Saturday, June 18, 2022 12:26 AM Local Time
Steven Albini Wins Event #32: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E For $196,089 and a Second Bracelet
Steven Albini has worked with some of the biggest names in music in his job as a recording engineer. Now his name is on the list of multiple World Series of Poker bracelet winners after taking down Event #32: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E for $196,089.
Albini beat a field of 773 players full of professionals and mixed game specialists. But he's not a pro himself. He owns his own recording studio in Chicago and has produced albums for the likes of Nirvana and Jimmy Page.
Poker is just a hobby for Albini, albeit one he takes seriously. "Everything in my life comes in pieces, in parts. Poker is one part of my life," he said after his win.
"So when I'm playing poker, I try to commit to it. I try to take it seriously. I try to make sure I devote the attention to it that it deserves as an occupation. But it's only part of my year. I only play tournaments at the World Series of Poker. I play cash games informally in Chicago. It's a part of my livelihood, but it's not my profession."
Albini's first bracelet came in a Seven Card Stud event in 2018. Not even he could believe that he's now topped two fields of poker's best.
"The first one felt like a fluke. This one also felt like a fluke. I was all-in a million times in this tournament," he said.
"In the Stud tournament, the bracelet that I won in 2018, I was never all-in in that tournament. I was never short of chips. But it still felt like I kind of fluked it because I beat a table full of really great players that I didn't expect to beat. This time it felt like a fluke because I was so short on chips so often, and I kept getting all in, and I kept surviving."
Event #32: H.O.R.S.E Final Table results
| Place | Player | Country | Earnings | |
| 1 | Steven Albini | United States | $196,089 | |
| 2 | James Morgan | Canada | $121,195 | |
| 3 | Jason Daly | United States | $85,943 | |
| 4 | Richard Bai | United States | $61,862 | |
| 5 | Kyle Loman | United States | $45,209 | |
| 6 | Peter Brownstein | United States | $33,552 | |
| 7 | Eddy Vataru | United States | $25,294 | |
| 8 | Tamon Nakamura | Japan | $19,373 | |
Action of The Day
It took the players under three hours today to reach the final table. Adrian Panocki (22th) did not resist too long, and he was followed by Jamie McCarrell (21st), Ziya Rahim (20th), Michael Estes (19th), Danny Chang (18th), Jason Bigelow (17th), and Steven Loube (16th).
The last two women in the tournament were then simultaneously released, with Shirley Rosario (15th) and Michelle Roth (14th) eliminated before the last two tables. Then, it was the last European player in the field, Maurizio Melara, who finished in 13th place.
Murilo Figueredo (12th), Robin Rightmire (11th), and John Fahmy (10th) fell at the gates of final table.
The final table lasted for around nine hours, but it was not that long for David Williams, as the WSOP champion finished in ninth.
Kyle Loman started this final table with the chip lead, but Albini quickly caught up with him to take the lead. Then, it was Tamon Nakamura who scored an eighth-place finish for the fourth time during this summer's series. Eddy Vataru, was the shortstack for a long time, eventually finishing in seventh place, the best result of his career. In the battle of the short stacks, Peter Brownstein did his best to end in sixth place on his fourth WSOP final table appearance.
While Albini was still cruising, Loman took fifth place for his second final table on this event, followed by Richard Bai, in fourth position. The 2019 WSOP Circuit winner busted just after the dinner break.
During this three-handed battle, Jason Daly was chip leader for a long period, but Albini never gave up and managed to come back little by little until Daly's moment in the spotlight passed once and for all.
Daly took third place for his second-best career result, while James Morgan failed to make a comeback and finished as the runner-up.
Albini was supported on the final table rail by Brandon Shack-Harris. It was Shack-Harris who gave Albini an idea that played a part in the entire final table: the golden bell.
"Brandon Shack-Harris got an ornate hotel bell that he would ding at the table when he was going to check. I thought it was really charming and he brought it here so the rail could ding when I won a pot," Albini explained.
"It got irritating to some of the other players, so I brought it to the table so anyone who wanted to could celebrate by ringing the bell."
The bell tolled for the other seven players at the final table today.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of Event #32. Stay tuned throughout the 2022 WSOP at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas for all the action.
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:53 PM Local Time
James Morgan Eliminated in 2nd Place ($121,195)
Stud 8 or Better
James Morgan:
Steven Albini:
After winning three hands in Seven Card Stud, Steven Albini just finished off his opponent in a hand Stud 8 or Better. Albini wound up making a club flush to win that tournament.
Morgan wound up finishing in second place and had to settle for $121,195 as a consolation prize.
Stay turned for a full recap of Event #32!
| Steven Albini | 19,325,000 | 5,000,000  |
| James Morgan | 0 | -5,000,000  |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:43 PM Local Time
Morgan Draws Closer
Seven Card Stud
James Morgan: / /
Steven Albini: / /
Steven Albini completed before James Morgan raised. Albini called, then called bets on fourth, fifth, and sixth streets.
Morgan bet out again on seventh street and Albini quickly folded.
| Steven Albini | 14,325,000 | -2,800,000 |
| James Morgan | 5,000,000 | 2,800,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:41 PM Local Time
Morgan Doubles Twice
Razz
James Morgan:
Steven Albini:
James Morgan was all in for his last 575,000 on third street as he and Steven Albini shook hands and wished each other good luck.
Morgan wound up with 7-5-4-3-2 to win the pot and survive.
The next hand, Morgan was all in again on fifth street.
James Morgan:
Steven Albini:
Morgan had the best hand again, with 10-9-8-3-A and doubled up for the second consecutive hand.
| Steven Albini | 17,125,000 | -1,200,000 |
| James Morgan | 2,200,000 | 1,200,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:27 PM Local Time
Albini on the Brink
Razz
Steven Albini: / /
James Morgan: / /
On fifth street, Steven Albini bet and James Morgan called. Morgan led out on sixth and Albini called.
Morgan slowed down and checked on seventh, allowing Albini to put out a bet. Morgan once again began muttering to himself before announcing a call.
"Nine low," Albini announced, turning over .
"That's good," Morgan said as he mucked.
| Steven Albini | 18,325,000 | 4,725,000 |
| James Morgan | 1,000,000 | -4,725,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:17 PM Local Time
Morgan Scoops First Big Pot of Heads-Up
Omaha 8 or Better
James Morgan limped, then called a raise from Steven Albini.
The flop came and Albini bet. Morgan called, then both players checked the turn.
Albini checked again on the river and Morgan bet. Albini quickly called as Morgan showed for a flush and a low to scoop the pot.
| Steven Albini | 13,600,000 | -2,625,000 |
| James Morgan | 5,725,000 | 2,625,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:15 PM Local Time
Jason Daly Eliminated in 3rd Place ($85,943)
Limit Hold'em
Steven Albini raised from the small blind before Jason Daly re-raised, leaving himself 525,000 behind.
Albini called and they got the rest of Daly's stack in the middle on the flop.
Jason Daly:
Steven Albini:
Albini had flopped a pair of sevens to take the lead and stayed ahead as the board ran out .
"He flops a pair every hand," a defeated Daly said to his rail as he made his exit in third place.
Albini and James Morgan are now preparing for the start of heads-up play.
| Steven Albini | 16,225,000 | 2,225,000 |
| James Morgan | 3,100,000 | 300,000 |
| Jason Daly | 0 | -1,600,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:12 PM Local Time
Albini is Now Huge
Limit Holdem
From the small blind Steven Albini raised and Jason Daly called from the big.
Then on the flop, Albini bet and Daly raise. Albini called to see the turn.
Albini check-called again to see the on the river.
Both players checked and Albini showed for a pair of sixes, which was the winning hand.
"Ouch," said Daly after the hand.
| Steven Albini | 14,000,000 | 2,700,000 |
| Jason Daly | 1,600,000 | -1,800,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:06 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 0
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:05 PM Local Time
Morgan Rockets to a Double
Limit Hold'em
James Morgan raised from the button and Jason Daly defended his big blind.
On the flop, Daly checked, Morgan bet, and Daly came back with a raise. Morgan called, leaving himself 75,000 behind, and they saw the turn.
Morgan got the rest of his chips in the middle and turned over . Daly had for a pair of deuces and a flush draw.
The river came the and Daly shot back in frustration upon missing his draw as Morgan stayed alive.
| Steven Albini | 11,300,000 | 5,600,000 |
| Jason Daly | 3,400,000 | -7,500,000 |
| James Morgan | 2,800,000 | -1,000,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 11:02 PM Local Time
"Ok, Just a Call"
Stud 8 or Better
James Morgan: / /
Steven Albini: / /
It's all about Steven Albini as of late as he's winning almost every important pot.
In this hand, Albini raised and James Morgan three-bet Albini four-bet and Morgan called.
Then on fourth and fifth street, Morgan bet and each time, Albini simply uttered, "Ok, just a call."
Until sixth street when Morgan bet and Albini raised. It took two minutes for Morgan to consider the situation and he eventually fold.
| Steven Albini | 9,700,000 | 4,000,000 |
| James Morgan | 2,100,000 | -1,700,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:51 PM Local Time
Albini Frustrates Morgan
Seven Card Stud
Steven Albini: / /
James Morgan: / /
James Morgan completed before Steven Albini raised. Morgan called and led out upon making a pair of eights on fourth.
Albini called, then called again on fifth. Both players checked on sixth and seventh.
Albini turned over for a pair of nines and Morgan flashed before angrily tossing his cards back to the dealer, muttering to himself as he did so.
| Steven Albini | 5,700,000 | 2,900,000 |
| James Morgan | 3,800,000 | -3,200,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:47 PM Local Time
Two Pair Good For Morgan
Seven Card Stud
Steven Albini: / /
James Morgan: / /
On fifth street, Steven Albini bet and Morgan called, but it was Morgan who led on the sixth street. On the last street, both players checked and Morgan announced "Two Pair" with in his hands for eights and threes.
Albini mucked and Morgan collected the pot to try to catch up to chip leader Jason Daly.
| James Morgan | 7,000,000 | 3,200,000 |
| Steven Albini | 2,800,000 | -1,300,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:39 PM Local Time
Albini Fighting Back
Seven Card Stud
Steven Albini: /
James Morgan: / - folded
Jason Daly: / - folded
Jason Daly completed before James Morgan raised. Steven Albini re-raised and both opponents called to fourth street.
Albini bet out again as Morgan and Daly both called. On fifth street, Albini put out another bet and Daly quickly folded.
Morgan, though, spent a few minutes in the tank, spying Albini's remaining chip stack, before he too gathered his cards and tossed them back to the dealer.
| Jason Daly | 10,900,000 | -1,400,000 |
| Steven Albini | 4,100,000 | 825,000 |
| James Morgan | 3,800,000 | -3,200,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:31 PM Local Time
Albini, Again And Again
Razz
After lots of raises, Steven Albini managed to get all of his chips against Jason Daly pretty early in this hand.
Steven Albini:
Jason Daly:
The cards were slung put quick and there was no way to catch the rest of the cards of Daly, who immediately turned them down when he saw Albini's had made an eighty-seven.
| Jason Daly | 12,300,000 | 300,000 |
| Steven Albini | 3,275,000 | 2,275,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:21 PM Local Time
Albini Whittled Down, Then Survives
Limit Hold'em
Steven Albini raised and both Jason Daly and Jason Morgan called.
The flop came and Albini continued with a bet. Daly raised, Morgan folded, and Albini called.
Daly bet again on the turn and Albini threw his hand away.
Knocked down to less than 1,000,000, Albini raised from the button in a hand of Omaha 8 or Better, leaving himself 100,000 behind, and both players called.
He put his last chips in on the flop and Morgan and Daly called, then checked down the turn and river.
Albini showed for two pair, while Daly took the low with .
| Jason Daly | 12,000,000 | 5,500,000 |
| James Morgan | 7,000,000 | 0 |
| Steven Albini | 1,000,000 | -3,000,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:13 PM Local Time
Albini Survives
Limit Hold'em
Steven Albini managed to bet most of his chips before the flop and was facing off against Jason Daly.
The flop came and Albini pushed the rest of it in with his . Daly called and showed the .
The turn was the and the river the giving Albini the double.
On the very next hand, Albini raised from the small blind and was call edin the big blind by Daly.
The flop came , Daly called a bet, and then folded on the turn after a second barrel from Albini.
| Jason Daly | 6,500,000 | -4,300,000 |
| Steven Albini | 4,000,000 | 2,375,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:07 PM Local Time
Richard Bai Eliminated in 4th Place ($61,862)
Limit Hold'em
On the first hand back from dinner break, Richard Bai raised from under the gun before James Morgan reraised. Bai called to see the flop.
Bai check-called a bet and went all in for his last 650,000 on the turn. Morgan called with and was ahead of Bai's .
The river came the and Morgan won the pot with his king-kicker to eliminate Bai in fourth place.
| James Morgan | 7,000,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Richard Bai | 0 | -1,625,000 |
Friday, June 17, 2022 10:01 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 0
Friday, June 17, 2022 9:05 PM Local Time
Chip Count Dinner Break
| Jason Daly | 10,800,000 | 300,000 |
| James Morgan | 5,300,000 | -1,500,000 |
| Steven Albini | 1,625,000 | 25,000 |
| Richard Bai | 1,625,000 | 500,000 |