Thursday, June 9, 2022 12:51 AM Local Time
First Time's the Charm: Michael Moncek Wins Event #13: $1,500 Limit Hold'em
Michael Moncek, a native of Chicago, had three World Series of Poker Circuit rings on his poker resume. But he had never won the game's ultimate prize, a WSOP gold bracelet.
That has now changed after Moncek won Event #13: $1,500 Limit Hold'em, defeating Ben Ross after a back-and-forth heads-up match to earn the $145,856 top prize.
Moncek admits he had never played Limit Hold'em before this tournament. He had come to the WSOP expecting to play as many events as possible, and this one just happened to be the only event on the schedule that day.
"It feels awesome, especially in a game that I've never played before," he said following his win. "I'm going to have to learn to play it now."
Moncek had live tournament winnings of around $235,000 before this event. His best finish in a WSOP bracelet event was 16th in the Salute to Warriors tournament in 2019. Earlier this week, he had a chance to add to his career totals in a big way in the $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em tournament, but he was eliminated two spots shy of the money.
He didn't get too bothered by that loss. He just jumped right into the next tournament he could find. "You just have to go win the next tournament you play," he said about overcoming that disappointment.
Day 3 Action
Day 3 began with 16 players remaining out of a starting field of 522. A burst of action saw three eliminations within the first 10 minutes of the day. By the time the final table was set, Moncek was second in chips to 2015 Main Event champion Joe McKeehen, and it would be in two pots against McKeehen that he would take control of the tournament.
Early on during the final table, McKeehen had made the nut straight while Moncek was holding a set of tens. The river paired up, giving Moncek a full house and the big pot. He would later eliminate McKeehen in fifth place in another cooler, both flopping a straight on a board of . Moncek's, though, was higher with .
Moncek also knocked out Christoph Kwon in fourth and bracelet winner Yueqi Zhu in third place, setting up a heads-up battle with Ross. With Ross' loud and exuberant rail cheering him on, Moncek ignored the noise and came back from a significant chip deficit. On the final hand, he made a flush with to crack the two pair of Ross.
Event #13: $1,500 Limit Hold'em Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Winnings |
| 1 | Michael Moncek | United States | $145,856 |
| 2 | Ben Ross | United States | $90,150 |
| 3 | Yueqi Zhu | United States | $63,314 |
| 4 | Christoph Kwon | United States | $45,178 |
| 5 | Joe McKeehen | United States | $32,761 |
| 6 | Steven Wolansky | United States | $24,149 |
| 7 | Fred Lavassani | United States | $18,100 |
| 8 | Nick Pupillo | United States | $13,798 |
| 9 | Lee Markholt | United States | $10,701 |
Moncek isn't going to stop playing every tournament in sight, even with the bracelet in his possession. His goal is simple. "To win Player of the Year, what else," he said.
Moncek did have one supporter on the rail during the final table, his friend Adam. They celebrated the victory together, but now it's right back to work. Moncek's plans for tomorrow:
"Register for the next tournament," he said.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of Event 13. Follow along the rest of the 2022 WSOP at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas for all the action.
Thursday, June 9, 2022 12:20 AM Local Time
Michael Moncek Wins Event #13: $1,500 Limit Hold'em ($145,856)
Michael Moncek is the newest WSOP gold bracelet winner taking down Event #13: $1,500 Limit Hold'em for $145,856.
Stay tuned for a full recap of today's action and an interview with the champion.
Thursday, June 9, 2022 12:10 AM Local Time
Ben Ross Eliminated in 2nd Place ($90,150)
Heads-up on a flop, Michael Moncek check-called a bet from Ben Ross.
The turn came the and Ross bet again before Moncek raised.
"Alright, you win," Ross said while moving all in and Moncek snap-called with for a flush. Ross had two pair with .
The river came the and Moncek's flush was enough to eliminate Ross in second place and earn the Chicago native his first WSOP bracelet and $145,856 first prize.
| Michael Moncek | 13,050,000 | 1,600,000  |
| Ben Ross | 0 | -1,600,000  |
Thursday, June 9, 2022 12:06 AM Local Time
Moncek Cracks Jacks to Leave Ross on Fumes
Michael Moncek raised the button and Ben Ross called.
The dealer spread a flop of and Ross check-raised. Moncek called.
The hit the turn and Ross continued to bet, and Moncek called.
The completed the board and Ross fired another bullet. Moncek thought about it for a few seconds and pushed a stack of green ships across the line to call.
Ross tabled before Moncek showed him the bad news with , turning a flush.
| Michael Moncek | 11,450,000 | 2,250,000 |
| Ben Ross | 1,600,000 | -2,250,000 |
Thursday, June 9, 2022 12:00 AM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 0
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:54 PM Local Time
Break Time Chip Counts
| Michael Moncek | 9,200,000 | -1,350,000 |
| Ben Ross | 3,850,000 | 1,350,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:52 PM Local Time
15-Minute Break
The two final players are currently on a break and play will continue in 15-minutes.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:50 PM Local Time
Ross Continues to Get Short
Michael Moncek raised the button and Ben Ross three-bet from the big blind. Moncek called.
The flop came and Ross continued to bet before Moncek called.
The hit the turn and Ross check-called a bet from Moncek.
The hit the river and Ross instantly fired a bet into the middle. Moncek took a few seconds and made the call.
"You win," said Ross and he tabled .
The pot was shipped to Moncek as he showed for pair of tens.
| Michael Moncek | 10,550,000 | 1,550,000 |
| Ben Ross | 2,500,000 | -1,550,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:46 PM Local Time
Top Pair Lifts Moncek to Big Lead
Michael Moncek re-raised over a pre-flop raise and Ben Ross called. The flop came and Moncek continued with a bet.
Ross called and both players checked the turn. The river came the and Moncek bet again. Ross called but mucked when Moncek showed for top pair.
| Michael Moncek | 9,000,000 | 800,000 |
| Ben Ross | 4,050,000 | -800,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:41 PM Local Time
Sevens Good for Moncek
Ben Ross raised the button and Michael Moncek called.
On the flop, Moncek check-called a bet from Ross.
The turn and the river were checked down and Moncek tabled before Ross mucked.
| Michael Moncek | 8,200,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Ben Ross | 4,850,000 | -1,700,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:35 PM Local Time
Moncek Comes Out Ahead With the Same Hand
In a limped pot, Ben Ross led out on the flop and Michael Moncek called. Both players checked the turn and the river.
Ross and Moncek both turned over Q-2, but Moncek had the for a flush to win the pot.
The two players are now virtually even in chips.
| Ben Ross | 6,550,000 | 950,000 |
| Michael Moncek | 6,500,000 | -950,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:29 PM Local Time
Two Pair for Ross
Michael Moncek raised the button and Ben Ross called.
The dealer spread a flop of and Ross check-called a bet.
The hit the turn and Ross check-raised the bet from Moncek and was called.
"Thank goodness you didn't reraise me," said Ross.
The completed the board and Ross fired a bet into the middle and Moncek called. Ross showed for two pair and Moncek mucked his hand.
| Michael Moncek | 7,450,000 | -1,050,000 |
| Ben Ross | 5,600,000 | 1,050,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:24 PM Local Time
Ross Getting Frustrated
On a board of , Ben Ross bet and Michael Moncek called.
Ross checked the river before Moncek put out a bet.
"You rivered me again, I guess," Ross said as he made a reluctant call. Moncek showed for a pair of aces and Ross flashed an eight before mucking.
"I'm completely outplaying you. You just keep waking up with hands," Ross added after the hand.
| Michael Moncek | 8,500,000 | 550,000 |
| Ben Ross | 4,550,000 | -550,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:21 PM Local Time
Moncek Spikes Another Full House
Michael Moncek raised the button and Ben Ross called.
The flop came and Ross check-called a continuation bet.
The hit the turn and Ross check-raised Moncek's bet. Moncek quickly put in a three-bet, putting Ross in the tank. After a few seconds Ross made the call.
The landed on the river and Ross checked to Moncek who fired in a bet. Ross took a brief moment and pushed some chips across the line to call. Moncek tabled for a full house and Ross jumped out of his chair in disbelief as he pushed his cards into the middle.
| Michael Moncek | 7,950,000 | 2,650,000 |
| Ben Ross | 5,100,000 | -2,650,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:16 PM Local Time
Ross Halfway to Victory, According to Moncek
Ben Ross limped in and called after Michael Moncek raised. Moncek checked the flop and Ross bet.
Moncek called, then led out on the turn. Both players checked the river and Ross showed to win the pot with a pair of eights.
"Four hands in a row, you win the tournament," Moncek said after the hand.
"There's one," Ross replied.
The next hand, Ross called a pre-flop raise and a bet on the flop. They both checked the turn before Ross led out on the river. Moncek called.
"You lose," Ross said, turning over for two pair.
"There's the second one I need. Just two more," he said.
| Ben Ross | 7,750,000 | 1,775,000 |
| Michael Moncek | 5,300,000 | -1,775,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:12 PM Local Time
Moncek Makes a Straight to Regain Chip Lead
Ben Ross raised on the button and Michael Moncek came along in the big blind.
Both players checked to the river on the board and Moncek tossed in a bet. Ross quickly called before Moncek tabled for a straight.
"Can't fade the river," said Ross to his rail as he pushed his cards toward the dealer.
| Michael Moncek | 7,075,000 | 2,575,000 |
| Ben Ross | 5,975,000 | -2,575,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:07 PM Local Time
Moncek Hits the River Again
Ben Ross had won a series of small pots to slowly grind down Michael Moncek's stack, but Moncek just got some of them back thanks to a fortunate river.
After a pre-flop raise and call, both players checked the flop and turn. Moncek led out on the river and Ross called.
Moncek turned over .
"He rivered a set," Ross said to his rail.
"Did I need it," Moncek asked.
"What do you think," Ross replied.
| Ben Ross | 8,550,000 | 400,000 |
| Michael Moncek | 4,500,000 | -400,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 11:01 PM Local Time
Moncek Makes Kings Full
Michael Moncek raised the button and Ben Ross defended the big blind.
The dealer fanned a flop of and Ross check-called a bet.
The slowed down the action as both players checked to the river. Ross checked and Moncek tossed in a bet. Ross called to see the bad news as Moncek showed for kings full of sevens and Ross mucked his hand.
| Ben Ross | 8,150,000 | -300,000 |
| Michael Moncek | 4,900,000 | 300,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 10:57 PM Local Time
Scary River Doesn't Deter Ross
Ben Ross limp-called a raise from Michael Moncek and they saw a flop of .
Moncek checked, then called a bet from Ross. Both players checked the turn before the fell on the river.
Moncek checked again and Ross bet. Moncek spun his chips in his hand for a moment before tossing them in the middle.
Ross turned over for two pair and won the pot.
"I thought I got boned on the river again," Ross said.
| Ben Ross | 8,450,000 | 1,850,000 |
| Michael Moncek | 4,600,000 | -1,850,000 |
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 10:52 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 0