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2019 50th Annual World Series of Poker The Official WSOP Live Updates

Friday, June 28, 2019 to Wednesday, July 03, 2019

$888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em (Event #64)

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  • Buy-in: $888
  • Prizepool: $8,139,852
  • Entries: 10,185
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

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Wednesday, July 3, 2019 7:51 PM Local Time
Lucky Bullet No. 7 Propels Rick Alvarado to Triumph in Crazy Eights Event for $888,888

Rick Alvarado

Sometimes, it takes more than one attempt to succeed. And there's always one more chance in an unlimited re-entry tournament.

Rick Alvarado needed to bust six times before he finally converted his number seven into something special. His relentlessness more than paid off.

Alvarado would eventually come out on top in the Event #64: $888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em, beating a 10,185-entry field to claim the $888,888 top-prize and his first WSOP bracelet.

"I'm stoked. It's quite unbelievable. I'm thrilled. This is my biggest cash," Alvarado said.

Final table results:

PlacePlayerCountryPrize (USD)
1Rick AlvaradoUnited States$888,888
2Mark RadojaCanada$548,888
3Thomas DrivasUnited States$409,888
4Vivian SalibaBrazil$308,888
5Aleksandras RusinovasLithuania$233,888
6Patrick ClarkeIreland$177,888
7Vlad DarieRomania$136,888
8Mario HoflerAustria$105,888

If coolers and bad beats are cornerstones of any poker tournament in the world, the Crazy Eights event lived up to its name. It's been an incredible ride full of sick hands and Alvarado was in the epicentre of it.

He came to the final day with one of the shorter stacks among the remaining 10, and there was only one way for him to rise through the standings.

"You know that you're gonna have to take big risks and I just hoped that the first risk I take pays off. And it did."

Alvarado wasn't scared to put his chips in play on the unofficial nine-handed final table, and his king-ten found help against pocket tens.

"After that, it was kind of smooth sailing," Alvarado said.

He was able to solidify himself among the big stacks, but the chips were flying all around the table. Patrick Clarke got the worst of it, getting two-outed by Mark Radoja and then three-outed by Vivian Saliba. While Clarke's promising run ended in sixth place following the nasty streak of tough beats, Radoja and Saliba made it to the final four.

Vivian Saliba
Vivian Saliba

That's where coolers and bad beats made for the storyline. Saliba was knocked out by Thomas Drivas with queens against aces, and while Alvarado remained very active, Drivas had a great opportunity to put Alvarado's aggression to bed.

But in the crucial hand of the tournament, Alvarado simply got there. He went for a huge four-bet shove in a blind-versus-blind spot which started with Drivas' limp. With almost three-quarters of all chips inside the pot, the winner was destined to be a tremendous favorite to win the bracelet.

Alvarado had queen-jack suited and he ran into pocket kings, but he hit the most expensive flush in Drivas' career.

"I'm never gonna live this one down. It was quite a misstep that turned out to be a great suckout," Alvarado said.

Alvarado revealed that he thought Drivas was tired of being bullied around. That's why he decided to go for it, thinking that this was the hand where Drivas is trying to stand up to the aggression without a real hand.

"And I was wrong, but that's how you win tournaments," Alvarado laughed.

It is quite fitting that even the last hand of the tournament didn't leave the better starting hand ahead. Fortunately for Alvarado, he was able to river his three-outer against Radoja, to win the tournament in possibly the best time anyone could. Just when his mom arrived in the Amazon Room.

"I told my mom not to worry about coming for the final 10 because I was a short stack," Alvarado said. But then he scored that first double, and his mom booked a flight from California.

"She was running through the airport to catch it. Then she got here and saw maybe three hands and I won it," Alvarado said. "I couldn't be happier. Everything just worked out today."

With such a scenario, Alvarado knew that the script was sublime today. But it may also be called compensation. Poker has presented Alvarado with some rough moments in the past.

He worked at In-N-Out Burger for around six years between two spells, first quitting to pursue a poker career. Then the Black Friday struck and he had to return.

But that experience didn't leave any mark on Alvarado's approach to the game. Playing the biggest final table of his life, Alvarado wasn't interested in pure laddering up.

"To be honest, I never really looked at the pay jumps too much. After I doubled up at the start of the day, I was just focused on that number one, going for the first place."

Now with $888,888 and a bracelet locked up, Alvarado knows that his shifts at the fast food joint will remain just a memory of the tough times he's overcome. He's made it.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:33 PM Local Time
Mark Radoja Eliminated in 2nd Place ($548,888)

Mark Radoja

Hand #146: Mark Radoja moved all in from the small blind for 45,000,000 and Rick Alvarado made the call from the big blind.

Mark Radoja:   
Rick Alvarado:   

The board ran out       and Alvarado rivered a pair of fours to win the tournament, eliminating Radoja in 2nd place for $548,888.

Rick Alvarado407,400,00045,400,000
Mark Radoja0-45,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:33 PM Local Time
Hands #142-145: Radoja Slipping

Mark Radoja

Hand #142: Mark Radoja limped, Rick Alvarado checked and Alvarado led out 6 million on    . Radoja called and the   hit the felt. Alvarado bet 15 million and Radoja folded.

Hand #143: Alvarado made it 8 million, Radoja called and the flop of     saw Radoja check. Alvarado bet 6 million and Radoja folded.

Hand #144: Radoja moved all in and Alvarado folded.

Hand #145: Alvarado made it 8 million, Radoja called and they saw     hit the felt. Both checked and they checked the   turn as well. The river was the   and Radoja checked one more time. Alvarado bet 12 million and Radoja folded.

Rick Alvarado362,000,00025,000,000
Mark Radoja45,000,000-25,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:26 PM Local Time
Hands #139-141: Alvarado's Shove Gets Through

Rick Alvarado

Hand #139: Rick Alvarado raised to 9,000,000 on the button and Mark Radoja called from the big blind. A flop of     was dealt and checked through to the   turn. Radoja bet 15,000,000 and Alvarado folded.

Hand #140: Radoja raised to 9,000,000 on the button and Alvarado called from the big blind. The flop was     and Alvarado checked. Radoja bet 8,000,000 and Alvarado check-raised to 28,000,000. Radoja let it go.

Hand #141: Alvarado raised to 9,000,000 on the button and Radoja called from the big blind. The dealer spread a flop of     and Radoja checked. Alvarado bet 8,000,000 and Radoja check-raised to 26,000,000. Alvarado responded by moving all in and Radoja snap-folded.

Rick Alvarado337,000,00045,000,000
Mark Radoja70,000,000-45,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:20 PM Local Time
Hands #135-138: Radoja Fires Two Barrels, Loses

Hand #135: Rick Alvarado raised to 9 million, Mark Radoja called and Radoja check-folded to a bet of 10 million on a     flop.

Hand #136: Radoja raised to 9 million, Alvarado called and now Alvarado check-folded as the flop rolled out    .

Hand #137: Radoja received a walk.

Hand #138: Radoja raised to 11 million and Alvarado called. Radoja barrelled 8 million on the     flop and 18 million on the   turn. Alvarado check-called both bets and the   river went check-check. Alvarado tabled    and Radoja couldn't beat that.

Rick Alvarado292,000,0000
Mark Radoja115,000,0000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:08 PM Local Time
Hands #131-134: Better Two Pair for Radoja

Hand #131: Rick Alvarado raised to 9 million and Mark Radoja folded.

Hand #132: Radoja raised to 8,000,000 on the button and Alvarado folded.

Hand #133: Alvarado raised to 9,000,000 on the button and Radoja called from the big blind. The flop came     and Radoja checked. Alvarado bet 10,000 and Radoja let it go.

Hand #134: Radoja raised to 9,000,000 on the button and Alvarado called from the big blind. The dealer fanned a flop of     and Alvarado checked. Radoja bet 8,000,000 and Alvarado check-called. The turn brought the   and Alvarado checked once more. Radoja bet 23,000,000 and Alvarado tank-called. The   filled up the board and was checked around. Alvarado showed    for nines and eights and and Radoja tabled    to win the pot with jacks and nines.

Rick Alvarado263,000,000-41,000,000
Mark Radoja144,000,00041,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:07 PM Local Time
Level 45 started
Level: 45
Blinds: 2,000,000/4,000,000
Ante: 4,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:07 PM Local Time
Hands #127-130: Small One for Radoja

Hand #127: Rick Alvarado made it 7 million and Mark Radoja called. Both checked the     flop and Radoja bet 8 million on the   turn. Alvarado called and the   river was checked. Radoja showed the best hand with   .

Hand #128: Alvarado got a walk.

Hand #129: Alvarado raised to 7 million and Radoja called. Radoja check-folded to a bet of 6 million on a     flop.

Hand #130: Radoja raised to 7.5 million and Alvarado called. The     flop was checked and Radoja won with a delayed c-bet of 8 million on the   turn.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:03 PM Local Time
Hands #123-126: Alvarado Adds to his Stack

Hand #123: Rick Alvarado raised to 7,000,000 on the button and Mark Radoja called from the big blind. The flop came     and was checked through to the   turn. Radoja checked once more and Alvarado bet 8,000,000. Radoja folded.

Hand #124: Radoja raised to 7,500,000 on the button and Alvarado called. A flop reaidng     was dealt and Alvarado checked. Radoja bet 6,000,000 and Alvarado check-called. The turn was the   and was checked through to the   river. Both players checked again and Alvarado tabled    to win the pot with his eights and fours.

Hand #125: Alvarado raised to 7,000,000 on the button and Radoja called from the big blind. The flop fell     and Radoja checked. Alvarado bet 6,000,000 and Radoja let it go.

Hand #126: Radoja raised to 7,500,000 from the small blind and Alvarado called from the big blind. The flop came     and was checked through to the   turn. Alvarado checked again and Radoja fired 8,000,000. Alvarado folded.

Rick Alvarado304,000,00027,000,000
Mark Radoja103,000,000-27,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 6:02 PM Local Time
Behind the Scenes of 888Ride with David Tuchman and Jungleman
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:57 PM Local Time
Hands #114-121: First Stretch Goes to Radoja

Hand #114: Mark Radoja got a walk.

Hand #115: Radoja limped, Rick Alvarado checked and they checked to the river of the       board where Radoja folded to a bet of 4 million.

Hand #116: Alvarado raised to 7 million, Radoja defended his big and they went to    . Radoja checked, Alvarado bet 8 million, and Radoja folded.

Hand #117: Radoja raised to 7.5 million and Alvarado called. Alvarado checked on     and Radoja took it down after firing 6 million.

Hand #118: Alvarado raised to 7 million, Radoja three-bet to 19 million, and Alvarado folded.

Hand #119: Radoja raised to 7.5 million and Alvarado folded.

Hand #120: Alvarado raised to 7 million, Radoja three-bet to 19 million, and Alvarado folded.

Hand #121: Radoja raised to 7.5 million, Alvarado called and Radoja took it down on the     flop as Alvarado check-folded to a bet of 6 million.

Rick Alvarado277,000,000-25,400,000
Mark Radoja130,000,00025,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:50 PM Local Time
Thomas Drivas Eliminated in 3rd Place ($409,888)

Thomas Drivas

Hand #113: Thomas Drivas limped from the small blind and Rick Alvarado raised to 10,000,000 from the big blind. Drivas three-bet to 36,000,000 and Alvarado responded by moving all in for about 170,000,000. Drivas snap-called for less putting at risk about 140,000,000.

Thomas Drivas:   
Rick Alvarado:   

Drivas was ahead but the board ran out       and Alvarado made a flush to win the pot, eliminating Drivas in 3rd place for $409,888.

Rick Alvarado302,400,000158,400,000
Mark Radoja105,000,0004,600,000
Thomas Drivas0-170,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:44 PM Local Time
Hand #112: Drivas Folds to Alvarado

Hand #112: Rick Alvarado raised to 7,000,000 on the button and Thomas Drivas called from the big blind. The flop fell     and Drivas checked. Alvarado bet 5,000,000 and Drivas check-called. The turn came the   and Drivas checked once more. Alvarado continued with a bet of 13,000,000 and Drivas let it go.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:43 PM Local Time
Hands #109-111: Radoja Three-Bet Shoves

Hand #109: Rick Alvarado opened his button to 7 million and Thomas Drivas called from the big blind.

Drivas checked the     and Alvarado bet 8.5 million. Drivas cut out a check-raise to 18.5 million and Alvarado called.

The   turn saw both players tap the felt and the   completed the board. Drivas checked, Alvarado fired what looked like 17.5 million and Drivas snap-folded.

Hand #110: Mark Radoja raised to 6.5 million on his button, Alvarado called from the big blind and he check-called 5 million on    . The rest of the board ran out   and   and neither of the players was willing to invest more into the pot. Radoja tabled    and Alvarado showed    so they split the pot.

Hand #111: Drivas opened his button to 7 million and Mark Radoja jammed from the big blind. Drivas eyed his stack and the dealer confirmed it was 88.9 million. Drivas folded.

Mark Radoja100,400,0004,400,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:33 PM Local Time
Hands #105-108: Alvarado Takes From Radoja

Hand #105: Thomas Drivas raised to 7,000,000 on the button and Mark Radoja called from the big blind.

The dealer spread a flop of     and Radoja checked. Drivas bet 8,000,000 and Radoja let it go.

Hand #106: Rick Alvarado raised to 7,000,000 on the button and Radoja three-bet shoved from the small blind. Alvarado snap-folded.

Hand #107: Drivas limped from the small blind and Alvarado checked from the big blind. A flop reading     was dealt and Alvarado fired 4,000,000. Drivas gave up his hand.

Hand #108: Alvarado raised to 10,500,000 from the small blind and Radoja called from the big blind. The flop fell     and was checked through to the   turn and to the   river. Alvarado bet 12,000,000 and Radoja folded.

Thomas Drivas170,000,000-8,000,000
Rick Alvarado144,000,00034,000,000
Mark Radoja96,000,000-20,000,000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:26 PM Local Time
Hands #102-104: Radoja and Alvarado Chop

Hand #102: Mark Radoja got a walk.

Hand #103: Rick Alvarado raised to 7 million on his button and he took the blinds.

Hand #104: Radoja made it 6.5 million on the button and Alvarado called in the big.

Alvarado check-called 4 million and then 12.5 million before they checked the river of the       board. Alvarado announced trips and opened    and Radoja also showed a five, chopping the pot with   .

Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:24 PM Local Time
Vivian Saliba Eliminated in 4th Place ($308,888)

Vivian Saliba

Hand #101: Mark Radoja raised to 5.3 million in first position, Thomas Drivas three-bet to 18 million to his left and Vivian Saliba cold four-bet shoved for 79.5 million from the small blind.

Radoja had no more business in the hand but Drivas called right away.

Thomas Drivas:   
Vivian Saliba:   

Her rail shouted for a queen, but it was all over for her on the turn on a       board. Drivas had her covered by about 5 million and the 888poker Ambassador was eliminated in 4th place.

Thomas Drivas178,000,00079,500,000
Vivian Saliba0-82,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:19 PM Local Time
Hands #96-100: Saliba Doubles Through Radoja

Hand #96: Mark Radoja raised to 6,500,000 on the button and Vivian Saliba three-bet shoved for 39,500,000 from the big blind. Radoja made the call.

Vivian Saliba:   
Mark Radoja:   

Saliba hit a favorable flop of    . The   turn and   river filled up the board and Saliba doubled up.

Hand #97: Radoja raised to 6,500,000 on the cutoff and Rick Alvarado called from the big blind. The flop was     and Alvarado checked. Radoja bet 5,000,000 and Alvarado check-called. The turn was the   and Alvarado checked again. Radoja bet 16,000,000 and Alvorado let it go.

Hand #98: Thomas Drivas raised to 6,500,000 on the cutoff and Alvarado called from the small blind. The dealer spread a flop of     and was checked through to the   turn. Alvarado fired 7,5000,000 and Drivas folded.

Hand #99: Saliba raised to 6,000,000 on the cutoff and got no action.

Hand #100: Alvarado raised to 6,500,000 on the cutoff and Radoja called on the button along with Saliba in the big blind. A flop reading     was dealt and Saliba checked. Alvarado threw in a bet of 10,000 and Radoja called but Saliba folded. The   filled up the board and Alvarado continued with a bet of 23,000,000 that was enough to claim the pot.

Mark Radoja116,000,000-40,500,000
Vivian Saliba82,000,00039,700,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 5:01 PM Local Time
Level 44 started
Level: 44
Blinds: 1,500,000/3,000,000
Ante: 3,000,000
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 4:50 PM Local Time
Break

The remaining 4 players are gone on a 15-minute break.

Mark Radoja156,500,0000
Rick Alvarado110,000,0000
Thomas Drivas98,500,0000
Vivian Saliba42,300,0000
Gorilla Gaming
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