Monday, June 10, 2019 9:08 PM Local Time
Eli Elezra Wins Fourth WSOP Bracelet and $93,766 in Event #20: $1,500 Seven Card Stud
An old school game deserves an old school bracelet winner, and a fitting one emerged in $1,500 Seven-Card Stud as Eli Elezra joined the ranks of four-time bracelet winners, banking $93,766.
He joined a list that includes legends of the game like Bobby Baldwin and Puggy Pearson as well as more modern dominators like Shaun Deeb, Brian Rast and the Mizrachi brothers.
It's Elezra's third bracelet in a stud variant and his second in this event, which he also won in 2015 for $112,591. He felt so confident going into the tournament that he said he predicted victory on a recent vacation.
"When we went to Cabo, I told my buddies, I'm gonna win a bracelet this year and I'm gonna win it in stud," Elezra proclaimed.
Official Final Table Results
Seat | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Eli Elezra | United States | $93,766 |
2 | Anthony Zinno | United States | $57,951 |
3 | Valentin Vornicu | United States | $39,830 |
4 | Phongthep Thiptinnakon | United States | $27,993 |
5 | Rep Porter | United States | $19,996 |
6 | David Singer | United States | $14,619 |
7 | Joshua Mountain | United States | $10,920 |
8 | Scott Seiver | United States | $8,337 |
Elezra said his vast experience in stud gave him a wealth of confidence going into the final table.
"I saw more [stud] hands than everyone who played with me," Elezra said. "And as I say, stud loves me back."
In fact, Elezra had to contend with some fellow mixed-game veterans as Scott Seiver, Rep Porter and David Singer all made the final table. However, although the latter two made the streamed final six, none had any chips to work with.
Elezra, on the other hand, ran like hot fire at the end of Day 3 to bring in a mountain of chips along with Anthony Zinno, while everyone else ranged from ultra-short to middling. Elezra wasn't shy about admitting how heavily the deck was stacked in his favor in that Day 3 surge.
"Out of eight hands, I make six straights and I pick up aces. So, it's brainless. Once you make straights against people who have two pair or whatever, you're gonna get huge chips."
Get a huge stack he did, and it seemed inevitable the bracelet would come down to him against Zinno heads up. While Valentin Vornicu hung tough for awhile and battled three-handed, that's exactly what occurred when Elezra finished him off a few hours into the final table.
While Zinno has shown himself to be a solid competitor at the WSOP even away from his pet no-limit events, Elezra highlighted the vast difference in their stud experience.
"He's one of the best players out there but I told him he's short, I'm about 30 years above him in stud," Elezra said with a smile. "He just started playing about five years ago in stud."
Zinno proved a tough out as he battled from a sizable deficit into the lead. The match lasted several hours and involved several trades of the lead.
Elezra admitted he felt a little pressure and got a bit steamed up when Zinno evened things up and then edged past him. He had to calm himself and trust what he called his old-school instincts.
"I still got it here," he said, patting his gut. "I still got the feeling about hands and that's how I know when to fold and when to go with it."
Indeed, many of the most decisive hands of what was otherwise a slow match involved Elezra picking off Zinno's bluffs. About four hours into the back-and-forth battle, Elezra ended it when both players had straight draws on fourth street. Elezra made his six-high straight while Zinno bricked out a Broadway draw.
The two friendly competitors shared a warm embrace and Elezra complimented Zinno's budding stud skills before hustling off to play the stud hi-lo event.
"I think in the end, I was mostly lucky because Anthony's a really good player," he said.
Monday, June 10, 2019 7:25 PM Local Time
Anthony Zinno Eliminated in 2nd Place ($57,951)
Anthony Zinno completed with the and Eli Elezra called with the . On fourth, Zinno got the and Elezra the . They evidently both liked these cards as a raising war ensued until Zinno was all in for 280,000.
Zinno: /
Elezra: /
It was open-ended against open-ended but Zinno had the edge with his Broadway draw. However, no waiting for Elezra as he found the right away while Zinno caught a brick in the . Elezra got the and Zinno the for a worthless pair, so it came down to the final card. Elezra was happy to grab one of Zinno's outs in the . Zinno spun the into the middle, bricking out to send the bracelet to Elezra.
Eli Elezra | 2,850,000 | 455,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 0 | -405,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 7:12 PM Local Time
Two Small Pots for Elezra, One Large One for Zinno
Eli Elezra won the first two hands after the restart by putting in the 50,000 complete bet and winning them there and then. When Anthony Zinno took his turn doing this, Elezra made the call. Elezra called another bet on fourth street, but gave up when Zinno bet 100,000 on fifth.
Zinno: /
Elezra: / (folded)
Monday, June 10, 2019 7:06 PM Local Time
Level 28 started
Level: 28
Blinds: 50000/100000
Ante: 10000
Monday, June 10, 2019 6:59 PM Local Time
Updated Chip Counts on Break
Players agreed on a 10-minute break.
Eli Elezra | 2,395,000 | 110,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 405,000 | -110,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 6:50 PM Local Time
Some Chips Return to Zinno
Anthony Zinno has saved his stack from dropping below five big bets by winning the last hand that made it past the initial street. With / showing, he bet, just as he did on the previous street. Elezra, however, did not call this time, throwing away his / hand.
Monday, June 10, 2019 6:35 PM Local Time
Zinno Falls Further
Anthony Zinno completed with the but was faced with a raise by Eli Elezra, who had the . Zinno's board ran out strongly but he folded to continued aggression once the big bets took effect.
Zinno: /
Elezra: /
Zinno has dropped to near the 500,000 and needs to get some momentum soon.
Eli Elezra | 2,285,000 | 185,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 515,000 | -235,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 6:24 PM Local Time
Elezra Flashes the Ace
Eli Elezra took another pot down with a raise on fourth street. Anthony Zinno had bet out, showing a pair of sixes, and Elezra with / raised. Zinno folded and was rewarded with a flash of the in Elezra's hand.
Monday, June 10, 2019 6:11 PM Local Time
Elezra Leading Nearly 3:1 in Chips after Another Big Hand
Eli Elezra just won another big hand that ended with Anthony Zinno in the tank for around five full minutes. Both players paired on sixth street:
Zinno: /
Elezra: /
Zinno bet and Elezra raised (a raise now worth 180,000). Zinno made the call. On seventh street, Zinno checked and Elezra bet. Zinno made a deep dive into the tank, the table quiet and the rail tense. When he folded, Elezra's supporters let out a cheer, their man now back over 2,000,000 in chips.
Eli Elezra | 2,100,000 | 300,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 750,000 | -300,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 6:01 PM Local Time
Zinno Picked Off Again
Eli Elezra completed with the and Anthony Zinno called with the . It was Zinno who started betting after picking up the , though, and Elezra called him down.
Zinno: / /
Elezra: / /
Zinno bet the end and Elezra called but Zinno could only muster , playing just his nines. Elezra had for queens.
Eli Elezra | 1,800,000 | 300,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 1,050,000 | -300,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 5:56 PM Local Time
Level 27 started
Level: 27
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 10000
Monday, June 10, 2019 5:56 PM Local Time
Elezra Bets Strongly into Zinno's Queens
Eli Elezra started the hand off with a raise (showing after Anthony Zinno made up the bring-in to 30,000 showing the . Zinno called, pairing his queen and leading out with a bet. Elezra, who'd picked up the , raised again into the pair of queens, and Zinno called. Zinno now went into check-call mode over fifth and sixth streets, until their hands stood:
Zinno: / /
Elezra: / /
Elezra bet one more time, and after a brief ponder, Zinno gave up the pot.
Eli Elezra | 1,500,000 | 300,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 1,350,000 | -300,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 5:42 PM Local Time
Fair Fight Goes Zinno's Way
Anthony Zinno completed with the , Eli Elezra raised with the and Zinno three-bet it. Elezra called and then raised the turn when each player had a suited queen-high board. He bet fifth as well but both players checked sixth with strikingly similar boards.
Zinno: / /
Elezra: / /
Zinno bet on the end and Elezra took about 30 seconds then threw his cards away.
Anthony Zinno | 1,650,000 | 200,000 |
Eli Elezra | 1,200,000 | -200,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 5:38 PM Local Time
Zinno Takes One with Two Pair
Eli Elezra started out the betting with another complete to 30,000, and continued to lead out through the streets despite Anthony Zinno tossing in a raise on fourth street (which he called).
Zinno: /
Elezra: /
There was no river bet, and Zinno tabled / for a winning two pair, threes and fours.
Anthony Zinno | 1,450,000 | 150,000 |
Eli Elezra | 1,400,000 | -150,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 5:25 PM Local Time
Rivers Have Dried Up
The last 15 hands have been won early doors, with none getting past fifth street and the majority simply won with a complete to the small bet of 30,000. Neither player has made inroads on the other's stack; chips are as they were at the start of the level.
Monday, June 10, 2019 5:15 PM Local Time
Queens No Good for Elezra
Anthony Zinno defended the bring-in against a completion by Eli Elezra with the , but Zinno came out firing on fourth with the and bet every subsequent street.
Zinno: / /
Elezra: / /
Elezra quickly called and Zinno showed for kings. Elezra showed the .
Eli Elezra | 1,550,000 | -250,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 1,300,000 | 250,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 4:59 PM Local Time
Reluctant River Fold for Elezra
First hand back after the break, Anthony Zinno bet every street, snap-called all the way to the river by Elezra.
Zinno: / /
Elezra: / /
The final 60,000 gave Elezra pause, however, and after looking at his hole cards and replacing them on their designated spots on the table, he threw his hand away.
Eli Elezra | 1,800,000 | -100,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 1,050,000 | 100,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 4:53 PM Local Time
Level 26 started
Level: 26
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 7000
Monday, June 10, 2019 4:36 PM Local Time
Break Time Heads Up
The final two players are on a 15-minute break.
Eli Elezra | 1,900,000 | 50,000 |
Anthony Zinno | 950,000 | -50,000 |
Monday, June 10, 2019 4:35 PM Local Time
Zinno Starts Hand Slowly, Picks Up Pace and Pot on Fifth Street
With both players dealt black aces first up, Zinno (with the ) brought in the bet for 7,000. Elezra made the call with the . Both players checked fourth street.
Zinno: /
Elezra: /
Action on Elezra, he bet, only to find Zinno raising. That extra 50,000 was enough to win Zinno the pot.