Saturday, October 16, 2021 1:17 AM Local Time
Scott Ball Wins 2021 WSOP Event #25 $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em ($562,667)
The 2021 World Series of Poker crowned a new gold bracelet winner at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Friday in Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, a tournament that attracted 604 players and offered up a $2,666,025 prize pool.
The PokerGO live-streamed final table contained two former bracelet winners John Racener and Galen Hall. In the end, it was Scott Ball collecting the WSOP bracelet, claiming victory for $562,667.
This was the first bracelet for Ball and it was a very emotional moment for him.
"I can't explain it man, I had a tough year last year, a lot of stuff and like a lot of desire to prove myself that I can play this game and play it well," said Ball, teary-eyed in the post-win interview. "And these big six-max tournaments are the hardest tournaments in the series, minus like the 50K and the 100K and stuff. I play a lot of six-max online and I study a lot really hard, like really hard. So to come in here and show, and not suck and do well, kinda means the world to me."
Ball, 35, had a rowdy rail on his side and said he was thankful for all the support his friends had given.
"I mean the people who support me are incredible," said Ball. "You know I found out who my real friends are this past year and it feels good to know that, see a good group of them here, have support. When I came I didn't think I'd have any rail or expect to have any rail, so the fact I have you know 15, 20 people behind me when I do this is pretty special."
2021 WSOP $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1st | Scott Ball | United States | $562,667 |
| 2nd | Galen Hall | United States | $347,757 |
| 3rd | Jonathan Jaffe | United States | $234,781 |
| 4th | Eric Tsai | Taiwan | $161,756 |
| 5th | Bin Weng | United States | $113,775 |
| 6th | John Racener | United States | $81,736 |
Others to cash on the final table were Eric Tsai (4th for $161,756), Bin Weng (5th for $113,775), and Jonathan Jaffe (3rd for $234,781).
At the start of the day, many eyes were on Hall and Racener, looking for their second bracelets. But it was Ball, who emerged victorious after eight hours of play.
"Jon and Galen are incredible players, they are really freaking good," he said. "It was really hard, the whole tournament was hard. Every single day I was playing with absolute beasts."
Final Table Action
John Racener was the first one to go when he four-bet jammed ace-queen into the pocket kings of Galen Hall. Next to go was Bin Weng. Weng was looking good five-handed with the chip lead, but he found himself at the bottom of the leaderboard after Scott Ball nailed a pair of aces on the river in a four-bet pot. Weng got it all in with king-queen against the ace-ten suited of Hall, but Hall binked a flush for the knockout.
Eric Tsai came in as the chip leader, but he was the next to go when he ran into a cooler. Tsai shoved with pocket queens and Scott Ball called with pocket kings. Tsai could not improve and he exited in fourth.
Three-handed was a drawn-out affair, Ball won a flip with pocket tens against the ace-queen of Hall. But Hall battled back to draw close. Hall put Ball on the short stack when he called a huge river bet with just a pair of fives and Ball was forced to muck his ace-high. Ball wasn't done either however when his all-in jam with ace-eight spiked against Jaffe's ace-queen. Finally, after three hours, Jonathan Jaffe busted when his ace-ten ran into the pocket eights of Hall. That allowed Hall to enter heads-up play with a 2-1 lead.
Play would drag on, however, as both players exchanged the chip lead several times. Ball finally took control when he bluff jammed the river with king-high to force a key fold from Hall and take a 5-1 chip lead. Ball finally finished the job when he got it all in holding the nut-flush draw, against Hall's second nut flush draw. The flush did come home on the turn, sealing the deal. Ball said he is not satisfied yet though.
"I kinda want to just go home and go to bed and be here at 10 a.m. for the Monster Stack," said the newly-crowned champion. "I want to do it again, like I want to show everyone it's not a fluke and I really can play this game. So I might have a little fun, but not too much. I'm going to take the rest of the series very seriously there's still a lot more work to do."
Congratulations to Scott, winner of the 2021 WSOP Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em! He joins a prestigious club of WSOP bracelet winners.
Scott Ball
Saturday, October 16, 2021 12:12 AM Local Time
Galen Hall Eliminated In 2nd Place ($347,757)
Galen Hall limped and Ball checked to the flop. Ball checked and Hall fired 400,000. Ball woke up with a raise to 1,600,000 and Hall moved all in, Ball called.
Galen Hall:
Scott Ball:
The turn was the sealing the deal for Ball and the meaningless hit the river.
| Scott Ball | 30,200,000 | 7,800,000  |
| Galen Hall | 0 | -8,000,000  |
Saturday, October 16, 2021 12:08 AM Local Time
Hall Not Done Yet
Galen Hall limped and Scott Ball checked to the flop. Ball check-called a bet of 400,000 and the turn came the . Both players checked to see the and Ball checked again. Hall bet 900,000 and Ball folded.
| Scott Ball | 22,400,000 | -2,600,000 |
| Galen Hall | 8,000,000 | 2,800,000 |
Saturday, October 16, 2021 12:00 AM Local Time
Ball Shows a Big Bluff
Scott Ball just called on the button and Galen Hall checked the big blind. The flop came and Hall check-called a bet of 400,000 from Ball.
The turn was the and Hall checked again. Ball fired out another bet of 1,200,000 but couldn't shake Hall who made the call. The river was the and Hall checked once more. Ball announced all in, putting Hall to the test for his remaining 5,225,000.
Hall was puzzled to say the least as he went into the tank for over three minutes. Hall eventually decided to fold and Ball showed him the for a bluff.
| Scott Ball | 25,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Galen Hall | 5,200,000 | -2,000,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:50 PM Local Time
Ball Reaches 23 Million
Galen Hall limped in and Scott Ball checked to the flop. Action checked to the turn and Ball led for 500,000. Hall called and the river came the .
Ball bet again, this time 800,000, and Hall called.
Ball turned over and he continues to climb.
| Scott Ball | 23,000,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Galen Hall | 7,200,000 | -1,300,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:46 PM Local Time
Ball Over 20 Million
Galen Hall limped in on the button and Scott Ball checked his option. The flop came and Ball checked. Hall took the lead with a bet of 400,000 and Ball called.
The turn brought the and Ball checked again. Hall tossed in another bet of 900,000 and Ball called to see the on the river. Both players knuckled the table and Ball turned over for a rivered straight, pushing him over 20 million chips.
| Scott Ball | 21,700,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Galen Hall | 8,500,000 | -1,700,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:45 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:44 PM Local Time
Ball Wins Another
Scott Ball made it 600,000 and Galen Hall called to see the flop. Hall check-called a bet of 500,000 from Ball and the turn fell the .
Hall checked again and Ball checked back. On the river, both players checked. Hall turned over but Ball tabled for the better ace to extend the lead.
| Scott Ball | 20,000,000 | 400,000 |
| Galen Hall | 10,200,000 | -500,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:38 PM Local Time
Ball Pulling Away
Scott Ball raised to 600,000 and Galen Hall called to see the flop. Both players checked the turn to the river. Hall checked and Ball bet 900,000. Hall folded and Ball took another one.
| Scott Ball | 19,600,000 | 900,000 |
| Galen Hall | 10,700,000 | -900,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:37 PM Local Time
Ball Taking It Down Preflop
Scott Ball raised it up to 600,000 on the button and Galen Hall three-bet to 2,000,000 out of the big blind. Ball responded with a four-bet to 5,000,000 and Hall quickly mucked his hand.
In the next hand, Hall opened to 650,000 and Ball re-raised to 2,300,000 which got a prompt fold from Hall.
| Scott Ball | 18,700,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Galen Hall | 11,600,000 | -2,900,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:33 PM Local Time
Hall Gets It Back
Galen Hall raised to 650,000 and Scott Ball called. The flop came and Ball check-called a bet of 500,000 from Hall.
On the turn , Ball checked again and Hall continued for 2,200,000. Ball laid it down and they are close to even again.
| Scott Ball | 15,700,000 | -2,100,000 |
| Galen Hall | 14,500,000 | 2,000,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:29 PM Local Time
Ball Inches Ahead Again
Galen Hall raised to 650,000 on the button and Scott Ball defended from the big blind. The flop came and Ball check-called a bet of 400,000 from Hall.
The turn was the and Ball checked again. Hall sized up a bet of 1,200,000 but Ball stuck around to see the on the river. Ball checked once more and Hall checked it back. Ball showed for two pair and Hall conceded the pot.
| Scott Ball | 17,800,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Galen Hall | 12,500,000 | -1,100,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:25 PM Local Time
Hall Closes the Gap
Galen Hall raised to 650,000 and Scott Ball called to see the flop.
Both players checked to the turn and Ball bet 500,000. Hall called and they saw the river.
Ball slowed down with a check on the four-diamond board and Hall fired 1,600,000.
Ball looked him up and Hall turned over for the flush and the pot.
| Scott Ball | 16,600,000 | -3,100,000 |
| Galen Hall | 13,600,000 | 3,000,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:22 PM Local Time
Ball Flops a Straight Flush
Galen Hall opened to 650,000 on the button and Scott Ball defended from the big blind. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn.
Ball led out with a bet of 900,000 and Hall gave it some thought but elected to lay his hand down.
On the next hand, the two players went heads-up to a flop after Ball raised to 600,000. The flop fell and the action checked to the on the turn. Hall checked again and Ball fired out a bet of 500,000. Hall called and the hit the river.
Hall checked for the third time and Ball two-handed a stack of 3,800,000 into the middle. Hall mulled it over but decided to fold once more. Ball couldn't help himself but show for a straight flush.
| Scott Ball | 19,700,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Galen Hall | 10,600,000 | -2,900,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:13 PM Local Time
Ball Into The Lead
Galen Hall raised to 650,000 and Scott Ball three-bet to 2,400,000 to take it down.
On the next hand, Scott Ball opened to 600,000 and Hall defended.
On the flop, Hall check-called a 600,000 bet from Ball.
Both players checked the turn and the river.
Ball turned over and it bested the of Hall.
| Scott Ball | 16,700,000 | 2,500,000 |
| Galen Hall | 13,500,000 | -2,600,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:08 PM Local Time
Ball Pulls Even with Hall
Galen Hall raised to 650,000 on the button and Scott Ball called from the big blind. The flop came and Ball check-called a bet of 300,000 from Hall.
The turn brought the and both players checked to the on the river. Ball led out with a bet of 1,200,000 and Hall pitched his cards to the muck.
| Galen Hall | 16,100,000 | -900,000 |
| Scott Ball | 14,200,000 | 1,000,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:05 PM Local Time
Ball Check-Raises the Flop
Galen Hall raised to 600,000 and Scott Ball called.
On the flop, Ball check-raised Hall's bet of 500,000 up to 1,500,000 and took down the pot.
| Galen Hall | 17,000,000 | -1,900,000 |
| Scott Ball | 13,200,000 | 1,800,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 11:02 PM Local Time
Ball Doubles To Extend Play
Scott Ball opened to 600,000 and Galen Hall called.
On the flop, Hall check-raised all in over the bet of 800,000 from Ball, and Ball called to put himself at risk.
Scott Ball:
Galen Hall:
The turn was the , giving Ball a flush and the river fell the sending the pot to Ball.
| Galen Hall | 18,900,000 | -5,400,000 |
| Scott Ball | 11,400,000 | 5,400,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 10:54 PM Local Time
Hall Distances Himself
Galen Hall raised to 600,000 on the button, and Scott Ball called from the big blind. The flop fell and Ball checked to Hall, who continued for 500,000. Ball called, and the landed on the turn.
Ball checked again and Hall slid out a bet of 1,800,000 this time. Ball still called and the completed the board. Ball checked once more and Hall thought for over a minute before pushing out a bet of 1,200,000. Ball called and Hall showed to claim the pot and take a commanding chip lead.
| Galen Hall | 24,300,000 | 6,100,000 |
| Scott Ball | 6,000,000 | -6,000,000 |
Friday, October 15, 2021 10:43 PM Local Time
Jonathan Jaffe Eliminated in 3rd Place ($234,781)
Galen Hall opened to 600,000 on the button and Jonathan Jaffe ripped all in for 7,925,000 in the small blind. Scott Ball got out of the way in the big blind and Hall snapped it off, putting Jaffe at risk.
Jonathan Jaffe:
Galen Hall:
The flop came and Hall hit a set of eights to take a commanding lead. The on the turn improved Hall to a full house and Jaffe was drawing dead to the on the river.
The two players will now take a quick break as the stage gets prepared for heads-up play.
| Galen Hall | 18,200,000 | 8,500,000 |
| Scott Ball | 12,000,000 | -600,000 |
| Jonathan Jaffe | 0 | -7,900,000 |