In this week’s Calling The Clock we bring you up to date with the latest from the Super High Roller Bowl, the World Series of Poker, and a decision from the World Poker Tour that has ruffled a few feathers.
It’s been quite a ride this week, none more so than for Justin Bonomo who is about to have a restless night after winning the Super High Roller Bowl (SHRB) for $5m.
Bonomo defeated fan favourite Daniel Negreanu, heads-up, after four days of action at PokerGO’s studios at ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
48-entrants created a prize pool of $14.4m. Negreanu picked up $3m for his runner-up spot, a finish that the Canadian has repeatedly put down to the hard work he has put in off the felt in the previous three months. Jason Koon also made the final table finishing third for $2.1m to add to the $4m he won in the Triton Series Montenegro and the $1m he won in the $100k ARIA High Roller ahead of the SHRB action.
The win means Bonomo moves close to $14m in 2018 earnings, a feat only three people have managed before (Daniel Colman 2012, Antonio Esfandiari 2014, and Fedor Holz 2016). The American now sits third in the All-Time Money list behind Daniel Negreanu and Erik Seidel.
In March, Bonomo also won the SHRB China, beating 75-entrants to win the $4.8m first prize in the HKD 2,100,000 buy-in event.
As I alluded to earlier in the SHRB round-up, Jason Koon earned a million bucks in a $100k ARIA High Roller. Koon split that money with Matthias Eibinger. Here are the official SHRB results and the results of the ARIA High Rollers:
SHRB Final Table Results
1. Justin Bonomo- $5m
2. Daniel Negreanu – $3m
3. Jason Koon – $2.1m
4. Mikita Badziakouski – $1.6m
5. Christoph Vogelsang – $1.2m
6. Nick Petrangelo – $900,000
$25k ARIA Final Table Results
1. Rainer Kempe – $282,020
2. Christian Christner – $196,480
3. Koray Aldemir – $116,000
4. Jake Schindler – $72,500
5. Brian Green – $58,000
$25k ARIA Final Table Results
1. Stephen Chidwick – $300,000
2. Ame Ruge – $195,000
3. Adrian Mateos – $120,000
4. Justin Bonomo – $75,000
5. Christoph Vogelsang – $60,000
$25k ARIA Final Table Results
1. Ben Tollerene – $416,500
2. Jake Schindler – $269,500
3. Andy Park – $183,750
4. Bryn Kenney – $122,500
5. Joe McKeehen – $98,000
6. Rainer Kempe – $73,500
7. Christoph Vogelsang – $61,250
$100k ARIA HR Final Table Results
1. Jason Koon – $1,039,940
2. Matthias Ebinger – $1,006,060
3. Bryn Kenney – $496,000
4. Ben Tollerene – $310,000
5. Christoph Vogelsang – $248,000
World Poker Tour News
The ARIA didn’t hold exclusive rights over the $25k action in Las Vegas this week. You may remember that the World Poker Tour (WPT) decided to halt proceedings once the recent $25k Bellagio High Roller reached the final table.
The final took place at the Las Vegas Esports Arena (which is owned by the WPT’s sister organisation Allied Esports), and Tom Marchese took the event down for $432,000 to become the first man to win a poker tournament in the new arena.
Here are the final table results.
1. Tom Marchese – $432,000
2. Aaron Ogus – $283,500
3. Sam Soverel – $189,000
4. David Peters – $135,000
5. Jake Schindler – $108,000
6. Rainer Kempe – $81,000
The second man to win a poker event in the same gaff was Matt Waxman. The former WPT Grand Prix de Paris winner topped a field of 80 entrants to win the Season XVI Tournament of Champions for $463,375.
Here are the final table results.
1. Matthew Waxman – $463,375
2. Matas Cimbolas – $265,590
3. Darren Elias – $177,060
4. David Benyamine – $123,045
5. Nick Schulman – $82,290
And the players may have to get used to this after the WPT higher-ups announced plans to take full advantage of the arena by delaying at least eight WPT Main Event Final Tables to broadcast them live from the Las Vegas Strip.
The decision, which saves the WPT a lot of money, has gone down like a lead balloon in some quarters of the poker community and I cover the story in my opinion piece:
Could Heads-up Matches be a Way to Utilise Poker Studio Space?
While it was all kicking off, the WPT announced the rest of their 2018 schedule, minus any plans to hold final tables in Las Vegas, awarded Pete Chen with the WPT Asia Player of the Year award, and hired the Las Vegas Golden Knights MC, Mark Shunock to breathe new life into the Las Vegas Esports Arena when or if they go forward with their grand plans.
Interesting times.
World Series of Poker News
The World Series of Poker has begun, and Elio Fox has squirrelled the first gold bracelet into his hotel room safe. Fox, who won the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Main Event in Cannes for $1.8m took down Event #2 $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Super Bounty Turbo.
The event attracted 243 entrants, and joining Fox on the final table were the likes of Paul Volpe and Alex Foxen. Joe Cada (9th) and Bryn Kenney (10th) also enjoyed deep runs. Fox beat Adam Adler, heads-up, to take the $393,693 first prize.
The second bracelet will arrive courtesy of Event #1 $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em. The event attracted 566 entrants, and 13 remain after the end of a long, hard Day 1. Jodie Sanders leads the way with 509,000 chips.
Here are the Top Five Chip Counts:
1. Jodie Sanders – 509,000
2. Jordan Hufty – 399,000
3. Won Kim – 319,000
4. Skyler Yeaton – 317,000
5. Tom Booker – 283,000
The winner will pick up $61,909.
In other WSOP news, Phil Hellmuth attracted a lot of flack for charging a 1.8 markup in Event #2, but he also received a lot of love. Some think he is fleecing his fans; others believe the SOLD OUT sign means he could charge more. I, for once, don’t have an opinion on the issue.
It wasn’t the only reason Hellmuth was in the news this week. He received criticism for selling action on YouStake for the SHRB only to turn up late and lose. And then he backed Chris Ferguson’s pathetic apology to the poker community for Black Friday. Oh, and he was also admitted to hospital with a heart scare. I wonder why.
Daniel Negreanu told the press that he would miss the $100k and a $10k event at the WSOP so he can watch his beloved Golden Knights playing in the Stanley Cup. Raising for Effective Giving (REG) busted out their annual #WSOP4Charity campaign, and Poker Central inked a deal with Twitch to show free WSOP content on Amazon’s video streaming platform.
PokerStars News
I had a moan and a groan over the way online poker rooms deal with brand ambassadors who leave the company after PokerStars decided not to renew Victor Ramdin’s contract after 12-years loyal service. PokerStars confirmed the 10th anniversary Spring Championship of Online Poker was a success, dragging in $91m, only $3m off last year’s record haul. And Stanley Choi, the man responsible for PokerStars’ live growth in Asia, said he is very close to finding a live Asian-venue for Stars with Macau, Korea, Vietnam and Tokyo on the cards.
Finally, the Global Poker League India (GPL India), which takes place on PokerStars.IN platform, has announced the online qualification schedule. Six teams of five will compete for five $30,000 Platinum Passes to the PokerStars Player’s No-Limit Hold’em Championship in January.
Bits and Bobs
It seems Scotty Nguyen has hired a publicist. A few moons ago, we told you that Nguyen had signed up to be the brand ambassador of Cryptonia, and this week he has signed a one year deal to promote CBD-infused vape and elixir products through Canna Hemp.
Last but not least, Phil Galfond continued to update his loyal following on the forthcoming release of RunItOncePoker. I cover his latest verbals in my op-ed Peas and Carrots – RunItOne to Create a Pure, Streamlined Experience.
Time, ladies and gentlemen, please.
Someone has just called the clock.
