Wednesday, October 27, 2021 9:10 PM Local Time
"I Felt it in My Gut": Darrin Wright Wins Event #50: $600 No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha
Darrin Wright had a premonition, and at the final table of Event #50: $600 No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha, it became a reality.
The recreational player from Chicago dominated the final table, knocking out five of his seven opponents on his way to earning the victory and $127,219 top prize. It was not only Wright's first WSOP bracelet, it was his first WSOP cash. His only other result came in a Circuit event in his hometown in 2019.
He might seem like a surprise champion, but Wright had a hunch he would end up in this spot. "I just felt it. You know how sometimes you can feel something and you can feel it in your stomach, they say that's your gut. I felt it in my gut," Wright said.
"I was crashing them. If you had seen me, it was like, I knocked out so many players."
Wright was in total control of the final table, playing nearly every pot and putting pressure on his opponents. He knocked out John Gilchrist in seventh place with a full house. He eliminated Ryan Colton with top pair. He flopped quads to send Hanan Braun home in fifth. And he eliminated Joshua Ray in third with a pair of eights.
The end came in a hand of Pot-Limit Omaha, when he called the all in of Victor Paredes with on a board of . Paredes had top two pair, but this night belonged to Wright and he completed his flush on the river.
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Earnings |
1 | Darrin Wright | $127,219 |
2 | Victor Paredes | $78,604 |
3 | Joshua Ray | $57,276 |
4 | Colten Yamagishi | $42,192 |
5 | Hanan Braun | $31,425 |
6 | Ryan Colton | $23,668 |
7 | John Gilchrist | $18,028 |
8 | Kyle Mclean | $13,889 |
Wright is retired after working for the Chicago Sun-Times. He's only been playing poker recreationally for a few years but wanted to take his shot at WSOP glory in 2021.
"I just said I wanted to come out and do it, because people say you can come out and play in some of the smaller games and stuff like that and win pretty big," he said. "And lo and behold, here I am."
The event attracted a field of 1,569 players, 61 of whom returned to play on Day 2. Along the way Dan Zack (57th), Daniel Buzgon (42nd), Mark Seif (31st), and Lee Watkinson (23rd) hit the payout line. Day 1 chip leader Eric Froehlich fell in 15th place.
In the end, it was Wright left standing. He took control of the final table and steamrolled his way to victory. Just as he thought he would.
There are more bracelets to be handed out tonight, so check out the WSOP live reporting hub for more live updates!
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 8:29 PM Local Time
Victor Paredes Eliminated in 2nd Place ($78,604)
Pot-Limit Omaha
On a limped pot, the flop read when Darrin Wright quickly check-called a bet from Victor Paredes for 1,800,000.
Things heated on the turn. Wright led out for 3,300,000 and Paredes tanked for some time before moving all in for a remaining stack around 11,500,000. Wright took a minute and made the call.
Victor Paredes:
Darrin Wright:
Paredes was ahead with two pairs but the hit the river, giving a flush to Wright and eliminating Paredes in second place for $78,604.
Darrin Wright | 47,000,000 | 14,500,000 |
Victor Paredes | 0 | -14,500,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 8:18 PM Local Time
Paredes Doubles Again
Pot-Limit Omaha
Darrin Wright raised to 1,250,000 and Victor Paredes defended his big blind. The flop came , Paredes checked, Wright bet 1,200,000, and Paredes went all in for 6,200,000. Wright called.
Victor Paredes:
Darrin Wright:
Paredes had flopped two pair to outdraw the aces of Wright and stayed ahead on the turn and river to earn another double up.
Darrin Wright | 32,500,000 | 8,000,000 |
Victor Paredes | 14,500,000 | -8,000,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 8:17 PM Local Time
Paredes Doubles Up With Pocket Pair
No-Limit Hold'em
Darren Wright limped and Victor Paredes shoved all-in from the big blind, Wright called covering him.
Victor Paredes:
Darrin Wright:
The board ran out and Paredes doubled with a pair of threes.
Darrin Wright | 38,870,000 | 14,370,000 |
Victor Paredes | 8,200,000 | -14,300,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 8:09 PM Local Time
First Pot for Paredes
Pot-Limit Omaha
Darrin Wright called and Victor Paredes checked to see a flop . Paredes quickly check-called Wright's bet for 1,000,000. The turn was the and the same action happened, this time for 3,300,000.
A hit the river and both players opted to check. Wright flipped over for a pair of tens and Paredes looked at his cards one more time and sent them into the muck.
Darrin Wright | 24,500,000 | -4,900,000 |
Victor Paredes | 22,500,000 | 4,900,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 8:08 PM Local Time
Heads-Up Chip Counts
Darrin Wright | 29,400,000 | 0 |
Victor Paredes | 17,600,000 | -600,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 8:08 PM Local Time
Joshua Ray Eliminated in 3rd Place ($57,276)
Pot-Limit Omaha
Darrin Wright limped from the button, Victor Paredes folded his small blind, and Joshua Ray checked. The flop came and Wright bet, Ray raised all in, and Wright snap-called.
Joshua Ray:
Darrin Wright:
Ray had a pair of deuces and a flush draw, while Wright had eights and a higher flush draw. The board ran out and Wright's pair stayed in front, eliminating Ray in third place.
Wright and Paredes are now preparing for heads-up play.
Darrin Wright | 29,400,000 | 5,900,000 |
Joshua Ray | 0 | -8,600,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 8:03 PM Local Time
Paredes Doubles Through Ray
Pot-Limit Omaha
All three players limped in and saw a flop of . They checked through to the turn, when Victor Paredes bet 2,000,000.
Joshua Ray then raised to 8,000,000, Darrin Wright folded, and Paredes went all in for 9,150,000. Ray called.
Victor Paredes:
Joshua Ray:
Ray had two pair with a flush draw, but Paredes had the lead with a straight. The came on the river to secure the double up for Paredes.
Victor Paredes | 18,200,000 | 11,800,000 |
Joshua Ray | 8,600,000 | -8,700,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 7:59 PM Local Time
Paredes Forces a Fold from Wright
Pot-Limit Omaha
Darrin Wright called for 500,000 on the button and it was completed by Victore Paredes and checked by Joshua Ray in the blinds.
The flop revealed and Paredes and Ray checked. Wright sent a bet worth 1,200,000 in the middle and Paredes tanked for a minute before announcing a raise to 5,600,000. Ray and Wright quickly folded.
Darrin Wright | 23,500,000 | -850,000 |
Joshua Ray | 17,300,000 | -500,000 |
Victor Paredes | 6,400,000 | 1,600,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 7:57 PM Local Time
Colten Yamagishi Eliminated in 4th Place ($42,192)
No-Limit Hold'em
Joshua Ray opened from the button and Colten Yamagishi shoved all-in from the big blind, Ray called covering him.
Colten Yamagishi:
Joshua Ray:
The board ran out and Ray eliminates Yamagishi with two pair aces and jacks with the queen kicker.
Joshua Ray | 17,800,000 | 7,500,000 |
Colten Yamagishi | 0 | -7,500,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 7:48 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:57 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts
Darrin Wright | 24,350,000 | 950,000 |
Joshua Ray | 10,300,000 | 3,000,000 |
Colten Yamagishi | 7,500,000 | 220,000 |
Victor Paredes | 4,800,000 | -2,250,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:47 PM Local Time
Players on Dinner Break
The last four players agreed for a one hour dinner break. Action will resume at blinds 250,000/ 500,000 with a 500,000 ante. The orange 5,000 chips will be colored up.
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:45 PM Local Time
Paredes Shows a Bluff
No-Limit Holdem
On a limped pot, the flop showed when Victore Paredes and Darrin Wright checked.
The turn showed the and Paredes first checked. Wright bet 700,000 and it was quickly raised to 2,100,000 by Paredes. Wright folded and Paredes tabled .
Darrin Wright | 23,400,000 | 4,300,000 |
Victor Paredes | 7,050,000 | -4,100,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:31 PM Local Time
Wright Gets a Fold from Paredes
Pot-Limit Omaha
Darrin Wright raised to 800,000 on the button and Victor Paredes chose to call from the big blind.
Both checked on the flop and a was dealt on the turn. Paredes check-folded this time after Wright sent a bet of 500,000.
Darrin Wright | 19,100,000 | 1,100,000 |
Victor Paredes | 11,150,000 | -1,950,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:28 PM Local Time
Hanan Braun Eliminated in 5th Place ($31,425)
Pot-Limit Omaha
Darrin Wright raised to 800,000 before Hanan Braun re-raised to 2,000,000. Wright called to see a flop of .
Wright pushed a stack forward to put Braun all in and Braun called. "Do you have an eight," Braun asked.
"I've got a lot of eights," Wright replied, showing for quads. Braun had and was already drawing dead by the turn. The fell on the river, and Wright continued his steamroll of this final table by knocking out another player.
Darrin Wright | 18,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Hanan Braun | 0 | -4,150,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:27 PM Local Time
Preflop Pot for Paredes
No-Limit Holdem
It folded to Darrin Wright on the button who limped and Colten Yamagishi completed. Victor Paredes decided to three-bet to 2,000,000 and it was enough to grab the pot right away.
Darrin Wright | 15,000,000 | -500,000 |
Victor Paredes | 13,100,000 | 2,350,000 |
Colten Yamagishi | 7,280,000 | -620,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:27 PM Local Time
PokerNews Podcast: Phil Ivey & Tom Dwan Play Hustler Casino Live, Recent WSOP Winners
On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Jesse Fullen and Chad Holloway come to you from the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP)!
In this episode, they first talk about Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan making their Hustler Casino Live debut when they participated in a wild $200/$400 NLH cash game against players like Matt Berkey and Garrett Adelstein. How did they do? Find out in this episode.
They then recap all the recent WSOP bracelet winners including post-victory interviews with Kevin Gerhart, Carlos Chang, and Bradley Ruben, as well as talk about Gediminas Uselis winning the MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event for $325,428 and Jeff Platt making a deep run in Event #43: $1,000 Double Stack.
Finally, Chad offers a "Where Are They Now" update on 2009 WSOP bracelet winner Jerrod Ankenman, who was a pioneer of mathematics in poker and even co-wrote the poker book The Mathematics of Poker alongside Bill Chen.
Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:26 PM Local Time
Ryan Colton Eliminated in 6th Place ($23,668)
No-Limit Hold'em
Ryan Colton raised from the cutoff leaving himself 20,000 behind and Darren Wright called in the small blind.
The flop came . Colton shoved all-in for his last 20,000 and Wright called, covering him.
Ryan Colton:
Darrin Wright:
The board ran out and Wright eliminates Colton with a pair of jacks.
Darrin Wright | 15,500,000 | 3,500,000 |
Ryan Colton | 0 | -3,320,000 |
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 6:15 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000