Sunday, June 3, 2018 7:48 PM Local Time
Julien Martini Wins Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better ($239,771)
The 2018 World Series of Poker has crowned the fourth gold bracelet winner of the summer festival in Sin City, as Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better played down to a winner. Initially Scheduled as a three-day event, the field size of 911 could not be whittled down to a champion just yet.
An extra day was added with Julien Martini and Kate Hoang as the two big stacks. Mack Lee as well as William Kopp also returned, but on thin ice. It came as no surprise that Martini and Hoang ended up fighting for the title and first-place bracelet with the better ending coming for the Frenchman. Martini earned $239,771 for his efforts, the 18th WSOP bracelet for his home country, and the 13th French bracelet in Las Vegas, while Hoang had to settle for a payday of $148,150.
Hoang already had six WSOP cashes to her name for a total of $252,466, all involving Omaha hi/lo events, with a runner-up finish in the 2016 WSOP Event #64: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better and an eighth-place finish in the 2017 WSOP Event #51: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship as her best result. She works as a dental office manager and put up a fierce fight; the heads-up battle lasted almost three and a half hours in total.
Asked about the heads-up duel with Hoang, Martini had the following to say: "Just being patient and taking my time on every decision, and otherwise tried to take my time on every decision. I was very short once, but always believed in it."
It was the first bracelet for Martini, who had dreamed of this since he took on poker. "It was a dream when I was 14 years old. What kind of guy can win a $1,500 tournament or a $10,000? I was dreaming about this for seven years, and it is one of the best things in my life. I am very proud and super happy."
With the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship already underway on Day 1, Martini confirmed that he will be entering the competition to take another shot at glory. Whether or not he will face Hoang there once more remains to be seen, and the Frenchman noticed a particular playing style of Hoang. "I played with her a lot on Day 2 and Day 3. She is playing great, actually. She is very unconventional, I am not used to play this kind of player. She is very tough and very hard to play, and a great opponent."
Of the final 16 players, 15 were from the United States and the sole non-American emerged victorious. "Maybe it is because of the game. Hi-lo is played mostly in the U.S., and I live in Asia, born in Europe, and I don't know anyone who plays limit." Martini was railed by Taiwan's James Chen, who was eliminated in 23rd place for $6,764 midway through Day 3 and ended up as part of the group winner shot.
Julien Martini
About the Event
The event drew a total of 911 entries and Martini followed into the footsteps of Benny Glaser and Benjamin Zamani. Glaser defeated a 934-entry field back in 2016 before also claiming his third bracelet a few days later in the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship. Zamani won his second WSOP bracelet in 2017 after defeating a field of 905 entries.
The money bubble of the 2018 edition burst mid-way through to Day 2 and among those to bust before bagging and tagging were the likes of Ryan Laplante (133rd place, $2,252), Chris Tryba (123rd place, $2,317), Robert Mizrachi (90th place, $2,595), John Racener (86th place, $2,595), John Monnette (67th place, $3,127), Benny Glaser (63rd place, $3,526), Perry Friedman (54th place, $4,046), Shaun Deeb (44th place, $4,723), and Peter Eichhardt (39th place, $4,723).
Only 36 players remained for Day 3 and four former bracelet winners were in contention. Mike Leah (30th place, $5,605), Jason Lester (28th place, $5,605), Mike Wattel (21st place, $6,764), and Chris Bjorin (17th place, $8,296) all fell short in their bid for another coveted gold bracelet. Jeff Shulman (12th place, $13,091) narrowly missed out on the final table, and the final level of the night saw the departure of Chad Eveslage (6th place, $39,182) and Brandon Ageloff (5th place, $53,482).
Action of the Final Day
Julien Martini and Kate Hoang were the big stacks when action resumed while William Kopp and Mack Lee were fighting for the pay jump with just over two big bets each. It was Kopp that missed out on extra money. Lee chopped with Hoang for his tournament life and the very next hand brought the next all-in showdown only a few minutes into the day. Kopp three-bet preflop and jammed a jack-ten high flop with ace-queen-queen-ten for an overpair and gutshot straight draw. Hoang called with king-seven-four-deuce for bottom pair, backdoor low, and flush draw. Hoang turned two pair and the river was a blank to reduce the field to the last three.
What followed was a persistent fight by Lee, who tripled once and doubled twice before losing half of his stack again. Ultimately, Lee got it in after a queen-jack high flop with kings and a straight draw. Martini looked him up with top set and improved to a full house on the turn, then dodged the two-outer on the river to set up the duel for the bracelet.
After a slow start to the battle one-versus-one, the stacks and swings became bigger and both Martini and Hoang had a commanding lead within half an hour. Martini scooped two big pots in back-to-back hands to pull into a five-to-one lead. However, four pots in a row for Hoang nearly evened out the stacks once more.
It would take almost three and a half hours to finally crown a champion and Hoang lost a big pot before bet-folding a double-paired board with one third of a big bet remaining. One double-up and one split pot later, Hoang ended up all in and at risk in the third consecutive hand and couldn't escape from her fate anymore.
Kate Hoang Finishes 2nd in Event #4
That wraps up the PokerNews live coverage from the fourth bracelet event of the summer, while the cards and chips are flying in several other tournaments at this very moment.
Sunday, June 3, 2018 7:05 PM Local Time
Kate Hoang Eliminated in 2nd Place ($148,150)
Left with crumbs after the earlier fold, Kate Hoang was all in for the third time in a row, this time for 300,000 on the button.
Kate Hoang:
Julien Martini:
The flop came down to give Martini the lead with a pair of tens. The on the turn swung the lead to Hoang, but the on the river improved Martini to the winner and ended the tournament.
Cheering, Martini walked to the French rail and high fived them one by one, before making his way over to Hoang. He shook her hand and bowed his head in respect for Hoang's tough opposition.
After winning $182,281 in the $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better two years ago, Hoang added another six-figure score to her poker resumé and said her goodbyes in second place.
With his victory, Julien Martini became the 18th French bracelet winner in WSOP history. He added $239,771 to his lifetime winnings, by far the biggest score of his career. The winner's photo and an extensive recap of the tournament will follow shortly.
Kate Hoang eliminated in 2nd place ($148,150)| Julien Martini | 6,850,000 | 300,000  |
| Kate Hoang | 0 | -300,000  |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 7:00 PM Local Time
Hoang Left With Crumbs
Julien Martini limped in and Kate Hoang checked. On the flop, both players checked. On the turn, Hoang check-raised and Martini called. The fell on the river and Hoang bet with 150,000 behind. Martini raised and Hoang folded to be left with crumbs and forced all in the next hand.
Hoang survived the forced all-in and doubled to 300,000 with versus on a board of .
One hand later, she was all in and at risk with and Martini had the . The board came and Hoang had the low. Martini rivered the high with two pair.
| Julien Martini | 6,550,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 300,000 | -2,100,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:58 PM Local Time
888 Update: Which Poker Players Made the $100K Final Table?
Ten poker players returned to Day 3 of the $100K buy-in World Series of Poker tournament, but only six will return to the final table on Day 4. The 10 players to start Day 3 were Jason Koon, Elio Fox, Nick Petrangelo, Chris Moore, Fedor Holz, Adrian Mateos, Stephen Chidwick, Aymon Hata, Brynn Kenney, and Andreas Eiler. Who got seventh to tenth place? Who lost king-king to 3-3 all in preflop? Who is now guaranteed a cash that puts him at $7 million in earnings in three weeks? Watch to find out!
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:51 PM Local Time
Hoang Gets Quartered
In the first hand of the new level, Kate Hoang limped in and Julien Martini checked his option. The flop and turn were checked. On the river, Martini bet and Hoang raised, Martini made it three bets and Hoang called.
Martini showed for the full house and the wheel, and Hoang only had for a wheel to get quartered.
| Julien Martini | 4,450,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 2,400,000 | -1,500,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:46 PM Local Time
Level 35 Added
The structure on WSOP.com had 32 levels written out for this tournament, but Kate Hoang and Julien Martini have gone far beyond and now made it to level 35 without a winner. The tournament director had to manually add the next level to the system.
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:45 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 250000/500000
Ante: 0
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:43 PM Local Time
Wheel for Hoang
Kate Hoang raised and Julien Martini called. On the flop, Martini check-called and did so again on the turn and the river. Hoang turned over for the wheel and scooped her opponent.
Martini raised and Hoang called. Hoang check-called one bet on the flop, then check-folded the turn to the second barrel of Martini.
| Kate Hoang | 3,900,000 | 1,900,000 |
| Julien Martini | 2,950,000 | -1,900,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:40 PM Local Time
Still Back and Forth
One for Kate Hoang, one for Julien Martini, and two chop pots; the stacks remain even as we near the end of Level 34. In the hand Hoang won, she defended her big blind and the flop went check-check. Hoang bet the turn and Martini called, but Martini folded to a river bet on .
The Frenchman also took a non-showdown pot on the button, two hands later. After raising preflop, he bet the flop and got a call. Hoang checked the turn, Martini bet, and Hoang folded.
| Julien Martini | 4,850,000 | 50,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 2,000,000 | -50,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:32 PM Local Time
Martini Thrives With Quads
Julien Martini raised and Kate Hoang called. On the flop, Hoang checked and called a bet before the duo checked the on the turn. On the river, Hoang checked and called a bet to see Martini turn over for the ace-trey low. Hoang claimed the high pot with .
Hoang's raise was called by Martini and he check-raised the flop. Hoang called. Martini bet the turn and that won the pot right there.
Hoang scooped one smaller pot after that, before raising and picking up a call by Martini. The Frenchman check-raised the flop, was called, and a bet on the turn did the trick to scoop the pot without showdown.
Last but not least, Martini raised and was called. Hoang check-called bets by Martini on all streets of the board and Martini turned over the for quads to regain a comfortable lead.
| Julien Martini | 4,800,000 | 1,750,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 2,050,000 | -1,750,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:22 PM Local Time
Hoang Takes the Lead
With limits at 200,000/400,000, even pots that see just a single bet at a time grow large once they get to showdown. When Kate Hoang raised and Julien Martini called, she then blasted all the way on an board and Martini called it off.
Martini called and Hoang tabled her hand. She revealed — just ace-jack, but enough to win the hand as Martini mucked with a grimace.
| Kate Hoang | 3,800,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Julien Martini | 3,050,000 | -1,800,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:12 PM Local Time
One for Each
Kate Hoang raised and Julien Martini called to see a flop of , which both players checked. On the turn, Martini bet and Hoang called before the on the river brought another bet by Martini and a fold from Hoang.
Martini raised and Hoang called. The flop and turn went check-check, and Hoang's bet on the river forced a fold.
Last but not least, another popular split pot followed. Hoang raised, Martini came along and checked the flop. Hoang's bet resulted in a check-raise by Martini and Hoang called. Martini bet the turn and Hoang called. The on the river was check-called by Martini and he claimed the high pot with for two pair. Hoang had for the low.
| Julien Martini | 4,850,000 | 510,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 2,000,000 | -500,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 6:05 PM Local Time
Martini and Hoang Chop the Biggest Pot of the Tournament
A massive clash between Kate Hoang and Julien Martini ended up in true limit Omaha hi/lo fashion: on the chopping block. It was Hoang who raised and Martini who defended. The flop was and Martini checked. Hoang bet, Martini raised, Hoang made it three small bets, and Martini called.
On the turn, Martini checked, Hoang bet, Martini raised, and Hoang called. The river was the and Hoang quickly called the final bet from Martini.
Julien Martini:
Kate Hoang:
Tens full was more than enough for Martini to claim the high, while Hoang played her five-deuce to take the low.
| Julien Martini | 4,340,000 | -535,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 2,500,000 | 525,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 5:52 PM Local Time
Hoang Gets Some Back
Julien Martini raised and Kate Hoang three-bet, which Martini called. On the flop, both players checked. Hoang bet the turn and Martini came along to check down the river. Hoang showed and that won the pot.
Martini raised and Hoang called. The flop fell and Martini check-raised. Hoang called. Martini bet the turn and Hoang called. The on the river triggered a bet by Martini and a fold.
Hoang raised and Martini called. The flop and the turn were checked. Hoang bet the river and Martini check-folded.
| Julien Martini | 4,875,000 | -385,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 1,975,000 | 395,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 5:42 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 200000/400000
Ante: 0
Sunday, June 3, 2018 5:35 PM Local Time
Martini Quarters Hoang; Break
Julien Martini raised and Kate Hoang called. On the flop, Hoang checked and called a bet before both players invested one bet each on the turn. The fell on the river and Hoang bet. Martini raised and Hoang called.
Martini tabled for a flush and a five-four low. Hoang had for the same low and received just one quarter of the pot. Right after the hand was finished, the players headed into a quick break.
| Julien Martini | 5,260,000 | 420,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 1,580,000 | -420,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 5:29 PM Local Time
Martini Three-Bets the River
Kate Hoang limped in, Julien Martini made it two bets, and Hoang called. The board got checked down to the river where things got interesting. Martini bet, Hoang raised, and, for the first time in the heads-up match, three big bets went in as Martini reraised.
Martini was breathing heavily while Hoang stared at the felt for a good minute. She then folded her hand and Martini took it down.
In the next hand, Martini made it three bets preflop and emptied the clip on an board. Hoang called it off without hesitation.
Julien Martini:
Kate Hoang:
Another chop pot; Hoang held aces and nines for high and Martini had a seven-four low.
| Julien Martini | 4,840,000 | 700,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 2,000,000 | -700,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 5:23 PM Local Time
Hoang Pulls Back Closer
Kate Hoang raised and Julien Martini called. On the flop, Martini checked and called a bet by Hoang before the duo checked the turn. Martini bet the on the river and Hoang folded.
Hoang raised two hands later and Martini called. On the flop, Martini checked and called a bet before check-folding the turn to a second barrel. At that point, Hoang only had one and a half big bets behind before scooping the pot without showdown.
Martini raised and Hoang called. The flop came and both players checked. On the turn, Hoang check-raised and Martini folded.
Hoang raised the very next hand to pick up a call by Martini. The flop and turn were checked. On the river, Martini bet and Hoang called. Martini tabled and Hoang had the winning hand with for a straight.
| Julien Martini | 4,140,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 2,700,000 | 1,500,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 5:16 PM Local Time
Martini Scoops; Takes a Big Lead
Julien Martini had grabbed the chip lead again and extended it in two hands. In the biggest one, Kate Hoang raised and Martini defended. Martini check-called the flop as well as the turn.
On the river, the Frenchman opted to lead out instead and Hoang paid it off. Martini showed for a straight and the nut low, and Hoang mucked her hand.
In the next hand, Martini raised and Hoang called. Martini picked it up with a continuation-bet on the flop and Hoang was left with 1.2 million.
| Julien Martini | 5,640,000 | 1,940,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 1,200,000 | -1,940,000 |
Sunday, June 3, 2018 5:11 PM Local Time
Up and Down; No End in Sight
Kate Hoang raised and Julien Martini called. On the flop, Martini checked and called a bet by Hoang. The turn was checked and Martini checked before folding to a bet on the river.
Martini raised and Hoang called. Hoang checked the flop, Hoang bet and Martini raised to pick up a call. Hoang bet the turn to see a call from Martini before checking the river. Martini bet and Hoang called, the Frenchman shook his head and tabled for a busted straight draw.
Hoang had that beat with the for ace-king high and a low.
Hoang raised and Martini called. The flop brought yet another check-raise by Martini and Hoang forfeited her continuation bet.
| Julien Martini | 3,700,000 | -1,240,000 |
| Kate Hoang | 3,140,000 | 1,240,000 |