Monday, March 25, 2019 4:14 PM Local Time
Mazen Abdallah is a retired attorney who now spends his time working in business investing. He just won the $3,250 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller at the Hard Rock Tulsa WSOP Circuit stop to take home $31,500 and his first WSOP gold circuit ring in his first-ever tournament.
"I've always wanted to play a WSOP tournament, I just never had the time," Abdallah said.
He figured the smaller field would be more suitable to his playstyle, but he's also looking forward.
"It's always been a goal to play the WSOP Main Event and I'm going to to that this year," he said, "I got the ring now, maybe I can go get the bracelet."
Abdallah beat a field of 21 players over the past two days. He eventually busted Cody Stos in second after Stos doubled a few times during heads up play. Finally, Abdallah's pocket fours held up and he finished the tournament on top and claimed the win.
Play started with eight players returning from Day 1 and three other players who bought in today. With only three players making the money, the likes of Jason Gooch, Kevin Eyster, and Michael Wang fell and Will Berry bubbled -- finishing fourth after losing an all in to Abdallah.
Abdallah had a little extra incentive he says, thanks to a prop bet with a friend. He didn't want to talk too much about the bet, but he did reveal that he won the bet.
Monday, March 25, 2019 3:34 PM Local Time
Level: 19
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 10,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 3:34 PM Local Time
Cody Stos just lost a hand to go down to 84,000 chips and moves all in. Mazen Abdallah calls with . Stos has .
The board ran out and Stos doubles up.
Cody Stos - 170,000
Mazen Abdallah - 770,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 3:21 PM Local Time
The flop reads and Cody Stos checks. Mazen Abdallah bets 20,000 and Stos raises to 60,000.
Abdallah takes a few minutes to debate and then folds top pair face up.
Cody Stos - 230,000
Mazen Abdallah - 610,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 3:10 PM Local Time
Donnie Phan shoves the button for 62,000 and Cody Stos calls from the small blind.
Stos has against the of Phan.
The board runs out and Phan was eliminated in third place.
Cody Stos - 238,000
Donnie Phan - Eliminated
Mazen Abdallah - 602,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 2:53 PM Local Time
Will Berry moves all in for 29,500 and Donnie Phan calls from the big blind with . Berry has .
The board runs out and Berry doubles up.
Then Berry gets all on on the flop with on the flop and Mazen Abdallah has .
The turn is the and the river is the and Berry is eliminated in fourth place. The remaining three players are in the money.
Mazen Abdallah - 476,000
Cody Stos - 271,000
Donnie Phan - 93,000
Will Berry - Eliminated
Monday, March 25, 2019 2:44 PM Local Time
Level: 18
Blinds: 4,000/8,000
Ante: 8,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 2:40 PM Local Time
Donnie Phan and Will Berry get all in preflop when Phan shoves over a raise by Berry and Berry snap calls with . Phan has .
The board runs out and Phan doubles up.
Donnie Phan - 180,000
Will Berry - 85,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 2:33 PM Local Time
Mazen Abdallah opens the button to 16,000 and Will Berry defends from the big blind.
The flop is and both players check.
The turn is the and Berry checks. Abdallah bets 10,000 and Berry raises to 26,000. Abdallah takes a moment then folds.
Will Berry - 185,000
Mazen Abdallah - 358,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 2:18 PM Local Time
Megan Moore goes all in under the gun for 50,000 and Donnie Phan reraises all in for 95,000. Cody Stos takes about a minute before eventually folding.
Moore has against the of Phan.
The board runs out , giving Phan a full house and bring Moore close to a flush, but she is eliminated in fifth place.
Donnie Phan - 160,000
Megan Moore - Eliminated
Monday, March 25, 2019 2:06 PM Local Time
Level: 17
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 2:02 PM Local Time
Will Berry opens to 10,000 under the gun and Mario Mosbock calls in position. Mazen Abdallah takes a moment before calling from the button.
The three players see the flop and Berry checks. Mosbock bets 12,000 and Abdallah moves all in immediately. Berry folds and after about five seconds, Mosbock calls revealing .
Abdallah has and starts shouting, "HOLD! HOLD!" mimicking a player from yesterday's Seniors Event who was heard at various points throughout the day yesterday yelling the same thing.
The turn was the and the river was the , giving Abdallah the pot and eliminating Mosbock.
Mazen Abdallah - 320,000
Mario Mosbock - Eliminated
Monday, March 25, 2019 1:41 PM Local Time
Cody Stos raises enough to put Michael Wang all in from the small blind and Wang calls from the big blind with . Stos holds .
The flop ends any drama when Stos flops a straight. Wang heads to the rail as the board completes and gives Wang irrelevant runner-runner trips.
Cody Stos - 154,000
Michael Wang - Eliminated
Monday, March 25, 2019 1:25 PM Local Time
Level: 16
Blinds: 2,500/5,000
Ante: 5,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 1:09 PM Local Time
The players are on a 15-minute break.
Monday, March 25, 2019 1:08 PM Local Time
Shortly after doubling up Ryan Phan, Mike Horchoff was eliminated.
Then Ryan Phan moves all in for 32,200 and Cody Stos calls. Stos has against the of Phan.
The board runs out and Stos wins the hand, eliminating Phan.
Cody Stos - 104,000
Ryan Phan - Eliminated
Mike Horchoff - Eliminated
Monday, March 25, 2019 1:00 PM Local Time
Ryan Phan moves all in for 13,200 with and Mike Horchoff calls from the big blind with .
The board runs out , giving Phan the best hand and earning him the double up.
Ryan Phan - 30,000
Mike Horchoff - 51,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 12:53 PM Local Time
The flop reads and the action checks to Mazen Abdallah makes it 11,000 on the button.
Will Berry raises to 29,000 and Cody Stos three-bets to 77,000. Abdallah folds and Berry thinks for a moment before reraising all in for only about 20,000 more. Stos calls.
He shows and is against the of Berry.
The turn is the , giving Berry a flush and the river is meaningless as Berry doubles through Stos.
Will Berry - 240,000
Cody Stos - 101,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 12:34 PM Local Time
Michael Wang bets 17,000 on the flop. Cody Stos calls.
The turn is the and Wang shoves all in, putting Stos's last 58,000 at risk, should he call. Stos quickly calls and tables for a straight. Wang has .
The river is the and Stos earns the double up.
Cody Stos - 191,000
Michael Wang - 37,000
Monday, March 25, 2019 12:25 PM Local Time
Level: 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000