Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship

For poker players, there's taking a shot, and then there's taking a shot — and that's exactly what Darius Samual did after risking half his bankroll to compete in the $25k Heads-Up Championship. The gamble paid off in spades, as Samual emerged victorious in the event by besting six opponents in a row to earn his first WSOP gold bracelet along with the $500,000 first-place prize here inside the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Samual's victory was all the more impressive considering he had to overcome a slew of poker juggernauts, including fan-favorite John Smith, Russian poker phenom Artur Martirosian, and Faraz Jaka, who has multiple poker titles to his name across various series.

"The match with John Smith I think was [my favorite]," Samual explained. "His small ball style was a lot of fun and it lasted a long time."

Samual, who said he only started playing "big tournaments" within the past six months, explained he doesn't specialize in any particular format of poker but was eager to take a shot.

"I don't have an exact area, I just play for fun and making some money," Samual said. "I basically put 50 percent of my bankroll on one tournament. I really wanted to go for it and this payout is like 95 percent of my poker money now. I took a shot! I think I was the only one who didn't care about the bracelet, I only cared about the money."

Event #6: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship Final Results

Semifinal Action

Artur Martirosian was arguably the man to beat today as he already had two WSOP bracelets to his name — one of which was from a $10,000 heads-up championship event online last year. Martirosian started the match off strong, using well-timed aggression and benefitting from an ill-timed bluff from Samual to pull out to an early lead.

Martirosian managed to build a 2:1 chip lead over Samual within the first few levels of play, but Samual's fortunes began to change once they were sent to the feature table. Shortly after being seated, Martirosian ran a multi-street bluff with ace-jack after flopping a gutshot draw, but Samual hung tough after flopping a pair of queens to flatten Matirosian's lead. Not long after, Samual took over the chip lead after flopping a pair of aces and getting three streets of value from Martirosian.

After a bit of back-and-forth, the final hand occurred after Martirosian got all in preflop with ace-ten against Samual's ace-king in a bit of a preflop cooler. The flop came king-high and ran out clean for Samual to earn his spot in the finals.

Across the room, Jaka got off to a bit of a rough start against Mamut after getting creative with ten-six suited, but he quickly rebounded by making a nice call facing a river three-bet bluff from Mamut. It was all Jaka from that point on, with several large pots ending in a fold by Mamut as the cards did not seem to go his way.

Mamut did manage to find a much-needed double-up after spiking two pair on the river against Jaka's single pair, but the momentum was short-lived. Several hands later, Mamut shoved preflop with king-queen and ran into Jaka's ace-jack. The board ran out clean for Jaka, which set the stage for the final match.

Heads-up Finale

Samual jumped out to an early lead by making several strong hands against Jaka, who was largely card-dead and unable to connect with any flops. The pain continued for Jaka for several levels, including a hand where he semi-bluff raised with a pair and a straight draw and was forced to fold facing a shove from Samual.

Not long after, the rest of Jaka's chips went into the middle in a classic preflop race, with Jaka holding ace-king and Samual holding pocket queens. Jaka flopped two pair and held, and just like that he was back to even.

Samual wouldn't be denied, however, and he quickly re-established the lead after pulling off a savage triple-barrel bluff with queen-high. With escalating blinds forcing the action, Jaka decided to make a stand with ace-six suited facing a preflop three-bet shove from Samaul, who held king-queen. Despite getting it in as a slight favorite, Samual flopped two pair and Jaka was unable to catch up, securing Samual's victory.

That a wrap for PokerNews event coverage. Be sure to check out our live-reporting hub for continuing coverage of the 2024 World Series of Poker and other events around the globe.

Faraz Jaka raised to 240,000, but then had a decision to make when Darius Samual re-raised to put Jaka all-in for his remaining 3,630,000.

Jaka decided to make a stand with a call, which put his tournament life at risk.

Faraz Jaka:    [allin]
Darius Samual:   

Jaka's Ace held the momentary lead before the flop, but it changed when the dealer fanned     on the board, putting Samual ahead with bottom two pair.

The   on the turn didn't help Jaka, and the   on the river ended Jaka's run at a second WSOP bracelet.

Jaka earned $300,000 for his effort.

Faraz Jaka

0

-4,085,000

Faraz Jaka raised on the button to 200,000 with   , and Darius Samual called in the big blind with   

The flop came    , giving Samual the advantage with middle pair. Both players elect to check this flop, to see a turn.

The turn was the  , giving Jaka an open-ended straight draw. Once Samual bet out 150,000, Jaka applied pressure and raised it up to 600,000, which was enough to get Samual and the better hand to fold.

Darius Samual	5,515,000	-200,000
Faraz Jaka	4,085,000	200,000

Darius Samual opened to 175,000 on the button and was three-bet by Faraz Jaka to 525,000.

Samual then shoved to put Jaka all in for his last 2,295,000 and Jaka called.

Faraz Jaka:    [allin]
Darius Samual:   

The     flop vaulted Jaka into the lead with two-pair and left Samual drawing slim.

The   turn and   river bricked out for Jaka, who gained new life in the match after doubling up to nearly even.

Darius Samual	5,010,000	-2,495,000
Faraz Jaka	4,590,000	2,495,000

Darius Samual called 60,000 on the button with  , and Faraz Jaka checked his option in the big blind   .

The flop came    , giving Jaka trip sevens and Samual a flush draw. However, both players elect to play it slow, and check to see a turn.

On the turn it gave Samual a pair to go along with his flush draw when the   hits the felt. Jaka overbet the pot when he bet 160,000, and Samual made the call.

Samual's flush draw bricked out when the   completes the board. Jaka went for value again, this time betting 350,00. However, Samual wisely chose to lay down his pair threes, and Jaka took the 470,000-chip pot.

Darius Samual	5,960,000	-270,000
Faraz Jaka	3,640,000	270,000

Players are taking a quick break. Action will resume in 10 minutes.

Faraz Jaka opened to 100,000 with    and Darius Samual defended his blind with   .

Samual check-called a 50,000 bet from Jaka on the     flop and both players checked on the   turn.

The   filled the river and Samual bet 75,000 with his two pair. Jaka quickly let his busted draw go and Samual extended his lead further.

Darius Samual	5,900,000	150,000
Faraz Jaka	3,700,000	-150,000