Sunday, June 9, 2019 1:45 AM Local Time
Brett Apter Wins First Bracelet in Event #17: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
Brett Apter just claimed his first bracelet in Event #17: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout after outlasting a field of 917 players. He takes home $238,824, the first six-figure score of his WSOP resume, for his victory. Apter defeated some of the best players in the world, including eight-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel heads-up in Round 2, to make it to the finish line.
When asked how he felt about his win, Apter's emotions were a rollercoaster, as was his final table run.
"I feel like I'm in a dream. I wanted this ever since I first started playing poker. Ever since I won yesterday, and knew I was going to the final table, it hasn't felt real. I've just been trying to live up every moment at the final table."
Apter was short for most of the beginning of the day, however, things turned around for him when he won a three-way all in against Anatolii Zyrin and Shintaro Baba. Both of his opponents held ace-king suited, while he held aces in the perfect spot. He scooped the pot to get a decent stack back, eliminating Baba in 7th place and doubling up through Zyrin.
"It started off really tough. I didn't win a hand for five hours I believe, so I was short for the first 2/3 of the day, and then I got aces against ace-king and ace-king and everything just went from there. I started just climbing up."
When the heads-up portion of play started, Apter had a 4 to 1 chip deficit. However, that didn't stop him, from playing his best game and put up a strong fight. Indeed, his patience and game on point paid off, as he eventually found a double with ace-king against Zyrin's queen-ten, and kept building from there. Soon after, Apter was in the lead, he never let go of it.
"I was just soaking up every moment with all my friends here, playing heads up for a bracelet, and I just knew that I wanted to play my absolute best every second since it was going to be something I would never forget. I wanted no regrets."
Apter doesn't plan to stop here and is going for more. In fact, he goes back to the grind tomorrow.
"I will be here for the rest of the summer. I will be probably be firing something tomorrow."
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Brett Apter | United States | $238,824 |
| 2 | Anatolii Zyrin | Russia | $147,594 |
| 3 | Tommy Nguyen | Canada | $106,351 |
| 4 | Adrian Scarpa | United States | $77,591 |
| 5 | Manuel Ruivo | Portugal | $57,326 |
| 6 | Cary Katz | United States | $42,897 |
| 7 | Shintaro Baba | Japan | $32,517 |
| 8 | Michael O'Grady | United States | $24,973 |
| 9 | Kenna James | United States | $19,436 |
| 10 | Marko Maher | Slovenia | $15,331 |
Final table Event #17: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout
Final Table Action
Day 3 began with ten players on the official final table with blinds at 5,000,000/10,000,000 with an ante of 10,000. The average chip stack at the final table was 225 big blinds, meaning stacks were very deep.
Marko Maher was the first casualty of the final table. Maher three-bet shoved his last thirty big blinds with queens from mid-position but found himself in bad shape against Kenna James' kings. James stayed ahead and Maher was eliminated.
He was followed to the exit by Kenna James in 9th place ($19,436). James moved all in for his last 13 big blind with ace-queen suited and got called by Scarpa who held tens. It was a typical flip situation but Scarpa's hand got improved to a full house to end James' fantastic run.
The next player to head to the rail was Michael O'Grady. O'Grady needed to find a spot to double and when the time came, he shoved with ace-queen suited only to find himself in bad shape against Brett Apter's ace-king. The board was of no help to O'Grady, and he took home $24,973 for his 8th place finish.
Soon After, Shintaro Baba was short and got his stack in the middle with ace-king suited against Anatolii Zyrin who also held ace-king suited, and Brett Apter who held aces. Apter won the three-way all in, doubling up through Zyrin and sending Baba to the rail.
Cary Katz was next to go when he shoved his last five big blinds with ace-three and got called by Apter who held a pair of threes. Apter stayed ahead, and that was the end of Katz's tournament life.
Anatolii Zyrin held a long lead heads-up, but ultimately finished in second place.
The very next level, Manuel Rivo was sent to the cage in 5th place. Ruivo called an all-in bet from Zyrin on a six-high flop with jacks only to see Zyrin's flopped set of fives. The turn and river blanked and that ended the Portuguese's deep run.
Adrian Scarpa was eliminated in 4th place. Scarpa moved all in with ace-eight for his last 14 bigs and was called by Nguyen with ace-five. Nguyen flopped a five and Scarpa couldn't recover, heading to the rail instead of into 4th place.
Tommy Nguyen was then eliminated in 3rd place. Nguyen was hoping to grab his second bracelet. However, his shot at another title ended when raised all in on the river after turning two pair, and got called by Anatolii Zyrin, only to see Zyrin's flopped set.
The heads-up play lasted a long time, and in the last hand of the night, Anatolii Zyrin moved all in on the flop with top pair and was snap-called by Apter who held a pair of aces. The turn and river bricked and Zyrin was sent home as the runner-up as Apter claimed the title.
Other notables who cashed in this event include Joe Cada, Athanasios Polychronopoulos, Jennifer Tilly, Upeshka De Silva, Qui Nguyen, Kane Kalas, Nicolas Manion, Loni Harwood, Kelly Minkin, and Bill Klein.
Brett Apter and his rail
Sunday, June 9, 2019 1:02 AM Local Time
Anatolii Zyrin Eliminated in 2nd Place ($147,594)
Brett Apter limped on the button, Anatolii Zyrin made it 1,000,000 in the big blind and Apter called. On the flop, Zyrin checked, Apter bet 900,000, Zyrin check-raised all in for 8,800,000, and Apter wasted no time in calling it off to put the Russian at risk for the first time in their heads-up battle.
Anatolii Zyrin:
Brett Apter:
"Aces against top pair," Apter yelled to his boisterous rail. The slowplayed aces had given the American a commanding lead in the hand and suddenly, he found himself just two cards away from a WSOP bracelet. The turn was the , keeping him ahead, and after the river Apter pumped his fist and ran into the arms of his ecstatic rail.
Zyrin came close to capturing his maiden bracelet but ultimately had to bow out in second place. His deep run was worth $147,594, the second six-figure score of his career.
With that, Event #17: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout has come to a conclusion. Brett Apter has won his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet and $238,824. A recap follows later tonight.
Anatolii Zyrin| Brett Apter | 22,925,000 | 10,425,000  |
| Anatolii Zyrin | 0 | -10,900,000  |
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:57 AM Local Time
Zyrin Bets Three Streets
Anatolii Zyrin limped on the button, and Brett Apter, in the big blind, checked.
The flop was and Apter check-called a bet of 400,000 from Zyrin.
The dealer burned and turned the that was checked through to the river. Apter checked once more and Zyrin continued with a bet of 850,000. Apter called, and Zyrin showed to win the pot.
| Brett Apter | 12,500,000 | -425,000 |
| Anatolii Zyrin | 10,900,000 | 900,000 |
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:48 AM Local Time
Zyrin Shoves the River
In a limped pot, Brett Apter check-called 500,000 from Anatolii Zyrin on a flop and 925,000 on a turn.
The on the river brought four to a flush and Apter checked a third time. Within two seconds, Zyrin jammed his stack of around 6 million in the middle. Apter took a copious amount of time to come to a decision, all while Zyrin was buried in his hoodie with his hands on his ears.
Nearly three minutes passed before Apter elected to let it go.
| Brett Apter | 12,925,000 | 1,625,000 |
| Anatolii Zyrin | 10,000,000 | -1,600,000 |
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:35 AM Local Time
Apter Levels the Playing Field
Anataolii Zyrin limped on the button and Brett Apter, in the big blind, checked.
The flop fell and Apter fired 400,000. Zyrin called.
The turn brought the and Apter fired another bet of 750,000. Zyrin called once more.
The river filled up the board. Apter threw in a bet of 1,150,000 that Zyrin called again. Apter turned over and Zyrin sent his hand to the muck.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 11,600,000 | -2,250,000 |
| Brett Apter | 11,300,000 | 2,250,000 |
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:28 AM Local Time
Apter Takes the First One
In the first hand after the break, Anatolii Zyrin check-called 650,000 from Brett Apter on a flop before the turn got checked through.
After Zyrin checked the river, Apter cooked up a bet of 1,800,000 and the Russian quickly let it go.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 13,850,000 | -1,250,000 |
| Brett Apter | 9,050,000 | 1,250,000 |
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:19 AM Local Time
Level 46 started
Level: 46
Blinds: 200000/400000
Ante: 400000
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:10 AM Local Time
Break
The heads-up players are on a 15-minute break.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 15,100,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Brett Apter | 7,800,000 | -1,500,000 |
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:10 AM Local Time
Apter Doubles Up
Brett Apter limped on the button, and Anatolii Zyrin, in the big blind, moved all in for 18,350,000. Apter made the call, putting at risk his last 4,550,000, and the cards were revealed.
Brett Apter:
Anatolii Zyrin:
The runout was and Apter doubled up.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 13,600,000 | -4,000,000 |
| Brett Apter | 9,300,000 | 4,000,000 |
Sunday, June 9, 2019 12:05 AM Local Time
Zyrin Rivers Two Pair
Anatolii Zyrin opted for a change of pace and raised to 625,000 on the button, which Brett Apter called. Apter check-called 425,000 on the flop before both players checked the turn.
The river was the and Apter checked a third time. Zyrin fired a shell worth 850,000 and Apter contemplated for a long time. He tried to figure out what Zyrin had and ultimately called it off, but likely didn't suspect the Zyrin was about to show him. The two pair was good and Apter slipped below twenty bigs.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 17,600,000 | 700,000 |
| Brett Apter | 5,300,000 | -700,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:56 PM Local Time
Zyrin Folds to Apter's Three-Bet
Brett Apter imped on the button and Anatolii Zyrin checked from the big blind.
On the flop , Zyrin checked. Brett threw in a bet of 300,000, and Zyrin check-raised to 825,000. Apter took a few seconds of reflection, before three-betting to 1,650,000. Zyrin let it go.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 16,900,000 | 700,000 |
| Brett Apter | 6,000,000 | -700,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:48 PM Local Time
Apter Gives and Takes
Anatolii Zyrin called on the button, Brett Apter made it 1,400,000, more than four times the big blind, and Zyrin responded by shoving all in. Apter had about a quarter of his stack in the middle already and gave it ample thought. After nearly two minutes, he decided to lay it down and leave it to his Russian adversary.
In the next hand, another pot without preflop raise, it got checked to the turn on . Zyrin bet 375,000 and Apter called.
The river was the and Zyrin check-folded to a 1,600,000 bet from Apter. Apter rail's erupted in a cheer and not for the first time today, Zyrin cheered along with Apter's rail and gave them a thumbs up to keep the good vibe in the room going.
Anatolii Zyrin cheering along with Brett Apter's rail| Anatolii Zyrin | 16,200,000 | -900,000 |
| Brett Apter | 6,700,000 | 900,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:40 PM Local Time
Straight for Zyrin
Brett Apter limped on the button, and Anatolii Zyrin, in the big blind, raised to 750,000. Apter added the remainder to call.
The flop was and was checked through to the turn. Zyrin checked again, and Apter fired 425,000. Zyrin check-called.
The filled up the river, and both players checked. Zyrin showed for a straight and Apter sent his hand to the muck.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 17,100,000 | -1,200,000 |
| Brett Apter | 5,800,000 | 1,200,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:28 PM Local Time
Level 45 started
Level: 45
Blinds: 150000/300000
Ante: 300000
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:27 PM Local Time
Apter Folds to Zyrin's Shove
Anatolii Zyrin raised to 550,000 on the button and Brett Apter, in the big blind, three-bet to 1,750,000. Zyrin stuck around with a call.
A flop reading was dealt. Apter checked. Zyrin moved all in for about 14,800,000, and Apter with 4,600,000 behind, opted to give up his hand.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 18,300,000 | 2,675,000 |
| Brett Apter | 4,600,000 | -2,700,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:23 PM Local Time
First Skirmishes Heads-Up; Apter Drags Most Pots
Brett Apter vs. Anatolii Zyrin Heads Up
Both Brett Apter and Anatolii Zyrin are playing at a rapid pace, and the first few minutes of the heads-up saw quite a few pots being played out with both players opting for a limping strategy. First, it was Apter who limped in, Zyrin who made it 700,000, then Apter who shoved and Zyrin who snap-folded.
Apter took down another hand when he bet 250,000 on an flop and 1,350,000 on the the. The turn overbet worked as Zyrin gave it up.
Another pot went to Apter when he bet 550,000 on an flop, called by Zyrin. The turn went check/check and Zyrin folded to a 650,000 river bet. Apter then dragged another small one with ace-high on showdown to rise to 7.3 million.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 15,625,000 | -2,645,000 |
| Brett Apter | 7,300,000 | 2,600,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:11 PM Local Time
Tommy Nguyen Eliminated in 3rd Place ($106,351)
Tommy Nguyen opened to 500,000 on the button, and Anatolii Zyrin, in the big blind, called.
The dealer fanned a flop of , and Zyrin check-called a bet of 500,000 from Nguyen.
The turn was the and Zyrin check-called another bet of 700,000 from Nguyen.
The completed the board. This time, Zyrin led out with a bet of 575,000, and Nguyen responded by moving all in for 7,200,000. Zyrin snap-called with his last 7,175,000. Nguyen tabled for two pair but that wasn't good enough as Zyrin showed for a set of fives to win the pot, while Nguyen was left with a 25,000 chip.
The very next hand, Brett Apter limped on the button, along with Zyrin from the small blind. Nguyen was all in for his last chip.
The flop came and Zyrin and Apter checked it through to the turn. Zyrin fired 250,000 and Apter folded. Zyrin and Nguyen tabled their cards.
Anatolii Zyrin:
Tommy Nguyen:
The completed the board and that was it for Nguyen, eliminated from the tournament.
Tommy Nguyen finished in 3rd place| Anatolii Zyrin | 18,270,000 | 10,370,000 |
| Brett Apter | 4,700,000 | 175,000 |
| Tommy Nguyen | 0 | -9,300,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 11:00 PM Local Time
Level 44 started
Level: 44
Blinds: 125000/250000
Ante: 250000
Saturday, June 8, 2019 10:48 PM Local Time
Nguyen Flops a Set
Brett Apter made it 400,000 on the button and Tommy Nguyen defended his big blind. The flop and turn got checked through.
With an easy flick of the wrist, Nguyen threw in 600,000 on the river and Apter came along with a call. Nguyen tabled for a flopped set of deuces and won the hand.
| Tommy Nguyen | 9,300,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Brett Apter | 4,525,000 | -2,455,000 |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 10:39 PM Local Time
Apter Takes From Zyrin
Brett Apter limped from the small blind, and Anatolii Zyrin, in the big blind, checked.
On a flop of , Apter fired 200,000 and Zyrin raised to 475,000. Apter responded by three-betting to 1,000,000. Zyrin added the remainder to call.
The turn came the , and Apter threw in another bet of 1,000,000. Zyrin let it go.
| Anatolii Zyrin | 7,900,000 | -200,000 |
| Brett Apter | 6,980,000 | 260,000 |