair of aces, and Rocha shows for top two pair, and Korotki has to match Rocha's remaining stack of 745,000.
"Sorry for the nit roll," Rocha tells Korotki after the hand.
Alex Rocha - 2,050,000 (85 bb)
Abraham Korotki - 1,100,000 (45 bb)
Monday, March 20, 2017 12:47 PM Local Time
Shannon Shorr Eliminated
Shannon Shorr goes all in for 404,000 in middle position and Alex Rocha re-shoves from the next position. The remaining players fold and Shorr is at risk.
Shorr:
Rocha:
The flop comes , giving Shorr a set. The changes nothing, but the gives Rocha a set of kings to eliminate Shorr. He receives $13,851 for his 8th place finish in the Main Event.
Alex Rocha - 1,155,000 (48 bb)
Shannon Shorr - Eliminated in 8th place ($13,851)
Monday, March 20, 2017 12:38 PM Local Time
Level: 25
Blinds: 12,000/24,000
Ante: 4,000
Monday, March 20, 2017 12:34 PM Local Time
Edward Duncan, with a newly improved stack, raises to 40,000 from middle position. Jules Cornelius slides her two remaining stacks to the middle, signifying and all-in bet for 233,000. It is back to Duncan, who calls.
The turned up cards reveal a cooler. Cornelius' is edged out by Duncan's
The flop comes , giving Duncan a royal flush draw. Another queen, the lands on the turn, opening up the chance for a chop if a jack or ace comes on the river. However, the river card is the and Cornelius is sent home in 9th place.
Edward Duncan - 780,000 (39 bb)
Jules Cornelius - Eliminated in 9th place ($11,059)
Monday, March 20, 2017 12:27 PM Local Time
Brian Paneth opens to 50,000 from middle position. Edward Duncan, in the hijack, moves all in for his last 205,000. Action folds back to Paneth who eventually calls the shove. The two players show down.
Duncan:
Paneth:
The board runs out and Duncan scoops the double.
Edward Duncan - 463,000 (23 bb)
Brian Paneth - 520,000 (26 bb)
Monday, March 20, 2017 12:13 PM Local Time
The final table of the Main Event has begun. Nine remain.
Monday, March 20, 2017 12:12 PM Local Time
Level: 24
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 3,000