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

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.

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

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

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

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

The final six players have been sent on a 15-minute break.

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

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