WSOPC Event #8: No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack

David Baba grabs first ring after taking home the $400 Monster Stack

David Baba just emerged victorious in the $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack event at the Bally's Casino World Series of Poker Circuit. 

“This was my first live poker win, it feels awesome. I have come close to winning before, I got second in a Circuit event in Montreal. I finished second in a High Roller, I was really close, and I was really disappointed, so I’m really happy now,” said the happy winner.

The two-day event drew a large field of 394 entrants, but only 63 survived to see Day 2. Baba bagged an average stack of 150,000 but started accumulating early in the second day of poker action. The field dwindled down until Baba eventually found himself heads-up against WSOP Circuit winner, Stuart Moody.

Baba is born in Toronto, Canada, but spends a lot of time in Las Vegas playing poker full-time. After his second-place finish ($89,361) in the WSOP International Circuit in Montreal, the Canadian decided to dedicate some time to improve his heads-up play, to avoid another disappointing runner-up heartbreak. 

“I have been studying heads-up quite a bit lately because I don’t want to finish second again. So I thought to myself that ‘I better improve that part of my game’,” the winner explained. 

The dedication seemed to pay off, as Baba was able to beat Moody after less than thirty minutes of heads-up action to earn his first ring. After the win, the Toronto native wanted to give credit to his supportive family back home.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me, especially my parents. They have been very supportive with my chosen path, and that has helped me a lot,” said the latest WSOP Circuit champion.

Baba maneuvered a field of 394 entrants to earn $26,701 and his first WSOP Circuit gold ring. He also earns a seat in the Tournament of Champions, held in Las Vegas in the summer of 2022.

There are now 10 players left and they have combined to a unofficial final table. The 10 remaining players are competing for the top prize of $26,701, a gold ring and a seat in the Tournament of Champions. Ring winner Stuart Moody (2,300,000) is sitting on staggering chip lead, and Idan Magal is in second with his stack of 1,840,000.

Seat - Player - Chips

1 - Stuart Moody - 2,300,000
2 - William Bradbury - 820,000
3 - Michael Bailey - 1,030,000
4 - Idan Magal - 1,840,000
5 - David Baba - 1,680,000
6 - Yosuke Nakazawa - 565,000
7 - Andrew Rodgers - 1,360,000
8 - Rahul Lal - 450,000
9 - Steve Loftis - 1,200,000
10 - Bennie Urso - 505,000