Saturday, June 15, 2019 7:36 PM Local Time
Roman Korenev Wins Event #26: $2,620 No-Limit Hold'em Marathon After a "Marathon" Battle
There is a reason why they call it "a marathon" and on Day 6 of the 2019 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #26: $2,620 No-Limit Hold'em Marathon the 1,083-entry tournament lived up to its name. An epic heads-up battle resulted in Russian online poker pro Roman Korenev capturing his first WSOP gold bracelet and a payday of $477,401.
Korenev defeated Minnesota's Jared Koppel, who came into the day as the overwhelming chip leader but the heads-up battle was nothing short of exciting. The pendulum swung back and forth multiple times and both players had their opponent on the brink of elimination. Korenev got things started when he got all of his chips in the middle with pocket sevens against the pocket queens of Koppel. A seven on the flop gave Korenev a double up and the match was on.
In total, there were 12 double-ups once the heads-up match got underway. Five of the first eight were a result of the short-stack getting it in behind but finding a way to catch up. On the 13th all-in of the match, Korenev finally had Koppel on the ropes. Koppel flopped top pair with a straight draw but Korenev turned a higher pair when all of the chips got in the middle. The river improved Korenev to two pair and his Russian rail exploded into cheers and chants.
"I feel great! It was a long way to this result. I have nothing to say, no words," an overjoyed Kovenev said. "Dreams come true."
As for Koppel, he walked away with a prize of $295,008 but will have to wait for another day to get his chance at a coveted bracelet. For Korenev, it seems fitting that he captured his largest career prize at the WSOP in Las Vegas given how much success he's had in the past. Back in 2016, Korenev cashed in eight different events and followed that up with four cashes in 2017 and 2018 each. This is his second cash so far this summer and it surely will be one he will never forget.
When asked about the back and forth heads-up match, Korenev did not want to relive it.
"I don't want to talk about this," he grinned. But as for the Marathon-themed event, he said he felt comfortable in that environment. "With the longer levels you have the option to make more mistakes, and let people make more mistakes. It also helps for periods when you're card dead. It's better for professional players, for sure."
What's next for the Russian player that plans on staying in Las Vegas all summer?
"Next bracelet!" he said with a loud chuckle.
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1st | Ramon Korenev | Russia | $477,401 |
2nd | Jared Koppel | United States | $295,008 |
3rd | Dong Sheng Peng | China | $208,726 |
4th | Francis Anderson | United States | $149,605 |
5th | Joe Curcio | United States | $108,646 |
6th | Joseph Liberta | United States | $79,957 |
7th | Matt Russell | United States | $59,642 |
8th | Gustavo Darosamuniz | Brazil | $45,100 |
9th | Peter Hong | United States | $34,580 |
Only six players returned to the felt for the live-streamed final table on Saturday and the action got off to a bit of an awkward start with Dong Sheng Peng not arriving til around the 10th hand of the day. That didn't seem to slow any of the action down though, as there were many all-ins in the opening hour.
Joseph Liberta came into the day as one of the shorter stacks and he got all of his chips in the middle in a dominated position blind vs blind against Korenev. Despite seeing his live card in the window, Liberta was quickly disappointed to see that Korenev flopped a bigger pair. Liberta was unable to find any help on the turn or river and became the day's first casualty.
It was only moments later when short-stacked Joe Curcio got the last of his seven big blinds in the middle with pocket aces. He was called by Francis Anderson's queen-ten who flopped a pair of queens. The turn card was a ten to give Anderson two pair and Curcio was sent to the payout desk in fifth place. As for Anderson, he didn't last much longer. He wound up getting 30 big blinds in the middle with pocket nines against Korenev's pocket sixes. Unfortunately for Anderson, Korenev was running too pure as he spiked a six on the flop to send Anderson home in fourth place.
For the man who didn't get much time at the feature table, Peng also didn't have much luck go his way. He quickly became one of the short stacks and he shoved all in for around 17 big blinds from the small blind. Korenev woke up with pocket kings in the big blind and Peng was drawing extremely slim. While he picked up a straight and flush draw on the turn, the river bricked off and Peng was eliminated in third place. So within 90 minutes, the field was quickly whittled from six players to just two.
Lots of people thought this could be a quick final table, but as stated above, they couldn't have been farther from the truth. It took well over five hours for the heads-up battle between Korenev and Koppel to come to an end but at least there was no shortage of excitement.
That wraps up PokerNews' coverage for another event here at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino but stay tuned as there is still plenty of more events on the go for the 2019 World Series of Poker.
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:59 PM Local Time
Jared Koppel Eliminated in 2nd Place ($295,008)
Hand #419: Jared Koppel limped in on his button and Roman Korenev made it 1,000,000 to go from the big blind. Koppel called and the flop came . Korenev checked and Koppel tossed in a bet of 1,000,000. Korenev called and the landed on the turn. Korenev checked to Koppel who shoved all in for 3,900,000. Korenev snap-called and had Koppel in trouble once again.
Roman Korenev:
Jared Koppel:
The rail started to make a drum-roll noise as the river was about to hit the felt. The dealer burned and turned the and Korenev finally outlasted Koppel to bring an end to an epic Marathon battle.
Roman Korenev | 28,300,000 | 5,800,000 |
Jared Koppel | 0 | -5,900,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:53 PM Local Time
Hands #414-418: Korenev Doubles, Koppel Doubles Right Back
Hand #414: Roman Korenev raised to 625,000 and won the hand.
Hand #415: Jared Koppel opened with a raise to 625,000, Korenev three-bet to 2,130,000, Koppel four-bet shoved all in and Korenev called directly for 12,500,000 total.
Roman Korenev:
Jared Koppel:
Flop kept Korenev miles ahead but the added straight outs for Koppel. The wasn't one of the outs he needed, though, making Korenev the winner of the eleventh double-up of the heads-up. Koppel was left with just twelve big blinds after the hand.
Hand #416: Korenev shoved all in on the button and Koppel called directly.
Jared Koppel:
Roman Korenev:
It was the twelfth all in of the heads-up and the American and Russian would continue onwards to number thirteen after the board fell to keep Koppel's fours ahead.
Hand #417: Jared Koppel shoved all in for 5,900,000 on the button and Roman Korenev folded his big blind.
Hand #418: Korenev raised to 625,000 on the button and Koppel quickly folded.
Roman Korenev | 22,500,000 | 10,200,000 |
Jared Koppel | 5,900,000 | -10,200,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:44 PM Local Time
Hands #409-413: Korenev Stays Within Reach
Hand #409: Jared Koppel raised to 625,000 on the button and Roman Korenev defended from the big blind. The flop came and Korenev check-called a bet of 500,000 from Koppel. The turn was the and both players checked to the on the river. Korenev checked again and Koppel fired out a bet of 1,900,000 which got Korenev to fold.
Hand #410: Korenev limped in on the button and Koppel checked his option. The flop fell and both players checked to the on the turn. Koppel led out for 500,000 and Korenev instantly mucked.
Hand #411: Koppel just called on the button and Korenev chose to see a flop of . They both checked to the on the turn and Korenev claimed the pot with a bet of 500,000.
Hand #412: Korenev raised to 625,000 and Koppel called from the big blind. The flop came and Koppel checked to Korenev who continued for 600,000. Koppel called and the landed on the turn. Both players checked to the on the river and they checked it down. Koppel tabled while Korenev showed to scoop the pot.
Hand #413: Koppel made it 625,000 on the button and Korenev three-bet to 2,125,000 which got a fold from Koppel.
Jared Koppel | 16,100,000 | -700,000 |
Roman Korenev | 12,300,000 | 700,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:38 PM Local Time
Hands #406-408: Korenev Showing Aggression
Hand #406: Roman Korenev limped and Jared Koppel checked. Koppel checked the flop to Korenev, who bet 300,000. Call from the American.
The turn brought the and Koppel checked. Korenev's second barrel was for 800,000 and Koppel once again called. The on the river prompted a check from Koppel. Korenev emptied the clip with a bet of 2,100,000.
Koppel slumped back in his chair, took a sip of his drink, double-checked his hole cards, and pondered for possibly the longest time thus far in their epic heads-up clash. After about two minutes, he decided against the call and threw his hand away.
Hand #407: Koppel made it 625,000 and Korenev called. The flop was and Koppel continued for 500,000. Korenev check-raised to 1,500,000 and Koppel folded.
Hand #408: Korenev came in with the limp and Koppel checked. The flop saw Koppel check-called 250,000 from the Russian. The turn got checked twice. On the river, Koppel bet 700,000 and Korenev folded.
Jared Koppel | 16,800,000 | -2,300,000 |
Roman Korenev | 11,600,000 | 2,300,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:30 PM Local Time
Hands #401-405: Small Pots Only
Hand #401: Jared Koppel raised to 625,000 on the button and Roman Korenev defended from the big blind. The flop came and Korenev check-folded to a bet of 500,000 from Koppel.
Hand #402: Korenev limped in on the button and Koppel raised to 1,000,000 from the big blind to force a fold from Korenev.
Hand #403: Kopped made it 625,000 to go on the button and Korenev called. The flop fell and both players checked to the on the turn and the on the river. Two more checks and the two players chopped the pot with ace-high.
Hand #404: Korenev opened to 625,000 and Koppel folded his big blind.
Hand #405: Koppel raised it up to 625,000 and Korenev defended. The flop came and Korenev check-folded to a bet of 500,000 from Koppel.
Jared Koppel | 19,100,000 | 1,700,000 |
Roman Korenev | 9,300,000 | -1,700,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:25 PM Local Time
Hands #396-400: Koppel Shoves on Korenev
Hand #396: Roman Korenev limped and Jared Koppel checked his option. The board of saw two checks. Koppel bet 500,000 on the turn and Korenev called.
The river was the and Koppel checked this time. Korenev checked behind and won it with .
Hand #397: Koppel made it 625,000 to go and Korenev wanted to see a flop. The dealer put out this time and Korenev check-called 500,000 from Koppel.
The on the turn completed the rainbow and Korenev checked a second time. Koppel kept up the aggression with a bet of 1,300,000 but Korenev stuck around for another street. Koppel waved the white flag after checking the river behind, allowing Korenev to take it with .
Hand #398: Korenev once again came in with a limp and Koppel checked. They checked to the river where Koppel's bet of 500,000 did the trick.
Hand #399: Koppel made it 625.000, Korenev three-bet to 2,130,000, Kopped four-bet all in and Korenev folded.
Hand #400 Korenev raised to 625,000 and Koppel bought a flop. It came and Korenev's one million chip bet was enough to win it.
Jared Koppel | 17,400,000 | -1,700,000 |
Roman Korenev | 11,000,000 | 1,700,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:18 PM Local Time
Hands #391-395: Not Much Change
Hand #391: Jared Koppel raised to 625,000 on the button and Roman Korenev defended from the big blind. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn. Korenev checked again and Koppel bet 750,000 which got Korenev to fold.
Hand #392: Korenev made it 625,000 to go and Koppel called. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn. Koppel check-folded to a bet of 500,000 from Korenev.
Hand #393: Koppel raised to 625,000 and Korenev three-bet to 2,125,000. Koppel gave it some thought but decided to let his hand go.
Hand #394: Korenev limped in on the button and Koppel checked. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn. Koppel led out for 500,000 and Korenev folded.
Hand #395: Koppel opened to 625,000 and Korenev instantly mucked his cards.
Jared Koppel | 19,100,000 | 100,000 |
Roman Korenev | 9,300,000 | -100,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:13 PM Local Time
Hands #386-390: Number Ten is Also for Korenev
Hand #386: Roman Korenev limped the button and Jared Koppel checked. The flop was followed by two rapid checks. Koppel checked the turn to Korenev, who bet 400,000. Koppel check-raised all in and Korenev snap-called.
Roman Korenev:
Jared Koppel:
Korenev was ahead but Koppel had plenty of outs to win the bracelet on the spot. He needed a ten, five or heart to win but the river was the instead for the tenth double-up during heads-up battle. Korenev moved up to 9,100,000.
Hand #387: Koppel raised to 625,000, received a call and won it with a 500,000 bet on the flop.
Hand #388: Korenev mirrored his opponent in the previous hand. He raised to 625,000 and won it with a 500,000-bet on the flop.
Hand #389: Koppel with a raise to 625,000 and a fold from Korenev.
Hand #390: In a limped pot, it was Korenev who bet 300,000 on an flop and Koppel who called. After the turn went check/check, Koppel checked the river as well. Korenev bet 800,000 and picked up the pot.
Jared Koppel | 19,000,000 | -5,000,000 |
Roman Korenev | 9,400,000 | 5,000,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:05 PM Local Time
Hands #379-385: All-In and Folds
Hand #379: Jared Koppel raised to 625,000 on the button and Roman Korenev shipped all in for 5,800,000 which got a fold from Koppel.
Hand #380: Korenev raised to 625,000 and it was Koppel's turn to move all in this time. Korenev folded and Koppel picked up the chips.
Hand #381: Koppel made it 625,000 on the button and Korenev called. The flop came and Korenev check-folded to a bet of 500,000 from Koppel.
Hand #382: Korenev limped in on the button and Koppel announced all in which got a fold from Korenev.
Hand #383: Koppel raised to 625,000 and Korenev folded his big blind.
Hand #384: Korenev shoved all in on the button and Koppel folded.
Hand #385: Koppel shipped all in and Korenev folded his big blind.
Jared Koppel | 24,000,000 | 1,400,000 |
Roman Korenev | 4,400,000 | -1,400,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 6:03 PM Local Time
Hands #374-378: Double-Up #9 is for Korenev
Hand #374: Roman Korenev limped the button, Jared Koppel raised to 1,000,000 and Korenev folded.
Hand #375: Koppel raised to 625,000 and Korenev called. The flop was and Korenev checked, Koppel bet 500,000 and Korenev called.
The turn brought the and Korenev check-folded to a shove from Koppel to leave himself with just eleven big blinds.
Hand #376: Korenev shoved all in for 2,900,000 and Koppel called right away.
Roman Korenev:
Jared Koppel:
The flop came down to pair Koppel's jack and put him up ahead by a landslide. Korenev was down to just three outs and caught one of them when the fell on the turn. The river was the and Korenev doubled up, making it the ninth time the short stack doubled up during this instant classic heads-up battle.
Hand #377: Koppel raised to 625,000 and Korenev folded.
Hand #378: Korenev limped, Koppel checked and Korenev won it with 400,000 on the flop.
Jared Koppel | 22,600,000 | -1,300,000 |
Roman Korenev | 5,800,000 | 1,300,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:55 PM Local Time
Hands #369-373: Koppel Takes Lead Even Further
Hand #369: Jared Koppel folded his button and Roman Korenev was the beneficiary of a walk.
Hand #370: Korenev limped in on the button and Koppel checked his option. The flop came and Koppel check-called a bet of 300,000 from Korenev. The landed on the turn and Koppel checked again. Korenev fired out a bet of 700,000 and Koppel still called.
The hit the river and Koppel led out for 1,400,000 this time. Korenev called and Koppel tabled for a rivered two pair to leave Korenev with a disgusted face.
Hand #371: Koppel folded his button once again to give Korenev a walk.
Hand #372: Korenev just called on the button and Koppel checked. The flop fell and Koppel checked to Korenev who bet 250,000. Koppel called and the landed on the turn. Both players checked and the completed the board. Two more checks and Koppel tabled for two pair to claim the pot.
Hand #373: Koppel raised to 650,000 and Korenev folded his big blind.
Jared Koppel | 23,900,000 | 3,400,000 |
Roman Korenev | 4,500,000 | -3,400,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:50 PM Local Time
Hands #364-368: Koppel Widens the Gap
Hand #364: A limped pot between Jared Koppel and Roman Korenev saw no action until the river on a board, where Koppel took it with a bet of 400,000.
Hand #365: A raise to 625,000 from Koppel and a defend from Korenev. The flop saw Korenev check-call 500,000 before the turn got checked both ways. Korenev checked the river and called a bet of 1,300,000, but saw that Koppel got there with for an improbable straight.
Hand #366: Walk for Koppel.
Hand #367: Walk for Korenev.
Hand #368: A raise from Korenev to 625,000 this time and Koppel called. Korenev's 500,000-bet on the flop was enough to take it.
Jared Koppel | 20,500,000 | 2,100,000 |
Roman Korenev | 7,900,000 | -2,100,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:46 PM Local Time
Hands #359-363: Koppel Four-Bet Shoves
Hand #359: Roman Korenev raised to 625,000 on the button and Jared Koppel defended his big blind. The flop came and Koppel check-called a bet of 500,000 from Korenev. The turn was the and both players checked to the on the river. Korenev led out for 1,200,000 and Koppel quickly folded.
Hand #360: Korenev opened to 625,000 on the button and Koppel folded.
Hand #361: Koppel made it 625,000 to go and Korenev called to see a flop of . Korenev checked to Koppel who continued for 500,000. Korenev called and the paired the board on the turn. Korenev checked again and Koppel put together a bet of 1,575,000. Korenev folded this time and Koppel dragged in the pot.
Hand #362: Korenev limped in on the button and Koppel made it 1,000,000 which got a fold from Korenev.
Hand #363: Koppel raised to 625,000 and Korenev three-bet to 2,150,000. Koppel replied with a four-bet shove and Korenev instantly mucked.
Jared Koppel | 18,400,000 | 2,400,000 |
Roman Korenev | 10,000,000 | -2,400,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:41 PM Local Time
Hands #354-358: Bit More for Koppel
Hand #354: Roman Korenev just called the big blind, Jared Koppel raised to 950,000 and got rid of the Russian.
Hand #355: Koppel raised to 625,000 and Korenev called. The flop got spread and Korenev checked, Koppel bet 450,000, and Korenev called. Two quick checks followed on the turn.
The river saw a check from Korenev. Koppel bet 800,000 this time and Korenev opted to lay it down.
Hand #356: The flop came in a limped pot, where Koppel check-called 300,000 on the flop. Another rolled off on the turn and two checks followed., as well as on the river. Koppel had a pair with to win it.
Hand #357: Walk for Korenev.
Hand #358: Korenev limped and Koppel checked. A low flop of and turn saw nothing but checks. The river brought 300,000 from Koppel and Korenev quickly called. Koppel showed for aces up, Korenev tabled for a straight to win.
Jared Koppel | 16,000,000 | 1,200,000 |
Roman Korenev | 12,400,000 | -1,200,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:35 PM Local Time
Hands #349-353: An Even Tilt
Hand #349: Jared Koppel raised to 625,000 on the button and Roman Korenev folded his big blind.
Hand #350: Korenev limped in on his button and Koppel checked to see a flop of . Both players checked to the on the turn and Koppel check-folded to a bet of 375,000 from Korenev.
Hand #351: Koppel made it 625,000 to go and Korenev called. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn. Two more checks and the paired the board on the river. Korenev led out for 1,300,000 and Koppel looked him up. Korenev showed while Koppel held to take down the pot.
Hand #352: Korenev just called on the button and Koppel chose to see a flop of . They both checked to the on the turn and the on the river. Korenev turned over at showdown to win the pot.
Hand #353: Koppel limped in and Korenev checked his option. The flop came and Korenev check-folded to a bet of 250,000 from Koppel.
Jared Koppel | 14,800,000 | 1,700,000 |
Roman Korenev | 13,600,000 | -1,700,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:30 PM Local Time
Hands #344-348: Korenev Retakes the Lead
Hand #344: Roman Korenev limped and Jared Koppel checked. The flop was and Korenev bet 300,000, called by Koppel. The turn brought a third club and Koppel checked. Korenev settled on a bet of 500,000 and Koppel peeled one more street.
The river was the fourth club and both players rapidly checked. No one had a club in their hand, but Koppel's was still ahead of the of Korenev.
Hand #345: Action opened with a raise from Koppel to 750,000 and a call from Korenev. The flop got checked both ways. On the turn Korenev bet 1,100,000 and got a fold.
Hand #346: In a limped pot, the board was checked down to the river where Koppel bet 350,000. Korenev folded.
Hand #347: It was Koppel with a raise to 625,000 this time and Korenev called. The flop came down and once again, no flop action. Korenev bet a million straight on the turn and Koppel called.
The river completed a possible backdoor hearts and Korenev went for 1,600,000. Koppel called but Korenev had him crushed with the to inch to nearly equal stacks.
Hand #348: Korenev limped and Koppel checked. Flop went check/check as well. Turn brought 600,000 from Koppel and a call from Korenev. Koppel slowed down on the river and checked, Korenev checked behind.
Koppel showed a counterfeited and was second best to Korenev's , who took the lead after the hand.
Roman Korenev | 15,300,000 | 3,325,000 |
Jared Koppel | 13,100,000 | -3,300,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:20 PM Local Time
Level 33 started
Level: 33
Blinds: 125000/250000
Ante: 250000
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:06 PM Local Time
Break Time
The classic USA vs Russia heads-up match will continue after another 15-minute break when the blinds increase to 125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 big blind ante. An official count was made during the break.
Jared Koppel | 16,400,000 | 200,000 |
Roman Korenev | 11,975,000 | -225,000 |
Saturday, June 15, 2019 5:05 PM Local Time
Hands #336-343: Koppel Keeps Gifting Walks
Hand #336: Roman Korenev raised to 500,000 on the button and Jared Koppel folded his big blind.
Hand #337: Koppel folded his button and Korenev received a walk.
Hand #338: Korenev limped in on the button and Koppel checked his option. The flop came and both players checked to the on the turn. Koppel led out for 300,000 and Korenev folded.
Hand #339: Koppel folded his button for the third straight time.
Hand #340: Korenev just called on the button and Koppel chose to see a flop. The flop came and Koppel check-folded to a bet of 300,000 from Korenev.
Hand #341: Koppel folded the button once again and Korenev received a walk.
Hand #342: Korenev limped in again and Koppel knuckled the table. The flop fell and Koppel check-called a bet of 200,000 from Korenev. The turn brought the and Koppel checked again. Korenev tossed in a bet of 650,000 and Koppel folded.
Hand #343: Jared Koppel limped and Roman Korenev checked. Korenev check-called 200,000 on the flop. The turn went check/check. On the river , Korenev bet 500,000 and Koppel folded to send the players into the break.
Jared Koppel | 16,200,000 | -1,900,000 |
Roman Korenev | 12,200,000 | 1,900,000 |