Wai Kin Yong killed it in Triton Million London, winning a combined haul of £4.5m, and it seems he still has the winning bug.
The partypoker MILLIONS Super High Roller Series in Sochi, Russia, shut the stable door on the $50,000 action, and it was Yong who rode the final winner, defeating Phil Ivey in heads-up action, no less.
Event #5: $50,000 Short-Deck attracted 50-entrants, including repeat final table appearances for Sam Greenwood (2), Cary Katz (3), and Aaron Van Blarcum (4).
Let’s see how Yong took it down.
Final Table Seat Draw
Seat 1: Wai Kin Yong – 1,645,000
Seat 2: Aaron Van Blarcum – 820,000
Seat 3: Phil Ivey – 2,915,000
Seat 4: Cary Katz – 1,200,000
Seat 5: Seth Davies – 1,620,000
Seat 6: Mikhail Rudoy – 1,160,000
Seat 7: Sam Greenwood – 4,590,000
Seat 8: Paul Phua – 1,050,000
The first of many double-ups in the stew of frenzied action brought a smile to the face of Wai Kin Yong. The Malaysian moved all-in holding the beautifully painted AhKh, Mikhail Rudoy also moved all-in holding pocket jacks, prompting a fold from Cary Katz, holding pocket queens. On your marks, get set, go – Rudoy flopped a set of jacks, but Yong rivered Broadway.
Everything happens for a reason. Had Katz called with those queens, he would have been out. He didn’t. He wasn’t. Then he doubled through Yong when finding pocket kings he moved all-in, and the Malaysian called and lost with AhQc.
The third double-up arrived at the doorstep of Phil Ivey. Sam Greenwood moved his big stack into the middle holding KsJh, and Ivey put his tournament life at risk by calling with AcJd. The dealer handed Greenwood the nuts when AhQcTh fell on the flop, but the nuts are rarely the nuts for long in Short-Deck. Two more tens, arrived on the turn and river to hand Ivey a lifeline.
Seth Davies was one man who didn’t catch the double-up bug.
Ivey limped into the pot holding KcQc, Rudoy did likewise with AsJs, and then Davies jammed for 1,300,000 holding KdTd. Of the pair, only Rudoy made the call, and his ace proved to be the match-winner on a double-paired board sending Davies to the rail.
Ivey then took a big chip lead after eliminating Rudoy.
The Russian got it in with pocket jacks versus the ace-king of Ivey, and a king on the flop handed the American half of the chips in play, leaving Rudoy to ruminate on what might have been.
Yong doubled for the second time when his QsJs flopped a queen to take the hand away from Aaron Van Blarcum’s pocket tens, and then Sam Greenwood came in for the kill. Van Blarcum moved all-in from the cutoff holding Kc9c, and Greenwood called and killed with AcQd.
Katz then doubled through Yong, hitting a full-house with Ad7c versus Tc9c, but Yong rebounded well, doubling through Ivey when AcKs beat AhQd.
Then Katz lost one.
His final one.
Katz moved all-in holding 9c8h, and Greenwood picked him apart like a vulture on a carcass with pocket queens.
Greenwood was on a roll.
Then this happened.
Ivey called from the hijack with two red aces, and Greenwood did likewise with Kc8c. The dealer placed the AcQc8s on the flop, handing Greenwood the nut-flush draw and a pair, but giving Ivey top set. As on the turn gave Ivey quads, and both players checked. Then the Jc on the river gave Greenwood the nut flush. Ivey bet 400,000, Greenwood raised to 1,950,000 and called when Ivey moved all-in. Greenwood hit the rail, and heads-up became the focus of attention.
Heads-up began with Ivey holding a commanding 11,640,000 v 3,360,000 chip lead, but Yong took that lead after his AsJd overcame QdJh when all-in pre, and then JdTs beat pocket aces, after flopping two more tens.
The longest heads-up of the series ended when Yong made it 300,000 to play holding JcTc, and then called after Ivey made it 900,000 with QcJd. The dealer placed QhJh9s onto the flop, and the pair got it in with Yong holding middle pin and the straight draw, and Ivey with top two pair. The Ks on the turn straightened Yong up, and the 6h on the river guaranteed Yong the title.
ITM Results
- Wai Kin Yong – $800,000
- Phil Ivey – $525,000
- Sam Greenwood – $350,000
- Cary Katz – $250,000
- Aaron Van Blarcum – $200,000
- Mikhail Rudoy – $150,000
- Seth Davies – $125,000
- Paul Phua – $100,000