Anthony Zinno WSOP 2
Anthony Zinno won WSOP bracelet #2 of the 2021 World Series in Event #27

Anthony Zinno won his second bracelet of the live 2021 World Series of Poker, and in doing so captured his fourth lifetime bracelet, taking the lead in the WSOP Player of the Year race in the process. Zinno’s latest triumph came in Event #27 ($1,500 H.O.R.S.E.), where Zinno beat Randy Ohel heads-up to claim the $160,636 top prize.

Zinno Becomes First Two-Time Winner at the Live 2021 WSOP

Event #27 was down to just 18 players still in seats as the final day of action began, with Zinno leading the way by some distance. The now four-time WSOP bracelet winner went wire-to-wire as the early stages of the event saw players such as Joe McKeehen, Ari Engel, and Brock Parker all bust before the final 10 players remained.

When the final table reached six players, Zinno had more than double his nearest challenger’s chips, with Ohel clinging on to the chip leader’s coattails. That changed, however, as Ohel overtook Zinno at the top as both he and the overnight chip leader continued to gather chips at the other four players’ expense.

The first player to leave was Paul Holder as he busted to Ohel in a Seven Card Stud hand where Ohel’s two-pair won the pot and sent Holder home with a prize of $26,523. Almost immediately, the field was down to four as Darren Kennedy bought it in fifth for $35,957 in a hand of Stud Hi/Lo where Christopher Adams won with kings-up to leap up the leaderboard.

Four became three almost as quickly when Kao Saechao left in third place for $49,597 with a Limit Hold’em hand going Ohel’s way. Saechao moved all-in with Ad8s on a flop of Jc7c3c, but Saechao’s audacious bluff couldn’t have had worse timing, Ohel’s flopped flush with 8c5c meaning his opponent was drawing dead.

With three players left, the chips were remarkably even and as the trio of players went to the dinner break, Zinno had a marginal lead with 5.5 million chips playing against Ohel’s 4.5 million and Adams’ 4.3m. That all changed a short while after their return as Adams lost his stack to Zinno in a Seven Card Stud hand that vaulted the tournament favorite up to 9.5 million and sent Adams home in third for $69,585.

Heads-up, Zinno’s advantage of almost 2:1 was trimmed to just a million chips between the pair as Ohel recovered to 7 million with Zinno sitting on 8 million. Zinno has enjoyed a phenomenal week at the World Series, however, and grew a big lead, building his edge to 4:1 before the final hand. In a hand of Razz, Zinno clinched victory and condemned Ohel to a runner-up result worth $99,276.

Zinno’s victory for his fourth WSOP bracelet of his incredible career and second in one week saw the popular poker professional scoop the overall lead in the WSOP Player of the Year race and his latest major victory for the $160,636 top prize.

WSOP 2021 Event #27 $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. Final Table Results:

  1. Anthony Zinno – $160,636
  2. Randy Ohel – $99,276
  3. Christopher Adams – $69,585
  4. Kao Saechao – $49,597
  5. Darren Kennedy – $35,957
  6. Paul Holder – $26,523
  7. Curtis Phelps – $19,911
  8. Max Pescatori – $11,845
  9. Michael Rosenberg – $11,845

Scott Ball Scores $5K Six-Max Title

Event #25 saw just six players return to action to battle for the bracelet, with Scott Ball outlasting some legendary luminaries to capture the first bracelet of his career in an emotional night at the Rio.

With six players left, it didn’t take long for the first player to bust as John Racener moved all-in with AdQh. Racener might have hoped he would live up to his name and be in a race, but Galen Hall made the call with KsKc and won through on the board of Ah9dKh8hAs which gave him a full house by the river.

Next to bust was Bin Weng, who left the table after an extended period without any eliminations. Weng moved all-in for 17 big blinds with KhQd and was called by Hall with AhTh. The flop of Ac9h4h put Hall in a commanding position and on the 7s turn ended Weng’s faint hopes of winning through with the Jh confirming his exit for $113,775 in fifth place.

With four players remaining, Hall and Ball were both chipping up at the other two players’ expense, so it was no surprise when overnight leader Eric Tsai left in fourth place for $161,756. Tsai had a premium exit hand, however, pushing all-in with QcQh and being called by Ball with KcKh. Covered in both suits, the board of Jd7s5d8h3s ended Tsai’s event and made Ball the chip leader at a vital time.

The next session of play saw each of the three remaining pros grab the advantage but eventually ended with Jonathan Jaffe on the rail in third place for $234,781. Jaffe shoved for over 20 big blinds with AcTs and Hall made the call with 8h8d. The ‘snowmen’ held firm through the 8c7s2d2s4s board and sent Hall into heads-up with a 3:2 chip lead.

Once heads-up was reached, legendary poker tweeter ‘Kevmath’ wondered if it was the first time such similar-sounding players had reached the final battle for a bracelet.

The action began with Hall increasing his lead, but Ball took over the lead with a series of small wins before a straight flush gave him double his opponent’s chips. That was roughly where the chips lay when Hall checked to the Jd7h6d flop with KdTd and three-bet all-in, with Ball calling with Ad2d for a better flush draw. The 4d turn ended the event, with the insignificant Th on the river leading to the two men sharing a moment of congratulations.

Ball, emotional after his first-ever WSOP bracelet win was embraced by Anthony Zinno who had arrived to watch the last hand play out and Ball told his fellow player that the feeling was ‘the greatest moment ever’ as he posed with the gold bracelet that symbolized an epic achievement and the culmination of years work which came to a thrilling conclusion in the Thunderdome on Friday night.

WSOP 2021 Event #25 $5,000 NLHE Six-Max Final Table Results:

  1. Scott Ball – $562,667
  2. Galen Hall – $347,757
  3. Jonathan Jaffe – $234,781
  4. Eric Tsai – $161,756
  5. Bin Weng – $113,775
  6. John Racener – $81,736

Weisman Out To Huge Lead In $1K PLO

Dylan Weisman takes a big chip lead into Day 2 of Event #28 ($1,000 Pot Limit Omaha), piling up a stack of 9,435,000 as just five players remain in the hunt for a bracelet. Alexander Yen is Weisman’s closest challenger, with just over 5.5 million chips, and with Tim Vanloo (4.5m), Ran Niv (1m), and Craig Chait (880,000) all making the final too, Weisman looks in control of the final day.

Each of the remaining players have never won a WSOP bracelet before, with the longest-lasting former champion being Michael Perrone, who won already this Series and busted in 12th place for $8,598.

WSOP 2021 Event #28 $1,000 PLO Eight-Max Final Table Chipcounts:

  1. Dylan Weisman – 9,435,000
  2. Alexander Yen – 5,530,000
  3. Tim Vanloo – 4,545,000
  4. Ran Niv – 1,000,000
  5. Craig Chait – 880,000

Chance Kornuth Chip Leader At Short Deck Final Table

With just six players remaining in Event #29, the $10,000-entry Short Deck event, two-time WSOP bracelet winner Chance Kornuth has the lead with 1,266,000 chips entering the final day.

With Chad Campbell (1,073,000) Kornuth’s closest challenger, there is only one other bracelet winner at the final table, with Joao Vieira (300,000) that man. Elsewhere, Dan Shak (425,000) will be hoping to win his first-ever bracelet, as with Moshe Gabay (663,000) and short-stacked Thomas Kysar (234,000).

WSOP 2021 Event #29 $10,000 Short Deck NLHE Final Table Chipcounts:

  1. Chance Kornuth – 1,266,000
  2. Chad Campbell – 1,073,000
  3. Moshe Gabay – 663,000
  4. Dan Shak – 425,000
  5. Joao Vieira – 300,000
  6. Thomas Kysar – 234,000

Moorman, ElkY Make Monster Day 2

The first flight, Day 1a, of the $1,500-entry Monster Stack saw 2,356 entries whittled down to just over 500 players with James Romero the chip leader after bagging up 620,000 overnight.

Plenty of huge names took to the felt on Day 1a, choosing to play it ahead of the traditionally busier Day 1b, with stars such as Chris Moorman (229,000), a former world champion in Qui Nguyen (220,000) as well as GGPoker ambassador Bertrand Grospellier (64,000) all making the Day 2 cut.

Anton Wigg certainly enjoyed his time at the felt during the event, as did everyone else at his table.

Although many made the Day 2 seat draw, plenty of others fell on the opening day of the event, with Barry Shulman, Niall Farrell and Martin Jacobson all hitting the rail.

WSOP 2021 Event #30 Monster Stack Top 10 Chipcounts:

  1. James Romero – 620,000
  2. Jeremy Shockett – 576,500
  3. Brendan Shiller – 574,000
  4. Greg Buonocore – 534,000
  5. Andros Ioakimides – 497,500
  6. Jason Hewlett – 485,500
  7. Beriz Turnadzic – 457,500
  8. Jason Riesenberg – 433,000
  9. James Cook – 423,500
  10. Tony Bracy – 415,000

Ali Imsirovic Out In Front In $1,500 2-7 Lowball

In the final event of the day, it was the opening levels of Event #31, the $1,500 2-7 Lowball Draw. After 272 total entries, just 84 players reached Day 2, with Ali Imsirovic chief amongst them on 257,300 chips. Justin Lapka (206,700) and Jeremy Ausmus (158,600) were Imsirovic’s nearest challengers, with players such as Chris Vitch (157,300), David Funkhouser (147,100), and Andrew Donabedian (138,000), each of whom have enjoyed a solid World Series so far all bagged well above the average.

While several big names survived, plenty more busted, with Daniel Ospina, Eli Elezra, Erik Seidel, Shaun Deeb, and Benny Glaser joined by Mike Matusow on the rail. Day 2 will see the action play down to the final table where yet another mixed game bracelet will be awarded to the winner, along with the top prize of $84,851.

WSOP 2021 Event #31 $1,500 2-7 Lowball Draw Top 10 chip counts:

  1. Ali Imsirovic – 257,300
  2. Justin Lapka – 206,700
  3. Jeremy Ausmus 158,600
  4. Chris Vitch 157,300
  5. Matt Vengrin 152,300
  6. Joshua Faris 148,800
  7. David Funkhouser 147,100
  8. Melanie Weisner 138,800
  9. Andrew Donabedian 138,000
  10. Koray Aldemir 137,800

Finally, a couple of extra days have been added to the WSOP Main Event, leading many to either celebrate or commiserate depending on when they were planning to play.