Monday, July 9, 2018 12:35 AM Local Time
Anderson Ireland Wins $1,500 PLO Bounty for First Bracelet and $141,161
After ten hours of play on Day 3, including a more than four-hour heads-up battle, Anderson Ireland has won Event #67: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty at the 2018 World Series of Poker. Ireland topped a field of 833 runners en route to claiming his first WSOP gold bracelet and a top prize of $141,161.
If you were to google the New Orleans native, or search for any poker results relating to Ireland for that matter, one would come up empty-handed. This is in fact, Ireland's first WSOP cash and first live-recorded tournament score, ever.
"I've been working on it for a little while. Been playing PLO for eight months now. I have some really excellent teachers who teach me the hard way, by taking my money. They'll know who they are. I felt very confident the whole way through. Seemed very natural. It is such a better game than Texas Hold'em."
Anderson has been playing poker regularly for about two and a half years. This is just his 34th tournament ever according to his records."This is my first trip to the World Series. I played the Main. Busted on Day 2."
When asked about the grueling heads-up match against Matt O'Donnell, Ireland said, "That was very, very difficult. That was probably one of the more difficult poker sessions I've had. He was excellent. He was very, very good. I would argue that he is a better PLO player than I am. But the great thing about PLO is anything can happen. I think I played the best PLO I have ever played and I got a few good breaks. I even got a few bad breaks and came back from those."
"I got him all in three times and I was not all in against him a single time."
Final Table Results:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|
| 1 | Anderson Ireland | United States | $141,161 |
| 2 | Matt O'Donnell | United States | $87,198 |
| 3 | Joon Park | Canada | $61,013 |
| 4 | Michal Maryška | Czech Republic | $43,313 |
| 5 | Hai Chu | Austrailia | $31,203 |
| 6 | Andrew Holland | United States | $22,816 |
| 7 | Jonathan Thomas | United States | $16,937 |
| 8 | Harry Pozefsky | United States | $12,767 |
| 9 | Jameson Painter | United States | $9,776 |
Day 2 kicked off with the unofficial final table of ten. Eventual runner-up Matt O'Donnell returned as the chipleader with the lion's share of a $1,124,550 prize pool up for grabs. Ireland came into Day 3 with the second-best stack. The official final table would be set midway through the first level when James Morgan flopped top pair and got it in only to see O'Donnell with a wrap. O'Donnell made his flush on the turn and Morgan departed in 10th.
A collision of two of the big stacks saw Jameson Painter exit in ninth. With two clubs on the flop, Painter check-raised a Hai Chu bet and the two got it in. Unfortunately for Painter, Chu had a better flush draw which was completed on the turn and Chu took over the chip lead.
Moments later, Harry Pozefsky put himself at risk against Anderson Ireland. Both had flopped top pair but Ireland also flopped a second pair and it held through the run out to bust Pozefsky in eighth. Ireland would claim his second casualty at the table not long afterward, sending Jonathan Thomas to the rail in seventh place. Thomas was short and moved all-in on a six-high flop but Ireland had flopped the nuts and Thomas' day would come to an end.
Almost two whole levels went by before the field was reduced to five. Each of the short stacks scored a double and Andrew Holland attempted to score another, getting aces in preflop against Chu's kings but Chu turned trip fives and Holland was out.
Chu's elimination came after two hands against Ireland. After the two battled and Ireland came out on top for a huge pot, Chu was left with just two big blinds and Ireland scooped those up a couple hands later.
Less than 20 minutes later, the field was heads up. Michal Maryška, who had been grinding a short stack for most of the day and had rarely been seen in a pot, finally found a hand to get his chips in the middle but with pocket aces in his holding, June Park flopped a straight and Maryška was unable to improve.
Before Park even had the chance to stack his chips, he tangled with Ireland, finding aces of his own. After Ireland check-raised pot on a queen-high board, the two got it in and Ireland turned a straight to narrow the field to the final two. Ireland carried a two-to-one chip lead into the battle but O'Donnell was able to double twice to take the lead.
Runner-up, Matt O'Donnell, denied his second WSOP bracelet
Ireland closed the gap and would eventually reclaim the lead. The two would exchange pots back and forth with the chip lead coming along with them. Finally, Anderson began to take control and built a greater than five-to-one lead. It took more than four hours of heads-up play for the final hand to be dealt.
Ireland would get O'Donnell down to less than ten big blinds and got his opponent to put his chips in the middle behind and Ireland's queens would hold to eliminate O'Donnell in second place and capture the WSOP gold bracelet.
There is still plenty more to come from the 2018 World Series of Poker including the conclusion of the Main Event and the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop. Stay tuned to the blog as PokerNews will be on the floor providing live coverage of each event until the last card of the summer is dealt.
Monday, July 9, 2018 12:09 AM Local Time
Matt O'Donnell Eliminated in 2nd Place ($87,198)
After both players put 200,000 in preflop, the rest of the chips went in on a flop. Anderson Ireland bet 200,000 and called off Matt O'Donnell's all in shove for 460,000.
Matt O'Donnell:
Anderson Ireland:
Ireland was ahead and a run out would secure the bracelet. O'Donnell finishes runner-up for $87,198 while Ireland banks $141,161 for the win.
| Anderson Ireland | 6,250,000 | 1,065,000  |
| Matt O'Donnell | 0 | -1,065,000  |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 11:49 PM Local Time
More Chips for Ireland
Anderson Ireland limped and Matt O'Donnell checked his option. The flop came down and O'Donnell check-called a bet of 125,000 to see the on the turn.
O'Donnell check-called once more, this time for 300,000 before folding to a bet of 600,000 on the river when the peeled off.
Ireland showed O'Donnell two sixes, making quads.
| Anderson Ireland | 5,185,000 | 85,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 1,065,000 | -85,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 11:39 PM Local Time
All-in and a...Chop
Matt O'Donnell limped the button and Anderson Ireland checked his option in the big blind.
The flop fell and it checked through to the turn. Ireland put out a bet of 125,000 and O'Donnell raised pot to 535,000. Ireland thought for a couple of seconds before making the call.
The river came the and Ireland announced "all in" for O'Donnells remaining chips.
"If you got it you got it, man," said O'Donnell sliding the rest of his stack in the middle.
Matt O'Donnell:
Anderson Ireland:
Both players held a straight to the eight and would chop the pot.
| Anderson Ireland | 5,100,000 | -250,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 1,150,000 | 250,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 11:28 PM Local Time
Anderson Taking Control
| Anderson Ireland | 5,350,000 | 2,040,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 900,000 | -2,040,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 11:15 PM Local Time
Level 29 started
Level: 29
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 0
Sunday, July 8, 2018 11:08 PM Local Time
Counts at Break Time
The pair of players are now on a 15-minute break.
| Anderson Ireland | 3,310,000 | 135,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 2,940,000 | -135,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 10:51 PM Local Time
Ireland Retakes the Lead with Top Two
Matt O'Donnell limped in and called a raise to 150,000 from Anderson Ireland. Ireland continued on a flop with a bet of 175,000 and O'Donnell called.
The was the turn and Ireland check-called a bet of 425,000 to see the on the river.
Ireland bet 500,000 and tabled the to take the pot with two pair when O'Donnell called.
| Anderson Ireland | 3,175,000 | 1,250,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 3,075,000 | -1,250,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 10:41 PM Local Time
Ireland Gets Some Right Back
On the button, Anderson Ireland limp-called a bet of 160,000 from Matt O'Donnell and the pair of players went to a flop of .
O'Donnell check-called a bet of 150,000 and they both saw the fall on the turn and it checked through.
On the river, O'Donnell again checked it to Ireland who assembled a hefty bet of 400,000, sending O'Donnell into the tank. After a minute or so of weighing the options, O'Donnell tossed in a single chip to indicate a call and Ireland rolled over for threes full of twos and O'Donnell's hand sailed into the muck as he counted out the chips.
| Matt O'Donnell | 4,325,000 | -525,000 |
| Anderson Ireland | 1,925,000 | 525,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 10:34 PM Local Time
O'Donnell Pulling Away
Anderson Ireland and Matt O'Donnell each put in 150,000 preflop and were dealt an board. Ireland bet 125,000 and O'Donnell check-called.
The fell on the turn and after Ireland bet 250,000, O'Donnell check-raised to 700,000. Ireland flatted to see the complete the board. O'Donnell bet out, and with his life on the line, Ireland folded.
| Matt O'Donnell | 4,850,000 | 500,000 |
| Anderson Ireland | 1,400,000 | -500,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 10:24 PM Local Time
O'Donnell Adds to the Lead
Matt O'Donnell raised the button and Anderson Ireland called.
On the flop, Ireland check-called a bet of 150,000 from O'Donnell. The turn brought the and O'Donnell fired again for 175,000 which Ireland check-called. The river completed the board and Ireland checked once and O'Donnell fired another bet out, this time for 300,000, and Ireland didn't contemplate long before tossing his hand into the muck.
| Matt O'Donnell | 4,350,000 | 1,050,000 |
| Anderson Ireland | 1,900,000 | -1,050,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 10:07 PM Local Time
Level 28 started
Level: 28
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 0
Sunday, July 8, 2018 10:07 PM Local Time
Ireland Closes the Gap
A limp and a check brought a flop and Anderson Ireland led for 100,000. Matt O'Donnell raised to 300,000 and Ireland called. Ireland checked the on the turn and then called a 400,000 bet from O'Donnell.
The hit the river and Ireland led this time, firing 750,000, which O'Donnell would eventually fold to.
| Matt O'Donnell | 3,300,000 | -450,000 |
| Anderson Ireland | 2,950,000 | 450,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 9:57 PM Local Time
Ireland's River Bluff Gets Called
Anderson Ireland limp-called 150,000 from Matt O'Donnell on the button and the two players went to a flop of . O'Donnell led out for 200,000 and Ireland called.
On the turn, action went check-check to the river where Ireland assembled a bet of 300,000. O'Donnell considered his options for a moment before putting in the call.
"Good call," said Ireland, "ten high," he said, flashing a . O'Donnell flipped over for two pair, queens and eights, and gained back a small chip lead.
| Matt O'Donnell | 3,750,000 | 175,000 |
| Anderson Ireland | 2,500,000 | -175,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 9:40 PM Local Time
O'Donnell Doubles to Take the Lead
Anderson Ireland opened to 150,000 and Matt O'Donnell defended the big. A flop fanned out and Anderson continued with a 150,000 bet which O'Donnell called.
The hit the turn and Ireland bet 275,000. O'Donnell moved all in for 1,460,000 and Ireland called to put the tournament on the line.
Matt O'Donnell:
Anderson Ireland:
The changed nothing on the river and O'Donnell doubled with his straight.
| Matt O'Donnell | 3,575,000 | 1,325,000 |
| Anderson Ireland | 2,675,000 | -1,325,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 9:28 PM Local Time
O'Donnell Cuts into the Lead Again
Matt O'Donnell limp-called a bet of 150,000 from Anderson Ireland on the button and the two players saw a flop of .
Ireland led out for 150,000 and O'Donnell made the call. On the turn, Ireland sized up for a bet of 350,000 and O'Donnell thought for a minute before putting in the call.
The river saw Ireland check it over to O'Donnell who, after some thinking, moved all in for 930,000.
Ireland went into the tank for a minute, but ended up finding a fold on the "worst river possible."
| Anderson Ireland | 4,000,000 | -375,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 2,250,000 | 375,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 9:18 PM Local Time
Ireland Gets Some Back
Anderson Ireland has taken down the first two sizeable pots after the break to give himself some breathing room against Matt O'Donnell.
In the first one, O'Donnell opened to 150,000 and Ireland flatted. The flop came down and O'Donnell check-called a bet of 200,000. The hit the turn and both checked to see the on the river.
Two more checks saw Ireland claim the pot tabling the .
The next one saw Ireland limp-call a raise to 150,000 with a flop fanning out. O'Donnell bet 150,000 and Ireland called to see the hit the turn.
Both players checked to bring the on the river and O'Donnell check-folded to a bet of 300,000.
| Anderson Ireland | 4,375,000 | 825,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 1,875,000 | -825,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 9:03 PM Local Time
Level 27 started
Level: 27
Blinds: 25000/50000
Ante: 0
Sunday, July 8, 2018 8:46 PM Local Time
Break Time
Instead of taking the scheduled dinner break, the two finalists have decided to take just a 20-minute break. Here's how they currently stack up:
| Anderson Ireland | 3,550,000 | -550,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 2,700,000 | 600,000 |
Sunday, July 8, 2018 8:45 PM Local Time
O'Donnell Chips Up
On the button, Matt O'Donnell limp-called 120,000 from Anderson Ireland and they went to the flop of .
Ireland led out for 150,000 and was met with a raise to 425,000 from O'Donnell. Ireland thought for a moment before making the call.
The turn was the and it checked through.
On the river, both players again checked. Ireland showed a pair of jacks but O'Donnell tabled for two pair, threes and fours, and cut down on Ireland's chip lead.
| Anderson Ireland | 3,550,000 | -550,000 |
| Matt O'Donnell | 2,700,000 | 600,000 |