Event #51: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship

You might say Bryce Yockey called his shot.

After zeroing in on Event #51: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, the very first $10K PLO8 tournament in the history of the WSOP, Yockey told friends and fellow poker players he was going to win it. He booked as many side bets as he could, gearing up for a game he once grinded a ton but has barely played in recent years.

There were some hairy moments, but Yockey did it , conquering a field of 207 for his first bracelet and a $511,147 payday.

"I just f****** came through," an elated Yockey said. "It feels really good. It's different than winning a $1,500 tournament. There's a lot of tough pros to get through. It felt good to get here."

Though Yockey lacked some experience in PLO8 after largely ignoring the game the past couple of years, he hasn't lacked in results. The Californian's previous four final table runs at the WSOP included two in PLO8. He got fifth in $1,500 PLO8 in 2015 for $50,171 and third in $5K PLO8 in 2011 for $180,180.

Yockey had also gotten off to a hot start at this year's WSOP, with a final table run in the Millionaire Maker, cashing fifth for $317,544. He also said he's been on a heater in cash games, a welcome change from what he described as a bad downswing before the summer.

"I just came in brimming with confidence," he said. "I feel like half of poker is your mindset anyways."

Yockey wound up needing to get through a bigger field than expected, though. The event's inaugural running can't be termed anything other than a massive success after drawing double the runners of some of the other $10K championship events.

A friend even bested Yockey on a prop bet regarding the number of entries. Yockey set the line at 140, while his friend placed the bar far higher at 200. With the $10K PLO Championship also drawing a record number, it's clear the appetite for four-card poker is as high as it's ever been.

"Every pro I talked to is like, 'Wow this was an amazing success,'" Yockey said. "I think everyone who played it had a good time. I know two guys who flew in just to play this tournament."

Event #51 Final Table Results

The final day of the event saw 15 players return, but after some early eliminations reduced the field to an official final table of eight, an hours-long stalemate ensued. As the blinds climbed ever higher, each player seemed content to wait and pick his or her spots, with hardly any pots even being all in and chopped.

After the close call in the Millionaire Maker, when Yockey was among the chip leaders with tables left, he stayed focused and was determined to see this one to the end.

"I really thought I was gonna win that one," Yockey said. "I felt like that was another one that kind of slipped away."

Two-time bracelet winner Josh Arieh was the player dominating and driving much of the final table action that did take place. Perhaps the most harrowing moment of the final table for Yockey came five-handed, when he was in fifth place and found himself all in, at risk and way behind against Arieh.

The two got it in blind-versus-blind with Arieh holding double-suited aces and Yockey a suited ace with ace-deuce. The flop brought two queens and a seven, along with a four-flush for Arieh, so things looked very grim for Yockey. He stood up, turned his cards face-down, and told everyone "good tournament."

Running lows brought a backdoor chop for Yockey.

"It's funny because I'm not really a superstitious person," he said. "But I feel like if you're not superstitious, it's a freeroll to pretend like you are.

"I get that terrible flop. In my mind, I'm like I know I'm not dead, but I feel almost dead. I feel like I see so many people that stand up out of their chair and get exactly what they need."

Influenced by the air from the beating of a butterfly's wings in Yockey's stomach or not, the right cards came for him. He grinned, sat down and got back to work. He maneuvered past his final four opponents, including poker pariah Chris Ferguson, finishing the job for a bracelet at long last after all of the close calls over the years.

To see how much it meant to Yockey, all one had to do was observe him in any number of the key pots he played. He shouted curses after a couple of tough beats and seemed to be on a true emotional roller coaster through the ups and downs of the final table.

All of the scars that built up from the close shaves made it all the sweeter this time.

"The times I think I'm going to win one, but I don't, it's like I slowroll myself," he said. "It hurts [to lose a key pot] because every pot is one step closer.

"I think it hurts more to get a final table and then bust than it does to bust early or min-cash. You feel so close, and if winning means something to you, nothing hurts more than getting close and not getting there."

Jeremy Joseph and Bryce Yockey saw an     flop for the minimum. Joseph check-called 125,000 and both checked the   turn. On the   river, Joseph potted for 490,000. Yockey tanked a bit and called but mucked upon being shown     .

Bryce Yockey	7,230,000	-665,000
Jeremy Joseph	3,130,000	665,000

Jeremy Joseph limped the button and Bryce Yockey checked as the dealer spread a     flop.

Yockey led out for 150,000 and Joseph called as the   landed on the turn.

Yockey bet 375,000, and again Joseph called before both players checked the   on the river.

Yockey tabled his      for a full house and Joseph mucked his hand.

Bryce Yockey	7,110,000	465,000
Jeremy Joseph	3,250,000	-465,000

Following a short break, Bryce Yockey and Jeremy Joseph have now begun their heads-up battle.

There is 28 minutes and 52 seconds remaining in this level, and players will have the option to play one more level once this and the next one are complete in an effort to finish the tournament.

Bryce Yockey	6,645,000	1,545,000
Jeremy Joseph	3,715,000	655,000

Josh Arieh raised his button to 300,000 and Bryce Yockey called in the big blind as both players checked the     flop.

The turn landed the   and Yockey led for 400,000 with Arieh calling as the   completed the board on the river.

Yockey bet 1,000,000 and Arieh went deep into the tank for nearly three minutes before releasing his hand.

Bryce Yockey	5,100,000	750,000
Jeremy Joseph	3,060,000	490,000
Josh Arieh	2,195,000	-755,000

Bryce Yockey raised his button to 250,000 and both Josh Arieh and Jeremy Joseph called in the blinds.

The flop landed     and Arieh checked to Joseph who bet out pot of 750,000. Yockey called, and Arieh folded as the   landed on the turn and Joseph pushed in his final 160,000 with Yockey calling.

Yockey:     
Joseph:     

With Joseph turning the wheel, the river landed the  , and he doubled to 2.6 million while Yockey dropped to 2.4 million in chips.

Jeremy Joseph	2,570,000	1,530,000
Bryce Yockey	2,355,000	-1,195,000

Quentin Krueger raised in middle position to 420,000, and Bryce Yockey called in the big blind. Yockey checked the     flop and snap-called when Krueger jammed.

"How bout them nines, baby?!" Yockey exclaimed, showing     .

Krueger had outs with     . The   turn and   river missed him, though.

"So f****** sick," Krueger said. "What a f****** joke. Good luck, guys."

Bryce Yockey	3,550,000	1,270,000
Quentin Krueger	0	-1,230,000

Players are on break for 15 minutes. Here are their exact chip counts:

Josh Arieh	4,325,000	225,000
Bryce Yockey	2,280,000	-410,000
Chris Ferguson	1,480,000	-120,000
Quentin Krueger	1,230,000	-1,220,000
Jeremy Joseph	1,040,000	-160,000

Bryce Yockey limped the small blind, and Josh Arieh made it 300,000. Yockey potted, Arieh repotted, and they got it in with Yockey at risk.

Yockey:     
Arieh:     

The dealer spread a flop of    .

"F*** my life," Yockey said. "Nice tournament."

He flipped his cards over, but the turn was a   and the river an   to give him the nut low and a chop.

"Let's turn them back over," he said.

"Is that hand dead?" Arieh joked.

"No!" someone from the rail shouted.

"All right, we got a ruling," Arieh said.

Josh Arieh	4,100,000	-100,000
Bryce Yockey	1,200,000	340,000