Tuesday, June 19, 2018 3:21 AM Local Time
Zhu, Ramos and Fuchs to Battle It Out for a Bracelet in $1,500 Mixed Omaha
Originally scheduled as the closing day, the third 10-level stretch in Event #35: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Big O (5-Card PLO/8) saw three players make it through. While the tournament hasn't found its champion just yet, there's one huge favourite coming into the extra Day 4: Chinese poker ambassador Yueqi Zhu.
Holding a commanding lead with 4,515,000 in chips, Zhu leads Gabriel Ramos and Carol Fuchs and has 78 percent of all chips in play. Zhu made a strong push on the final table, winning several sizeable pots to establish himself as the overwhelming chipleader.
Zhu seems to be ready to finally close the long saga of narrow misses. The Chinese has been trying to claim a bracelet for two decades. This is the seventh time he's made it to the podium, with his record showing two silver and four bronze medals. Zhu's longevity has been tremendous as he made his first WSOP final table already back in 2006 when he finished second in a $3,000 Limit Hold'em event ($184,409).
Final Table Chip Counts & Results
Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds | Big Bets |
4 | Carol Fuchs | United States | 310,000 | 6 | 2 |
7 | Yueqi Zhu | China | 4,515,000 | 90 | 23 |
8 | Gabriel Ramos | United States | 970,000 | 19 | 5 |
Position | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | | | $211,781 |
2 | | | $130,850 |
3 | | | $89,488 |
4 | Matthew Gregoire | United States | $62,226 |
5 | Jon Turner | United States | $44,007 |
6 | Peter Neff | United States | $31,662 |
7 | Ryan Hughes | United States | $23,182 |
8 | Nathan Gamble | United States | $17,279 |
Besides Zhu, there's Ramos, who's been flying under the radar so far. Ramos is a first-timer when it comes to World Series of Poker final tables but he has a vast experience from the WSOP Circuit. He guarded a big stack for the better part of the day but Zhu's amazing run in the last two levels saw Ramos relegated to a short stack.
Ramos will continue with only five big bets (970,000) but he's still a favourite over Fuchs who bagged a micro stack of 1.5 big bets (310,000). However, Fuchs already has the major feather in her cap. She won her first gold wristwear back in 2015 when she topped the $1,500 Dealer's Choice event. At that final table, she prevailed among spectacular competition including Robert Mizrachi, Chris Klodnicki and Yuval Bronshtein.
Fuchs will need a quick double or two to catch some air, but anything can happen in this game. Ryan Hughes has experienced it from the other way around. He seemed to have a stellar day in the office, steam-rolling the field to find himself with one-third of all chips in play when the final eight players merged to the last table.
But a drastic change of events followed and Hughes started losing big pots. He hit the skids and couldn't bounce back. Hughes left the tournament in seventh place, a devastating fashion considering his experience and excellent position. That allowed players like Jon Turner to patiently nurse their short stacks and ladder several places on the leaderboard.
Turner squeezed the most of it as he was on a nub for the whole final stage, despite pacing the field during the early levels of Day 3. "Pearljammer" managed to hang around for a few hours and eventually made it to a fifth place, losing his remaining bits to Ramos. Again, Turner misses out on a bracelet, making him one of the longest notable bracelet-hunting players in the world.
It will still be a great story, one way or another. There's an ever-missing veteran, a wild-card from the WSOP Circuit waters and a decorated female champ who will try to make one of the most remarkable comebacks in WSOP history.
With that on the line, it will surely be worth coming back tomorrow (June 19) at 2 p.m. for the live coverage of the three-handed finale. Tune back to PokerNews then to follow the encounter as we crown the champion of the $1,500 Mixed Omaha event.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:29 AM Local Time
End of Day 3 Chip Counts
The 10th level of the day expired and the three remaining players bagged their chips. They will have to go an extra mile to try snatch the bracelet, coming back Tuesday, June 19 at 2 pm. for an unscheduled Day 4 to close it out.
Yueqi Zhu | 4,515,000 | 15,000 |
Gabriel Ramos | 970,000 | 470,000 |
Carol Fuchs | 310,000 | 20,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:18 AM Local Time
Fuchs Under Two Big Bets
Big-O
Yueqi Zhu made it 100,000 and Carol Fuchs called in the big blind.
Fuchs announced a pot-sized bet when the flop arrived and Zhu asked for a better view of her remaining stack. She had 290,000 left and Zhu just called.
Fuchs checked the turn and Zhu slid in enough chips to cover her stack. Fuchs paused for a moment but the verbalized that she was folding and threw her cards into the muck.
Yueqi Zhu | 4,500,000 | 400,000 |
Carol Fuchs | 290,000 | -510,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:09 AM Local Time
Fuchs Doubles Up
Omaha-8
Carol Fuchs was very short but just managed to double up through Gabriel Ramos.
Fuchs raised and Ramos called. On the flop Ramos took the lead by betting and Fuchs was the on to call this time. On the turn the last chips of Fuchs went in the middle and Ramos called.
Gabriel Ramos:
Carol Fuchs:
The river card was the and Fuchs managed to catch a double up with a Broadway straight.
Carol Fuchs | 800,000 | 375,000 |
Gabriel Ramos | 500,000 | -700,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 2:06 AM Local Time
One for Fuchs, One for Ramos
Omaha-8
Carol Fuchs raised and Gabriel Ramos called out of the big blind. He called another bet on the flop and then they both checked the turn and river. Fuchs rolled over for top set aces and a six-low and Ramos mucked.
He fired back on the next hand, raising in the small blind and this time Fuchs defended. Ramos continued on the flop and Fuchs raised. Ramos called to see the appear on the turn. The round was checked and the landed on the river. Ramos led out and Fuchs folded, leaving herself with fewer than three big bets
Gabriel Ramos | 1,200,000 | 300,000 |
Carol Fuchs | 425,000 | -325,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:55 AM Local Time
Zhu Takes Another One Down
PLO-8
Gabriel Ramos raised to 120,000 and Yueqi Zhu called. The flop was and both players checked. They also checked on the turn.
The river was the and Zhu bet 135,000. When he got called he showed for the nut flush.
Yueqi Zhu | 4,100,000 | 975,000 |
Gabriel Ramos | 900,000 | -610,000 |
Carol Fuchs | 750,000 | -375,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:53 AM Local Time
Zhu Pulling Further Ahead
PLO-8
Yueqi Zhu has been trying to win a bracelet for two decades. He's had quite a few narrow misses but now he's trying to finally close it out here in the Mixed Omaha event.
Zhu is using his big chip lead in three-handed play to scooping small pots and increasing the gap. He showed it in two consecutive PLO8 hands against Gabriel Ramos.
The first one saw him fire 185,000 on the turn and Ramos let it go after a little bit of contemplating.
Then Zhu raised to 120,000 in the small blind and Ramos defended. However, Zhu blasted a big 200,000-bet on the flop and Ramos released his hand again.
Yueqi Zhu | 3,400,000 | 275,000 |
Gabriel Ramos | 1,105,000 | -405,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:36 AM Local Time
Zhu Calls the One-Two-Three
Big-O
Carol Fuchs made it 110,000 in the small blind and Yueqi Zhu defended.
Fuch barreled all streets of the board, making it systematic: she fired 100,000 on the flop, then 200,000 on the turn and finished with a 300,000-barrel on the river.
Zhu called all the bets and Fuchs announced two pair, revealing . Zhu, however, flopped even better with and raked in the pot with the bottom set.
Yueqi Zhu | 3,125,000 | 1,390,000 |
Carol Fuchs | 1,125,000 | -1,175,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:33 AM Local Time
Matthew Gregoire Eliminated in 4th Place ($62,226)
Omaha-8
Gabriel Ramos raised and Matthew Gregoire called. They both saw the appear on the flop.
Ramos bet out and Gregoire called. The turn was the and Ramos bet enough to put Gregoire all-in and he called.
Gabriel Ramos:
Matthew Gregoire:
Gregoire was trailing the set of kings of Ramos but held straight, flush and low draws to either scoop or walk away with half. The river was the , bricking everything for Gregoire, and he was eliminated in 4th place.
Gabriel Ramos | 1,510,000 | 205,000 |
Matthew Gregoire | 0 | -450,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:25 AM Local Time
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 20000/40000
Ante: 0
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:24 AM Local Time
Jon Turner Eliminated in 5th Place ($44,007)
Omaha-8
Gabriel Ramos limped in and Carol Fuchs completed. Jon Turner gave the dealer a green light and they went three-way to the flop.
Turner led out on the texture and Ramos raised. Fuchs seemed to be interested in seeing the turn for one bet but she didn't like Ramos' raise and folded her hand. Turner and Ramos got the rest of the chips into the middle, prompting a showdown.
Jon Turner:
Gabriel Ramos:
Turner was trailing but he had a solid chance to get ahead of Ramos with a bottom pair and a flush draw. The gave him a second flush draw, increasing his outs.
However, the wasn't one of them. Turner managed to ladder several places, having played a short stack for practically a full stretch of the final table play. He was finally stopped in fifth place, taking home $44,007.
Gabriel Ramos | 1,305,000 | 75,000 |
Jon Turner | 0 | -250,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:17 AM Local Time
Gregoire Doubles Through Turner
Jon Turner and Matthew Gregoire got their chips in the middle without any community cards on the board.
Jon Turner:
Matthew Gregoire:
The board ran out and Gregoire doubled to leave Turner behind as the short stack.
Matthew Gregoire | 450,000 | 160,000 |
Jon Turner | 250,000 | -120,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:07 AM Local Time
Gregoire Hangs in There
PLO-8
Action folded to small blind Matthew Gregoire who had only 145,000 total. He potted for 90,000 and Carol Fuchs called in the big blind.
The flop fell and Gregoire place in his remaining 55,000. Fuchs called.
Matthew Gregoire:
Carol Fuchs:
Gregoire was ahead with an overpair and a flush draw while Fuch hit just a pair of tens.
The turn didn't hurt Gregoire and the river confirmed his double.
Carol Fuchs | 2,300,000 | -300,000 |
Matthew Gregoire | 290,000 | -210,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 1:01 AM Local Time
Peter Neff Eliminated in 6th Place ($31,662)
Big-O
Carol Fuchs just sucked out on the river to eliminate Peter Neff.
Neff opened with a raise to 80,000 and Fuchs called the bet to see the flop. Fuchs check-called a 100,00 bet on the flop to see the turn and that's where all the chips went in.
Fuchs checked, Neff bet 250,000 and Fuchs put Neff all-in for about 200,000 more. Neff called and the cards went on their backs.
Carol Fuchs:
Peter Neff:
Neff had Broadway and Fuchs needed a ten or a jack for the win, or an ace for the chop. Someone on the rail shouted "Jack!" right as the dealer put down the river card.
Carol Fuchs | 2,600,000 | 930,000 |
Peter Neff | 0 | -880,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:53 AM Local Time
Neff Doubles Through Zhu
Big-O
Peter Neff was in the cutoff, facing off against big blind Yueqi Zhu. They put all the chips in preflop and the contest was on:
Yueqi Zhu:
Peter Neff:
"I really want low cards!" Yueqi Zhu said when he saw his opponent's hand. The whole table laughed but the dealer wasn't willing to oblige.
He pulled out the board of and Neff made trip tens while Zhu completely bricked.
Neff counted his stack at 425,000 and Zhu shipped him the double.
Yueqi Zhu | 1,735,000 | 505,000 |
Peter Neff | 880,000 | 340,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:50 AM Local Time
Full Double Up For Turner
Yueqi Zhu raised and Turner was the only player to call. The flop was and Turner put in his final chips. Zhu made the call.
Jon Turner:
Yueqi Zhu:
The board ran out and to guarantee Turner his double up. He's still the short stack of the table.
Yueqi Zhu | 1,230,000 | -170,000 |
Jon Turner | 370,000 | 185,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:43 AM Local Time
Fuchs Gives Up on the River
Omaha-8
Gabriel Ramos raised the button and Carol Fuchs defended big blind. She led on the flop but Ramos made it two bets.
Fuchs called and they both checked the turn.
The river was the and Fuchs checked one more time. Ramos bet and Fuchs threw her cards away.
Carol Fuchs | 1,670,000 | -130,000 |
Gabriel Ramos | 1,230,000 | -165,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:40 AM Local Time
Fuchs and Zhu Chop Neff's Money
Yueqi Zhu raised and Carol Fuchs and Peter Neff called the raise. The flop was and Neff checked to Zhu.
Zhu bet again and both Fuchs and Neff called. On the turn Neff checked again to Zhu who put in 60,000, but the bet had to be 120,000. Fuchs and Neff both called that amount to reveal the river.
Neff and Zhu checked to Fuchs who put in a bet and both players called.
Fuchs opened up for a wheel and Zhu showed for a wheel of his own. After Neff mucked his cards they both won half of his chips in the pot.
Carol Fuchs | 1,800,000 | 200,000 |
Yueqi Zhu | 1,400,000 | 220,000 |
Peter Neff | 540,000 | -400,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:32 AM Local Time
Fuchs Is Able to Find Small Value with Kings Full
PLO-8
Peter Neff raised to 80,000 under the gun and Carol Fuchs (big blind) was the only caller.
The flop fell and Neff checked back.
Fuchs checked the turn again and Neff fired a delayed continuation bet, tossing in 100,000. Fuchs called.
The completed the board and Fuchs opted to lead for 100,000. Neff appeared visibly unhappy, but he couldn't find a fold and made the call.
"Kings full," Fuchs declared, opening . Neff mucked and Fuchs' railbirds including David "ODB" Baker applauded.
Carol Fuchs | 1,600,000 | 375,000 |
Peter Neff | 940,000 | -260,000 |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:20 AM Local Time
Level 29 started
Level: 29
Blinds: 15000/30000
Ante: 0