Saturday, June 23, 2018 7:39 PM Local Time
Shaun Deeb Gets Revenge on Ben Yu to Win $25K PLO High Roller for $1,402,683
The final six players from a 230-entry field (181 unique entries plus 49 reentries) in the 2018 World Series of Poker Event #42: $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed High Roller returned to the ESPN main stage on Saturday to play down to a winner.
The final table included heavyweights like defending champ James Calderaro, Poker Hall of Famer Scotty Nguyen, and the red-hot Jason Koon. However, none of those players made it to the final two. Instead, it was a rematch of the 2017 WSOP Event #34: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship — when Ben Yu beat Shaun Deeb heads up to win his second bracelet.
The duo collided once again, each looking to join the ranks of Sammy Farha, David "Chip" Reese, and David Sklansky as three-time bracelet winners. The fourth edition of the tournament, which for the first time allowed for a single reentry, ended with Deeb getting his revenge.
"I made a joke to him at the unofficial final table," Deeb revealed. "I said we both missed the $10K 2-7, the event we got heads up in last year. I go, 'We might be able to do it again, another game I'm a favorite on you heads up.' Ben's a great poker player but I have so much experience playing mixed games longer."
The $1,402,683 blew away Deeb's previous best cash (not counting the $1 million he won in a One Drop satellite) of $318,857 for winning the 2015 WSOP Event #15: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship. His other bracelet came at the 2016 WSOP when he took down Event #49: $1,500 Seven Card Stud for $111,101.
"I had a great start to the day, got the chip lead," Deeb said after the win. "No one really ever put me in a bad spot. I was able to control the pot sizes the way I wanted to almost every hand. That really helps, to not get in an inflated pot with a marginal hand. Everyone played their best game, I just ran the best."
He added: "I think I have a great shot at Player of the Year right now so I think I'm gonna battle, hop in every event I can and just enjoy myself."
Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in USD) |
1 | Shaun Deeb | United States | $1,402,683 |
2 | Ben Yu | United States | $866,924 |
3 | Scotty Nguyen | United States | $592,875 |
4 | James Calderaro | United States | $414,134 |
5 | Jason Koon | United States | $295,606 |
6 | Ryan Tosoc | United States | $215,718 |
7 | David Benyamine | France | $161,020 |
8 | Bogdan Capitan | Romania | $123,004 |
It took just four hands for the first player to fall. It happened when the short-stacked Ryan Tosoc raised pot preflop and just called Yu's three-bet to 900K. Tosoc then jammed his last 325,000 after flopping middle pair with a flush draw and Yu looked him up with top pair of aces. Neither the turn nor river helped Tosoc and he hit the rail in sixth place for $215,718.
On Hand #31 of the final table, Deeb raised and then called a three-bet from Koon. The latter shoved the nine-high flop with queens and Deeb snap-called him with top two pair, nines and sevens. Koon picked up a straight draw on the turn but failed to get there on the river. Koon took home $295,606 for his fifth-place finish.
Calderaro was looking to go back-to-back in arguably one of the toughest tournaments of the year, but his quest came up three spots shy thanks to a nasty river card. It happened when both he and Deeb got it in with top two on the flop. The odds favored a chop, but running cards wound up giving Deeb a backdoor six-high straight to win the pot. Calderaro's $414,134 for finishing fourth brought his two-year total up to $1,703,208 in prize money.
Three-handed play lasted for a while before Yu double through Nguyen, which left the Poker Hall of Famer short. The 1998 WSOP Main Event champ soon got it in with two kings and a ten-nine and was up against Yu's queens with an ace-three. An ace hit the flop and Nguyen was eliminated in third place for $592,875, the fourth-largest score of his illustrious career.
Yu and Deeb both held the chip lead during the short heads-up match. Before long, Deeb got his opponent on the ropes before delivering the final blow. It happened on a five-four-deuce two-heart flop when Yu called all in holding a jack-six-six-five with two hearts against Deeb, who held aces with a gutshot to a seven. The black deuce and eight on the turn and river respectively sent Yu to the rail as runner-up for a career-high $866,924.
History of the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed High Roller
Year | Players | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
2015 | 175 | $4,156,250 | Anthony Zinno | $1,122,196 |
2016 | 184 | $4,370,000 | Jens Kyllönen | $1,127,035 |
2017 | 205 | $4,868,750 | James Calderaro | $1,289,074 |
2018 | 230 | $5,462,500 | Shaun Deeb | $1,402,683 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 7:15 PM Local Time
Ben Yu Eliminated in 2nd Place ($866,924)
Ben Yu raised the pot to 900,000 and Shaun Deeb three-bet the pot to 2.7 million. Yu, who had a stack of around 6.4 million, called, and the flop came . Deeb bet the pot and Yu called all in.
Ben Yu:
Shaun Deeb:
Deeb was in the lead with his pair of aces, but Yu had plenty of outs with a straight and flush draw. Fives and sixes were live, too, but the turn and river failed to improve Yu to send him to the rail in second place for $866,924. Yu narrowly missed out on his third bracelet, while Deeb completed that exact feat and took revenge for his runner-up finish to Yu in the 2017 WSOP Event #34: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
Shaun Deeb | 28,750,000 | 7,400,000 |
Ben Yu | 0 | -7,400,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 7:07 PM Local Time
Shaun Deeb Opens Up a Big Lead
Shaun Deeb raised to 600,000 on the button and Ben Yu called. The action went check-check on the flop and the dealer burned and turned the .
Yu bet 800,000 and Deeb called. When the completed the board on the river, Yu bet 1.7 million and Deeb called.
Yu showed for a pair of sixes and Deeb rolled over for two pair and the win.
Shortly after, Yu raised to 900,000 and Deeb three-bet the pot to 2.7 million, which Yu called. Deeb immediately bet the pot for 5.4 million on the flop and Yu folded.
Shaun Deeb | 21,350,000 | 5,700,000 |
Ben Yu | 7,400,000 | -5,800,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 7:00 PM Local Time
Deeb Pulls Into the Lead
Shaun Deeb raised to 600,000 and Ben Yu called to see a flop of . Yu checked and Deeb checked behind. After the turn, Yu bet 800,000 and Deeb called. The river completed the board and Yu slowed down, checking. Deeb checked behind and was shown an ace-ten, which he had beat with ace-jack high.
Two hands later, Deeb raised to 600,000 once more and Yu called. Both checked the flop and Yu check-called a bet of 550,000 on the turn. The river was checked and Deeb won the pot with for aces and deuces.
Shaun Deeb | 15,650,000 | 1,700,000 |
Ben Yu | 13,200,000 | -1,600,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 6:53 PM Local Time
Shaun Deeb with a Better Two Pair
Shaun Deeb raised to 600,000 and Ben Yu called to see a flop. Yu check-called a bet of 500,000 and then check-called one of 1.3 million on the turn.
Both players then checked the river and Yu tabled the for kings and threes. It was no good though as Deeb had a bigger two pair with his .
Ben Yu | 14,800,000 | -3,300,000 |
Shaun Deeb | 13,950,000 | 3,300,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 6:46 PM Local Time
Yu Starts Strong Into Heads-Up
A limped pot brought the flop of and Shaun Deeb bet 600,000. Ben Yu raised the pot and that ended the hand right there.
Yu raised the pot to 900,000 and Deeb called. The flop came and Deeb checked. Yu bet 1.2 million and forced a fold.
Deeb raised to 600,000 and Yu three-bet the pot to 1.8 million. Deeb called.
The flop came and both players checked. On the turn, the action went check-check once more. The on the river brought a bet of 2.5 million by Yu and Deeb folded.
Ben Yu | 18,100,000 | 2,100,000 |
Shaun Deeb | 10,650,000 | -2,100,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 6:35 PM Local Time
Scotty Nguyen Eliminated in 3rd Place ($592,875)
On the button, Ben Yu raised to 1 million and Scotty Nguyen three-bet the pot to 3.3 million with 50,000 behind. Yu set him in and Nguyen called it off.
Scotty Nguyen:
Ben Yu:
Yu's rail asked for an ace and got their wish granted with the flop. Nguyen had a gutshot and his rail now asked for an eight. The appeared on the turn and Yu's rail demanded, "Pair the board!" That didn't happen, but they were equally happy about the blank on the river.
Nguyen was eliminated in third place for a payday of $592,875 and there will now be a short break to set up the duel for the title and coveted gold bracelet. Both Yu and Shaun Deeb already have two of their own and aim to make it three with a payday of $1,402,683 up top.
Ben Yu | 16,000,000 | 3,300,000 |
Shaun Deeb | 12,750,000 | 350,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 0 | -3,100,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 6:29 PM Local Time
Ben Yu Dodges Big Draw to Double Through Scotty Nguyen
Scotty Nguyen raised to 800,000 on the button and Ben Yu called from the big blind. Yu checked the flop and Nguyen bet 800,000. Yu check-raised the pot to 4.15 million and then called off for 1.3 million more when Nguyen popped it.
Nguyen:
Yu:
Yu flopped two pair while Nguyen had both straight and flush draws. The turn gave Nguyen a few more outs, but he missed when the bricked the river.
Ben Yu | 12,700,000 | 6,900,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 3,100,000 | -7,700,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 6:12 PM Local Time
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 150000/300000
Ante: 0
Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:57 PM Local Time
Break Time
The final three players are now on a scheduled 15-minute break.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:55 PM Local Time
Deeb Pulls Some Back
Shaun Deeb limped in and Ben Yu checked in the big blind. On the flop, Deeb bet 250,000 and Yu called. On the turn, Deeb bet 550,000 and Yu called. The river was the and Deeb bet 950,000. Yu gave him a staredown for more than a minute and eventually tossed in a single chip for the call.
Deeb rolled over the for a king-high flush and won the pot.
One hand later, Deeb raised to 600,000 and Yu's three-bet to 2,040,000 forced a fold from Deeb.
Shaun Deeb | 12,400,000 | 1,200,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 10,800,000 | 200,000 |
Ben Yu | 5,800,000 | -700,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:48 PM Local Time
Scotty Nguyen Closing the Gap
Shaun Deeb raised to 600,000 from the button and Scotty Nguyen called from the big blind.
The action went check-check on the flop and then Nguyen check-called a bet of 625,000 on the turn.
When the completed the board on the river, Nguyen checked and Deeb bet 1.4 million. Nguyen called and Deeb showed for a flopped flush.
"Yeah, baby!" an excited Nguyen said as he tabled the for a better flush.
Shaun Deeb | 11,200,000 | -3,200,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 10,600,000 | 2,800,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:40 PM Local Time
Nguyen Doubles Through Deeb Part 2
Scotty Nguyen limped in from the button, Shaun Deeb filled up from the small blind, and Ben Yu checked his option. The flop was checked and the fell on the turn. Again all three players checked, which also applies to the river. Deeb showed and that won the pot.
Deeb raised to 840,000 from the button the next hand and that scooped the blinds without showdown.
Nguyen made it 520,000 to go from the small blind and Deeb reraised the pot for 1,560,000 in total from the big blind. Nguyen called and they headed to a flop of . Nguyen checked and Deeb bet the pot for 3,120,000. Nguyen had fewer than that behind and called all in.
Scotty Nguyen:
Shaun Deeb:
Nguyen had flopped the full house and doubled after the blank turn and river runout brought no sweat. Nguyen's double was for 2,365,000 and that vaulted him back to 32 big blinds, ahead of Yu. Despite this setback, Deeb still has as many chips as his two remaining opponents combined.
Shaun Deeb | 14,400,000 | -3,100,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 7,800,000 | 3,400,000 |
Ben Yu | 6,500,000 | 200,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:31 PM Local Time
Another for Shaun Deeb
Scotty Nguyen raised to 520,000 from the small blind and Shaun Deeb called. Both players checked the flop as well as the turn.
Nguyen checked for the third time on the river and then folded when Deeb bet 725,000.
Shaun Deeb | 17,500,000 | 900,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 4,400,000 | -1,500,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:21 PM Local Time
Yu Chips Up Through Nguyen
Shaun Deeb raised to 500,000 on the button and Scotty Nguyen called out of the big blind to head to a flop of . Nguyen checked and Deeb's continuation bet of 625,000 won the pot uncontested.
Nguyen limped in from the small blind and Deeb checked. On the flop, both players checked and did so again on the turn. Nguyen also checked the river, as did Sheeb. Nguyen turned over the for kings and tens, and that won the pot.
Ben Yu limped in and Nguyen raised to 640,000 in the big blind, Yu called. The flop came and both players checked to see the on the turn. Yu checked, Nguyen bet 500,000, and Yu called.
After the river, the action went check, check, and Yu showed for a queen-high straight and that won the pot for Yu.
Shaun Deeb | 16,600,000 | 300,000 |
Ben Yu | 6,300,000 | 1,200,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 5,900,000 | -2,300,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 5:16 PM Local Time
Shaun Deeb Takes from Ben Yu
Shaun Deeb raised to 720,000 from the small blind and Ben Yu defended the big to see an flop, which both players checked.
Deeb then bet 650,000 on the turn, Yu called, and the completed the board on the river.
Both players returned to checking and Deeb tabled the for a straight. It was good as Yu sent his hand to the muck.
Shaun Deeb | 16,300,000 | 1,400,000 |
Ben Yu | 5,100,000 | -1,400,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 4:58 PM Local Time
Let's Have a Break
The final three players are now on a short break. Cards should be back in the air soon.
Saturday, June 23, 2018 4:53 PM Local Time
Nguyen Chips Up Without Showdown
Shaun Deeb raised to 500,000 on the button and was called by Ben Yu in the small blind and Scotty Nguyen in the big blind. The flop came and action checked to Deeb, who bet 825,000. Yu elected to fold while Nguyen called. The fell on the turn and Nguyen bet the pot for 2,350,000.
Deeb gave lot of consideration and sent his cards into the muck.
Shaun Deeb | 15,600,000 | -1,500,000 |
Scotty Nguyen | 8,200,000 | 1,800,000 |
Ben Yu | 5,000,000 | -800,000 |
Saturday, June 23, 2018 4:47 PM Local Time
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 120000/240000
Ante: 0
Saturday, June 23, 2018 4:47 PM Local Time
James Calderaro Eliminated in 4th Place ($414,134)
On Hand #58, defending champ James Calderaro raised to 500,000 and Ben Yu called on the button. Shaun Deeb came along from the big blind and three players went to the flop, which came down .
Deeb checked, Calderaro bet 1,000,000, and Yu folded. Deeb then woke up with a pot-sized check-raise and Calderaro called off for 3.1 million total.
Deeb:
Calderaro:
Both players had flopped top two pair and it looked like things were headed for a chop. The turn meant Calderaro just needed to dodge a five to at least split the pot, and he could still win it outright with a river king.
The dealer burned and delivered the on the river. Deeb made a runner-runner straight and sent the defending champ to the rail in fourth place.
Shaun Deeb | 17,100,000 | 5,200,000 |
James Calderaro | 0 | -4,600,000 |