Thursday, May 30, 2019 2:37 PM Local Time
Brian Green Wins First Bracelet of the 2019 World Series of Poker
The first bracelet of the 50th Annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) has been awarded!
Brian Green topped a field of 204 runners to win Event #2: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty for $345,669 and his first gold bracelet. To do so he had to defeat his good friend – 2018 Global Poker Award winner for "Breakout Player of the Year", Ali Imsirovic.
"It kind of gets the monkey off my back. Now I can play poker without having that on my mind," Green said after the win. "I tend to do well when I play pro-heavy fields... I know most of the guys who play $10ks are pretty good players. In a turbo, though, there's a lot of flipping too, not a lot of postflop poker. Still, a win's a win, it's hard to win a poker tournament."
The win came three months after Green relocated from Texas to Las Vegas, a fact he credits for his early success.
"I've been coming out here for at least 100 days a year for probably 20 years and it gets expensive," Green explained. "I figured why not buy a place and not have the pressure of having to pay for [hotel] rooms. Plus, now homecourt advantage, it looks like it's working. Sleeping in my own bed and all that, I thought that might be an advantage this summer."
Green, who started playing poker in 1984 after learning the game from his father, had more than $3 million in lifetime earnings prior to his victory, which included a career-high $1,117,923 for finishing fifth in the 2016 $111,111 High Roller for One Drop.
Last September, he finished runner-up to David Peters in the 2018 Poker Masters Event #1: $10,000 NLH for $138,000, and back in 2013 he won a circuit ring at the Harrah's New Orleans stop in a $365 NLH Turbo.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Brian Green | United States | $345,669 |
| 2 | Ali Imsirovic | United States | $213,644 |
| 3 | Asher Conniff | United States | $145,097 |
| 4 | Loren Klein | United States | $100,775 |
| 5 | Ping Liu | United States | $71,614 |
| 6 | Daniel Negreanu | Canada | $52,099 |
| 7 | Martijn Gerrits | The Netherlands | $38,823 |
| 8 | Zachary Clark | United States | $29,650 |
| 9 | Cary Katz | United States | $23,224 |
Final Table Action
The final six players returned to action on Thursday in what was the first live stream of the 2019 WSOP. On just the ninth hand of play, six-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu moved all in from the button holding ace-ten and received a call from Loren Klein, who had queen-jack in the big blind. Klein turned a queen and that was all she wrote for Negreanu.
Ten hands later, Ping Liu followed him out the door, also courtesy of Klein. It happened when Liu jammed the small blind with jack-ten suited only to have Klein way up with ace-ten in the big blind. Liu actually flopped the nut king-high straight but a jack on the turn gave Klein Broadway and Liu took home $71,614 for his fifth-place finish.
Klein's run came to an end in fourth place after he got it in preflop holding ace-nine against Asher Conniff's ace-queen suited. Not long after, Conniff, who started the final table with the chip lead, lost with ace-nine to Brian Green's king-queen all in preflop after a king appeared on the flop. That allowed Green to take a more than 2:1 chip lead into heads-up play against Ali Imsirovic.
The latter managed an early double to even the stacks, and then the duo played the final hand. Imsirovic got his stack all in preflop holding two red kings and was up against Green's ace-nine offsuit. Imsirovic held through the nine-high flop after a brick on the turn, but another nine on the river sealed the deal for Green. Imsirovic, one of the hottest players in poker over the past couple of years, was denied his first bracelet but did take home $213,644 in prize money.
PokerNews coverage of the 2019 WSOP continues today with updates from both Event #1: Casino Employees Event and Event #3: $500 Big 50.
Thursday, May 30, 2019 2:12 PM Local Time
Ali Imsirovic Eliminated in 2nd Place ($213,644)
Hand #72: Brian Green shoved from the button having the slightly bigger stack and Ali Imsirovic called for his last 6,100,000.
Ali Imsirovic:
Brian Green:
The flop came for Green to flop a pair but Imsirovic was still ahead.
The turn was the which didn't change anything.
The river, however, was the and Green's rail exploded as their man had trips. The stacks were counted again to make sure Green had more chips and once the dealer had confirmed that fact, they shook hands as Green claimed the first WSOP bracelet of 2019. Imsirovic finished in 2nd place for $213,644 which is his biggest WSOP cash to date.
A recap of today's action is to follow.
| Brian Green | 12,240,000 | 6,040,000  |
| Ali Imsirovic | 0 | -6,100,000  |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 2:08 PM Local Time
Hand #70-71: Imsirovic Ships the Double
Hand #70: Ali Imsirovic got his stack of 2.95 million all in preflop and was looking to get lucky against Brian Green.
Green:
Imsirovic:
The board ran out and Imsirovic shipped the double.
Hand #71: The details of this hand went unreported.
| Brian Green | 6,200,000 | -3,100,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 6,100,000 | 3,150,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 2:07 PM Local Time
Level 32 started
Level: 32
Blinds: 125000/250000
Ante: 250000
Thursday, May 30, 2019 2:02 PM Local Time
Hand #63-69: Heads-Up Play Started; Green Wins More
Hand #63: Ali Imsirovic called on the button and Brian Green opted to check. The flop came , Green bet 250,000 and Imsirovic quickly folded.
Hand #64: Imsirovic got a walk.
Hand #65: Imsirovic called on the button and Green checked again. The flop came , Green check-folded to the 375,000 bet of Imsirovic.
Hand #66: Green raised on the button to put Imsirovic all-in who let his hand go.
Hand #67: Imsirovic shoved from the button and Green folded.
Hand #68: Imsirovic got a walk.
Hand #69: Imsirovic called on the button and Green called. The flop came , Green bet 250,000 and Imsirovic made the call. The turn was the , Green now bet 400,000 and Imsirovic called once more. The river was the , Green bet 650,000 and Imsirovic called. The hole cards are unfortunately unknown but Green picked up the pot.
| Brian Green | 9,300,000 | 900,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 2,950,000 | -850,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:51 PM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu Final Tables the First 2019 WSOP Open Event
Sasha Salinger chats with Daniel about his 2019 WSOP goals shortly after busting the $10K Super Turbo in 6th place.
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:41 PM Local Time
Asher Conniff Eliminated in 3rd Place ($145,097)
Hand #62: Brian Green raised to put both of Ali Imsirovic and Asher Conniff all-in. Imsirovic folded but Conniff called for the 3,600,000 he had behind.
Asher Conniff:
Brian Green:
The flop came for them both to flop a pair but put Green ahead with the higher one.
The turn was the which didn't change the situation.
"Nine!" Conniff's railed shouted but the river completed the board with the to seal the deal. Conniff departed the stage in third place for $145,097.
The players have taken a short break while the table is getting prepared for heads-up play.
| Brian Green | 8,400,000 | 3,600,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 3,800,000 | -100,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 0 | -3,600,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:37 PM Local Time
Loren Klein Eliminated in 4th Place ($100,775)
Hand #61: Asher Conniff moved all in for 2.46 million under the gun and Loren Klein called off for 620,000 from the button. Both blinds folded and the hands were turned up.
Klein:
Conniff:
Klein had a kicker problem and was actually left drawing dead on the turn after the board ran out .
| Brian Green | 4,800,000 | 2,300,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 3,900,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Asher Conniff | 3,600,000 | -700,000 |
| Loren Klein | 0 | -3,300,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:33 PM Local Time
Hands #57-60: Imsirovic Finds A Double-Up
Hand #57: Asher Conniff raised to 400,000 from under the gun and Loren Klein shoved from the button. Brian Green called for 2,130,000 in the small blind and Conniff quickly folded to let them battle it out.
Brian Green:
Loren Klein:
The board ran out for Green to have the higher two pair thanks to the jacks in his hand to double up.
Hand #58: Klein shoved from under the gun for 1,090,000 and was called by Asher Conniff in the big blind.
Loren Klein:
Asher Conniff:
The board ran out for Klein to hold with the higher kicker to double up.
Hand #59: Klein got a walk in the big blind.
Hand #60: Ali Imsirovic raised to 800,000 from under the gun, Klein shoved in the small blind for 2,580,000 and Imsirovic called for his last 2,000,000 or so.
Ali Imsirovic:
Loren Klein:
The flop came for Klein to flop top pair and give Imsirovic the tens as extra outs to double up.
The turn was the which didn't change the situation but the gave Imsirovic the Broadway to stay alive and double up.
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:22 PM Local Time
Level 31 started
Level: 31
Blinds: 100000/200000
Ante: 200000
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:20 PM Local Time
Hands #50-56: Imsirovic Shoves
Hand #50: Loren Klein moved all in under the gun and took down the pot.
Hand #51: Asher Conniff limped the small blind and Klein checked his option from the big to see a flop. Conniff checked and then folded when Klein bet 175,000.
Hand #52: Ali Imsirovic raised to 700,000 under the gun and won the pot.
Hand #53: Conniff raised to 325,000 under the gun and won the pot.
Hand #54: Imsirovic moved all in for 2.14 million from the small blind and won the pot.
Hand #55: Conniff limped the small blind and Klein checked his option from the big to see a flop. Conniff led out for 320,000 and Klein folded.
Hand #56: Brian Green received a walk in the big blind.
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:13 PM Local Time
Hands #45-49: Imsirovic Doubles Through Green
Hand #45: Brian Green raised to 990,000 from the small blind and was called by Ali Imsirovic in the big blind for his final chips.
Ali Imsirovic:
Brian Green:
The board ran out for Imsirovic to flop a pair of threes and hold throughout the rest of the board.
Hand #46: Imsirovic shoved from the small blind and Asher Conniff folded his big blind.
Hand #47: Conniff completed his small blind and Loren Klein opted to check in the big blind. The flop came on which they both checked to see the on the turn. Conniff bet 175,000 and Klein confirmed with the dealer how much the bet was for. The dealer confirmed the amount and Klein decided to make the call. The river completed the board with the . Conniff continued with a bet of 550,000 and Klein quickly folded.
Hand #48: Conniff raised to 325,000 from the button and Green shoved in the big blind. Conniff quickly folded.
Hand #49: Conniff raised to 325,000 from under the gun and now decided to Klein shove on him on the button. Conniff decided to give his hand up again.
| Asher Conniff | 4,300,000 | -500,000 |
| Loren Klein | 3,300,000 | 200,000 |
| Brian Green | 2,500,000 | -700,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 2,100,000 | 900,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:11 PM Local Time
Level 30 started
Level: 30
Blinds: 80000/160000
Ante: 160000
Thursday, May 30, 2019 1:01 PM Local Time
Hands #40-44: Conniff Active with the Chip Lead
Hand #40: Asher Conniff raised the button to 250,000 and took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #41: Conniff raised the cutoff to 250,000 and folded when Brian Green moved all in for 2.32 million from the small blind.
Hand #42: Green moved all in for 2.81 million from the button and won the pot.
Hand #43: Conniff raised the small blind to 375,000 and folded when Loren Klein moved all in for 2.69 million from the big.
Hand #44: Green received a walk in the big blind.
| Asher Conniff | 4,800,000 | -600,000 |
| Brian Green | 3,200,000 | 600,000 |
| Loren Klein | 3,100,000 | 200,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 1,200,000 | -300,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 12:55 PM Local Time
Ping Liu Eliminated in 5th Place ($71,614)
Hand #39: Ping Liu shoved from the small blind for 1,150,000 and was called by Loren Klein in the big blind.
Ping Liu:
Loren Klein:
The flop came for Liu to flop a straight immediately.
The turn was the to now give Klein the Broadway. Only an ace on the river could save Liu's tournament life but the wasn't that as Liu was sent away from the main feature table stage in fifth place for $71,614.
| Loren Klein | 2,900,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Ping Liu | 0 | -1,100,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 12:51 PM Local Time
Hands #37-38: Conniff Extends Chip Lead
Hand #37: Ali Imsirovic moved all in for 1.21 million from the small blind and won the pot.
Hand #38: Asher Conniff limped the small blind and then called when Ping Liu raised to 360,000 from the big. Both players checked the flop and then Conniff bet 280,000 on the turn. Liu called and the completed the board on the river.
Conniff bet 950,000 and Liu called. Conniff tabled the for flopped trips and it was good as Liu sent his hand to the muck.
| Asher Conniff | 5,400,000 | 1,185,000 |
| Brian Green | 2,600,000 | 0 |
| Loren Klein | 1,700,000 | -100,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 1,500,000 | 100,000 |
| Ping Liu | 1,100,000 | -1,200,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 12:45 PM Local Time
Hands #35-36: Green Doubles Through Imsirovic
Hand #35: Asher Conniff raised to 250,000 from the cutoff and Ping Liu shoved on the button for 2,310,000. Action folded back to Conniff who folded.
Hand #36: Brian Green shoved from the small blind for 1,220,000 and was called by Ali Imsirovic in the big blind.
Brian Green:
Ali Imsirovic:
The board ran out for Imsirovic to flop two pair but Green turned the higher two pair to stay alive and double up.
| Brian Green | 2,600,000 | 800,000 |
| Ali Imsirovic | 1,400,000 | -780,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 12:40 PM Local Time
Hand #30-34: Liu with the Three-Bet Jam
Hand #30: Ali Imsirovic raised to 200,000 under the gun and his four opponents all folded.
Hand #31: Loren Klein raised to 210,000 from the button and took down the blinds and antes.
Hand #32: Imsirovic limped the small blind and Asher Conniff checked his option from the big to see a flop. Imsirovic bet 100,000 and Conniff wasted little time in releasing his hand.
Hand #33: Conniff raised the small blind to 325,000 and Ping Liu folded from the big.
Hand #34: Conniff raised the button to 225,000 and Liu three-bet jammed for 1.88 million from the small blind. That did the trick as Conniff released his hand.
Thursday, May 30, 2019 12:34 PM Local Time
Daniel Negreanu Eliminated in 6th Place ($52,099)
Hand #29: Daniel Negreanu shoved from the button for 815,000 and Loren Klein asked for a count from the big blind. The dealer and Negreanu confirmed the amount which prompted Klein to make the call.
Daniel Negreanu:
Loren Klein:
The board ran out for Klein to turn a pair of queens to eliminate Negreanu as the first player today. Negreanu made his way to the payout desk for his 111th WSOP cash to date.
| Loren Klein | 1,800,000 | 880,000 |
| Daniel Negreanu | 0 | -1,015,000 |
Thursday, May 30, 2019 12:28 PM Local Time
Hands #25-28: Liu's Turn to Double Through Klein
Hand #25: Ping Liu moved all in for 790,000 from the cutoff and he swiped the blinds and antes.
Hand #26: Daniel Negreanu moved all in under the gun for 815,000 and the other five players folded.
Hand #27: Liu moved all in under the gun for 1.04 million and Loren Klein called next to act. The rest of the players folded and the hands were turned up.
Liu:
Klein:
It was a flip and Liu was looking to hold to stay alive. That's just what he did as the board ran out a safe .
Hand #28: Asher Conniff raised to 200,000 from the button and got no action.
| Ping Liu | 2,300,000 | 1,310,000 |
| Loren Klein | 920,000 | -1,080,000 |