Monday, June 27, 2022 2:44 AM Local Time
WSOP Rookie Kijoon Park Wins Event #52: $2,500 Nine-Game Mix 6-Handed
New York online grinder Kijoon Park overcame a star-studded field of 456 players, including some of the best mixed game players in the world, to win what's become affectionately known as "The Mini PPC", the $2,500 Nine-Game Mix, for a career-best $219,799 and his first World Series of Poker bracelet.
He entered heads-up play with a massive chip lead before defeating Andre Akkari, in front of a boisterous Brazilian rail, in just two hands to claim the title.
Event #52: $2,500 Nine Game Mix 6-Handed Final Table Results
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Kijoon Park | United States | $219,799 |
2 | Andre Akkari | Brazil | $135,848 |
3 | Phil Long | United Kingdom | $90,411 |
4 | David Bach | United States | $61,588 |
5 | Taylor Paur | United States | $42,965 |
6 | Michael Chow | United States | $30,713 |
Winner's Reaction
Park's previous best results have come online, where he's won a WSOP Circuit ring in 6-max No-Limit Hold'em and has over $100,000 in online earnings. He said his experience playing online mixed games was key to his victory.
"I play a lot of 8-Game on PokerStars New Jersey, so it paid off I guess."
With this event being just his second-ever live WSOP event, (he was eliminated from the $1,500 8-Game event on Day 1) he says with the bracelet and $219,799 now to his name, he might just play a few more events before the series is done.
"The plan might be to play more and play the rush. I might just grind every day!"
He's also excited to play the Tournament of Champions at the end of the WSOP and has already signed up for the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. and the $600 Mixed PLO/NLH event later in the series.
The Day's Action
Despite 24 players starting the day, the first two levels of play saw lightning-fast eliminations, leaving only 13 players at the first break. Among those sent away early were Phil Hellmuth, who was the first to go in 24th place, Scott Seiver in 22nd place and Joey Couden in 21st place.
Once back from break, the next round of eliminations began, with GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu next out the door in 13th place. More bracelet winners were sent away before the final table including Mike Gorodinsky in 11th place and Scott Bohlman in eighth place.
The Kijoon Park Show Begins
Once the unofficial final table began, so did the Kijoon Park show. With eight players remaining, he steadily built up a chip lead before solidifying it in a massive Omaha 8 or Better pot that ended with him stacking more than half the chips in play.
After the elimination of Nick Guagenti in seventh place, the final break of the day was taken with six players left, and while Park wasn't involved in the eliminations of Michael Chow in sixth place or Taylor Paur in fifth place, he continued to win crucial pots to build his chip stack with another big Omaha 8 or Better pot sending him over the ten million chip mark.
Park then took the rest of the eliminations into his own hands, sending David Bach home in fourth place, Phil Long in third and finally Akkari heads-up to claim the bracelet.
This concludes our coverage of Event #52. Congratulations to Kijoon Park on his impressive victory. Stay close to PokerNews for continuing coverage of the 53rd World Series of Poker from its new home at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
Monday, June 27, 2022 1:51 AM Local Time
Andre Akkari Eliminated In 2nd Place ($135,848)
Limit Holdem
Andre Akkari opened and Kijoon Park called. Then on a , Park check-called flop, turn and both players checked the river.
Park showed for a pair of kings found on the river, while Akkari hade for a pair of eights on the flop.
On the very next hand, Akkari was crippled and went all-in before the flop.
Andre Akkari:
Kijoon Park:
The board ran and Park did not event notice that he made a straight to win this tournament !
Kijoon Park | 15,960,000 | 15,960,000 |
Andre Akkari | 0 | -1,315,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 1:34 AM Local Time
Phil Long Eliminated in 3rd Place ($90,411)
Limit Hold'em
Kijoon Park raised in the small blind and Phil Long re-raised in the big blind to put himself all-in. Park called to put him at risk.
Phil Long:
Kijoon Park:
The board came , giving Park two pair, nines and fives to eliminate Long and set up heads-up play versus Andre Akkari.
The players have been sent on a quick ten-minute break before heads-up play begins.
Kijoon Park | 14,600,000 | 14,600,000 |
Andre Akkari | 1,315,000 | -965,000 |
Phil Long | 0 | -880,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 1:31 AM Local Time
David Bach Eliminated in 4th Place ($61,588)
Pot Limit Omaha
From the small blind, David Bach announced, "Pot." In the big blind, Kijoon Park took stock of his opponent's stack, it was around 800,000 left, then called.
On the flop, Bach bet pot and then called off when Park raised.
David Bach:
Kijoon Park:
Park made a set on the flop to crack Bach's queens, and after the turn and the river, David Bach was eliminated. Park now owns the vast majority of the chips in play.
Kijoon Park | 12,500,000 | 12,500,000 |
David Bach | 0 | -1,350,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 1:17 AM Local Time
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Monday, June 27, 2022 1:15 AM Local Time
Park Pulling Away
Limit Omaha 8 or Better
Kijoon Park raised on the button and was called by Andre Akkari in the big blind.
On each street of a runout, Akkari check-called bets from Park, only to see Park show at the end for a seven-high straight and a six-five low to scoop the pot and give him almost three-quarters of the chips in play.
Kijoon Park | 11,350,000 | 11,350,000 |
Andre Akkari | 2,280,000 | -1,520,000 |
David Bach | 1,350,000 | -50,000 |
Phil Long | 880,000 | -900,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:59 AM Local Time
Long Doubles Through Park
No-Limit Hold'em
Kijoon Park moved all in from the small blind for Phil Long's remaining 880,000 in the big blind.
After confirming that he had less than fellow tablemate David Bach, Long opted to go with it and call.
Phil Long:
Kijoon Park:
Park had his opponent dominated and on the verge of elimination, but the flop bailed Long out.
The turn and river kept Long ahead as he doubled up into third place, with Bach now the shortest remaining stack.
Kijoon Park | 9,500,000 | 9,500,000 |
Phil Long | 1,780,000 | 400,000 |
David Bach | 1,400,000 | -600,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:50 AM Local Time
Taylor Paur Eliminated in 5th Place ($42,965)
No-Limit Holdem
Andre Akkari raised to 175,000 and Taylor Paur announced-all-in for 900,000. Everybody folded to Akkari who snap-called.
Taylor Paur:
Andre Akkari:
The board came and Akkari made two-pair to eliminate Paur.
Andre Akkari | 3,800,000 | -400,000 |
Taylor Paur | 0 | -755,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:44 AM Local Time
Akkari Takes a Chunk From Park
Limit 2-7 Triple Draw
Kijoon Park raised on the button and Andre Akkari defended his big blind.
Each player then drew two cards, and after Akkari checked, the aggressive Park put out a bet.
Akkari called and then each player drew only one.
Again Akkari checked, and once more, Park bet.
Akkari called again, and each player still needed a card.
The players then checked the end, with the Brazilian showing for the winner to drag another pot, as he's been heating up of late with the boisterous Brazilian rail now surrounding "The Horseshoe" in the Bally's Event Center in support of their man.
Kijoon Park | 8,900,000 | 8,900,000 |
Andre Akkari | 4,200,000 | 2,080,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:34 AM Local Time
Michael Chow Eliminated In 6th Place ($30,713)
Stud 8 or better
Michael Chow was all-in for his last 390,000 against David Bach on third street.
Michael Chow:
David Bach:
David Bach made two-pair aces and sixes and that was enough to eliminate Michael Chow from this tournament
David Bach | 2,000,000 | 235,000 |
Michael Chow | 0 | -400,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:28 AM Local Time
Park Frustrates Long
Seven Card Stud 8 or Better
Kijoon Park: / /
Phil Long: / /
Michael Chow: / - folded fifth street
Phil Long defended his bring-in after Michael Chow raised and Kijoon Park called.
With the betting lead on fourth, Chow bet and was called by both opponents.
On fifth street, Chow slowed down and checked, opening the door for Park to bet and Long to call. Chow then folded.
Park then bet on sixth and seventh streets, with Long visibly annoyed on seventh with the situation.
Ultimately he showed in the hole, scooped up his cards and mucked then, sending another pot to Park, who is approaching ten million chips.
Kijoon Park | 9,700,000 | 9,700,000 |
Phil Long | 1,380,000 | -1,000,000 |
Michael Chow | 400,000 | -410,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:18 AM Local Time
Here's the Plan...
With six players remaining, the tournament staff has decided that if play is not completed within the next two levels, play will be halted for the night and the remaining players will come back tomorrow to finish.
However, if only two players remain at the end of these two levels, they will be offered an extra level to potentially complete play.
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:18 AM Local Time
Level 29 started
Level: 29
Blinds: 0/0
Ante: 0
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:11 AM Local Time
Chip Counts at Break
Kijoon Park | 8,130,000 | 8,130,000 |
Phil Long | 2,380,000 | 680,000 |
Andre Akkari | 2,120,000 | 1,020,000 |
David Bach | 1,765,000 | 340,000 |
Michael Chow | 810,000 | -280,000 |
Taylor Paur | 755,000 | -645,000 |
Monday, June 27, 2022 12:07 AM Local Time
Break Time
The final six players have been sent on a 15-minute break.
Sunday, June 26, 2022 11:56 PM Local Time
Akkari Doubles Through Chow
No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw
Michael Chow raised to 140,000 in first position and was called by Andre Akkari in the big blind.
Each player drew one and Akkari checked. Chow then moved all in for Akkari's 410,000 effective and the Brazilian called.
Chow showed , but Akkari showed for a one-card draw cooler to double to over a million chips.
Andre Akkari | 1,100,000 | -500,000 |
Michael Chow | 1,090,000 | -310,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 11:46 PM Local Time
Long Double Up On Akkari
Pot Limit Omaha
Phil Long raised and Andre Akkari three-bet from the button, which was almost enough to put Long at risk.
A flop of came on the table, and the rest of Long's Stack went in the pot.
Andre Akkari:
Phil Long:
Long made a straight on the flop, after a and a completed that board, he was shipped a double up.
Phil Long | 1,700,000 | 500,000 |
Andre Akkari | 1,600,000 | -465,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 11:41 PM Local Time
Nick Guagenti Eliminated in 7th Place ($22,512)
Razz
Nick Guagenti has been ousted from the tournament after being wheeled away by David Bach in Razz.
The last of Guagenti's short stack went in on fourth street, and by sixth, he was drawing dead to Bach's made seven.
Just for good measure on seventh street, the three-time bracelet winner made a wheel to solidify his victory as Guagenti headed for the exit.
David Bach | 1,425,000 | 225,000 |
Nick Guagenti | 0 | -370,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 11:33 PM Local Time
Akkari Takes From Paur
Razz
Andre Akkari: / /
Taylor Paur: / /
Andre Akkari bet every street, and Paur called each time, even if he was looking sad when he saw his opponent's card on every street. On the seventh street, both players checked and Akkari showed . It was the winning hand.
Andre Akkari | 2,065,000 | 905,000 |
Taylor Paur | 1,400,000 | -1,100,000 |
Sunday, June 26, 2022 11:24 PM Local Time
Park Takes Huge Chip Lead After Biggest Pot of Tournament
Limit Omaha 8 or Better
Over 1,500,000 chips were in the pot before a flop was even spread as Taylor Paur raised under the gun, Nick Guagenti three-bet from middle position, and then Kijoon Park made it four bets from the cutoff with both Paur and Guagenti calling.
The flop came , and after action was checked to Park, who bet in position, Paur called and then Guagenti raised. Both his opponents called and almost 2,500,000 was now in the pot.
On the turn, ensuring no low would be possible and the already massive pot would be scooped, things got even bigger.
This time it was Guagenti making the first bet. Park then called and now it was Paur putting in the raise. Both opponents called and just under another 1,500,000 was in the middle.
The river paired the board with the and after Paur now checked and Guagenti bet, it was Park's turn to raise.
Paur quickly folded, but Guagenti, down to under 400,000 left, needed several minutes to think.
He frustratedly came to the decision of a fold, awarding the massive over four million chip pot to Park, who now has a commanding lead over his six remaining opponents.
Kijoon Park | 8,550,000 | 8,550,000 |
Taylor Paur | 2,500,000 | -1,050,000 |
Nick Guagenti | 370,000 | -1,680,000 |