Friday, June 14, 2019 11:32 PM Local Time
Greg Mueller Takes Down Event #29: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship for $425,347 and His Third Bracelet
He was all in with a bottom pair. No kicker. No fold equity. And it worked out magnificently. Greg Mueller got it right. He survived the critical situation and catapulted himself back to a playable stack in Event #29: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship. A few hours later, Mueller closed it out. He captured his third WSOP bracelet and the $425,347 top-prize, defeating a field of 172 entries.
In 2009, Mueller won his first bracelet. It took him only two weeks to claim his second. For number three, he had to wait ten years.
"A good attitude, a fortune of good luck, and good friends around made the difference," Mueller said.
Mueller's first two wins came in limit hold'em, and today was a testament to his success from the previous decade. Mueller's triumph was largely influenced by one particular play in limit hold'em.
With three players left, Mueller was nearly on his way out. He had fewer than four big bets, but an unorthodox play with five-three offsuit changed the fate of the tournament. Mueller check-raised a flop with a bottom pair. Then he faced a bet from Dario Sammartino on the turn with the board featuring straight and flush possibilities. Mueller check-shoved without the smallest chance to make Sammartino fold. He trusted his instincts, and it paid off.
It all came down to a tell.
"Technically, I'm dead. What can I beat? I just looked at him. He doesn't have a hand!"
Sammartino bricked the river with a double gutter, and Mueller's epic ride towards the glory had begun. It's one thing to get a value from a good hand. But make a double out of nothing, that is a massive confidence boost. With Mueller's history as a former professional athlete—he played hockey in Germany for nine years—the spirit can become crucial.
"I got instant confidence and swagger."
Mueller called it a turning point, and while there was still a long road ahead of him, it seemed that the script had been set in stone. Mueller suddenly started to make good hands, and he built his stack to overtake the chip lead.
Shortly after dinner, Mueller busted Sammartino in a hand of stud hi-lo, and the subsequent heads up lasted just one hand. Mueller made a flush to eliminate Daniel Ospina in second place.
Final table results:
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Greg Mueller | Canada | $425,347 |
2 | Daniel Ospina | Colombia | $262,882 |
3 | Dario Sammartino | Italy | $184,854 |
4 | Scott Clements | United States | $132,288 |
5 | Craig Chait | United States | $96,378 |
6 | Mikhail Semin | Russia | $71,505 |
7 | Matthew Gonzales | United States | $54,043 |
While Mueller admitted that he doesn't have as much passion for poker as he used to, today's victory is an outcome of his grind off the felt. "I put a lot of effort not so much into studying the game, just into my own physical and mental state."
For Mueller, it's all about feeling good and following his healthy routine. He said he wouldn't run from tournament to tournament, trying to chase cashes and POY points as hard as many professional players at WSOP. That's why he doesn't have a strict plan.
Will he play the Poker Players Championship? Likely. But Mueller won't give any promises. Everything is a game-time decision. If he wakes up and thinks that he'd rather have a day off, he'll get it. There is no must-do on Mueller's mind.
"When I'm in Canada, I don't play one hand of poker. I do my thing: work out, play hockey three times a week, watch a ton of sports."
However, when the clock was ticking for the start of the 50th Annual World Series of Poker, something bugged Mueller's mind. His best results seemed to have been the thing of the past. Just like what happens in a career of professional athletes, Mueller started to question whether his shine at the felt was over.
"I just thought, 'Do I still have it? Has that game passed me by?' and I told myself that I will play a little bit and that I'll be focused."
And so Mueller did come and found his answer: he is still able to compete in one of the most complex tournaments on the WSOP schedule. Heck, he can win it outright.
WSOP 10k H.O.R.S.E. history:
Year | Winner | Country | First prize | Entries |
2010 | Ian Gordon | United States | $611,666 | 241 |
2011 | Fabrice Soulier | France | $609,130 | 240 |
2012 | David "Bakes" Baker | United States | $451,779 | 178 |
2014 | Chris Wallace | United States | $507,614 | 200 |
2015 | Andrew Barber | United States | $517,766 | 204 |
2016 | Jason Mercier | United States | $422,874 | 171 |
2017 | David Bach | United States | $383,208 | 150 |
2018 | John Hennigan | United States | $414,692 | 166 |
2019 | Greg Mueller | Canada | $425,347 | 172 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 10:17 PM Local Time
Daniel Ospina Eliminated in 2nd Place ($262,882)
Stud Hi-Lo
Greg Mueller completed, Daniel Ospina raised, and Mueller called. Ospina peeled a low card on fourth street and he fired again. Mueller called and hit a third heart on fifth, so he led out. Ospina called and Mueller blasted again on sixth street. Ospina raised all in for 50,000 more and Mueller immediately called.
Ospina: /
Mueller: /
Mueller was ahead with a pair of queens versus pair of eights, and he was first to peel his river card. It was the and that left Ospina drawing dead as Mueller finished with an ace-high flush. Ospina opened a meaningless to make official end to his run in the $10k H.O.R.S.E. Ospina took home $262,882 for his second-place finish.
Greg Mueller emerged champion, ten years after winning a double at WSOP. Mueller's third bracelet comes along with a $425,347 top-prize.
Greg Mueller | 10,300,000 | 1,500,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 0 | -1,500,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 10:12 PM Local Time
Dario Sammartino Eliminated in 3rd Place ($184,854)
Stud Hi-Lo
Dario Sammartino: / /
Greg Mueller: / /
Dario Sammartino ended up all in for 650,000 on third and showed split sixes with a king, while Greg Mueller had nines. Sammartino failed to catch any help until sixth and Mueller improved to a set in order to leave Sammartino drawing dead. This made seventh redundant and Sammartino was already on his way out to collect $184,854 for his efforts.
Greg Mueller | 8,800,000 | 900,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 1,500,000 | -200,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 0 | -750,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 10:06 PM Local Time
Ospina Gets One in Stud
Stud
Greg Mueller brought in and Daniel Ospina called. Ospina called a bet on fourth and they checked the following two streets. Mueller checked on the river again and Ospina took it down with an uncalled bet.
Ospina: /
Mueller: /
Greg Mueller | 7,900,000 | 100,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 1,700,000 | 0 |
Dario Sammartino | 750,000 | -50,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 9:54 PM Local Time
Ospina Hits Wheel to Double
Razz
Dario Sammartino: / /
Daniel Ospina: / /
Dario Sammartino completed with a deuce and Daniel Ospina raised, Sammartino called. Sammartino bet fourth and Ospina called before they got it in on fifth.
Ospina showed trey-deuce in the hole and made the wheel on sixth to secure his double up, while Sammartino mucked his cards which included .
Greg Mueller | 7,800,000 | -300,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 1,700,000 | 1,100,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 800,000 | -1,800,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 9:49 PM Local Time
Mueller Adds with a Boat
Omaha Hi-Lo
Greg Mueller raised on the button and both Dario Sammartino and Daniel Ospina called. Ospina fired on the flop and Mueller raised. Sammartino let his hand go and Ospina called.
The turn was checked and the completed the board. Ospina checked, Mueller fired, and Ospina called. Muller showed a strong hand with for a full house and Ospina was tackled to fewer than two big bets.
Greg Mueller | 8,100,000 | 2,200,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 600,000 | -1,200,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 9:43 PM Local Time
Mueller Leads on Turn
Omaha Hi-Lo
Dario Sammartino limped from the button and Daniel Ospina folded his hand. Greg Mueller checked and he checked again on the flop. Sammartino bet and Mueller called. The landed on the turn and Mueller led out. Sammartino quickly folded.
Greg Mueller | 5,900,000 | 775,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 2,600,000 | -700,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 1,800,000 | -100,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 9:37 PM Local Time
Level 28 started
Level: 28
Blinds: 200000/400000
Ante: 0
Friday, June 14, 2019 8:36 PM Local Time
Dinner Break
Players are on a 60-minute dinner break. Play will resume at 9:30 p.m. local time.
Greg Mueller | 5,125,000 | 325,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 3,300,000 | -300,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 1,900,000 | 0 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 8:32 PM Local Time
Ospina Takes From Sammartino
Omaha Hi-Lo
Dario Sammartino raised it up and was called by Daniel Ospina. On the flop, Sammartino bet and Ospina called, the tun then went check, check. After the river, Sammartino bet and Ospina made the call.
Sammartino's cards were not shown, but he could not beat the for two pair of Ospina.
Greg Mueller | 4,800,000 | 500,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 3,600,000 | -600,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 1,900,000 | 600,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 8:30 PM Local Time
Sammartino Binks a Set
Hold'em
Dario Sammartino raised in the small blind, Daniel Ospina three-bet in the big blind, and Sammartino called. The dealer rolled out a flop of and Sammartino check-called.
The turn saw Sammartino check-raise and Ospina called. The completed the board, filling the club flush draw. Sammartino fired again and Ospina looked him up with what looked like a pair of eights. Sammartino, however, turned up and he claimed the big pot to send Ospina to a nub.
Dario Sammartino | 4,200,000 | 900,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 1,300,000 | -1,500,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 8:24 PM Local Time
Mueller Has the Ace
Hold'em
Greg Mueller raised from the button, Daniel Ospina three-bet out of the big blind, and Mueller called. Ospina continued to fire when the flop appeared and Mueller called again. The turn was checked through but Ospina bet again on the river. Mueller spent no time and threw in calling chips, scooping the pot with .
Greg Mueller | 4,300,000 | 1,000,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 2,800,000 | -900,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 8:22 PM Local Time
Hold'em Hands Recommence
Hold'em
The remaining Stud Hi-Lo hands brought barely any action and the game type switched to Hold'em with the first hands ending up limped.
Greg Mueller check-called a bet on the flop and the turn river were checked. Mueller tabled the and the won the pot.
Daniel Ospina | 3,700,000 | 300,000 |
Greg Mueller | 3,300,000 | 0 |
Dario Sammartino | 3,300,000 | -300,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 8:15 PM Local Time
It's All Tied
Stud Hi-Lo
Greg Mueller completed with a and Dario Sammartino called. Mueller fired on fourth, getting another call and both players checked fifth street. Mueller pair his queen on sixth and led out, but Sammartino wasn't going anywhere. He called and Mueller checked the river. Sammartino bet and Mueller called only to see Sammartino show kings up.
Mueller: /
Sammartino: /
The chip counts of all three players are now virtually even as all three stacks are narrowed within one big bet.
Dario Sammartino | 3,600,000 | 1,600,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 3,400,000 | -100,000 |
Greg Mueller | 3,300,000 | -1,600,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 8:03 PM Local Time
Sammartino Back From the Brink
Stud
Dario Sammartino: / /
Daniel Ospina: / /
Dario Sammartino made it three bets and got his short stack in against Daniel Ospina. Sammartino was ahead with a pair of eights and had a gutshot on top of that until sixth. Ospina had a pair of fours and outs to improve, but bricked with the while Sammartino hit the to double with a set.
The next hand, Sammartino made it three bets against Ospina once more and forced a fold this time around.
Greg Mueller | 4,900,000 | -100,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 3,500,000 | -1,000,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 2,000,000 | 1,140,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 7:58 PM Local Time
Mueller Captaining the Ship
Razz
Greg Mueller completed and Dario Sammartino called. The next three streets were checked and Mueller bet on the final round. Sammartino paused for a moment and then called, but Mueller had in the hole and finished with eight-seven. Sammartino mucked and dropped to three big bets again. Meanwhile, Mueller eclipsed Ospina in the provisional standings.
Mueller: /
Sammartino: /
Greg Mueller | 5,000,000 | 1,300,000 |
Daniel Ospina | 4,500,000 | -500,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 860,000 | -840,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 7:50 PM Local Time
Mueller Hits Three Wheel Cards
Razz
Greg Mueller completed with a and he found a caller in Dario Sammartino who had a out. Sammartino called one more bet on fourth street but Mueller's board rolled out wheel cards and Sammartino folded on fifth.
Sammartino: / - folded on fifth
Mueller: /
Daniel Ospina | 5,000,000 | -1,100,000 |
Greg Mueller | 3,700,000 | 1,300,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 1,700,000 | -200,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 7:43 PM Local Time
More for Ospina in Hold'em
Hold'em
In a battle of the blinds, Daniel Ospina raised and Greg Mueller called to see the on the flop, on which Ospina bet and received a call. After the turn, Ospina check-raised and Mueller let go.
Daniel Ospina | 6,100,000 | 1,000,000 |
Greg Mueller | 2,400,000 | -700,000 |
Dario Sammartino | 1,900,000 | -300,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 7:40 PM Local Time
Mueller Puzzles Ospina
Hold'em
Greg Mueller raised on the button, Daniel Ospina three-bet out of the big blind, and Mueller called. The flop fell and Ospina continued firing. Mueller called and the paired the board. Ospina slowed down with a check and Mueller bet. Ospina called and then he checked again on the river. Mueller fired and Ospina needed about a minute to figure out his move. Then he laid his hand down.
Daniel Ospina | 5,100,000 | -900,000 |
Greg Mueller | 3,100,000 | 900,000 |
Friday, June 14, 2019 7:38 PM Local Time
Sammartino and Mueller Back to Even
Hold'em
Greg Mueller limped in from the small blind, Dario Sammartino checked and the flop came . Both players checked and they went to the turn where Mueller led out. Sammartino fired back with a raise and Mueller folded, allowing Sammartino to tie him in second place.
Dario Sammartino | 2,200,000 | 600,000 |
Greg Mueller | 2,200,000 | -600,000 |