Tuesday, June 24, 2014 2:40 PM Local Time
Jordan Morgan Wins Event #44 After Grueling Heads-Up Battle
After 32 exhausting levels of play, Jordan Morgan was the player with all the chips, the top prize of $478,102, a shiny gold WSOP bracelet, and a big smile on his face. It took an extra day to get there, going to Day 4 in this three-day event, but Morgan eventually got the job done, and he added a gold bracelet to the gold WSOP Circuit ring he picked up in 2007.
Heads-up play began on Day 3 in the early evening between Morgan and Evan McNiff. The two of them decided to call it a night nearly six hours later. When they returned on Tuesday for Day 4, it took a little over an hour to wrap it up.
The first time these two players really tangled was when there were still five players in the tournament. McNiff raised to 80,000 from the cutoff and Morgan made the call in the big blind. The flop was and McNiff bet 90,000 after Morgan checked. Morgan called and the turn was added: . Morgan checked again and McNiff made it 245,000. Morgan called. The river card was the and Morgan led out for 425,000. McNiff pushed all in and Morgan called.
McNiff:
Morgan:
Both players had made a full house, but Morgan's was better with the fives full. Morgan secured a massive double up and became the clear chip leader with more than half of the chips in play.
The heads-up battle began with Morgan still holding a substantial chip lead. He had 6,863,000 chips on his side of the table compared to 1,750,000 for his opponent, but McNiff whittled away and was eventually in command of the majority of chips in play.
At one point, Morgan was staring his elimination in the face when he got it in behind with the against McNiff's . McNiff's rail cheered for the anticipated win and it was looking good through to the turn of a board. However, everything changed when Morgan spiked an ace on the river. The dealer flipped over the and McNiff's rail erupted with groans and shouts of "you've got to be kidding!" and "so sick!"
When the two players returned for Day 4, they were very even in chips. Morgan had the small chip lead with 4,445,000 to McNiff's 4,170,000. The two swapped the thin advantage a couple of times before the money went in. McNiff raised to 320,000 from the button and Morgan pushed all in. It was a sequence we had seen many times before in this tournament, but this time McNiff made the call to put his tournament life on the line. The two players flipped over their cards and revealed what is well-known in the poker world as a "classic race."
McNiff:
Morgan:
Either way this hand went, it was going to be a game changer. Either McNiff was going to be eliminated or Morgan was going to be left short. The board ran out and McNiff saw his bracelet hopes slip away. Morgan's sixes held to give him the victory, and McNiff was eliminated in second place for a prize of $295,727.
Thank you for following along with PokerNews and stay tuned for all the action throughout the rest of the 45th annual World Series of Poker. Congratulations once again to Jordan Morgan, the WSOP's latest bracelet winner.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 2:16 PM Local Time
Evan McNiff Eliminated in 2nd Place ($295,727)
Hand #331: Evan McNiff raised to 320,000 from the button and Jordan Morgan pushed all in. It was a sequence we had seen many times before in this tournament, but this time McNiff made the call to put his tournament life on the line. The two players flipped over their cards and revealed what is well-known in the poker world as a "classic race."
McNiff:
Morgan:
Either way this hand went, it was going to be a game changer. Either McNiff was going to be eliminated or Morgan was going to be left short.
The board ran out and McNiff saw his bracelet hopes slip away. Morgan's sixes held to give him the victory, and McNiff was eliminated in second place for a prize of $295,727.
| Jordan Morgan | 8,615,000 | 3,155,000  |
| Evan McNiff | 0 | -3,140,000  |
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 2:07 PM Local Time
Hands #326-330: A Couple of Walks For McNiff
Hand #326: Evan McNiff was given a walk.
Hand #327: McNiff opened to 320,000 and Jordan Morgan tossed his cards away.
Hand #328: McNiff got another walk.
Hand #329: McNiff opened to 320,000 and Morgan made the call. The fell on the flop and Morgan check-folded to McNiff's bet of 320,000.
Hand #330: Morgan opened to 320,000 and McNiff didn't like his hand.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:59 PM Local Time
Hands #321-325: Preflop Pots
Hand #321: Evan McNiff opened for 320,000 and Jordan Morgan moved all in to take it down.
Hand #322: Morgan gave up his hand on the button to give McNiff a walk.
Hand #323: McNiff made it 320,000 to play and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #324: Morgan raised to 320,000 and scooped up the pot.
Hand #325: McNiff bumped it up to 320,000 and won the hand.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:56 PM Local Time
Hands #316-320: McNiff's Turn to Three-Bet
Hand #316: Jordan Morgan opened to 320,000 and Evan McNiff folded.
Hand #317: McNiff opened to 320,000 and Jordan Morgan opted for a better spot..
Hand #318: Morgan opened to 320,000 and McNiff let it go.
Hand #319: Morgan got a walk.
Hand #320: Morgan opened to 320,000, McNiff three-bet shoved, and Morgan folded.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:51 PM Local Time
Hands #311-315: A Walk in the Park
Hand #311: Evan McNiff allowed Jordan Morgan a walk when he folded his button.
Hand #312: Morgan raised to 320,000, McNiff quickly pushed all in, and Morgan folded even quicker.
Hand #313: Morgan was given another walk.
Hand #314: McNiff was the one to receive a walk this time.
Hand #315: McNiff opened for 320,000 and won the hand.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:51 PM Local Time
Hands #306-310: Check-Shove
Hand #306: Jordan Morgan opened to 320,000 and Evan McNiff folded.
Hand #307: McNiff opened to 320,000 and Jordan Morgan folded.
Hand #308: Morgan opened to 320,000 and McNiff let it go.
Hand #309: McNiff opened to 320,000 and Morgan made the call. The flop was dealt and Morgan check-shoved a bet of 320,000 from McNiff, and McNiff folded.
Hand #310: McNiff got a walk.
| Jordan Morgan | 5,520,000 | 620,000 |
| Evan McNiff | 3,080,000 | -620,000 |
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:43 PM Local Time
Hands #301-305: All In and Fold
Hand #301: Evan McNiff opened for 320,000 and Jordan Morgan made the call to go to a flop of . Morgan checked to McNiff who bet out 320,000 and won the hand.
Hand #302: Morgan raised to 320,000 and McNiff announced "all in." Morgan considered it for a moment before folding his hand.
Hand #303: Morgan was given a walk.
Hand #304: Morgan bumped it up to 320,000 and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #305: McNiff raised to 320,000 and Morgan quickly pushed all in. McNiff gave up his hand.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:38 PM Local Time
Hands #296-300: 300th Hand!
Hand #296: Evan McNiff got a walk.
Hand #297: McNiff opened to 320,000 and Jordan Morgan folded.
Hand #298: Morgan opened to 320,000, McNiff three-bet to 645,000, Morgan four-bet to 1.2 million, and McNiff folded.
Hand #299: Morgan got a walk
Hand #300: Morgan opened to 320,000 and won the pot.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:31 PM Local Time
Don't Miss Today's Mini Fest Event at WSOP.com!
Over the next two weeks, WSOP.com is giving players in Nevada the chance to turn small tournament buy-ins into large cash prizes with the Mini Fest tournament series. With 16 events offering $40,000 in guaranteed prize money, you don't want to miss a second of the action when the cards go in the air at 5:30 p.m. each day from June 22 though July 7.
Today's tournament is Event #3: $11 Pot-Limit Omaha - Rebuy & Add On with a $1,000 guarantee. The tournament kicks off in a few hours, so don't miss out!
Here's a full look at the WSOP.com Mini Fest schedule:
| Event | Date | Time | Tournament | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|
| 1 | June 22 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Rebuy & Add On | $16.50 | $2,500 |
| 2 | June 23 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Rebuy & Add On | $11 | $1,500 |
| 3 | June 24 | 5:30 p.m. | Pot-Limit Omaha - Rebuy & Add On | $11 | $1,000 |
| 4 | June 25 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Freezeout | $22 | $1,200 |
| 5 | June 26 | 5:30 p.m. | Omaha 8 or Better - Re-Entry | $33 | $750 |
| 6 | June 27 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Rebuy & Add On | $5.50 | $1,500 |
| 7 | June 28 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Freezeout | $55 | $5,000 |
| 8 | June 29 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Freezeout | $109 | $7,500 |
| 9 | June 30 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Rebuy & Add On | $5.50 | $1,500 |
| 10 | July 1 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Freezeout | $22 | $1,200 |
| 11 | July 2 | 5:30 p.m. | Pot-Limit Omaha - Rebuy & Add On | $5.50 | $600 |
| 12 | July 3 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Knockout | $7.70 + $7 | $750 |
| 13 | July 4 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Six Max - Rebuy & Add On | $11 | $2,000 |
| 14 | July 5 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Rebuy & Add On | $55 | $4,500 |
| 15 | July 6 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Rebuy & Add On | $27.50 | $5,500 |
| 16 | July 7 | 5:30 p.m. | No-Limit Hold 'Em - Six Max - Re-Entry | $33 | $3,000 |
For complete information regarding WSOP.com's Mini Fest series, please click here.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:31 PM Local Time
Hands #291-295: Proceeding Cautiously
Hand #291: Evan McNiff opened to 320,000 to win the blinds and antes.
Hand #292: Jordan Morgan raised to 320,000 and won the hand.
Hand #293: McNiff didn't like his cards; he gave Morgan a walk.
Hand #294: Morgan bumped it up to 320,000 and won the pot.
Hand #295: McNiff raised to 320,000 and Morgan came along with a call. The flop came down and Morgan checked. McNiff bet out 320,000 to win the chips in the middle.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:28 PM Local Time
Hands #286-290: Morgan Pulling Away
Hand #286: Jordan Morgan opened to 240,000 and Evan McNiff tossed his cards into the muck.
Hand #287: McNiff opened to 240,000 and Morgan called. The flop came all spades — — and both players checked to the on the turn. Morgan led out for 175,000 and McNiff folded.
Hand #288: McNiff got a walk.
Hand #289: McNiff opened to 320,000, Morgan three-bet shoved all in, and McNiff folded.
Hand #290: Morgan opened to 320,000 and won the pot.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:24 PM Local Time
Level 32 started
Level: 32
Blinds: 80000/160000
Ante: 20000
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:22 PM Local Time
Hands #281-285: Two to the Turn
Hand #281: Evan McNiff raised to 240,000 and Jordan Morgan made the call. The flop came and Morgan checked. McNiff bet out 260,000 and Morgan called. The turn card was the and Morgan checked. McNiff fired out a bet again, this time for 515,000. Morgan took a minute to think before deciding to fold his hand.
Hand #282: Morgan raised to 240,000 from his button. McNiff three-bet and Morgan folded before the dealer had even counted the bet.
Hand #283: McNiff bumped it up to 240,000 and won the blinds and antes.
Hand #284: Morgan gave up his hand on the button and gave McNiff a walk.
Hand #285: McNiff made it 240,000 to play and Morgan matched it. The flop came and Morgan checked. McNiff bet out 240,000. Morgan raised it to 600,000 and McNiff came along with a call. The turn card was the and Morgan led out for 525,000, but McNiff wasn't interested. Morgan won the pot.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:14 PM Local Time
Hands #276-280: Feeling Out Process
Hand #276: Jordan Morgan opened to 240,000 and won the pot.
Hand #277: Evan McNiff opened to 240,000 and Morgan made the call. The two saw a flop of and Morgan check-folded to a bet from McNiff.
Hand #278: Jordan Morgan opened to 240,000 and McNiff called. The dealer fanned a flop and both players checked to the on the turn. McNiff led out with a bet of 250,000 and Morgan folded.
Hand #279: McNiff opened to 240,000, Morgan three-bet, and McNiff folded.
Hand #280: Morgan opened to 240,000 and won the pot.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 1:07 PM Local Time
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 60000/120000
Ante: 15000
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 11:40 AM Local Time
Back for a Bracelet
Jordan Morgan and Evan McNiff will be back for Day 4, an extra day for this event, to finish their long heads-up battle.
Day 3 started with 15 players and was down to the official final table of nine within a few hours. Then it took just 78 hands before seven players were eliminated and these two contestants remained. Nearly six hours later, they had played just under 200 hands against each other and were no closer to determining the champion. They decided to bag up their chips and come back for one last day.
When play resumes at 1 p.m., the stacks will be very even. Morgan has an ever-so-slight chip lead, and we've seen the chip advantage swap places a few times already in this grueling clash, so it is absolutely anyone's game at this point.
| Player | Chips |
|---|
| Jordan Morgan | 4,445,000 |
| Evan McNiff | 4,170,000 |
In due time, one of these players will win the top-prize money of $478,102 and will be awarded with a gold WSOP bracelet. Stay tuned to this live reporting blog here on PokerNews to see who it will be.