Monster Stack - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #50)

A new millionaire has been crowned at the 50th Annual World Series of Poker in Event #50: Monster Stack - $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em. Kainalu McCue-Unciano rose to the top through a field of 6,035 to capture his first ever WSOP gold bracelet after defeating Vincent Chauve in a back and forth heads-up match.

It took five long days of poker to earn himself a cool $1,008,850. Coming into the tournament, McCue-Unciano's largest cash was just over $75,000 with nearly $500,000 in career earnings. After today, the Hawaiian will top both of those numbers and he was at a loss for words after the win. "It feels great! This is the biggest final table I've ever been at and I just tried to not think about how much money I was playing for."

Going into the heads-up match with Chauve, McCue-Unciano held a commanding chip lead but Chauve was able to double in just the second hand. The Frenchman continued to chip away and even took over the lead at one point. The heads-up battle went on for over three hours with many twists and turns throughout. The blinds increased and soon enough they were both hovering around the 30 big blind mark.

McCue-Unciano opened up a huge lead after value betting third pair on a paired board and Chauve called with bottom pair. In the next hand, McCue-Unciano shoved all in with king-six suited and Chauve quickly called off his eight big blinds with pocket tens. McCue-Unciano flopped two pair and a full house on the turn left Chauve drawing dead.

The Hawaiian rail burst into cheers and there was no escaping the biggest smile in the room from McCue-Unciano. "I've got the best support behind me. My girlfriend is always there when I need her. My friends are just as stoked as I am." McCue-Unciano got a little choked up when asked what it meant to win a bracelet for his state of Hawaii. "Everyday I told myself that I would do it. It's just an unreal feeling," as he took a little pause to gather his thoughts. "It's only kicking in slowly, it's a crazy feeling."

When asked about his plans for the rest of the summer, McCue-Unciano said he will definitely be back to play in some more events. "I'll be playing the Main Event for sure. Definitely gonna be playing in some bigger events. Gotta get some more bracelets!" But for know, he'll be taking a little break from the Rio confines to enjoy some time with friends. "We're heading to Disneyland tomorrow for a few days. It's gonna be a little more fun now," he laughed.

Final Table Results

There was no shortage of action today as things got started with a bang in the very first hand. The start-of-day chipleader Benjamin Ector ran a triple-barrel bluff against Gregory Katayama who called him down with a set of sixes for all of his chips. That dropped Ector down to one of the shorter stacks for the time being.

Igor Yaroshevskyy came into the day with just over 10 big blinds and was unable to pick up any hands in the early going. He eventually moved all in for seven big blinds on the button with king-high and was called by McCue-Unciano's ace-high in the small blind. The former Main Event final tablist was unable to find any help on the board and was the first casualty of the day in sixth place.

Despite finding a small double up, Ector was unable to stay alive much longer. McCue-Unciano shipped all in on the button with jack-eight suited as one of the big stacks and Ector called it off with pocket sevens in the small blind. McCue-Unciano flopped a pair and flush draw and wrapped things up with a flush on the turn to eliminate Ector.

Bart Hanson was left on the short stack with four players remaining and he also had trouble picking up any good hands. Hanson got all of his chips in the middle with a dominated ace against Katayama. Hanson turned a straight draw but the river was no help to quickly bring the field down to three players before the first break of the day.

Once the players returned, Chauve became a bystander as the two big stacks continued to battle in monster pots against each other. Chauve's wish came true when McCue-Unciano and Katayama clashed in a monster pot. McCue-Unciano rivered a straight against Katayama's top set for the largest pot of the tournament by far. That dropped Katayama down to one of the shortest stacks while McCue-Unciano took a monster chip lead against his two opponents.

It wouldn't be long after when Katayama stuck in his last five big blinds with jack-four from the small blind only to be called by Chauve's queen-jack. A queen on the flop all but ended Katayama's hopes who was forced to head to the payout desk in third place. That left McCue-Unciano and Chauve to battle it out in a heads-up match that left both players on the edge of their seats.

That wraps up the PokerNews coverage from another event here at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, but there is still plenty of action going on so keep it locked here.

Hand #218: Kainalu McCue-Unciano limped in on the button and Vincent Chauve checked his big blind. The flop came     and both players checked to the   on the turn. Chauve checked again and McCue-Unciano took down the pot with a bet of 7.5 million.

Hand #219: Chauve just called on the button and McCue-Unciano chose to see a flop of    . McCue-Unciano checked to Chauve who fired out a bet of 8 million. McCue-Unciano called and the   paired the board on the turn. Both players checked and the   hit the river.

McCue-Unciano pushed out a bet of 18 million and Chauve called. McCue-Unciano turned over    for two pair and Chauve held    for a smaller two pair.

Kainalu McCue-Unciano	274,000,000	46,000,000
Vincent Chauve	38,000,000	-46,000,000

Hand #208: Kainalu McCue-Unciano raised to 12.5 million on the button and Vincent Chauve folded his big blind.

Hand #209: Chauve limped in on the button and McCue-Unciano checked his option. The flop came     and both players checked to the   on the turn and the   on the river. Two more checks and McCue-Unciano tabled    to claim the pot.

Hand #210: McCue-Unciano made it 12.5 million to go and Chauve three-bet to 39 million from the big blind. McCue-Unciano shipped all in for 123 million and Chauve asked for a count before folding.

Hand #211: Chauve opened to 12.5 million and McCue-Unciano defended his big blind. The flop came     and both players checked to the   on the turn. McCue-Unciano checked again and Chauve stuck in a bet of 17 million. McCue-Unciano check-raised all in and Chauve thought for a minute before letting his hand go.

Hand #212: McCue-Unciano raised it up to 12.5 million and Chauve jammed all in for 101 million. McCue-Unciano stood up from his seat as he pondered his decision but he ultimately decided to lay his hand down.

Kainalu McCue-Unciano	183,500,000	86,500,000
Vincent Chauve	118,500,000	-86,200,000

The final two players are heading on another 15-minute break. The blinds will be increased to 2,500,000/5,000,000 with a 5,000,000 big blinds ante when they return.

Hand #197:Kainalu McCue-Unciano raised to 8 million on the button and Vincent Chauve called from the big blind. The flop came     and Chauve checked to McCue-Unciano who continued for 8 million. Chauve called and the   paired the board on the turn. Both players checked and the   completed the board. Chauve slid out a bet of 16 million and McCue-Unciano folded.

Hand #198: Chauve limped in on the button and McCue-Unciano opted to see a flop of    . McCue-Unciano checked to Chauve who tossed in a bet of 5 million and McCue-Unciano called. The turn was the   and both players tapped the table as the   hit the river.

McCue-Unciano checked for the third time and Chauve fired out a bet of 14 million. McCue-Unciano called and Chauve tabled    for a set of fours to open up his largest lead.

Hand #199: McCue-Unciano raised to 8 million and Chauve defended. The flop fell     and both players checked to the   on the turn. Chauve led out for 10 million and McCue-Unciano raised to 26 million. Chauve called and the   landed on the river. Both players knuckled the table and Chauve showed    for a missed straight draw. McCue-Unciano held    for the only pair to win back some chips.

Hand #200: Chauve just called on the button and McCue-Unciano checked his option. The flop fell     and McCue-Unciano check-folded to a bet of 6.5 million from Chauve.

Hand #201: McCue-Unciano made it 8 million to go and Chauve three-bet to 28 million. McCue-Unciano folded and Chauve earned the pot.

Vincent Chauve	182,700,000	21,000,000
Kainalu McCue-Unciano	119,300,000	-21,000,000

Hand #187: Kainalu McCue-Unciano folded his button and Vincent Chauve received a walk.

Hand #188: Chauve limped in on the button and McCue-Unciano checked his option. The flop came     and McCue-Unciano checked to Chauve who bet 6.5 million. McCue-Unciano folded and Chauve picked up the pot.

Hand #189: McCue-Unciano raised to 8 million and Chauve called. The flop fell     and Chauve checked to McCue-Unciano who continued for 6 million. Chauve check-raised to 23 million and McCue-Unciano quickly folded.

Hand #190: Chauve made it 11 million to go on the button and McCue-Unciano folded his big blind.

Hand #191: McCue-Unciano opened to 8 million and Chauve defended. The flop came     and both players checked to the   on the turn and the   on the river. Chauve counted out a bet of 7 million and McCue-Unciano sent his cards to the muck again.

Kainalu McCue-Unciano	160,300,000	-40,000,000
Vincent Chauve	141,700,000	40,000,000

Hand #171: Kainalu McCue-Unciano raised to 6 million and Vincent Chauve made the call. Chauve then check-folded to the 4 million continuation bet from McCue-Unciano on the     flop.

Hand #172 Chauve called and McCue-Unciano checked his option. McCue-Unciano then check-folded to the 6 million chip bet from Chauve on the     flop.

Hand #173: McCue-Unciano made it 6 million to go and Chauve made the call. Chauve checked the     flop, and then check-called the 4 million chip bet from McCue-Unciano. After both players checked the   turn, Chauve led out for a bet of 18 million on the   river and took down the pot.

Hand #174 Chauve raised to 9 million and McCue-Unciano folded.

Hand #175: Chauve called a 6 million preflop raise from McCue-Unciano and then check-folded after McCue-Unciano continued for 4 million on the     flop.

Kainalu McCue-Unciano	197,300,000	-4,000,000
Vincent Chauve	104,700,000	4,000,000

Hand #160: Vincent Chauve raised it to 9 million and Kainalu McCue-Unciano folded.

Hand#161: McCue-Unciano raised it to 6 million and Chauve made the call. Both players checked to the river on a board reading       and Chauve tabled    and took down the pot.

Hand #162: Chauve raised it to 6 million and McCue-Unciano three-bet to 24 million. With action back on Chauve, he four-bet to 95.9 million, which was enough to put McCue-Unciano all in and McCue-Unciano made the call.

Kainalu McCue-Unciano:   
Vincent Chauve:   

The board ran out      , which secured McCue-Unciano's double-up.

Hand #163: McCue-Unciano raised it to 6 million and Chauve made the call. After both players checked to the turn on a board reading     , Chauve bet 8 million and took down the pot.

Hand #164: Chauve called and McCue-Unciano checked his option. McCue-Unciano check-called a bet of 3 million from Chauve on the     flop. and then check-called another bet of 7 million on the   turn. After both players checked the   river, McCue-Unciano tabled    for the rivered flush.

Kainalu McCue-Unciano	200,300,000	89,400,000
Vincent Chauve	101,700,000	-89,400,000