Thursday, November 4, 2021 12:51 AM Local Time
From Online Crusher to WSOP Gold: Eelis Parssinen Wins Event #64: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha
To most people who follow the high stakes online scene he's "EEE27." Today at the final table of Event #64: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha he was Eelis Parssinen, the newest World Series of Poker bracelet winner.
The Finnish pro was already among the best online cash game players in the world. He now has his breakthrough win on the live tournament scene, but he doesn't plan to change anything because he has a gold bracelet around his wrist.
"I don't play these live tournaments too often. I wouldn't consider myself as a live player," Parssinen said. "I like to play live, but, I mean, this is my fifth WSOP tournament ever and there is so much luck involved."
Parssinen needed all the luck he could get just to arrive at the final table. With around 40 players left, he lost a big pot that knocked him down to one big blind. He texted his friends in a group chat that he was out of the tournament. He managed to build that stack up to 2,800,000 at the start of the final table, in the middle of the pack among the nine players remaining.
He was far from alone. Outlasting a starting field of 579, at the final table were three fellow Scandinavians and his closest friends: Niklas Astedt, Samuli Sipila, and Joni Jouhkimainen.
Event #64: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table Results
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Eelis Parssinen | Finland | $545,616 |
2 | Noah Bronstein | United States | $337,216 |
3 | Ezra Abu Gazal | United States | $239,321 |
4 | David Prociak | United States | $172,332 |
5 | Joni Jouhkimainen | Finland | $125,940 |
6 | Kyle Arora | United States | $93,425 |
7 | Niklas Astedt | Sweden | $70,367 |
8 | Vikranth Anga | India | $53,824 |
Final Table Action
Parssinen doubled up through Jouhkimainen at the start of the final table by making quad queens. As Sipila fell in ninth place and Astedt in seventh, Parssinen doubled up again to get near the chip lead.
The fast structure left little room for maneuvering, and the remaining five players traded chips pre-flop before Jouhkimainen was knocked out in fifth place by Ezra Abu Gazal, who became Parssinen's nemesis at the final table. Parssinen complained that Abu Gazal's rail was leaning in too close and asked to change seats. Tensions rose as the bracelet was tantalizingly near for all those left.
With three players remaining, Parssinen picked up pocket aces in a PLO hand to double through Noah Bronstein and into the chip lead. He finally got the better of Abu Gazal, winning a flip with fives against queen-ten to send Abu Gazal home in third place and leave Parssinen heads-up against Bronstein with a 2.5:1 chip advantage.
Heads-up play wouldn't last long. Parssinen and Bronstein saw a flop of and got all the chips in the middle. Parssinen had flopped a set of sixes with , while Bronstein was drawing to a straight with . Bronstein picked up a flush draw on the turn but bricked the river, making Parssinen a WSOP bracelet winner and $545,616 richer.
To Parssinen, it could've easily been one of his friends to lift the bracelet. Luck was just on his side. "It's insane. There were like 600 people who started the first day. It's like a dream come true to play with these guys, my closest friends," he said.
"To be honest those players who I played with are the world's best in this format. They are really good in No-Limit and really good in PLO. I think they deserve it. Still, there is so much luck involved."
Parssinen doesn't plan to stick around for the Main Event but might return later in the series to play some of the last events. He, Jouhkimainen, Sipila, and the rest of his Scandinavian rail are already planning to go golfing tomorrow.
That wraps up the PokerNews live reporting teams coverage of Event #64: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha. Head over to the WSOP live reporting portal to check out coverage of other events.
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:49 PM Local Time
Noah Bronstein Eliminated in 2nd Place ($337,216)
Pot-Limit Omaha
Noah Bronstein potted to 3,400,000 and Eelis Parssinen called from the big blind. The flop came the . Bronstein bet, Parssinen raised all in, and Bronstein quickly called.
Noah Bronstein:
Eelis Parssinen:
Bronstein was drawing to a four to complete a straight against Parssinen's flopped set of sixes. He picked up a flush draw on the turn.
"Slowly," both players asked the dealer. The dealer turned over the , and Parssinen became a WSOP champion.
Stay tuned for a full recap of today's action.
Eelis Parssinen | 29,000,000 | 6,800,000 |
Noah Bronstein | 0 | -6,800,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:45 PM Local Time
Parssinen Grabs Some Chips
No-Limit Hold'em
Eelis Parssinen called on the button and Noah Bronstein checked his option.
The flop came and Bronstein check-folded after Perssinen bet 800,000.
Eelis Parssinen | 22,200,000 | 1,600,000 |
Noah Bronstein | 6,800,000 | -1,600,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:41 PM Local Time
Heads-Up Chip Counts
Eelis Parssinen | 20,600,000 | 0 |
Noah Bronstein | 8,400,000 | -3,500,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:40 PM Local Time
Ezra Abu Gazal Eliminated in 3rd Place ($239,231)
No-Limit Hold'em
Ezra Abu Gazal shoved for 3,500,000 from the button, Eelis Parssinen re-shoved from the small blind, and Noah Bronstein got out of the way.
Ezra Abu Gazal:
Eelis Parssinen:
Parssinen came out in front of the coin flip when the board came , knocking out Abu Gazal in third place and silencing his rowdy rail.
Parssinen and Bronstein are now preparing for the start of heads-up play.
Eelis Parssinen | 20,600,000 | 8,900,000 |
Ezra Abu Gazal | 0 | -7,400,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:36 PM Local Time
Bronstein Doubles through Parssinen
Pot-Limit Omaha
Eelis Parssinen raised to 2,100,000 on the button and Noah Bronstein shoved in the small blind for 5,600,000. Parssinen called and they revealed their cards:
Noah Bronstein:
Eelis Parssinen:
The board brought and Bronstein hit two pair for the double up.
Noah Bronstein | 11,900,000 | 5,400,000 |
Eelis Parssinen | 11,700,000 | -4,800,000 |
Ezra Abu Gazal | 7,400,000 | -1,000,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:30 PM Local Time
Level 36 started
Level: 36
Blinds: 400,000/800,000
Ante: 800,000
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:28 PM Local Time
Parssinen's Aces Rocket Him to Chip Lead
Pot-Limit Omaha
Eelis Parssinen potted to 2,100,000, Noah Bronstein re-potted, and Parssinen called all in for 7,625,000.
Eelis Parssinen:
Noah Bronstein:
Bronstein paired his five on the flop, but Parssinen made two pair on the turn to take a commanding lead. The river came the and Parssinen doubled up into the chip lead.
Eelis Parssinen | 16,500,000 | 11,100,000 |
Noah Bronstein | 6,500,000 | -6,900,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:22 PM Local Time
Bronstein Grabs Some Chips
No-Limit Holdem
Noah Bronstein completed his small blind and Ezra Abu Gazal checked to see a flop . Bronstein bet 600,000 and it was enough to win the pot right away.
Noah Bronstein | 13,400,000 | 1,950,000 |
Ezra Abu Gazal | 8,400,000 | -900,000 |
Eelis Parssinen | 5,400,000 | -900,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:19 PM Local Time
Abu Gazal Doubles Through Parssinen Again
Pot-Limit Omaha
Eelis Parssinen raised to 2,100,000 from the button. In the big blind, Ezra Abu Gazal sat riffling his chips for about a moment before shoving all in for 4,650,000. Parssinen called.
Ezra Abu Gazal:
Eelis Parssinen:
Abu Gazal's rail began chanting for hearts and got their wish as the board ran out , giving Abu Gazal a flush and the double up.
A few minutes earlier, Parssinen had complained to the tournament floor that Abu Gazal's supporters were leaning in too close to the table. The floor had to force them to move over to the side, while Parssinen switched seats.
Ezra Abu Gazal | 9,300,000 | 5,300,000 |
Eelis Parssinen | 6,300,000 | -4,700,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:14 PM Local Time
David Prociak Eliminated in 4th Place ($172,332)
Pot-Limit Omaha
The action folded to Noah Bronstein in the small blind who raised to 1,800,000. David Prociak tanked for a few minutes and decided to shove, which was immediately called by Bronstein.
David Prociak:
Noah Bronstein:
The flop revealed , giving a pair of jacks to Bronstein, and Prociak didn't improve on the turn and to be eliminated in 4th place.
Noah Bronstein | 11,450,000 | 3,850,000 |
David Prociak | 0 | -5,400,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:06 PM Local Time
Abu Gazal Doubles His Short-Stack
Pot-Limit Omaha
Ezra Abu Gazal had fallen down to around 2,000,000 and had 1,200,000 in from the big blind. Eelis Parssinen raised from under the gun and Abu Gazal called off for his last 975,000.
Ezra Abu Gazal:
Eelis Parssinen:
Abu Gazal improved to a pair of jacks on the flop and Parssinen was drawing dead by the turn. The river came the and Abu Gazal doubled up.
Eelis Parssinen | 11,000,000 | 2,500,000 |
Ezra Abu Gazal | 4,000,000 | -2,700,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 11:00 PM Local Time
Level 35 started
Level: 35
Blinds: 300,000/600,000
Ante: 600,000
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:48 PM Local Time
Prociak Doubles Twice in a Row Versus Bronstein
No-Limit Holdem
On the first hand, David Prociak pushed his last 1,075,000 under the gun and it folded to Noah Bronstein who made the call in the big blind.
Prociak had the best starting hand with the , facing the for Bronstein, and improved into a pair of kings thanks to the board to claim the pot and the double up.
Pot-Limit Omaha
The hand right after, it folded to Bronstein in the small blind who announced pot and Prociak made the call, being covered for a total stack worth 2,400,000.
David Prociak:
Noah Bronstein:
The board revealed the and Prociak's hand improved into a full house to give him another double up versus Bronstein.
Noah Bronstein | 7,600,000 | -3,100,000 |
David Prociak | 5,400,000 | 800,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:38 PM Local Time
Bronstein Flips Into the Lead
No-Limit Hold'em
There was a dead small blind with the elimination of Joni Jouhkimainen. From the button, Eelis Parssinen shoved all in and Noah Bronstein called from the big blind for his last 5,350,000.
Noah Bronstein:
Eelis Parssinen:
It was a massive flip for more than 10,000,000, and Bronstein would come out on top as the board ran out .
Noah Bronstein | 10,700,000 | 5,700,000 |
Eelis Parssinen | 8,500,000 | -3,800,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:34 PM Local Time
Joni Jouhkimainen Eliminated in 5th Place ($125,940)
No-Limit Holdem
Ezra Abu Gazal moved all in on the button and after some consideration, Joni Jouhkimainen called in the big blind for his last 1,000,000 to create the following showdown:
Joni Jouhkimainen:
Ezra Abu Gazal:
Jouhkimainen couldn't improve his hand throughout a board , giving a pair of queens to Abu Gazal on the flop, and made his way to the payout to collect his $125,940.
Ezra Abu Gazal | 6,700,000 | 1,700,000 |
Joni Jouhkimainen | 0 | -1,900,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:29 PM Local Time
Level 34 started
Level: 34
Blinds: 250,000/500,000
Ante: 500,000
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:27 PM Local Time
Bronstein's Turn to Double
Pot-Limit Omaha
Noah Bronstein potted for 1,400,000 from under the gun and Joni Jouhkimainen defended the big blind. The flop came and they quickly got all their chips in the middle, with Bronstein the shorter of the stacks with 1,225,000.
Noah Bronstein:
Joni Jouhkimainen:
Jouhkimainen was ahead with two pair, but Bronstein spiked a flush on the turn and secured the double up when the river came the .
Noah Bronstein | 5,000,000 | 400,000 |
Joni Jouhkimainen | 1,900,000 | -1,100,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:16 PM Local Time
Parssinen Finds a Double Up on Prociak
No-Limit Hold'em
Eelis Parssinen shoved under the gun for a total stack of 6,000,000 and David Prociak tanked for a minute before calling on the button.
Eelis Parssinen:
David Prociak:
Parssinen had to win the flip to double up, which he did after the board fell .
Eelis Parssinen | 12,300,000 | 7,400,000 |
David Prociak | 4,600,000 | -4,900,000 |
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 10:11 PM Local Time
Abu Gazal Doubles Through Prociak
No-Limit Hold'em
The first several hands back from break were taken down by a pre-flop raise until David Prociak raised all in from the cutoff and Ezra Abu Gazal called for about 2,500,000 from the button.
Ezra Abu Gazal:
David Prociak:
The board ran out and Abu Gazal made a full house on the river to double as his rail erupted in celebration.
David Prociak | 9,500,000 | -2,600,000 |
Ezra Abu Gazal | 5,000,000 | 600,000 |