Wednesday, June 15, 2016 9:14 PM Local Time
Sam Soverel is the newest member of poker’s gold bracelet club.
The professional poker player from West Palm Beach, FL won the $1,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha tournament, which was played over three days and nights and just concluded at the Rio in Las Vegas. Soverel collected $185,317 in prize money, making this the biggest tournament win of his career. This was only the third time he’s cashed in a WSOP event.
However, Soverel is certainly not new to high-stakes poker action. He routinely plays in big cash games, engages in prop betting, and has entered a fair number of high-roller events which cost as much as $25,000 to enter. Only because he’s been running bad lately did Soverel decide to step down in class, at least buy-in wise, and play in a $1K buy-in event. As fate would have it, the jinx wasn’t just broken. It was obliterated with a gold bracelet victory.
“Coming into this year’s series, a $1,000 event isn’t something I would normally play,” Soverel said later. “But I had a really bad week in cash games, so I decided to take a few days off. Then, I late registered right before the dinner break and came in with only ten big blinds when I started, and then ran good.”
Soverel survived the first two days, then won his victory at a final table with mostly newcomers to Day Three action. None of the nine finalists had previously won a gold bracelet, guaranteeing a first-time winner. Garrett Garvin, from Encinitas, CA began Day Three with the chip lead. However, he ended up finishing in third place.
“I changed my strategy up somewhat,” Soverel said afterward. “I started limping in (calling) a lot. That’s something I almost never do. But there were some weak spots at the final table, so I was able to play more.”
The final moment of triumph came when Soverel scooped the final pot of the tournament against Kirby Lowery, who finished as the runner up. For his fine effort, Lowery collected $114,486 as a consolation prize.
Soveral noted that he started Day Three low on chips, then managed to win a few big pots early at the final table. That helped him to muscle his way into the chip lead and become the dominant player at a table that lasted about six hours.
This tourney attracted 1,106 entries which created a prize pool totaling $995,400. The top 166 finishers collected prize money.
Aside from the winner, here’s a brief report of the other top finishers who made the final table:
Second Place: Kirby Lowery, from Houston, TX finished as the runner up. This was his third time to cash at this year’s series, which paid $114,486.
Third Place: Garrett Garvin, from Encinitas, CA came in third place. This was his fifth time to cash at the WSOP. This first career final table appearance paid $81,080.
Fourth Place: Zachary Hench, from Louisville, KY finished in fourth place. He collected $58,164 in what was his seventh time to cash in a series event. This was also his best WSOP showing, to date.
Fifth Place: Bruno Borges, from Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, finished in fifth place. This was his second final table appearance of this year’s series after coming in sixth in a $1,500 buy-in NLHE event. This payout amounted to $42,270.
Sixth Place: Jeffrey Landherr, from Wentzville, MO enjoyed his fourth WSOP cash. He’s made some deep runs in the past, bubbling the final table of last year’s $10K Pot-Limit Omaha championship (10th). He also finished as the runner up in the WSOP Circuit championship last year held at Choctaw, which was good for nearly a quarter million in prize money. This time, he picked up $31,126 for the three-day tournament.
Seventh Place: Jared Keppel, from Minneapolis, MN made his deepest run ever and first final table appearance at the WSOP with this seventh-place showing, which paid $23,228.
Eighth Place: Henri Ojala, from Helsinki, Finland now has two WSOP cashes, both this year, after coming in eighth-place. He added $17,570 to his poker bankroll.
Ninth Place: Juuso Leppanen, from Nokia, Finland was one of two Finns in the finale. He cashed for the first time at the WSOP with this final table debut. Leppanen earned $13,474.Wednesday, June 15, 2016 8:04 PM Local Time
Sam Soverel Wins Event #19: $1,000 PLO ($185,317)
Sam Soverel raises on the button to 125,000. Kirby Lowery makes it 325,000 to go from the big blind and Soverel calls.
The flop is . Lowery bets the pot for 650,000 and after a brief pause, Soverel re-pots. Kirby calls for his remaining 350,000 and they table their cards.
Lowery:
Soverel:
Lowery has top pair with a wrap and a nine-high flush draw, and Soverel has the nut flush draw.
The turn gives both players a flush, but Soverel's is best with the ace-high flush.
The river changes nothing, and Lowery is eliminated.
Kirby Lowery finishes in 2nd place for $114,486.
A full recap will be posted shortly.
Final Table payouts were awarded as follows:
1st - Sam Soverel ($185,317)
2nd - Kirby Lowery ($114,486)
3rd - Garrett Garvin ($81,080)
4th - Zachary Hench ($58,164)
5th - Bruno Borges ($42,270)
6th - Jeff Landherr ($31,126)
7th - Jared Koppel ($23,228)
8th - Henri Ojala ($17,570)
9th - Juuso Leppanen ($13,474)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 7:53 PM Local Time
Kirby Lowery raises from the button to 125,000 and Sam Soverel calls from the big blind.
The flop is and both players check.
The falls on the turn and this time Soverel bets 150,000. Lowery calls.
The river brings the and both players check. Soverel tables and his hand is good.
Sam Soverel - 4,100,000 (82 bb)
Kirby Lowery - 1,300,000 (26 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 7:45 PM Local Time
In heads-up play, Sam Soverel completes on the button and Kirby Lowery checks his option.
The flop is and both players check.
The turn is the . Lowery leads for 80,000, Soverel raises to 225,000, and Lowery folds.
Sam Soverel - 4,100,000 (81 bb)
Kirby Lowery - 1,300,000 (26 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 7:37 PM Local Time
| Level: | 27 | | Blinds: | 25,000/50,000 | |
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:48 PM Local Time
Players are on a dinner break and play will resume at 7:35 local time.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:47 PM Local Time
Garrett Garvin Eliminated in 3rd Place
Sam Soverel raises to 100,000 on the button, Kirby Lowery folds his small blind, and Garrett Garvin calls in the big blind.
The flop is . Garvin checks, Soverel bets 100,000, and Garvin makes a pot-sized raise to 520,000. Soverel thinks for a little while and re-pots. Garvin calls for his remaining 690,000.
Garvin:
Soverel:
Garvin's straight is ahead of Soverel's top two pair, but the turn and river give Soverel a runner-runner diamond flush to eliminate Garvin.
Sam Soverel - 3,910,000 (97 bb)
Garrett Garvin - Eliminated in third place
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:39 PM Local Time
Garrett Garvin limps on the button, Sam Soverel makes it 160,000 in the small blind, Kirby Lowery calls in the big blind, and Garvin calls.
The flop is . Soverel and Lowery check, and Garvin bets 480,000.
Soverel folds and Lowery tanks for over five minutes before folding.
Garrett Garvin - 1,250,000 (31 bb)
Kirby Lowery - 1,700,000 (56 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:31 PM Local Time
Sam Soverel raises from the button to 100,000 and Garrett Garvin calls from the big blind.
The flop comes and both players check.
The falls on the turn and both players check again.
The completes the board and both players check once more. Sam Soverel tables and wins the pot with kings and deuces.
Sam Soverel - 3,275,000 (82 bb)
Garrett Garvin - 950,000 (24 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:28 PM Local Time
Kirby Lowery raises from the button to 80,000 and Sam Soverel calls from the big blind.
The flop comes and both players check.
The turn brings the , Soverel bets 80,000, and Lowery calls.
The river is the and Soverel checks. Lowery bets 100,000, Soverel calls with , and Lowery mucks.
Sam Soverel - 2,600,000 (65 bb)
Kirby Lowery - 1,975,000 (49 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:18 PM Local Time
Kirby Lowery completes in the small blind and Garrett Garvin checks his option.
The flop is and both players check.
The turn is the . Lowery bets 40,000 and Garvin calls.
The river is the . Lowery bets 150,000 this time and Garvin gives it up.
Kirby Lowery - 2,400,000 (60 bb)
Garrett Garvin - 1,000,000 (25 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:15 PM Local Time
In a three-way limped pot, the flop comes and all players check.
The turn is the . Kirby Lowery checks in the small blind, Garrett Garvin bets 80,000 in the big blind, Sam Soverel folds on the button, and Lowery calls.
The river is the . Lowery checks and Garvin bets 180,000 this time.
Kirby says, "I don't think I can fold," and then he calls.
Garvin says "Good call," and Lowery shows for a set of queens. Garvin's hand hits the muck and Lowery stacks the chips.
Kirby Lowery - 2,350,000 (58 bb)
Garrett Garvin - 880,000 (22 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 6:04 PM Local Time
Zachary Hench eliminated in 4th place ($58,164)
Zachary Hench raises to 120,000 from the small blind and Sam Soverel calls.
The flop comes and Hench moves all in for his last 65,000. Soverel calls.
Hench:
Soverel:
Soverel is in the lead with two pair, the turn and river are no help to Hench, and he is eliminated.
Sam Soverel - 2,250,000 (56 bb)
Zachary Hench - Eliminated in 4th Place ($58,164)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 5:56 PM Local Time
Sam Soverel raises to 100,000 under the gun and Zachary Hench calls.
The flops brings . Hench checks, Soverel continues for 225,000, and Hench folds.
Sam Soverel - 2,000,000 (50 bb)
Zachary Hench - 350,000 (8 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 5:52 PM Local Time
Sam Soverel raises to 100,000 on the button. Kirby Lowery calls and Garrett Garvin raises to 400,000 in the big blind.
Soverel asks how much he has behind and thinks briefly before folding. Lowery also folds and Garvin continues to chip up.
Garrett Garvin - 1,250,000 (31 bb)
Sam Soverel - 1,950,000 (48 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 5:47 PM Local Time
Sam Soverel calls from the small blind and Kirby Lowery raises from the big blind to 100,000. Soverel calls.
The flop is . Soverel bets 125,000 and Lowery folds.
Sam Soverel - 1,800,000 (45 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 5:36 PM Local Time
| Level: | 26 | | Blinds: | 20,000/40,000 | |
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 5:36 PM Local Time
Garrett Garvin raises to 60,000 under the gun and Sam Soverel calls in the small blind.
The flop is . Soverel checks, Garrett continues for 60,000, and Soverel calls.
Both players check the turn and the river, and Garvin's is good.
Garrett Garvin - 1,260,000 (42 bb)
Sam Soverel - 1,675,000 (55 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 5:35 PM Local Time
Garrett Garvin completes in the small blind and Zachary Hench makes it 40,000 more to go.
Garvin calls and they go heads up to a flop of . Garvin checks, Hench bets 75,000, and Garvin raises the pot. Hench's cards hit the muck in a hurry and Garvin continues to chip back up.
Garrett Garvin - 1,200,000 (40 bb)
Zachary Hench - 525,000 (17 bb)
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 5:35 PM Local Time
Zachary Hench raises under the gun to 70,000 and Garrett Garvin calls in the big blind.
The flop comes and Garvin checks. Hench bets 90,000 and Garvin calls.
Both players check the turn and the river.
Garvin shows and Hench mucks.
Garrett Garvin - 1,025,000 (34 bb)
Zachary Hench - 650,000 (21 bb)