Tuesday, June 25, 2019 11:56 PM Local Time
Santiago Soriano Wins First Bracelet in Event #53: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack and $371,203
Santiago Soriano has won his first bracelet in Event #53: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack, seeing off tough final table opposition including bracelet holder and prior Main Event finalist Amir Lehavot and triple 2019 Deepstack finalist Ben Underwood, ending today the last man standing from a field of 3,759.
Professional poker player Soriano, no stranger to the WSOP, having finished 197th in the Main Event last year (a Day 5 run), said of his win, "It feels amazing. I started leading with ten left. I ran really good: I never lost an all-in. I felt comfortable, felt confident [and] didn't see myself as an underdog."
Soriano's experience and assurance contributed to his win, but he noted that with such fierce opposition, "It came down to the luck of the all-ins."
Final Table Results
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Santiago Soriano | Spain | $371,203 |
2 | Amir Lehavot | Israel | $229,410 |
3 | Ben Underwood | Canada | $168,960 |
4 | Nick Blackburn | United States | $125,432 |
5 | Joao Valli | Brazil | $93,866 |
6 | Samuel Gagnon | France | $70,813 |
7 | Daniele D'Angelo | Italy | $53,858 |
8 | Ori Hasson | Israel | $41,300 |
Ten players returned for an originally unscheduled third day's play as the interest in an $800 buy-in event awarding a total prizepool of $2,676,408 was understandably high. With the elimination in 10th ($31,933) of Gustavo Hess, the unofficial nine-handed final table was soon set, Soriano and Canadian Samuel Gagnon nearly neck and neck for the chip lead. Gagnon was pulled back down to the middle of the counts quickly, however, as he doubled Underwood (pocket kings overcoming pocket tens) to keep the deepstack phenomenon of the year in the running for a bracelet.
When Soriano busted Jeff Tahler in 9th ($31,933), having flopped a straight in the big blind with , Tahler drawing to a non-appearing nut flush, he cemented his place at the top of the chip counts and wielded his stack for maximum pressure on his opponents.
It was not all one-way traffic, however. Nick Blackburn, bedecked in "Hillbilly Poker" gear, had a good level, taking chips in and out of position, his scooping of pots announced to the crowd with an idiosyncratic crowing noise and the exclamation, "Hillbilly wins another one!"
With Blackburn ascendant, Ori Hasson had dropped to ten big blinds, finding a spot to three-bet all-in with ace-ten over a preflop raise from Underwood. Behind him lurked Joao Valli with ace-queen, however, and with no outdraw on the cards, the young Israeli player busted in 8th ($41,300). Valli's vocal Brazilian rail cheered their man, as they had done from the start of play today, as his first WSOP cash turned into the largest payday of his tournament career thus far.
Daniele D'Angelo busted in 7th place ($53,958) as, despite calling on his "one time," he failed to spike, finding himself all in with king-queen vs. the ace-queen of Soriano. Samuel Gagnon, too, was eliminated by Soriano, his six big blind shove – with pocket aces, no less - given a spin by the chip leader with five four of clubs. Soriano flopped the nut straight, improving to a flush on the river, and Gagnon collected $70,813 for 6th place.
Five-handed, Valli, who had been picking spots to move all-in uncalled, or three-bet players off pots, finally ran into a willing caller in the form of Lehavot, whose jacks disposed of his ace-eight to hand him a payout ticket worth $93,866. This set Lehavot on what seemed a plausible path towards a second WSOP bracelet (his first awarded in 2011 for his victory in the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em Championship); even when he dropped in chips, he soon found a double through courtesy of Blackburn.
Four-handed it was Underwood in the driving seat, action-wise, overtaking both Lehavot and Soriano to secure the chip lead. A major boost to his stack came via his elimination of Blackburn (4th for $125,432) in a huge pot in which he flopped top pair top kicker when Blackburn decided to pull the trigger and check-raise all in with bottom pair. His reign was relatively short-lived, however, as he doubled Lehavot and found himself on the wrong side of several small pots with the blinds a stratospheric 1,000,000/2,000,000.
Soriano's fabled all-in run-good continued when he put Underwood to the test, setting him in from the small blind when it folded to him. Underwood called and despite starting the hand ahead, with ace-nine of spades to Soriano's king-four of diamonds, didn't end it that way, as his opponent flopped a pair of fours and stayed ahead despite a spade flush sweat. Having already finished fourth for $135,959 in Event #9: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack and fifth for $74,435 in Event #37: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack this year alone, should he continue his trend, Underwood is on schedule for runner-up next, then a bracelet of his own.
Heads up play lasted just two hands. Both went Soriano's way, the final hand in dramatic ace-cracking fashion. Amir Lehavot just flat called Soriano's preflop raise with two black aces and stacks went in on a ten-high flop, Soriano holding jack-ten offsuit. A tournament-deciding third ten appeared for Soriano, and abruptly, this marathon Deepstack had come to an end, Lehavot collecting $229,410 for the runner up spot and Soriano his first bracelet and $371,203.
Of the crucial final hand, Soriano said, "It was surprising that he had that big of a hand. Top pair heads up is pretty strong, it was really amazing."
Although a professional player, Soriano said that he had recently taken six or seven months off, deciding to return to the felt at the WSOP.
"I was ready to win," he said. "I'll play more events until the summer's gone. I hope to win the Main Event next!"
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 10:03 PM Local Time
Santiago Soriano Wins Event #53: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack and $371,203
Santiago Soriano, after a confident run through the final table, has emerged victorious, winning $371,203 and his first WSOP bracelet. He defeated Amir Lehavot of Israel heads-up, who was denied a second bracelet. Ben Underwood of Canada made his third deep run of the summer in a Deepstack event and finished in third place.
A full recap of the day will follow.
Place | Player | Country | Prize |
1 | Santiago Soriano | Spain | $371,203 |
2 | Amir Lehavot | Israel | $229,410 |
3 | Ben Underwood | Canada | $168,960 |
4 | Nick Blackburn | United States | $125,432 |
5 | Joao Valli | Brazil | $93,866 |
6 | Samuel Gagnon | France | $70,813 |
7 | Daniele D'Angelo | Italy | $53,858 |
8 | Ori Hasson | Israel | $41,300 |
9 | Jeff Tahler | United States | $31,933 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 9:50 PM Local Time
Amir Lehavot Eliminated in 2nd Place ($229,410)
Hand #111: Santiago Soriano raised to 5,000,000 on the button and Amir Lehavot made the call. It all kicked off on a flop: Lehavot checked, Soriano bet 7,000,000, Lehavot check-raised to 17,000,000 and Soriano moved all in. Lehavot called all in for 22,700,000 total.
Lehavot: for some slow-played aces.
Soriano: for top pair.
While Lehavot was ahead, the deck was to favor the big stack, bringing a third ten, the on the turn to crack Lehavot's aces, which did not crack back on the river. The Israeli, who lives in the United States, saw a second attempt at a bracelet come up just short and he hit the rail in 2nd place.
Santiago Soriano | 150,300,000 | 46,300,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 0 | -54,000,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 9:46 PM Local Time
Hand #110: Big Pot for Soriano
Hand #110: Amir Lehavot raised to 4,500,000 on the button, called by Santiago Soriano in the big blind. The flop: . Check to the raiser, who checked right back. The turn was the . Now Soriano bet 5,500,000 and was called. The river double-paired the board with the . Soriano bet a hefty 18,500,000 and Lehavot made the call... and mucked when he saw the for nines full.
Santiago Soriano | 104,000,000 | 28,500,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 54,000,000 | -21,200,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 9:36 PM Local Time
Ben Underwood Eliminated in 3rd Place ($168,960)
Hand #109: Santiago Soriano open-shoved from the small blind and Ben Underwood called all in for 22,800,000 in the big blind.
Santiago Soriano:
Ben Underwood:
The flop brought something to sweat for both players. While Soriano paired up his four, he was still a mathematical dog against Underwood's flush draw with overcards. The turn kept Soriano in the lead and the river wasn't what Underwood needed either, ending another deep run for him.
After finishing fourth for $135,959 in Event #9: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack and fifth for $74,435 in Event #37: $800 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack, the Deepstack crusher now added a third place to his resumé, worth $168,960.
Santiago Soriano | 75,500,000 | 23,100,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 75,200,000 | 18,700,000 |
Benjamin Underwood | 0 | -42,200,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 9:31 PM Local Time
Hands #103-108: Underwood Put to the Test
Hand #103: Small blind Soriano jammed from the small blind and big blind Underwood passed.
Hand #104: Underwood completed his small blind and Lehavot checked. On the flop, neither player elected to bet, but on the turn, Underwood led out for 2,500,000 and was called. The river brought the . Underwood now checked, Lehavot fired 7,500,000 after a short think. Underwood underwent his own period of reflection before folding his hand.
Hand #105: Button Underwood made it 4,200,000 to go, and small blind Lehavot made the call. Lehavot checked the flop and Underwood bet 6,000,000. Lehavot re-popped it to 28,800,000, asking the all-in question. It was answered in the negative.
Hand #106: Soriano opened to 20,800,000 small-to-big, setting Underwood to the test for his stack once more. Again, he declined.
Hand #107: A walk for Lehavot.
Hand #108: Ben Underwood shoved all in for 17,800,000 on the button and everyone folded.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 9:17 PM Local Time
Level 42 started
Level: 42
Blinds: 1,000,000/2,000,000
Ante: 2,000,000
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 9:02 PM Local Time
Hands #101-102: Soriano Takes From Lehavot; Break
Hand #101: Santiago Soriano raised to 3,200,000 on the button and Amir Lehavot defended the big blind. The flop was and Lehavot checked. Soriano bet 4,500,000 and Lehavot called.
The turn was the and Lehavot led out for 5,000,000. Soriano came along with the call in position. The river was the and Lehavot checked. Soriano took a long time before betting 16,500,000 and Lehavot folded.
Hand #102: Lehavot limped in and Soriano checked. The flop was and Lehavot bet 3,200,000. Soriano folded.
The players went on a 15-minute break after the hand.
Amir Lehavot | 56,500,000 | -11,100,000 |
Santiago Soriano | 52,400,000 | 19,300,000 |
Benjamin Underwood | 42,200,000 | -800,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:53 PM Local Time
Levahot Doubles Through Underwood
Hand #95: Button Soriano raised to 3,200,000 (a min-raise at this stratospheric blind level), picking up the pot uncontested.
Hand #96: Amir Lehavot made up the small blind; Soriano checked. On the flop, Lehavot led out for 2,000,000 and took it down.
Hand #97: Soriano called in the small blind, found Underwood raising to 5,000,000 in the big blind, and moved his whole stack over the line almost before the raising chips had come to a complete stop. Underwood folded.
Hand #98: Lehavot received a walk, and his forced bet and ante back.
Hand #99: Soriano received the same courtesy.
Hand #100: Lehavot raised to 3,800,000 on the button and big blind Underwood set him in. Lehavot snap-called and found himself in dominating shape, with to Underwood's .
Though already ahead, his hand was bolstered by a king on the flop, making him impervious to the on the river (the turn a harmless ).
Amir Lehavot | 67,600,000 | 35,000,000 |
Benjamin Underwood | 43,000,000 | -12,900,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:42 PM Local Time
Hands #91-94: Couple of Shoves
Hand #91: Santiago Soriano shoved all in from the small blind and Ben Underwood folded.
Hand #92: Underwood called the small blind, Amir Lehavot shoved 30,200,000 from the big blind and Underwood folded.
Hand #93: Underwood raised to 3,200,000 on the button and won the hand.
Hand #94: Walk for Underwood.
Benjamin Underwood | 55,900,000 | -29,500,000 |
Santiago Soriano | 33,100,000 | -800,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 32,600,000 | 800,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:40 PM Local Time
Nick Blackburn Eliminated in 4th Place ($125,432)
Hand #90: Underwood, on the button, made it 3,200,000 to go. Big blind Blackburn defended and they saw a flop of . Blackburn check-raised Underwood's similarly sized flop bet all-in sharpish and was snapped off by Underwood who'd flopped top-top.
Underwood:
Blackburn:
The turn and river were running eights ( ) and the excitable Blackburn's literal chirping will be heard no more at this final table.
Benjamin Underwood | 85,400,000 | 29,500,000 |
Santiago Soriano | 33,900,000 | -800,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 31,800,000 | -4,000,000 |
Nick Blackburn | 0 | -24,700,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:30 PM Local Time
Hands #80-89: Reshoves A-Plenty
Hand #80: Nick Blackburn raised to 3,000,000 on the button and Ben Underwood defended the big blind. The flop was and Underwood check-called 3,000,000.
The turn brought the and Underwood checked. Blackburn bet 4,500,000 and Underwood called again. The river was the and both players quickly checked. Underwood tabled and won the hand to take the lead.
The blinds moved up to 800,000/1,600,000 after the hand.
Hand #81: Blackburn raised to 4,000,000 on the button, Underwood three-bet shoved in the small blind and Blackburn folded.
Hand #82: Amir Lehavot shoved the small blind and won the hand.
Hand #83: Underwood raised to 3,200,000 first to act. Lehavot three-bet shoved 20,600,000 on the button and won the hand.
Hand #84: Santiago Soriano limped in from the small blind, Underwood raised to 5,000,000 from the big blind and Soriano folded.
Hand #85: Underwood limped in from the small blind, Lehavot shoved 26,200,000 from the big blind and Underwood folded.
Hand #86: Underwood made it 3,200,000 on the button, Blackburn was now in the big blind and three-bet shoved for 19,900,000. Underwood once again folded.
Hand #87: Underwood with another raise, this time to 3,200,000 from under the gun. Lehavot three-bet shoved 28,600,000 on the button and for the third time in a row, Underwood folded against a reshove.
Hand #88: A walk for Ben Underwood.
Hand #89: Small blind Underwood raised to 4,800,000 when it folded to him, picking up Amir Lehavot's big blind and ante.
Benjamin Underwood | 55,900,000 | -14,100,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 35,800,000 | 10,000,000 |
Santiago Soriano | 34,700,000 | -18,300,000 |
Nick Blackburn | 24,700,000 | -4,800,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:27 PM Local Time
Level 41 started
Level: 41
Blinds: 800,000/1,600,000
Ante: 1,600,000
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:21 PM Local Time
Hands #74-79 Underwood Extends Lead
Hand #74: Santiago Soriano opened for 2,500,000 first to act, but folded to Ben Underwood's preflop jam for 20,900,000.
Hand #75: Underwood raised to 2,400,000 in the cutoff (or under the gun, depending on your point of view), Soriano calling in the big blind. Both players checked the flop. On the turn, Underwood bet 2,500,000 when it was checked to him and Soriano folded.
Hand #76: Nick Blackburn limped the button, small blind Soriano made it up, and big blind Underwood squeezed it to 4,500,000. Some rapid folds ensued.
Hand #77: Blackburn opened for 2,800,000, big blind Lehavot called. they checked the flop. On the turned Lehavot checked and Blackburn fired 4,000,000, picking up the riverless pot.
Hand #78: Blackburn got a rare walk.
Hand #79: Underwood opened first to act to 2,400,000, called by Blackburn in the small blind only. The flop came , Blackburn checked and Underwood bet 3,500,000; call. The turn prompted another check and another bet in sequence, this one for 6,500,000. Blackburn called with characteristic swiftness. On the , a final check from Blackburn saw Underwood announce his intention to check behind by flipping up , which was good for the pot.
Benjamin Underwood | 70,000,000 | 49,100,000 |
Nick Blackburn | 29,500,000 | -21,900,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:06 PM Local Time
Hands #69-73: Lehavot Doubles Up
Hand #69: Ben Underwood shoved all in from the small blind and Amir Lehavot called for 12,900,000 all in from the big blind.
Ben Underwood:
Amir Lehavot:
Lehavot smashed the flop, decimating Underwood's chances to win the hand. Neither the turn nor river changed it and Lehavot doubled up.
Hand #70: Lehavot limped in from the small blind and Nick Blackburn checked. The flop was and Lehavot bet 1,500,000. Blackburn called.
On the turn, Lehavot check-called 1,500,000 from Blackburn. The river was the and Lehavot checked, Blackburn checked behind. Lehavot showed for the jack kicker with the two pair, but Blackburn had him pipped with the and let out his characteristic victory squawk.
Hand #71: Lehavot raised to 2,800,000 and won the hand.
Hand #72: Santiago Soriano limped the small blind, Underwood shipped it in for 19,100,000 in the big blind and Soriano folded.
Hand #73: Soriano raised to 2,500,000 on the button and won the hand.
Santiago Soriano | 53,000,000 | -2,900,000 |
Nick Blackburn | 51,400,000 | 13,300,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 25,800,000 | -1,200,000 |
Benjamin Underwood | 20,900,000 | -9,200,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 7:58 PM Local Time
Big River Decisions
Hand #65: It folded to small blind Ben Underwood, who made it 3,600,000 to play. Big blind Amir Lehavot paid the new price. The flop came down prompting a bet of 3,500,000 from Lehavot when action was checked to him. Back to Underwood, who called, seeing the on the turn, which was checked round. The river brought the . Underwood now led for 4,500,000 ad Lehavot quickly folded.
Hand #66: Soriano opened for 2,500,000 first to act, Blackburn the only caller in the big blind. After a flop of was dealt, Blackburn check-called his opponent's 2,600,000 bet to see the turn. Both players checked. The river was the . Blackburn now led out for 4,000,000, and the longest tank on the final table so far ensued. As river tanks go, however, it wasn't that long; he folded after a couple of minutes.
Hand #67: Lehavot raised his button to 2,800,000 and found Soriano three-betting to 18,100,000 from the blinds. No call.
Hand #68: Button Blackburn raised to 2,800,000, called by big blind Underwood. . Underwood check-folded to a bet of 7,000,000, the pace of play by all still swift.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 7:56 PM Local Time
Level 40 started
Level: 40
Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000
Ante: 1,200,000
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 7:43 PM Local Time
Hands #61-64: Soriano Three-Bets
Hand #61: Santiago Soriano raised to 2,000,000 on the button and Amir Lehavot defended the big blind. The flop was and Lehavot checked. Soriano bet 1,500,000 and Lehavot folded.
Hand #62: Ben Underwood made it 2,000,000 on the button and Nick Blackburn defended the big blind. The flop was and both players checked. The turn brought the and Blackburn bet 2,500,000 and Underwood called.
The river brought another jack, the , and Blackburn bet 2,500,000 again. Underwood called. Blackburn showed for two pair and Underwood folded.
The blinds moved up to 600,000/1,200,000 after the hand.
Hand #63: Lehavot raised to 2,800,000 on the button and Soriano called from the big blind. The flop was and Soriano checked. Lehavot bet 3,200,000 and Soriano quickly folded.
Hand #64: Blackburn raised to 2,800,000, Soriano three-bet to 8,200,000 from the small blind and Blackburn folded.
Santiago Soriano | 55,900,000 | 5,700,000 |
Nick Blackburn | 38,100,000 | -1,600,000 |
Benjamin Underwood | 30,100,000 | -4,200,000 |
Amir Lehavot | 27,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 7:37 PM Local Time
Joao Valli Eliminated in 5th Place ($93,866)
Hand #60: Valli raised again after taking down the previous hand, this time to 3,500,000 under the gun. Amir Lehavot moved all in for 12,800,000, covering Valli, who called all-in for around 3,000,000 less.
Valli:
Lehavot:
The board ran out low and paired - - with no help for the enthusiastically-railed Brazilian who headedt o collect fifth place prize money, leaving the short-handed final even more so.
Amir Lehavot | 24,000,000 | 7,700,000 |
Joao Valli | 0 | -10,600,000 |
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 7:33 PM Local Time
Hands #56-59: Four Hands, Two Preflop Three-Bets, No Showdowns
Hand #56: It folded round to small blind Ben Underwood, who set the shortest-stacked player Joao Valli all in. He declined to call.
Hand #57: Santiago Soriano raised to 2,000,000, picking up Lehavot in the big blind as a caller. Soriano bet 2,000,000 on the flop of and that was all it took to claim another swiftly-played pot.
Hand #58: Underwood took a turn raising to 2,000,000, but was three-bet to 7,000,000 by Nick Blackburn in the big blind and let his hand go.
Hand #59: Valli raised to 3,000,000 on the button, no callers.