Monday, November 20, 2023 2:47 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 8 hours ago)
The Grand Victoria Main Event had a speedy final day as the final five played down to a winner in less than 3 hours. And the player coming out on top is one of the most familiar names in tournament poker these days.
Stephen Song won his fourth circuit ring and the $183,508 grand prize after an impressive wire to wire performance. His win felt almost inevitable as he was the third largest stack heading into Day 2 and remained one of the largest for the entire back half of the tournament and was never truly threatened at the final table as he swept to the victory on the final day.
Even though Song plays tons of tournaments and many big buy-in events, this win was still special for him."Finally!" he declared in celebration following the final hand and after he explained what he meant.
"It's actually been on my bucket list for a while actually to win specifically a circuit main event. I have played a lot of these and gotten close a few times but never won one of these before." and indeed his resume shows a few circuit main event final tables but never a win in one before today.
Song's overall poker resume is beyond impressive for his age as he already has $5.5 million in career earnings and this $183,508 score makes for the 7th largest of his career.
His recent results show scores from all over, from Vietnam to Spain to England to Australia and now back in the USA right here in the Chicago area.
"For a while I only grinded in the US. Poker's such a cool game as a profession, I may as well take advantage and travel around the world, find spots here and there but mainly treat it like a vacation."
This tournament was kind of a pit stop for him between Vegas, where he lives now, and back home to the east coast for Thanksgiving.
"I figured I might as well play this event on the way back east. Guess it was a good decision" he added with a smile.
A good decision indeed for Song as he will now head get himself ready for a busy December which will include him playing both the WSOP Bahamas and the Wynn Series.
Check out Song's winner's interview on
Poker Instant!
Monday, November 20, 2023 2:33 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 8 hours ago)
Lee Rzentkowski limped from the small blind and Stephen Song checked.
The flop came . Rzentkowski bet 325,000 and Song called.
The turn was the to wet the board more. Rzentkowski fired again for 1,150,000 and Song came along again with the call.
The river came the . Rzentkowski bet 1,500,000. Song waited for a few moments before jamming all in. Rzentkowski put his hand in his head and sighed but ended up calling pretty quickly after about 15 seconds.
Song tabled the straight with the . Rzentkowski stood up and flung his in frustration as his flopped two pair had been undone and he was eliminated as runner up as Song was the champion.
Lee Rzentkowski - Eliminated
Stephen Song - 26,080,000
Stay tuned for a full recap!
Monday, November 20, 2023 2:00 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 9 hours ago)
Stephen Song has surged to a decent lead after the last three hands before the break.
Stephen Song - 18,050,000
Lee Rzentkowski - 8,030,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 1:59 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 9 hours ago)
On the flop of . Lee Rzentkowski bet 250,000 from the small blind and Stephen Song raised to 650,000 which was called.
The turn was the . Rzentkowski led out for 700,000 and Song called.
The river came the . Song bet 1,000,000 which got a call. Song tabled the for the wheel to win the pot as Rzentkowski flashed a .
Stephen Song - 17,200,000
Lee Rzentkowski - 9,100,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 1:47 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 9 hours ago)
The two players have been trading small pots back and forth to remain close in chips.
The most recent one, Lee Rzentkowski raised to 325,000 from the small blind, Stephen Song three-bet to 1,100,000 and Rzentkowski called.
The flop came . Song continued for 700,000 and got a fold.
Stephen Song - 13,200,000
Lee Rzentkowski - 12,800,000
0Monday, November 20, 2023 1:36 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 9 hours ago)
Lee Rzentkowski raised to 225,000, Stephen Song three-bet to 1,100,000 and Rzentkowski called.
The flop came . Song bet 500,000 and Rzentkowski called. The turn and river came and which both players checked.
Song tabled the while Rzentkowski had the to take the pot as he has taken the lead after a few early pots.
Lee Rzentkowski - 13,100,000
Stephen Song - 12,750,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 1:22 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 9 hours ago)
Stephen Song holds a 58/42% chip lead heading into heads up play.
Stephen Song - 15,180,000. (101 bb)
Lee Rzentkowski - 10,900,000. (72 bb)
Monday, November 20, 2023 1:16 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 9 hours ago)
Tom Koral moved all in for about 2,800,000 from the button. Lee Rzentkowski woke up with and called.
Koral was drawing thin with the . But the flop gave him some hope as it came . The turn was the . The river was the and Koral was gone in third place.
Tom Koral - Eliminated
Stephen Song - 14,750,000
Lee Rzentkowski - 10,400,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 1:07 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
Tom Koral raised to 300,000 from the button. Stephen Song called in the small blind. Lee Rzentkowski three-bet to 750,000 from the big blind. Koral called after a lengthy tank. Song thought for about 20 seconds before he released his cards.
The flop came . Rzentkowski led for 1,200,000 after thinking for a while. Koral laid it down.
"I want you to tell me that one when the tournament is over. File that away" said Koral after he folded.
Lee Rzentkowski - 8,300,000
Tom Koral - 3,700,000
Stephen Song - 14,400,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 1:00 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
Level: 29
Blinds: 100,000/150,000
Ante: 150,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 1:00 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
Action went check-check on a flop of between Tom Koral and Lee Rzentkowski.
The turn was the . Rzentkowski bet 250,000 and was raised to 600,000 by Koral. Rzentkowski folded.
Lee Rzentkowski - 8,100,000
Tom Koral - 4,100,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:53 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
The flop showed . Tom Koral bet 150,000 from the small blind, Stephen Song called in the big blind.
The turn was the . Song bet 425,000 and Koral called. The river came the . It went check-check.
Koral tabled the for top pair which was good as Song mucked.
Tom Koral - 3,500,000
Stephen Song - 17,500,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:45 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
The flop came . Tom Koral bet 180,000 form the button. Lee Rzentkowski raised to 420,000 form the big blind and Koral quickly folded.
Tom Koral - 2,300,000
Lee Rzentkowski - 7,500,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:27 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
Tom Koral was down to just 1,300,000 and moved all in and was called by Stephen Song.
Koral:
Song:
Koral was behind and had his clubs covered. But the flop came to pair him up and send him into the lead.
The turn was the and the river the to give him the double.
Tom Koral - 2,750,000
Stephen Song - 15,000,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:18 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
In a blind on blind situation, Tom Koral ended up all in with the against the of Stephen Song.
The board ran out as Koral dodged the outs to double.
Tom Koral - 6,000,000
Stephen Song - 13,500,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:16 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 10 hours ago)
Timothy Mulroy moved all in preflop and was snap-called by Lee Rzentkowski.
It was the same situation as Mulroy ran into the of Rzentkowski while he had the .
Mulroy called for a five as the flop came . The turn came the and the river was the for back-to-back eliminations.
Timothy Mulroy - Eliminated
Lee Rzentkowski - 10,300,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:11 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 11 hours ago)
Stephen Song raised from the cutoff, Svetlozar Momtchilov jammed from the big blind and Song snap-called.
Momtchilov:
Song:
The board ran out to end the run for Momtchilov.
Svetlozar Momtchilov - Eliminated
Stephen Song - 12,200,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:02 PM Local Time (about 15 days and 11 hours ago)
Level: 28
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 120,000
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:55 AM Local Time (about 15 days and 22 hours ago)
Stephen Song
The Main Event has just five players remaining who are looking to add the $183,508 grand prize and the ring. Play begins at 12 noon and coverage will be brought to you by PokerOrg through Poker Instant. Let's take a look at the five players who are left standing.
Lee Rzentkowski - 9,440,000.
Hometown: Madison, WI
Circuit Rings: 2
Circuit Cashes: 29
Career WSOP earnings: $160,446
Career overall earnings: $407,527
Largest Score: $145,006 (in 2022)
Stephen Song - 9,040,000
Hometown: Greenwich, CT
Circuit Rings: 3
Circuit Cashes: 48
Career WSOP earnings: $2,001,258
Career overall earnings: $5,536,258
Largest Score: $712,650 (in 2022)
Tom Koral - 2,980,000
Hometown: Skokie, IL
Circuit Rings: 0
Circuit Cashes: 5
Career WSOP earnings: $1,727,419
Career overall earnings: $2,680,112
Largest Score: $530,164 (in 2019)
Timothy Mulroy - 2,650,000
Hometown: Westland, MI
Circuit Rings: 0
Circuit Cashes: 13
Career WSOP earnings: $20,380
Career overall earnings: $286,042
Largest Score: $141,855 (in 2022)
Svetlozar Momtchilov - 2,505,000
Hometown: Palatine, IL
Circuit Rings: 0
Circuit Cashes: 3
Career WSOP earnings: $5,667
Career overall earnings: $5,667
Largest Score: $4,081