Saturday, November 13, 2021 11:44 PM Local Time
Mourad Amokrane Dominates the Final Table On His Way to Winning Event #71: $1,500 Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha
The later stages of a World Series of Poker event are usually filled with high drama and suspense. Mourad Amokrane of France ensured there wouldn't be any today on his way to winning Event #71: $1,500 Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha.
Amokrane eliminated Matt Mamiya on the first hand of heads-up play to cap off one of the most dominant final table performances in recent memory. He earned $132,844 and his first WSOP gold bracelet for outlasting the field of 860 players.
"I have no words. I look at all the poker shows on TV. I know all the famous players and getting a WSOP bracelet is something unbelievable for me. I don't realize it," he said.
"It's just a beautiful feeling. My wife is calling from France right now. She was not sleeping all night to follow the updates."
Amokrane is an optician, selling eyeglasses in the suburbs of Paris. He only arrived in Las Vegas a few days before the tournament as the European travel ban was lifted. His first goal was to try to win a seat in the Main Event. Failing to do that, he jumped right into the Omaha event, his favorite game.
"I'm not a professional player. I have a daily job and going to Vegas is my way to relax and enjoy my hobby," he said.
Day 3 Action
He proceeded to put on a show. Amokrane was the chip leader after Day 1 and came into Day 3 second in chips out of 15 remaining. After eliminating both Ryan Terpstra and Ronald Larsen on the same hand, hitting quads on the river to crack Larsen's full house, he took a massive chip lead into the ten-handed unofficial final table.
Amokrane's seemingly magical run to the bracelet, though, wouldn't be without adversity. He doubled up Kao Chieng Saechao and Dustin Nelson to start the final table. After holding a stack of 7,800,000, he dropped below 1,000,000.
He began his comeback by doubling up through Saechao, spiking a straight on the river holding on a board of . He then finished off the talkative Saechao in eighth place with a pair of aces.
Jeff Gross and Paulo Villena would fall next as Amokrane took firm control of the final table. He held more than half the chips with five players remaining. He eliminated Nelson in fifth place with a pair of aces and Matthew Mlsna in fourth with a set of kings.
During three-handed play, Amokrane had a chip lead of 18,100,000 while Mamiya and Matthew Humphrey had 3,400,000 combined. Amokrane rivered a straight on the river to knock out Humphrey in third and took a 60-1 chip lead over Mamiya into heads-up.
It wouldn't take long. On the first hand, Mamiya went all in for 350,000 and Amokrane called with . Mamiya made a pair of eights on the turn with the board showing , but the on the river gave Amokrane another straight, the knockout, and the bracelet.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Mourad Amokrane | France | $132,844 |
| 2 | Matt Mamiya | United States | $82,100 |
| 3 | Matthew Humphrey | United States | $58,733 |
| 4 | Matthew Mlsna | United States | $42,604 |
| 5 | Dustin Nelson | United States | $31,344 |
| 6 | Paulo Villena | Spain | $23,392 |
| 7 | Jeff Gross | United States | $17,712 |
| 8 | Kao Chieng Saechao | United States | $13,610 |
| 9 | Nikolay Yosifov | Bulgaria | $10,616 |
"I was really ready for this final day," he said. "I had some difficult moments at the beginning of the final table. I lost a lot of chips, but I had really good reads all day and my state of mind was just serenity. I was just waiting for the good spots and I was patient. I just followed all my reads and all went well."
Amokrane is the third Frenchman to win a bracelet at the 2021 WSOP, joining Alexandre Reard and Jean-Luc Adam. He had never cashed in a WSOP event before and estimates he picked up around 40 bounties during the tournament.
He also has the bracelet and ensured "La Marseillaise" will once again play in the Brasilia Room when Amokrane takes his spot of honor following a victory well deserved.
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:35 PM Local Time
Matt Mamiya Eliminated in 2nd Place ($82,100)
On the first hand of heads-up play, Matt Mamiya moved all in for 350,000 and Mourad Amokrane called.
Matt Mamiya:
Mourad Amokrane:
Mamiya held the lead with a pair of eights through the turn on a board of , but the on the river improved Amokrane to a straight and won him the WSOP bracelet.
Stay tuned for a full recap of the tournament.
| Mourad Amokrane | 21,500,000 | 350,000  |
| Matt Mamiya | 0 | -350,000  |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:32 PM Local Time
Matthew Humphrey Eliminated in 3rd Place ($58,733)
Mourad Amokrane raised to 700,000 and Matthew Humphrey defended his big blind. The flop came and Humphrey got his last 1,200,000 in the middle.
Matthew Humphrey:
Mourad Amokrane:
Humphrey was ahead with top two pair as the fell on the turn. The on the river improved Amokrane to a straight and sent Humphrey to the rail in third place.
Amokrane and Matt Mamiya are now preparing for the start of heads-up play.
| Mourad Amokrane | 21,150,000 | 3,020,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 350,000 | -580,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 0 | -2,400,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:27 PM Local Time
Humphrey Grabs Some Chips to Amokrane
Matthew Humphrey called on the button and Mourad Amokrane raised it to 700,000 after a fold from Matt Mamiya. Humphrey decided to call.
The flop fell and Amokrane check-folded after Humphrey announced pot.
| Mourad Amokrane | 18,130,000 | 330,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 2,400,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 930,000 | -970,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:21 PM Local Time
Matthew Mlsna Eliminated in 4th Place ($42,604)
Mourad Amokrane raised to 570,000 from the button and Matthew Mlsna defended. The flop came , Mlsna potted, Amokrane raised, and Mlsna called all in for around 1,500,000.
Matthew Mlsna:
Mourad Amokrane:
Amokrane had flopped a set of kings, while Mlsna was chasing a straight. The turn and river improved Amokrane to a full house as Mlsna was eliminated.
| Mourad Amokrane | 17,800,000 | 2,370,000 |
| Matthew Mlsna | 0 | -3,550,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:17 PM Local Time
Triple Up for Mamiya
Matt Mamiya open-shoved for his last 540,000 and it was called by Mourad Amokrane on the button and Matthew Mlsna in the big blind. The flop revealed and Amokrane sent 600,000 in the middle. Mlsna took a minute and let it go.
Matt Mamiya:
Mourad Amokrane:
Mamiya had a set of sevens and the rest of the board didn't change anything with the and the to give him the triple up. Mlsna said to the table he would have hit the straight.
| Mourad Amokrane | 15,430,000 | 230,000 |
| Matthew Mlsna | 3,550,000 | -1,400,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 1,900,000 | 700,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:09 PM Local Time
Humphrey Finds Another Much-Needed Double
Matthew Humphrey had fallen to 300,000 and got them in the middle after Mourad Amokrane raised preflop.
Matthew Humphrey:
Mourad Amokrane:
Humphrey made a pair of aces on the flop and Amokrane didn't improve beyond a pair of nines as the board ran out .
| Mourad Amokrane | 15,200,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 1,200,000 | 300,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:05 PM Local Time
Small Double Up for Humphrey
All the chips went in the middle preflop between Matthew Humphrey, who was all in for a remaining stack around 400,000, and Mourad Amokrane, who had made the call in the big blind:
Matthew Humphrey:
Mourad Amokrane:
The board brought and Humphrey got the double up with a straight.
| Mourad Amokrane | 13,400,000 | -100,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 900,000 | -150,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 10:01 PM Local Time
Mlsna Gets No Takers
Matt Mamiya limped in from under the gun before Mourad Amokrane raised to 480,000. Matthew Mlsna called in the big blind, as did Mamiya.
All three players checked the flop. The turn came the and Mlsna led out for 450,000. Mamiya quickly folded, as did Amokrane as Mlsna showed two tens for the flopped set.
| Mourad Amokrane | 13,500,000 | -300,000 |
| Matthew Mlsna | 4,950,000 | 850,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 1,200,000 | -1,350,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:54 PM Local Time
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:42 PM Local Time
Break Time
The last four players of Event #71: $1,500 Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha are now on their way to another 15-minute break.
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:41 PM Local Time
Dustin Nelson Eliminated in 5th Place ($31,344)
Matthew Mlsna announced pot for 560,000 from the cutoff and Mourad Amokrane called in the small blind. Dustin Nelson went all in for 600,000 total and both opponents called.
The flop came and Amokrane bet 280,000. Mlsna called to create a side pot, and both players checked down the turn and river.
Mlsna had for a pair of fives and a missed flush draw, while Amokrane had for a pair of aces. Nelson could only produce and was eliminated in fifth place.
| Mourad Amokrane | 13,800,000 | 1,510,000 |
| Matthew Mlsna | 4,100,000 | -750,000 |
| Dustin Nelson | 0 | -760,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:41 PM Local Time
Chip Counts
| Mourad Amokrane | 12,290,000 | 1,090,000 |
| Matthew Mlsna | 4,850,000 | -350,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 2,550,000 | 150,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 1,050,000 | -650,000 |
| Dustin Nelson | 760,000 | -40,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:36 PM Local Time
Amokrane Fills Up to Leave Nelson Short
Action folded to Mourad Amokrane in the small blind who raised to 355,000. Dustin Nelson called out of the big blind and both players checked the flop.
The turn came the and Amokrane led out for 300,000. Nelson called to see the on the river. Amokrane this time assembled a bet of 800,000 and Nelson once again called.
Amokrane turned over for a full house, jacks full of eights, and Nelson mucked as Amokrane raked in another big pot at the final table.
| Mourad Amokrane | 11,200,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Dustin Nelson | 800,000 | -1,550,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:30 PM Local Time
Mamiya Finds a Double Up on Nelson
Dustin Nelson raised to 325,000 and it folded to Matt Mamiya in the big blind, who tanked for some time. "Ok let's do it!" said Mamiya before moving all in for his last 1,130,000. Nelson called and they revealed their cards:
Matt Mamiya:
Dustin Nelson:
The board fell , giving the winning hand and the double up to Mamiya with tens and an ace-kicker.
| Matt Mamiya | 2,400,000 | 70,000 |
| Dustin Nelson | 2,350,000 | -1,300,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:21 PM Local Time
Amokrane Raises Humphrey, Crosses 10 Million
Matthew Humphrey raised to 320,000 from the cutoff and Mourad Amokrane defended from the big blind. The flop came , and Humphrey continued with a bet of around 200,000.
Amokrane called and faced another bet of 275,000 on the turn. This time he came back with a raise to 1,075,000, slamming his chips into the middle.
"Do you have to be so theatrical," Humphrey asked. "I know you're never bluffing." Humphrey folded after about a minute as Amokrane became the first player to pass 10,000,000. He now holds nearly half the chips in play.
| Mourad Amokrane | 10,100,000 | 2,360,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 1,700,000 | -750,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:10 PM Local Time
Amokrane Takes More from Mamiya
Matthew Humphrey started the action with a raise to 325,000 and both Matt Maiya and Mourad Amokrane called in the blinds.
The flop was revealed and brought no betting action. A fell on the turn and Mamiya bet 700,000. Amokrane quickly announced pot, which was 3,350,000. It folded back to Mamiya who went deep into the tank.
"You have kings on me again?" asked Mamiya, who folded right after. Amokrane decided to show for a set of kings.
| Mourad Amokrane | 7,740,000 | 2,860,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 2,450,000 | -50,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 2,330,000 | -1,270,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 9:00 PM Local Time
Mamiya's Kings Hold to Double
Matt Mamiya raised to 500,000 from the cutoff and Matthew Humphrey defended in the big blind. The flop came and the two players quickly got the chips in for Mamiya's last 1,185,000.
Matt Mamiya:
Matthew Humphrey:
Mamiya needed to dodge Humphrey's nut flush draw with his pocket kings to stay alive. "Hold," he pleaded.
The turn came the , followed by the on the river and he doubled up.
| Matt Mamiya | 3,600,000 | 1,630,000 |
| Matthew Humphrey | 2,500,000 | -2,340,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 8:53 PM Local Time
Amokrane Gets Paid by Mamiya
Mourad Amokrane raised to 330,000 under the gun and found Matt Mamiya to call in the big blind.
The flop showed and went check-check. The turn fell the and Mamiya bet 400,000. Amokrane thought about it for a minute and called.
A came on the river and Mamiya checked. Amokrane decided to bet 840,000 and Mamiya tanked for some time before tossing a chip for the call.
"Nuts" announced Amokrane, showing " for a set of kings. Mamiya quickly mucked his hand.
| Mourad Amokrane | 4,880,000 | 580,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 1,970,000 | -1,130,000 |
Saturday, November 13, 2021 8:46 PM Local Time
Nelson Cracks Aces to Double
Matt Mamiya and Mourad Amokrane limped in preflop. From the button, Dustin Nelson raised to 660,000 and was called by Matthew Mlsna in the big blind.
Mamiya then announced pot for 2,800,000, Amokrane quickly folded, and Nelson called all in for about 600,000 more. Mlsna also got out of the way.
Dustin Nelson:
Matt Mamiya:
Nelson's double-paired hand was trailing the aces of Mamiya as the flop came . "How many spades do you have in that deck," he asked the dealer.
Nelson didn't get a spade on the turn, but he did get the to make a set of kings. The river came the and Nelson doubled up. His rail erupted in celebration so loudly that Mamiya asked the tournament floor if the crowd could be cleared.
| Dustin Nelson | 3,650,000 | 2,170,000 |
| Matt Mamiya | 3,100,000 | -1,850,000 |